Shauna N. Correia

Shareholder


San Francisco

415.772.9655

Shauna Correia is a shareholder in the Firm’s San Francisco office, practicing in the Labor & Employment group.

She is an accomplished negotiator and experienced trial attorney. Shauna represents businesses in a broad range of Litigation matters in both California and Nevada. Many of Shauna’s clients rely on her for her advisory and risk-management capacities, particularly with regard to compliance with employment laws and avoiding litigation.  She also reviews and drafts employment-related agreements and handbooks, conducts workplace investigations and provides statutorily required trainings.

She defends employers against alleged civil rights, tort, contract, and statutory violations, including discrimination and retaliation under Title VII and the FEHA, wage and hour, PAGA, and wrongful discharge claims under federal and state laws. Her other specialty areas include commercial contract negotiation and disputes, protection of intellectual property rights, and real estate matters.

She also has particular proficiency with obtaining extraordinary remedies when necessary, including prejudgment remedies (writs of attachment and possession), appointments of receivers, and injunctions.


Representative Litigation Experience

  • Defended and settled large wage and hour class action and Private Attorney General Act case on behalf of our client for less than 10% of the plaintiffs’ damages calculation (Class Certification Preliminary Approval and PAGA Settlement Approval granted January 21, 2022.)
  • Obtained a Temporary Restraining Order and won a contested Motion for Issuance of a Preliminary Injunction against a former employee of our client who stole trade secrets and passwords, threatened to hack the client’s software, and breached non-disclosure agreements. The case settled shortly thereafter favorably for our client, resulting in a consent judgment and permanent injunction (U.S. District Court, Central District, October 21, 2021).
  • Obtained a contested Motion for Issuance of a Preliminary Injunction against two former employees of our client who started a competing business and stole trade secrets including customer lists and confidential bid information. The case settled shortly thereafter favorably for our client, resulting in a consent judgment (U.S. District Court, District of Nevada, July 19, 2021).
  • Defended and settled large PAGA wage and hour representative action on behalf of our client for ~10% of the plaintiffs’ damages calculation (PAGA Settlement Approval granted March 12, 2021).
  • Obtained a decision, order, and award in favor of our client on all counts in a contested administrative hearing before the California Labor Commissioner (February 10, 2021).
  • Acting as sole trial counsel at a bench trial, obtained a judgment quieting title to a parcel of 150-acres of real estate and granting our client declaratory relief against the adverse party’s claims (Alameda Superior Ct., September 2020).
  • After settlement of a hotly-contested case involving alleged fraudulent business practices and real estate transactions, the other party refused to perform as agreed. Shauna brought an action to enforce the agreement and won a court judgment for our client. The other party appealed, and Shauna (working with our appellate specialist Brendan Begley) successfully opposed the appeal. (Third District Court of Appeal, March 15, 2019, affirming the judgment in full and awarding costs to our client).
  • Obtained a decision, order, and award in favor of our client on all counts in a contested administrative hearing before the California Labor Commissioner (San Francisco, November 14, 2018).
  • Acting as trial counsel, Shauna tried a three-week age discrimination case to a jury. During the bench trial phase, the court agreed with our client, as a matter of the first impression, that a non-profit religious corporation operating a high school independent from a church and not on church grounds was exempt from the Fair Employment and Housing Act (San Francisco Superior Ct. December 2017).
  • Obtained a Temporary Restraining Order and won a contested Motion for Issuance of a Preliminary Injunction against our client’s competitor and three individual former employees of our client who accepted jobs at the competitor and allegedly stole $55 million in trade secrets and breached non-disclosure agreements. The TRO was granted on September 28, 2017, and the Preliminary Injunction was granted on October 26, 2017, by the Alameda County Superior Court, and the case settled shortly thereafter favorably for our client.
  • Won a summary judgment motion on behalf of the employer-defendant in wrongful termination and whistleblower retaliation (San Francisco Superior Court, December 16, 2016).
  • Won a special motion to strike (also known as an anti-SLAPP motion) on behalf of two individual defendants in a multi-party case, resulting in a dismissal of the defamation claims against those defendants (Contra Costa Superior Court on November 14, 2016).
  • Obtained summary judgment on behalf of a major retailer defendant in a 9-count disability discrimination/harassment and retaliation case, alleging Labor Code violations. (U.S. District Court, Northern District of California, on May 9, 2013.)
  • Obtained summary judgment on behalf of all entity and individual defendants in 11-count sexual harassment, gender discrimination, and retaliation case. (U.S. District Court, Central District of California, on March 13, 2013.)
  • Acted as trial counsel on behalf of a 570-unit homeowners’ association in an action to set aside a special fee assessed by the property developer since 1973 (2011, Los Angeles County Superior Court, South District). The assessment was set to increase from $30 per month to several hundred dollars per month per unit. After a multiple-week bench trial, Shauna’s client won a judgment valued at approximately $95 million (overturned in part and affirmed in part on appeal). It was a case of first impression involving California Civil Code section 1098 et seq.
  • Acting as sole trial counsel, Shauna obtained a total defense verdict on all counts after a week-long jury trial against a major retailer (2008, Butte County Superior Court).  The plaintiff, a store customer, sought over $500,000 in damages in a case alleging that the defendant’s employee negligently or intentionally caused her to fall and suffer a compound fracture of her arm and severe emotional distress.
  • In a Private Attorney General Action (PAGA) case alleging Labor Code violations against our client, a restaurant chain that employed hundreds of employees, Shauna obtained full indemnity and defense from the third-party payroll processing company because the payroll processing company’s errors caused the alleged wage statement violations.

