In the News

HAEGGQUIST & ECK SELECTED AMONG ‘BEST LAW FIRMS 2024’ BY US NEWS & WORLD REPORT AND BEST LAWYERS 

We are excited to share that Haeggquist & Eck has once again secured a place on the prestigious Best Law Firms list for 2024, as recognized by US News & World Report and Best Lawyers.

The 2024 rankings are founded on the well-established methodology of Best Law Firms, incorporating both qualitative and quantitative data on legal skillset, achievements and client successes collected through a submission process managed by Best Lawyers.

At HAE, our mission is simple and straightforward: to obtain life-changing results and closure for our clients through compassionate representation of the highest caliber.  

We are committed to representing clients throughout California and the nation in complex consumer, employment, and securities class action litigation, as well as individual employment litigation matters, and sexual assault. Our legal team has recovered millions of dollars for our clients in cases involving wrongful termination, sexual harassment, sexual assault, discrimination, retaliation, wage theft, consumer protection, and securities fraud class action cases. No defendant is too large or powerful for us to tackle. 

 

Federal Court Holds All Plaintiffs in Precedent-Setting Title IX Case Can Sue San Diego State University for Retaliation  

Haeggquist & Eck, LLP is proud to co-counsel on this landmark case with Bailey & Glasser, LLP and Casey Gerry 

Press Release from Bailey & Glasser 

In the case’s second key ruling in the past month, U.S. District Court Judge Todd W. Robinson held yesterday that all the female student-athletes who filed the precedent-setting Title IX sex discrimination class action against San Diego State University can sue the school for retaliating against them for asserting their rights. 

On April 12, 2023, the Court held the five Plaintiffs present on a Zoom meeting during which a coach made threatening remarks could sue for retaliation. At that time, however, it held the other twelve Plaintiffs could not. Yesterday, October 10, 2023, the Court amended its previous order and held that all seventeen Plaintiffs could pursue retaliation claims. It noted that SDSU’s actions allegedly “dissuaded some team members from joining the lawsuit or participating as witnesses,” which hampered all Plaintiffs’ “ability to proceed with their Title IX lawsuit without interference.” It ruled that all of the Plaintiffs could seek damages from SDSU for retaliation in the past and those who were enrolled at the school when the case was filed could seek a court order barring SDSU from retaliating in the future.    

“The Court has now made clear that all of the women athletes will be able to hold SDSU accountable for retaliating against them and interfering with their ability to prove their claims,” said Bailey Glasser partner and Title IX Team Leader Arthur Bryant, lead counsel for the women. “Title IX is the law. It prohibits sex discrimination. SDSU should be complying with the law, not retaliating against its female athletes for trying to make it do so.” 

“Our justice system depends on the simple point that litigants cannot intimidate or scare away potential witnesses,” said Bailey Glasser partner Joshua Hammack in Washington, D.C., who took the lead in briefing and arguing the issues. “SDSU tried to do exactly that, and the Court agreed all Plaintiffs deserve their day in court on the resulting retaliation claim.” 

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 prohibits all educational institutions that receive federal funds, including SDSU, from discriminating on the basis of sex. It requires schools to provide male and female student-athletes with equal participation opportunities, athletic financial aid, and treatment, and prohibits them from retaliating against anyone for challenging sex discrimination at the school. In the SDSU case, the women are suing for equal athletic financial aid, equal treatment, and retaliation. 

Plaintiffs’ retaliation claims arise from the following facts: The lawsuit was filed on February 7, 2022, charging the school with depriving women of equal opportunities to compete for athletic financial aid. At that time, SDSU knew the women were preparing to add an equal treatment claim unless SDSU agreed to stop discriminating against female student-athletes. 

