Cheryl L. Johnson-Hartwell, AWI-CH

Cheryl L. Johnson-Hartwell, AWI-CH

Pronouns: she, her, hers

Cheryl Johnson-Hartwell has successfully litigated over 800 disputes to conclusion.  She has significant experience in federal and state court, with arbitration panels, and before federal and state administrative agencies.  Cheryl provides clients with proactive strategies to manage litigation risk.  She endeavors to obtain an early and cost-effective resolution for disputes and typically resolves them at or before the summary judgment phase. In those cases that proceed further, she has a record of obtaining favorable results for her clients.

She also counsels employers on matters involving hiring, discipline and termination, and workplace policies.  Her clients include automotive manufacturers, large-format retail, non-profit entities, security services, entertainment, manufacturing, furniture retail, and public-sector employers.

Cheryl is an Association of Workplace Investigators (AWI) Certificate Holder.  She conducts workplace investigations as a neutral fact-finder.  Employers rely on her findings in order to make informed decisions on how to resolve internal workplace complaints.

  • Jane Doe v. Wal-Mart Associates, Inc., et al., LA Superior Court, Case No. BC698048 and Jane Roe v. Wal-Mart Associates, Inc., et al., LA Superior Court, Case No. BC716975.  Opposing counsel:  Twila S. White and Adrian Baca.  Jury trial, defense verdict on 04/01/22.
  • Amalgamated Transit Union, Local 1277, Teamsters, Local 150 v. SunLine Transit Agency (Lopez, D.), disciplinary appeal of termination.  Opposing Counsel: William J. Flynn.  Dismissal by union after SunLine’s opening statement 10/14/21.
  • James Conway v. City of Palm Desert, disciplinary appeal of termination.  Opposing counsel: Oshea Orchid and Nicole Meyers.  Termination upheld on 07/08/21.
  • Yadkouri v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., LA Superior Court, Case No. BC620135.  Opposing counsel:  David DeRubertis and Amir Mostafavi.  Jury trial, defense verdict on 10/15/19.
  • Mauran v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, Case No. 17-56494.  Opposing counsel: Amir Mostafavi.  Summary Judgment affirmed on 10/07/19.
  • Mark Galoustian v. City of Rosemead, disciplinary appeal of termination.  Termination upheld on 07/03/19.
  • Amalgamated Transit Union, Local 1277, Teamsters, Local 150 v. SunLine Transit Agency (Guevara), disciplinary appeal termination.  Opposing Counsel: William J. Flynn.  Termination upheld on 01/14/19.
  • Amalgamated Transit Union, Local 1277, Teamsters, Local 150 v. SunLine Transit Agency (Lavoie), Union’s remedy appeal.  Opposing Counsel: William J. Flynn.  Appeal denied on 01/25/19.
  • Sample v. Inter-Con Security Systems, Inc., binding arbitration before JAMS. Opposing counsel: Alfred J. Verdi.  Award in favor of Inter-Con on 01/25/18.
  • Nelson v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., et al., LA Superior Court, Case No. BC632911.  Opposing counsel:  Geoff Lyon.  Summary Judgment on 12/06/17.
  • Ochoa v. City of Long Beach, et al., U.S. District Court, Central District of California, Case No. 2:14-cv-04307-DSF-FFM.  Opposing counsel:  Disability Rights Advocates, Disability Rights Legal Center and Goldstein, Borgen, Dardarian & Ho.  Settlement of class action approved on 10/17/17.
  • Mauran v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.U.S. District Court, Central District of California, Case No. 2:16-cv-07808-RGK-JC.  Opposing counsel:  Amir Mostafavi.  Summary Judgment on 09/25/17.
  • Hemet City Firefighters Local 2342 v. City of Hemet, disciplinary appeal arbitration.  Opposing counsel: Michael Schwartz.  Termination upheld on 09/05/17.
  • Tedrick v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., LA Superior Court, Case No. BC 58996.  Opposing counsel:  Irving Meyer and Carney Shegarian.  Jury trial.  Defense verdict on 05/19/17.
  • Segovia v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., LA Superior Court, Case No. BC612955.  Opposing counsel: Jay Rothman and Ken Myers.  Summary Judgment on 05/02/17.
  • Borgetti v. SunLine Transit Agency, Riverside Superior Court, Case No. PSC1600153.  Opposing counsel:  Timothy J. Donahue.  Dismissal after successful demurrer on 04/04/17.
  • Amalgamated Transit Union, Local 1277, Teamsters, Local 150 v. SunLine Transit Agency (Borgetti), disciplinary appeal termination.  Opposing Counsel: William J. Flynn.  Termination upheld on 09/15/16.

  • J.D., Vanderbilt Law School, 1997
  • B.A., magna cum laude, Texas Christian University , 1993
  • State Bar of California
  • State Bar of Texas
  • United States District Court for the Central District of California
  • United States District Court for the Eastern District of California
  • United States District Court for the Northern District of California
  • United States District Court for the Southern District of California
  • Association of Workplace Investigators, Certificate Holder
  • BTI Client Service All-Star, 2016