Ellen Kamon has been representing insurers in their life, health, disability and ERISA litigation matters for more than 20 years. In addition to representing the insurers, she has also represented the agents, captive and independent, in a variety of actions. She also advises a wide range of employers on labor issues and employment related claims, including wrongful discharge, employment discrimination and ADA. Ellen has represented employers before the California Department of Industrial Relations, California Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH), and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). She also has extensive experience handling bad faith cases for insurers and their agents insuring a variety of industries, especially health care and entertainment, and has handled numerous Federal Employee Group Life Insurance (FEGLI) matters for Metropolitan Life Insurance Company in California. Ellen has counseled a number of public entities in complex litigation matters as well.
Representative Matters
- Advise numerous employers on best practices in employment law to avoid statutory and case law violations related to reduction in force laws (WARN Act), leave laws (FMLA, CFRA and ADA), and negotiating and preparation of separation agreements by creating and/or revising employee handbooks, as well as the preparation of Injury and Illness Prevention Program Plans (IIPP)
- Represented national insurance company in renowned Potvin matter (a reported California Supreme Court case) to determine when a hearing is required to exclude or terminate an independent contractor physician from an insurance provider network
- Represented County of San Luis Obispo in declaratory and injunctive relief action in Bankruptcy Court regarding monitoring of a wastewater construction project to preclude the Los Osos Community Services District (a community services district created to construct a wastewater treatment facility for the City of Los Osos) from continuing to divert assessments legally dedicated to assessment bonds and taxes legally dedicated to fire services
- Led coordinated efforts among nine California counties (cases joined and consolidated), including our client County of Los Angeles, prevailing on demurrer in a class action involving interpretation of the Lanterman Act and the payment schedule to foster care parents with developmentally disabled children
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Published appellate decisions (California Supreme Court):
- Phillips v. Desert Hospital, 263 Cal Rptr 119 (Cal 1989)
- Potvin v. Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, 95 Cal Rptr 2d 496 (Cal 2000)
Articles
- Ellen Kamon featured in Smart Business Magazine, January 2010
Professional Qualifications and Memberships
Ellen is admitted to practice in California, as well as before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, Eastern District of California, Northern District of California, US District Court for the Central District of California, and US Court of Federal Claims. She is a member of the Los Angeles County Bar Association.
Ellen has a peer review rating of "AV" with Martindale Hubbell, the highest possible rating.
Ellen has been named a Southern California Super Lawyer for 2010 and 2009, as published in Southern California Super Lawyer Magazine and Los Angeles Magazine. She has also been recognized as a Super Lawyer in the practice area of Employment Litigation: Defense in the January 2010 Super Lawyers Magazine, Corporate Counsel Edition.
Education
Ellen is a graduate of the University of California, Los Angeles having received her BA cum laude in Political Science, two MA's (in Sociology and Sociology of Education), and PhD (advanced to candidacy) in Sociology of Education. She received her JD from the San Fernando Valley College of Law.