Professional Experience
Ms. Hudson's practice focuses on all aspects of employment law and related litigation. She represents companies in state and federal court in claims of discrimination, harassment, wrongful discharge and related tort claims, breach of contract, trade secrets, and unfair competition, and all other employment-related matters. Ms. Hudson also defends companies against employment-based class actions. She regularly represents employers in proceedings before state and federal agencies, including the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing, the California Division of Labor Standards Enforcement and the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Ms. Hudson's litigation practice also includes extensive experience in alternative dispute resolution, including arbitration and private mediation.
In addition to a litigation practice, Ms. Hudson advises companies on a variety of employment and personnel management issues. She also regularly develops employment manuals and policies, as well as executive employment and severance agreements. Ms. Hudson provides a wide array of management training on a variety of employment-related subjects, including sexual harassment and discrimination prevention.
Ms. Hudson provides services for companies in a variety of industries, including entertainment, financial services, healthcare, transportation, insurance, manufacturing, the service industry and nonprofits.
Representative Matters
· Secured unanimous jury verdict on behalf of the Los Angeles Clippers basketball team in a wrongful termination, harassment and discrimination lawsuit brought against the Team and its top executives by former General Manager, Elgin Baylor.
· Successfully resolved complex trade secret misappropriation case involving allegations of destruction of evidence, obtaining a substantial settlement for the client.
· Represented mortgage lender in trial of a pregnancy discrimination/wrongful termination case and obtained a full defense verdict on seven claims.
· During jury trial, obtained full dismissal of plaintiff's national origin discrimination/wrongful termination case in a motion for judgment of non-suit.
· In federal court, obtained full dismissal of sexual harassment/wrongful termination claims against a national bank on first day of trial as a terminating sanction for plaintiff's discovery misconduct.
· In private arbitration, obtained full dismissal of assault/battery and wrongful termination claims against a textile machinery company as a terminating sanction for discovery abuses and evidence tampering by plaintiff and his counsel.
· Settled multi-million dollar class action for large health care provider for pennies on the dollar.
· Secured plaintiff's voluntary dismissal of all claims against the client for a waiver of costs only in a sexual harassment/wrongful termination case.
· Obtained dismissal of numerous contract, fraud, harassment, discrimination, wrongful termination and other employment claims on summary judgment.
· Hairston v. Office of Personnel Management, 318 F.3d 1127 (Fed. Cir. 2003) (pro bono case that created new law in the area of federal employee benefits).
Memberships & Activities
Admitted to practice in California. Admitted to practice before the U.S. District Court for the Central District and the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals.
Member, American Bar Association.
Member, Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles.
Provide pro bono adoption services for Public Counsel and Alliance for Children's Rights.
Honors & Awards
Voted a Southern California "Rising Star" by Super Lawyers magazine, 2007-2009.
Publications
Co-Author, "Avoiding Social Networking Land Mines for Employers," Inside Counsel, November 4, 2010.
Speaking Engagements
Speaker, "2012 Entertainment Labor Law Symposium," Los Angeles County Bar Association, February 9, 2012.
(Also at Costa Mesa Office)