Cassandra M. Ferrannini

Partner

621 Capitol Mall
18th Floor
Sacramento, CA 95814

Areas of Law:

Litigation, Employment, Employment Litigation

Admitted to Practice in:

California

Cassandra Ferrannini draws on her broad experience to assist clients in finding their best strategic position to prevent, defend, and resolve employment disputes. In her counseling practice, she guides public and private employers through the complicated and sometimes contradictory maze of federal and state regulations. In doing so, she frequently encounters and resolves issues ranging from the treatment of a single employee to the design and implementation of comprehensive, company-wide employment and trade secret protection policies.

In her litigation practice, Cassandra defends the spectrum of employment claims, including wage and hour, sexual harassment, discrimination, wrongful termination, ERISA, and fraud—all with great success. She is described as a “creative thinker and problem solver,” who has repeatedly obtained complete dismissal of litigation on the basis of written work alone. Recently in an employment contract dispute involving allegations of fraud, a mediator described her submission as one of the best briefs he had ever read. As employees and information become increasingly mobile, she safeguards the interests of both the old and new employers by bringing and defending numerous actions involving misappropriation of trade secrets and unfair competition, achieving effective resolution.

She frequently writes and speaks about a variety of employment issues and is devoted to developing unique strategies for protecting confidential information. She has been a contributing editor to two industry treatises published by the American Bar Association, Section of Labor and Employment: Covenants Not to Compete: A State by State Survey, and Employee Duty of Loyalty: A State by State Survey. Cassandra also annually writes articles about trade secrets and covenants not to compete for publication at the American Bar Association, Labor and Employment Section's midwinter meeting.

Experience

Counsel and represent 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, whistle-blowing, fraud, defamation and various claims of discrimination.

Represents public entities during internal employee appeals of discipline and termination actions.

Advise a variety of public and private employers regarding employee leaves, wage and hour issues, discrimination and harassment policies, privacy issues, trade secret protection, severance agreements, and employment agreements.

Brought a trade secrets claim on behalf of a dentist against his independent contractor who misappropriated his customer list. Obtained a preliminary injunction prohibiting further use of the list and requiring that the list be returned. Assisted in negotiating a favorable settlement.

Defended employee and new employer in a trade secrets matter, obtaining complete, voluntary dismissal of the case against them.

Prevailed on summary judgment against two employees who brought whistleblower claims against a public entity client. Obtained a full award of defense costs on the ground that suit was brought in bad faith and without good cause. Case settled favorably on appeal.

Assisted in defending private trucking firms against class action overtime and meal and rest period claims, including trial of the DOT exemption to the California Wage Orders.

Successfully appealed overtime claims awarded by the Labor Commissioner on behalf of a variety of private employers.

Successfully arbitrated a wrongful termination claim based on an employment contract on behalf of an employer. Obtained award of defense costs.

Assisted in successfully defending an appeal of an age discrimination suit against a community college. The defense verdict was upheld.

Domesticated a Canadian divorce decree and obatined a domestic QDRO partitioning U.S. retirement benefits. Also obtained an attorney fee award.

Assisted in the representation of an owner in a construction dispute with the general contractor. Succeeded in obtaining dismissal of a bank that claimed a security interest in the construction contract and an assignment of the proceeds. The claim against the general contractor was favorably settled prior to jury selection. Obtained award of defense costs and attorneys' fees, which was affirmed on appeal.

Assisted in litigating and arbitrating a suit on behalf of a general contractor who was terminated from a construction project without cause.

Assisted in a three week arbitration on behalf of a public entity for claims including breach of a golf-course lease. Successfully defended against Cross-claims exceeding $5,000,000, ultimately prevailing on entity's breach of lease claim.

Successfully assisted bank in foreclosing against manufacturing plant after loan default. Foreclosure involved mixed real and personal property.

Prosecuted a writ of mandate against the California Department of Social Services where a client was denied in-home protective services. After full services were reinstated, negotiated a monetary settlement.

Assisted in the representation of a City challenging water quality permits. Succeeded in preventing various environmental groups from intervening in the suit. The City ultimately prevailed.

Assisted in the defense of a public entity in a dispute over an easement. Case favorably settled during the pendancy of summary judgment motion.

MEMBERSHIPS

American Bar Association, Labor & Employment Section, Member

Sacramento County Bar Association, Labor & Employment Section, Member

State Bar of California, Litigation Section, Member

United States District Court for the District of Colorado, Admitted to Practice

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

United States District Court for the Eastern District of California, Admitted to Practice

EDUCATION

McGeorge School of Law, University of the Pacific (J.D., Graduated with Great Distinction; Order of the Coif, 1999)
Dominican College of San Rafael, California (B.A., magna cum laude, 1989 )

PUBLICATIONS

American Bar Association, Section of Labor & Employment, “Covenants Not to Compete: A State by State Survey,” 2003 Supplement, Contributing Editor

American Bar Association, Section of Labor & Employment, “Employee Duty of Loyalty: A State by State Survey,” 2003 Supplement, Contributing Editor

PRESENTATIONS

Downey Brand LLP, “Employment Law Update: A Review of Changes for 2011,” 2011, Presenter

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

American Bar Association, 2005 National Teleconference, "Employer and Employee Rights in the Absence of Non-Compete Agreements, Panelist

California State University, Human Resource Laws and Regulations, 2003-2005, Faculty

Downey Brand Employment Law Group, annual year in review seminars, 2000-2009, Speaker