Just over a week later, on February 16, 2022, members of the women’s varsity track and field team were called to an impromptu Zoom meeting. At the start of that meeting, SDSU made clear to the five Plaintiffs on the call and nearly forty of their teammates that it was disappointed with the team members who had filed the Title IX suit and cautioned the team that athletics participation was a privilege, not a right, implying that those who assisted with the lawsuit could be removed from the team. This threat made some members of the team wary of joining in the case or helping the women who had filed suit prove their claims. When Plaintiffs asked SDSU to take specific steps to minimize the harm these comments caused, SDSU refused. 

Plaintiffs in the case are former SDSU women’s rowing and track and field team members Madison Fisk, Raquel Castro, Greta Viss, Clare Botterill, Maya Brosch, Olivia Petrine, Aisha Watt, Helen Bauer, Carina Clark, Natalie Figueroa, Erica Grotegeer, Kaitlin Heri, Kamryn Whitworth, Sara Absten, Eleanor Davies, Alexa Dietz, and Larisa Sulcs. 

In addition to Bryant and Hammack, the women are represented by Bailey Glasser’s Lori Bullock in Des Moines, IA, and Cary Joshi in Washington, DC, along with co-counsel Amber Eck and Jenna Rangel of Haeggquist & Eck, LLP, and David S. Casey, Jr., and Gayle Blatt of Casey Gerry in San Diego. 

Less than a month ago, on September 15, 2023, the Court ruled on SDSU’s motion to dismiss in part Plaintiffs’ Third Amended Complaint and found that all Plaintiffs can seek money damages from SDSU for depriving women athletes of equal athletic financial aid. 

Now, with the equal athletic financial aid, equal treatment, and retaliation claims moving forward, the case will proceed to discovery and a decision on the merits.   

Alreen Haeggquist Is Named “Top 100 Leaders In Law 2023” By The San Diego Business Journal

Haeggquist & Eck, LLP is honored to announce that Managing Partner, Alreen Haeggquist, has been named 2023 Leaders in Law by the San Diego Business Journal (SDBJ). This recognition celebrates outstanding legal professionals in the San Diego County law community based on both professional accomplishments and community achievements.

Alreen’s personal journey has played a significant role in shaping her mission. Her own experiences of childhood abuse have ignited a fire within her to stand up for the victims and to ensure that no one, regardless of their wealth, power, influence, or status, can escape accountability. This personal drive motivated her to establish Haeggquist & Eck, LLP in 2008. As a lawyer with 21 years of experience, she has recovered millions of dollars for clients in cases involving sexual harassment, discrimination, retaliation, and wrongful termination. Her legal battles include high-profile entities, ranging from The Salk Institute to Trader Joe’s, Kaiser Permanente, the San Diego Sheriff’s Department, and a President-elect, demonstrating her fearless determination.

However, Alreen’s impact goes beyond her legal work. She believes in breaking the silence and help women stand up to their abusers. In 2023, she bravely shared her own story in the book “Fired Up: Fueling Triumph from Trauma.” This book serves as both a tribute to her clients and an inspiration for others to reclaim their power.

Alreen is a true leader in the workplace. Her commitment to continuous improvement, employee benefits, and transparency cultivates a work environment that feels secure, motivating, and rewarding. Haeggquist & Eck was named San Diego’s Best Places to Work 2023 by San Diego Business Journal, proving she goes above and beyond for her partners and employees.

Furthermore, she gives back to the San Diego community by actively participating on boards and serving as an advisory member for various organizations. She is a founding board member of Think Dignity and a current board member of The Innocence Center. Moreover, she plays an integral role in the Friends Committee of the National Association of Women Judges. In addition, Alreen sponsors many legal associations and events annually such as the Lawyers Club of San Diego, Tom Homann LGBT Law Association, San Diego La Raza Lawyers Association, Think Dignity, and the San Diego County Bar Foundation.

Recently, she established the HAE Law Foundation, which contributes a percentage of her law firm’s profits to charitable causes. Not stopping there, Alreen empowers her employees to give back by providing them with an annual stipend to donate to a charity of their choice. Along with the HAE Team, we volunteer at least once per quarter. Their actions are a testament to the belief that real change comes from active participation in one’s community.