Shauna enjoys giving back to the community, including acting as the Girl Scout Troop Leader for both of her daughters’ troops and serving on the Twin Creeks Elementary School Learning Fund Executive Board.

Awards

40 Under 40 Award finalist, Sacramento Business Journal, 2012

Northern California Super Lawyers, Rising Star, 2013-2017

Northern California Super Lawyers 2021 – 2023

J.D., University of California, Hastings School of Law, 2004

B.S., cum laude, California State University, Sacramento, 2001

Webinar: 10 Ways The Pandemic Changed Employment Practices

On March 2, 2022, attorneys Shauna Correia and Meagan Bainbridge from our Labor and Employment group hosted a webinar discussing the 10 most significant ways the pandemic impacted employment practices. They also provided good practices for employers to navigate these changes going forward. Summary of program: Managing remote work arrangements,…

  • When: Mar 2, 2022
  • Where: Webinar

Webinar: Employment Law Update 2022

On January 12, 2022, attorneys Lizbeth V. West, James Kachmar, Meagan D. Bainbridge, Brendan Begley, and Ryan Abernethy presented part two of a webinar discussing important legal developments from 2021 and reviewing a number of new laws and case law developments impacting employers in 2022. Employment Law Update (Part 2)…

  • When: Jan 12, 2022
  • Where: Webinar

WEBINAR: Employment Law Update 2020/2021 – Part I & Part II

Summary of Program Our Labor & Employment Group presents our annual Employment Law Update where they discuss important legal developments from 2020 and review a number of new employment laws and relevant court cases impacting employers in 2021 Program Highlights – Part 1 of 2 This part will focus on:…

  • When: Jan 6, 2021
  • Where: Webinar

WEBINAR: Get Ready for 2021 – An Overview of New California Legislation

Lizbeth (“Beth”) West, Shauna Correia, Lukas Clary, and Ryan Abernethy of Weintraub Tobin’s Labor & Employment Group provided an overview of California legislation that employers must be aware of as they go into 2021. This seminar was presented and recorded on December 9, 2020. A recording of this webinar can…

  • When: Dec 9, 2020
  • Where: Webinar

Webinar – Guardians at the Gate: Properly Trained Managers are Your First Line of Defense

Shauna Correia discusses best practices for training supervisors and reducing the potential for liability. Summary of Program:Well-trained supervisors are valuable to companies for their ability to help ensure operations run smoothly. Often, employers focus on productivity and efficiency.  But companies may not be aware that even mid-level supervisors may be…

  • When: Oct 15, 2020
  • Where: Webinar

Webinar – Don’t Get Nailed: Tips to Help Builders Avoid Lawsuits

On August 4, Weintraub Tobin lawyers Shauna Correia and Louis Gonzalez provided an overview of the most common types of lawsuits faced by builders and contractors – as well as possible new claims due to the COVID-19 health crisis – relating to employment, workplace safety, and construction contract disputes. This…

  • When: Aug 4, 2020
  • Where: Webinar

Webinar: Inoculating Against the Coming Spread of Employee Lawsuits Related to COVID-19

On June 17, 2020, employment attorneys Brendan Begley and Shauna Correia recorded this webinar discussing the different kinds of employment-related lawsuits that business owners may face as businesses reopen and employees return to work, including disability claims, wrongful termination claims, leave claims, and discrimination claims. They provided examples of personnel…

