Our People

Jesse Maddox

Partner, Fresno

559.256.7800
jmaddox@lcwlegal.com
Bio
Experience Representative Matters Affiliations Awards Publications Presentations

Jesse Maddox is a partner in Liebert Cassidy Whitmore's Fresno office, where his practice focuses primarily on defending public and private employers in state and federal court, and prosecuting employee disciplinary appeals. 

Jesse has extensive experience defending employers against various employment-related claims, including harassment, discrimination, retaliation, benefits, and section 1983 claims.   He also has considerable experience with law enforcement issues, including the Public Safety Officers Procedural Bill of Rights Act, and defending law enforcement agencies in such areas as officer discipline, Pitchess Motion hearings and excessive force lawsuits. 

Jesse also regularly represents employers in administrative proceedings, including proceedings with the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing, U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, California Labor Commissioner and California Public Employment Relations Board.  

Prior to joining Liebert Cassidy Whitmore, Jesse worked for a Central Valley firm advising and representing cities in a variety of matters, and K-12 and Community College Districts in student and employment matters, including handling student expulsions, layoffs, and certificated and classified dismissals.  

Representative Matters

Administrative Hearings

Litigation

  • Newby v. Fresno Heart Hospital (2011) - Fresno County Superior Court disability discrimination and failure to accomodate case.
  • Gunn v. Fresno Community Hospital (2011) - Fresno County Superior Court breach of implied contract case.
  • Peveto v. Fresno Community Hospital (2011) - Fresno County Superior Court case alleging sexual harassment, failure to pay overtime, failure to provide rest periods, failure to pay compensation timely upon severance of employment and unfair business practices.
  • Noriega v. City of Madera (2011) - State Court. Police officer petitioned the Court for a writ alleging POBR and due process violations.  After the writ hearing, the Judge ruled in the City's favor. 
  • Myers v. City of Madera (2011) - Federal Court.  A former police officer filed suit against the City, its Police Department, and several high-ranking officers based on an alleged violation of his civil rights, among other claims.  The Court granted the defendants' motion for judgment on the pleadings, with leave to amend.  The Court later granted defendants' motion to dismiss plaintiff's first amended complaint, with leave to amend.  Plaintiff delayed filing a second amended complaint and the Court granted defendants' motion to dismiss the entire action.
  • Powell v. City of Madera (2010) - State Court. Police officer petitioned the Court for a writ seeking to compel the City to make him a permanent Sergeant and alleging POBR violations. After the writ hearing, the Judge ruled in favor of the City and its Police Department.
  • Steele v. KFSN Television (2010) - Fresno County Superior Court case alleging race and disability discrimination.
  • Lial v. County of Stanislaus (2010) - Federal Court.  An employee alleged sexual harassment, disability discrimination, and retaliation against the County and her supervisor.  The Court granted the defendants' motion or summary judgment, and later awarded the County part its attormeys' fees. 
  • Stamper, et al. v. Kings County (2009) - State Court. Former police officer and his union petitioned the Court for a writ of mandate to overturn his release from probation as a sergeant. He claimed that the County violated his POBR rights by not allowing him to respond to certain memos prepared during his probationary period. The Judge ruled in the County's favor on all causes of action after the writ hearing.
  • Creighton v. City of Livingston (2009) - Federal Court. Federal Court.  Former employee brought a retaliation suit against the City and its City Manager, claiming the City terminated him because he exercised his free speech rights.  Six of the seven claims were dismissed following a motion to dismiss.  The decision is published at 628 F.Supp.2d 1199 (E.D.Cal. 2009).  Plaintiff realleged all but one of the claims in an Amended Complaint, and upon a second motion to dismiss, another claim was dismissed.　
  • Oxford v. BMAR (The Linc Group) (2009) - United States District Court, Central District (Southern Division, Santa Ana).  Breach of employment contract litigation.  Assisted with change of venue.
  • Davenport v. State Center CCD (2009) - Federal Court.  Former professor sued the District alleging that it terminated him in retaliation for him allegedly filing a sexual harassment complaint.  Shelline Bennett and Jesse Maddox were successful in dismissing Davenport's state law claims at the motion to dismiss stage, partially dismissing his federal retaliation claim in the second motion to dismiss, and later successful on his federal claims in a motion for summary judgment.   The Court's decision granting the motion for summary judgment is published at 654 F.Supp.2d 1073 (E.D. 2009). 
  • Olive v. BMAR (The Linc Group) (2008) - Kern County Superior Court employment discrimination case.
  • Garza v. City of Tulare (2008) - Alleged race, age, sex discrimination and retaliation case in Federal Court. We were successful in winning the entire case on a Rule 12 (b)(6) motion to dismiss.
  • Santoyo v. Kraft (2008) - Federal Court. Former employee filed complaint against Kraft, alleging that it violated her rights under ERISA by denying her request for benefits. She sought nearly $200,000 in penalties in addition to the benefits to which she felt she was entitled. We successfully obtained dismissal of her claim for penalties with a motion for judgment on the pleadings. Shortly thereafter, she voluntarily dismissed the lawsuit.
  • Edwards v. Casey's Steaks and BBQ (2008) - Kern County Superior Court case alleging disability discrimination, wrongful termination and retaliation.
  • Ellis v. City of Reedley (2007) - (Not Reported) Former police officer sued City-employer for several claims relating to his termination, including disability discrimination and failure to provide reasonable accommodation and engage in the interactive process under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). We successfully obtained summary judgment in favor of the City on all three ADA causes of action.
  • Gard v. Tulare Mini Storage (2007) - United States District Court, Eastern District of California.  Case involved alleged failure to pay overtime; failure to provide meal and rest periods; failure to pay unpaid wages; and failure to provide itemized wage statement.
  • Lazar v. Clear Channel (2007) - Fresno County Superior Court case representing individually names defendant.

PERB

  • MCEA v. City of Modesto (2008) - The City prevailed in an action that alleged it had violated the Meyers-Milias-Brown Act (MMBA) by increasing an employee's disciplinary suspension from two to five days in retaliation for his appeal of the suspension.

Awards

Selected for inclusion in Northern California SuperLawyer Magazine Rising Star, 2010

Selected for inclusion in Northern California SuperLawyer Magazine Rising Star in the area of Defense, 2011

Publications

Presentations

Education

  • JD, University of Nebraska, College of Law
  • BS, University of Nebraska
To Contact Liebert Cassidy Whitmore:
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