Patricia Riordan is a business and employment litigator. In addition to advising employers on wage and hour and labor issues, she has defended employment related claims including wrongful termination, race, national origin, sex, gender, disability and age discrimination, sexual harassment, hostile work environment and unfair business practices. Patricia has also represented employers before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).
Patricia has defended clients in breach of contract, product liability, patent, copyright, and medical malpractice litigation.
Representative Matters
General Business Litigation and Employment Law
- Represented governmental agency, health care facilities, and health care professionals in FEHA and Title VII litigation, including wrongful termination, sexual harassment, sexual discrimination, race discrimination, ADA and age discrimination
- Defended County, Department of Health Services and individual health care employees in action for violation of Labor Code §1125, wrongful termination in violation of public policy, retaliation, sex and gender discrimination, hostile work environment, violation of Business and Professions Code §17200 and unpaid overtime
- Defended County medical center, and its key executive in action for retaliation (FEHA), race and disability discrimination under Title VII, and disability discrimination in violation of the Americans with Disability Act (ADA)
- Defended County and individual health care supervisors in action by nurses for sexual harassment, sexual discrimination, retaliation and race discrimination
- Defended nonprofit women's clinic and individual supervisors in action for sexual harassment, failure to prevent sexual harassment, wrongful termination, retaliation and intentional infliction of emotional distress
- Defended nonprofit women's clinic and individual supervisor in action for wrongful termination in violation of public policy and violation of Business and Professions Code §17200
- Defended nonprofit women's clinic in action for race and gender discrimination (FEHA), wrongful termination, age discrimination and ADA in mediation with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)
- Defended health care provider in action for overtime compensation (violation of Labor Code §1186), unfair business practices under Business and Professions Code §17200, for failure to pay overtime compensation, wrongful termination in violation of public policy, retaliation, defamation and breach of implied-in-fact contract
- Successfully resolved multiple medical malpractice and Elder Abuse lawsuits against hospitals and skilled nursing facilities
- Advised clients on compliance with California wage and hour laws
- Advised private employers on California compliance of employee handbooks and various employee policies and procedures
- Represented governmental agency in breach of contract case involving multiple energy savings contracts for government facilities
- Represented intercom manufacturer in breach of contract, interference with business relations, interference with prospective case and fraud case
Product Liability
- Represented industrial metal blast equipment manufacturer in product liability case
- Represented press control manufacturer in product liability case
- Represented fork lift manufacturer in product liability cases
Copyright Litigation
- Represents manufacturer of watches in copyright infringement case
- Represented manufacturer of interactive software in trademark infringement case
Misappropriation of Likeness
- Represented publisher in misappropriation of likeness case
Patent Litigation
- Represented foreign manufacturer in patent case involving traffic camera systems in the United States
Professional Qualifications and Memberships
Patricia is admitted to practice in California and the US District Courts for the Central, Eastern, Northern, and Southern Districts of California. Patricia is a Member and on the Board of Directors of the National Charity League, Los Angeles Founding Chapter. Prior to attending law school, Patricia worked as a public relations executive for real estate brokers, developers and architects.
Education
Patricia received her BA in Political Science with an emphasis in International Relations from University of California, Santa Barbara. She received her JD from Pepperdine University School of Law where she served as a member of the Pepperdine Moot Court Board. Prior to attending law school, Patricia worked as an International Relations extern for the Honorable Edward M. Kennedy in Washington, DC. During law school, Patricia served as a legal extern for the US Attorney's Office.