the cornerstone of construction law

Hunt Ortmann is one of the foremost authorities on California construction law, contracts, dispute resolution and litigation offering additional legal services in the areas of business and commercial law, employment matters and labor law compliance, real estate, insurance and suretyship.

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JoLynn M. Scharrer

SHAREHOLDER

phone626.440.5200

fax626.796.0107

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Overview

Experience

JoLynn Scharrer is a shareholder at Hunt Ortmann who, for 34 years, specializes in the fields of labor and employment, and insurance counseling and litigation, business counseling and litigation, and construction matters. Ms. Scharrer leads the Firm’s Employment Law Group and insurance practice.

Ms. Scharrer’s practice includes the representation of clients in all aspects of labor and employment. Her expertise ranges from counseling employers on employee issues and policy drafting to handling large scale wrongful termination issues and wage and hour, PAGA and class action litigation. Her transactional practice includes drafting employment package documents: employment contracts, independent contractor agreements, employee handbooks, company policies, separation agreements and other documents. She has developed an active practice in advising employers with regard to the ever changing landscape and regulation regarding COVID-19 in the workplace. Ms. Scharrer actively litigates wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment and retaliation claims based upon gender, age, race, disability, and other protected classes. She also defends wage and hour litigation, PAGA claims and class action lawsuits. She has been named as a top labor and employment attorney in Pasadena for the past few years. She conducts claims investigations for employers, and provides California mandated prevention of sexual harassment training. Ms. Scharrer also serves as a settlement officer for the Los Angeles Superior Court in employment litigations.

Ms. Scharrer maintains an active practice counseling clients in all facets of insurance, including the handling of general liability, employment, environmental, construction defect, cyber liability, and business and complex tort claims. She also represents clients in all aspects of claim monitoring, handling underwriting issues, contribution matters between insurers, attorney fee disputes, agency and broker issues, and defending bad faith lawsuits. Ms. Scharrer has also handled mold, real estate, landlord-tenant and product liability insurance claims. Ms. Scharrer has trial experience in these areas, as well as extensive experience in all forms of alternative dispute resolution including arbitration and mediation. Her experience ranges from monitoring non-litigated small claims to overseeing the handling and litigation of claims valued in excess of a hundred million dollars.

Ms. Scharrer also counsels small and growing businesses in commercial and contract matters. She has developed corporate documents, business partner contracts, and intellectual property protections. She handles litigation representing businesses in contract disputes. Ms. Scharrer addresses all concerns for the small and growing business, including marketing and e-commerce.

Ms. Scharrer is keenly sensitive to the economic demands of litigation. She is an effective and conscientious advocate for her clients, and strives to find the most efficient resolution to all conflicts, including advising clients regarding early mediation, alternative dispute resolution and trial when necessary.

Education

University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law, J.D.
- Pacific Law Journal, Assistant Comment Editor
- Gary V. Schaber Scholarship, Academic Achievement Scholarship,
- Philomena Scalora Scholarship, Eugene McGeorge Scholarship
- Phi Alpha Delta, President
California State University Northridge, B.A.

Bars + Courts

All California state and federal courts
Arizona, Nevada, Missouri, Illinois and Wisconsin (pro hac vice)

Practice Areas

Reported Decisions

North American Capacity Ins. Co. v. Turner Construction Co. 2005 WL 1798409 (N.D. Cal. 2005);

Rosen v. State Farm General Ins. Co. (2003) 30 Cal.4th 1070;

Zero Corporation v. Employers Ins. of Wausau 1994 WL 927826 (C.D. Cal. 1994).

Memberships

CLM (Claims and Litigation Management Alliance)
California State Bar Association− Litigation and Insurance Sections
Los Angeles County Bar Association

Representative Work

Ms. Scharrer currently acts as employment counsel and insurance counsel for several established Firm clients. She recently settled a wage and hour and PAGA class action lawsuit on extremely favorable terms. She has successfully defended and settled several employment claims and insurance disputes.

Her reported cases include:

North American Capacity Ins. Co. v. Turner Construction Co. 2005 WL 1798409 (N.D. Cal. 2005);
Rosen v. State Farm General Ins. Co. (2003) 30 Cal.4th 1070;
Zero Corporation v. Employers Ins. of Wausau 1994 WL 927826 (C.D. Cal. 1994).

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