Our Team

Brian has obtained summary adjudication in class action alleging unpaid overtime against national provider of in-home respiratory care services. Obtained dismissal of nation-wide collective action alleging violations of Fair Labor Standards Act by class of delivery drivers. Defeated certification in class action alleging “off-the-clock” work by store managers of national photocopier company. Prevailed in administrative trial upholding the independent contractor status of a class of adjunct faculty and lecturers at one of nation’s leading film schools. Successfully negotiated numerous favorable class action settlements for national and international companies. Obtained summary judgment of pregnancy discrimination claims against leading on-line postage company. Successfully used anti-SLAPP motion to dismiss sexual harassment and defamation claims. Successfully defended employer against claims for theft of trade secrets and unfair competition arising out hiring competitor’s employees. Advising clients daily in compliance with California law concerning wage and hour, equal employment, disability accommodation, arbitration and unfair competition.

Education

University of California at Hastings College of the Law (J.D., cum laude, 1991)
University of California at Santa Barbara (B.A., Economics, magna cum laude, 1988)
National Merit Scholar

Professional

• Van Vleck & Turner LLP
• The Van Vleck Law Firm, LLP
• Van Vleck Turner & Zaller, LLP
• Partner, Carlton DiSante & Freudenberger LLP
• Partner, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, LLP
• Graham & James LLP
• Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton
• Judicial Extern to Hon. Vaughn Walker, United States District Court, Northern District of California (1990)

Admitted To Practice In

• All California State Courts
• United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
• United States District Court, Central District of California
• United States District Court, Eastern District of California
• United States District Court, Northern District of California

Contact

(323) 920-0250
bvanvleck@vvlawgroup.com

EDUCATION

University of Michigan Law School, 1999, J.D.
University of California Los Angeles, 1996, B.A., Political Science, Summa Cum Laude

PRIOR ASSOCIATIONS

Van Vleck & Turner LLP
Van Vleck Turner & Zaller LLP
Carlton DiSante & Freudenberger LLP
McDermott, Will & Emery LLP
Dewey Ballantine LLP

BIOGRAPHY

Throughout his 20-plus year career, Mr. Turner has specialized in all aspects of employment law. Accordingly, Mr. Turner has handled hundreds of cases involving claims of discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wrongful termination and failure to accommodate for both employers and employees across the State of California. In addition, Mr. Turner has extensive experience in wage and hour matters as he
routinely litigated wage and hour claims of all sizes, including class actions and representative actions involving several thousand class members.

In addition to his litigation practice, Mr. Turner routinely provides advice and counsel to management on a wide variety of employment topics including disability, medical leave and accommodation issues. In addition, Mr. Turner provides advice and counsel on a number of wage and hour issues including compensation and benefits issues.

Mr. Turner has also represented clients in state and federal court and before administrative agencies, including the California Labor Commissioner, the Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board and the Department of Fair Employment and Housing.

Mr. Turner also a Certified Panel Mediator with the United States District Court, Central District of California and is an External Mediator with the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. (For more information on Mr. Turner’s mediation practice, please visit www.danielturnermediation.com)

NOTABLE REPRESENTATIONS

Disability Discrimination

Obtained summary judgment in favor of a major retail chain in a matter that involved claims of disability discrimination, failure to accommodate and failure to engage in the interactive process.

Breach of Contract

Defended healthcare provider in a matter filed by former Chief Executive Officer for unpaid wages and promissory notes. Defeated attempt by C.E.O. to obtain a writ of attachment shortly after case was initiated.

Failure to Accommodate and Harassment

Obtained summary judgment in favor of national healthcare provider in a matter that involved claims of failure to accommodate, disability discrimination and disability harassment.

Retaliation and Wrongful Termination

Obtained summary judgment in favor of large non-profit corporation in matter that alleged the company retaliated against a former employee for participating as a witness in prior litigation against the company.

Wage and Hour

Obtained denial of class certification on behalf of national restaurant chain in a matter involving meal and rest break and related claims.

Contact

323-920-0250
dturner@vvlawgroup.com

Stuart Kluft is an associate attorney of Van Vleck & Turner, LLP. His practice focuses on employment and business litigation. Prior to joining the firm, Stuart clerked for the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office where he served for two years in the Hardcore Gang Division and one year in the Organized Crime Division. There, Stuart conducted numerous felony preliminary hearings, argued and won several motions on the record and worked alongside the LAPD, LASD, and FBI.

Stuart also gained vast trial experience through preparing and assisting in several felony trials. Stuart also clerked for a boutique civil litigation firm Jeong & Likens, L.C. There, Stuart drafted a large variety of civil litigation documents including pleadings and discovery.

Stuart is a Senior Writer for Kheiro Magazine, where he authors “Constitutions Series” a column designed to explain the United States Constitution in a clear, easy-to-digest format for those without a legal background.

While at Loyola Law School, Stuart was the Senior Technical Editor of Loyola’s International and Comparative Law Review, a member of Loyola’s Hobbs District Attorney’s Clinic, Loyola’s Project for the Innocent, and a mentor in Judge Stephen O’Neil’s Young Lawyers Mentor Program.

Education

• Loyola Law School
• University of California at Riverside (B.A. cum laude Political Science and Law)

Contact

323-920-0250
skluft@vvlawgroup.com

Michael Kost graduated from the University of Cincinnati College of Law in 1992. Since that time, he has had a diverse academic and legal career. Following law school, he worked as a plaintiff’s attorney on MDL 926, one of the first nationwide multidistrict litigation cases. He then transitioned to academia, teaching comparative politics, international relations, and legal research and writing at Syracuse University and the University of Northern Kentucky.

Mr. Kost then became a legal editor at Lexis-Nexis, advancing to the position of Senior Quality Editor, overseeing a team of editors summarizing a comprehensive database of U.S. case law dating back to the early 1800s. He then became a sole practitioner specializing in criminal defense and juvenile cases. Moving to Los Angeles in 2012, Michael transitioned to employment law, working on several large representative and class actions, individual plaintiff’s cases, and defense-side cases. At Van Vleck & Turner LLP, Michael is a litigation specialist and serves as the office administrator.

Contact

323-920-0250
mkost@vvlawgroup.com