Daniel J. Coyle

Partner

621 Capitol Mall
18th Floor
Sacramento, CA 95814

Areas of Law:

Employment, Employment Litigation

Admitted to Practice in:

California

Dan Coyle works on a daily basis to assist national and regional employers in navigating the complex and consistently changing employment laws of California. A partner and past chair of the Firm's Employment and Benefits Law Practice Group, Dan has an excellent record in counseling clients through thorny employment issues and problem employee situations without claims or litigation.

Dan limits his practice to representing employers. He has successfully defended individual and class action employment claims in state and federal court and private arbitrations. Dan has significant experience in defending discrimination, wrongful termination, and wage and hour claims, including class actions ranging from 50 to 1,500 class members. Dan has defeated class certification motions of national and state classes. He also represents public employers in employee discipline and post-termination due process hearings.

Described by clients as efficient, detail-oriented, and practical, Dan looks at all sides of an issue to work with clients to determine the best approach for cost-effectively responding to their employment needs. He counsels employers on a myriad of situations, such as dealing with employee exposure to infectious disease, responding to an employee “stalking” a coworker, or implementing a large-scale reduction in force. Dan also works with employers to prepare and implement employee handbooks and policies, draft contracts, and confidentiality and severance agreements.

Dan is listed in the prestigious directory, “Best Lawyers in America,” and has also received the highest peer rating of “AV” from Martindale-Hubbell. He is a former member of the Executive Committee of the Sacramento County Bar Association, Labor and Employment Law Section.

Experience

Lead counsel in successful defense of wage and hour class action suit seeking to certify a class of over 1,500 members.

Obtained denial of class certification in wage and hour case involving food service managers.

Lead trial counsel representing private and public employers in defense of employment litigation including claims for sexual harassment, wrongful termination in violation of public policy, retaliation, breach of employment contract, fraud, defamation and various claims of discrimination.

Counsel management clients in all aspects of employee discipline, termination and litigation prevention.

Preparation of employee handbooks, employment contracts and employee severance agreements.

Successful defense of post termination due process hearing and multiple-day binding arbitration upholding termination of firefighter/paramedic.

Counsel for management in negotiation of Memorandum Of Understanding with public employee association.

Lead counsel obtaining Temporary Restraining Orders and Preliminary Injunctions against former employees of clients who misappropriated property and trade secrets.

Lead counsel in defense of malicious prosecution claim related to employee termination and subsequent prosecution.

Lead counsel for employer in action against former employee for breach of contract regarding misappropriation of trade secrets, property and improper solicitation of employees.

Lead counsel in defending employer against Employment Development Department tax assessment based upon claimed improper classification of employees as independent contractors.

Representation of major nonprofit agency in negotiation of employment contract and arbitration of employee discipline matters.

Lead trial counsel in defense of breach of contract claim against trucking company by sub-hauler.

General
Past Practice Group Leader of Downey Brand's Employment and Benefits Practice Management Group.

Downey Brand LLP, Executive Committee Member (2003 – 2004, 2006)

MEMBERSHIPS

Sacramento County Bar Association, Labor and Employment Law Section, Member and Former Executive Committee Member

Sacramento County Superior Court, Pro Tempore Judge and Arbitration Panel Member

State Bar of California, Employment Law Section, Member

Milton L. Schwartz American Inn of Court, Former Barrister

United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, Admitted to Practice

EDUCATION

University of Santa Clara, School of Law (J.D., 1985)
University of California, Davis (B.A., 1981)

PUBLICATIONS

24 Santa Clara Law Review 763, “The First Amendment in Conflict: Advertising Access to State University Student Newspapers,” 1984, Author

University of Santa Clara Law Review , Editor-in-Chief (1984 – 1985)

PRESENTATIONS

Downey Brand LLP, “What Will They Think of Next: Changes in Employment Law for 2008,” 2008, Presenter

Downey Brand LLP, “A Human Resources Tool Box for Managers and Supervisors,” 2007, Presenter

Lorman Education Services, “Wage and Hour Pitfalls,” 2004 – 2006, Presenter

Lorman Education Services, “Preventing and Defending Wage and Hour Claims,” 2004, Co-Presenter

Downey Brand Employment Law Seminar, “Annual Year in Review Seminars,” 2001 – 2007, Co-Presenter

Numerous client training and Continuing Education Seminars

CHARITABLE

Sacramento Pioneer Association, Member Board of Directors; Endowment Committee for Historic Pioneer Grove Cemetery, Member

Catholic Diocese of Sacramento, Diocesan School Board, Nomination/Policy Committee, Former Member

American Youth Soccer Organization, Region 218, Former Coach and Former Referee