V. James “Jim” DeSimone

For DeSimone, the practice of law is a practice of protection.

“I think our practice is based on vindicating the rights of people who’ve been discriminated against and harassed in the workplace,” he said. “Since I’ve gotten out on my own at DeSimone Law the cases we have taken on centered on women who have been either sexually assaulted or harassed in the workplace, disability discrimination, family leave doesn’t get respected by the company, and cancer discrimination.”

In one case, DeSimone represents the children of a woman accusing her former employer of discriminating against her because of her cancer. The case has taken on a special meaning since the client passed away during the proceedings.

“I took it on in honor of her children,” he said. “This person was a dedicated employee, a top salesperson, and instead of living out the end of her life in dignity, leaving work on her own terms, and supporting her family, she was abruptly terminated. Her last years of life were spent in litigation.”

Trial commenced on July 9. Lopez v. CIA Wheel Group, BC545112 (L.A. Super. Ct., filed May 7, 2014).

“It just shows the importance of the work we do in terms of individual lives,” he said of the trial. In recent years, he added that there seems to have been a “sea change” in the way people, particularly jurors, perceive plaintiff’s attorneys.

“Five or 10 years ago the perception was that lawyers were the cause of society’s problems, and I think that as people see the advent of things like #MeToo and Black Lives Matter, it basically gives individuals the confidence to come forward and seek legal help when their rights have been violated,” he said. “I think it changes juries to seeing us as being there for people when they need help.”

At trial, DeSimone said the key is focusing on the wrongdoing of the defendant, and making sure the truest, most sincere story is told. Part of that, he added, is showing how thoroughly he investigates cases before taking them on.

He said his approach makes him confident in the righteousness of his cases, and their potential for affecting real-world change. He takes particular pride of one in 2010, where he set a 9th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals precedent that an asylum officer was acting in the scope of his employment when he abused asylum applicants. Lu v. United States of America, 17-cv-55040 (9th Cir., filed Jan. 9, 2017).

“If there’s direct intimidation and coercion of those coming into the country to seek asylum,” he said, “I hope this case can be used as precedent to help those who are subject to these oppressive conditions when they come to this country.”

— Andy Serbe