  • When: Jun 17, 2020
  • Where: Webinar

Webinar: Employment Issues Upon Re-Entry to the Workplace

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the workplace landscape.  While the anticipated re-opening of the economy is on the horizon, employers must be aware of a number of employment issues when employees begin to re-enter the workplace.  This webinar addresses the most common questions employers are currently asking about what is…

  • When: Apr 30, 2020

Weintraub Partners with Syserco, Inc. at 8th Annual Golf for Kids’ Sake

Pictured: Lillian Samuel, BBBSBA President; Shauna Correia, Weintraub Shareholder Weintraub Tobin was proud to return as a sponsor for the 8th Annual Golf for Kids’ Sake tournament benefiting Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Bay Area (BBBSBA). The tournament, presented each year by Weintraub client Syserco, Inc., raises proceeds for…

WT Wins: Court Issues Permanent Injunction in DTSA and CFAA Case

Shauna Correia and Jessica Corpuz represented our client in federal court in a case under the Defend Trade Secrets Act and the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act. The client is a major supplier of electronic package storage lockers throughout North America.  The defendant was a former employee who had refused…

35 Weintraub Attorneys Named to 2021 Northern California Super Lawyers and Rising Stars Lists; Firm Retains Highest Percentage of Sacramento Top 25 List

Weintraub Tobin is pleased to announce that 38 of its attorneys have been included on the 2021 Super Lawyers and Rising Star lists for outstanding attorneys in Northern California.  In addition, 4 Weintraub Tobin attorneys received special recognition on Northern California and Sacramento “Top” lists. Weintraub attorneys represent 16 percent…

Deadline Approaching: Form I-9 Virtual Inspection of Employment Authorization and Identity Documents will End on July 31, 2023

Employers with remote workforces should take note that they will need to begin physically inspecting new hires’ I-9 documentation again as of August 1, 2023 – and they will need to conduct a physical inspection of employees’ documents that were only virtually inspected during the COVID-19 pandemic. The U.S. Department…

New Cannabis Discrimination Protections Coming to a California Workplace in 2024

On September 18, 2022, the Governor approved AB 2188, which amends the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA), California’s employment antidiscrimination law. Beginning on January 1, 2024, it will be unlawful for employers to discriminate against a person in hiring, termination, any term or condition of employment, or otherwise…

California’s ETS Updates Since Biden’s Vaccine Mandate Announcement

Cal/OSHA has quietly made several updates to the FAQs for its COVID-19 Prevention Emergency Temporary Standards (ETS).  The additions shed additional light on, and in some regards revise previous guidance, relating to Isolation and Quarantine, Vaccines, and Exclusion Pay. Isolation and Quarantine: California’s Department of Public Health (CDPH) recently updated…

Biden’s Path Out of the Pandemic: New COVID-19 Vaccine Mandates for Large Employers, Federal Contractors and Health Care Workers

Earlier, President Joe Biden announced vaccination requirements for the federal government workers but allowed them to “opt out” if they agreed to more stringent mitigation measures. He also implored private sector employers to encourage vaccination, and many employers began implementing mandatory vaccination plans or incentivizing employees to get vaccinated. On…

A Deeper Dive into the New Cal/OSHA Temporary Emergency Standards for COVID-19 Prevention

As we wrote on December 3, 2020, an emergency COVID-19 rule was adopted and approved by the California Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board. The regulation contains significant new requirements including a mandatory written “COVID-19 Prevention Program,” paid time off in certain circumstances when a “COVID-19 case” is excluded from…

California Employment News: Summer is Coming – is Your Worksite Ready for the Heat?

As temperatures rise, California law requires employers with outdoor employees to take steps to protect workers from heat illness. Shauna Correia reviews Cal/OSHA’s ‘Heat Illness Prevention Standards’ for outdoor worksites in this episode of California Employment News. Listen to this podcast episode here. Watch this episode on the Weintraub YouTube channel here: https://youtu.be/gCoynQoew2g

California Employment News: The Basics of Wage Statement Compliance (Part 1)

Wage statements might seem straightforward, but employers who make mistakes on them could face PAGA claims or class-action lawsuits as a result. Join Shauna Correia and Rachel Davey from Weintraub’s Labor & Employment group as they review the basics of wage statement compliance in California in part one of this three-part series from California Employment…

Webinar: Top 10 Developments in California Employment Laws for 2023

The California Legislature has passed, and Governor Newsom has signed, a flurry of new employment laws that will be kicking in as early as January 1, 2023.   It is that time of year where employers should begin making adjustments in their policies and practices to comply with the new employment…

  • When: Nov 9, 2022
  • Where: Webinar