Ameneh K. Ernst

Ameneh Ernst focuses her practice on labor and employment law, particularly employment litigation, including workers' compensation defense. She also handles Labor Code section 132(a) and serious and willful misconduct claims. Ameneh represents employers in diverse industries, including hospitals, banks, manufacturing, municipalities, and school districts.

She has experience in all phases of discovery, pre-trial, trial, and appellate litigation. In the case McDuffie v. Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transit Authority (2002) 67 CCC 138 (en banc), Ameneh obtained an en banc decision from the California Workers' Compensation Appeals Board on the issue of substantial evidence and the duty to develop the record.

Ameneh joined Hinshaw in 2015. Previously, she was a shareholder at a Southern California firm where she focused on workers' compensation defense litigation. One of her primary clients was the Los Angeles Metropolitan Transit Authority.

She has also worked as editor of firm publications of an international employment law firm where she covered California appellate decisions and California legislation related to employment law.

• California State Bar Association
• Iranian American Bar Association

• Wiley W. Manuel Award for Pro Bono Legal Services

• In McDuffie v. Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transit Authority (2002) 67 CCC 138 (en banc) successfully obtained an en banc decision from the California Workers' Compensation Appeals Board on the issue of substantial evidence and the duty to develop the record.

Ameneh writes and blogs on substantive legal issues and labor and employment topics.

• "California Court Overturns Employee's Jury Verdict in Reverse Discrimination Case," JD Supra, November 25, 2014
• "In California, Who Decides If An Arbitration Agreement Covers Class Arbitration?" JD Supra, November 13, 2014
• "California Employer That Did Not Gain Benefit From Employee's Use of Car Is Not Liable for Accident," JD Supra, November 3, 2014
• "California Supreme Court: Newspaper Carriers Can Proceed With Class Action Challenging Independent Contractor Status," JD Supra, July 2, 2014
• "California Court: Exceeding Break Times and Falsifying Time Records Is Grounds for Disqualification from UI Benefits," SHRM.org, October 1, 2014
• "California Supreme Court Allows Whistleblowing Doctor To Sue Before Exhausting Judicial Remedies," JD Supra, March 28, 2014
• "California Supreme Court: Holding Franchisor Liable as Employer Depends on Level of Control Over Day-to-Day Employment Decisions," JD Supra, August 29, 2014
• "Quit or Retired? It Makes No Difference When It Comes to Paying Final Wages in California," SHRM.org, October 1, 2014
• "California Supreme Court: Undocumented Worker May Recover Lost Wages for Period Up to Employer's Discovery of Immigration Status," SHRM.org, July 7, 2014