Alreen Haeggquist is not just a legal professional; she is a force for good. Her commitment to justice, her willingness to speak out, and her dedication to giving back to the community make her a true leader in San Diego.

Title IX Sex Discrimination Case Against SDSU Moves Forward Again: Court Holds All Women Athletes Can Sue For Damages, Future Discrimination Can Be Barred 

Haeggquist & Eck, LLP is proud to co-counsel on this landmark case with Bailey & Glasser, LLP and Casey Gerry.  

Press Release from Bailey & Glasser: 

The precedent-setting Title IX sex discrimination case against San Diego State University for discriminating against its female-student athletes continues to move forward. On April 12, 2023, U.S. District Court Judge Todd W. Robinson confirmed female student-athletes deprived of equal athletic financial aid can sue their schools for damages—and held ten of the women suing SDSU could do so. Late Friday afternoon, September 15, 2023, ruling on SDSU’s motion to dismiss in part Plaintiffs’ Third Amended Complaint, Judge Robinson held that all seventeen of the women suing SDSU can seek such damages. 

The court also rejected SDSU’s argument that, because the case had already taken so long that the women are no longer student-athletes, they could not seek a court order stopping the school from discriminating in the future. It held that, if the case went forward as a class action, those who were student-athletes when the case was filed could also seek a court order protecting future student-athletes. 

“This is a huge victory for the women athletes and everyone who cares about stopping sex discrimination at SDSU and nationwide,” said Arthur Bryant of Bailey Glasser, LLP, in Oakland, CA, lead counsel for the women. “The school has cheated its female student-athletes out of millions of dollars of equal athletic financial aid in the past few years alone—and it still hasn’t changed its ways. Now, all the women who decided to stand up and fight can make SDSU pay. And the school won’t be able to keep discriminating in the future just because it’s delayed judgment day so far. “ 

“This critical ruling confirms what we’ve said all along—these brave women deserve their day in court to hold SDSU accountable for its past discriminatory behavior and to prevent it from engaging in discriminatory behavior in the future,” said Joshua Hammack of Bailey Glasser, LLP in Washington, DC, who took the lead in briefing and arguing the issues. “This order ensures Plaintiffs can pursue both goals in court, which is an important victory for them, for justice, and for women everywhere.” 

“We hope and believe this ruling will make a big difference,” said Plaintiff and former SDSU rower Natalie Figueroa. “A key point of our suit is that women were not given an equal opportunity to receive athletic financial aid. That was discrimination. I and other female student-athletes could and would have gotten more aid if we were given an equal opportunity to do so.” 

In addition to Figuero, the lawsuit was filed by past and then current SDSU student-athletes Madison Fisk, Raquel Castro, Greta Viss, Clare Botterill, Maya Brosch, Olivia Petrine, Aisha Watt, Helen Bauer, Carina Clark, Erica Grotegeer, Kaitlin Heri, Kamryn Whitworth, Sara Absten, Eleanor Davies, Alexa Dietz, and Larisa Sulcs. 

In addition to Bryant and Hammack, the women are represented by Bailey Glasser’s Lori Bullock in Des Moines, IA, and Cary Joshi in Washington, DC, along with co-counsel Amber Eck and Jenna Rangel of Haeggquist & Eck, LLP, and David S. Casey, Jr., and Gayle Blatt of Casey Gerry in San Diego. 

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 prohibits all educational institutions that receive federal funds, including SDSU, from discriminating on the basis of sex. It requires schools to provide male and female student-athletes with equal participation opportunities, athletic financial aid, and treatment, and prohibits them from retaliating against anyone for challenging sex discrimination at the school. In the SDSU case, the women are suing for equal athletic financial aid, equal treatment, and retaliation. 

Haeggquist & Eck named 2023 “Best Places to Work in San Diego” by the San Diego Business Journal

The San Diego Business Journal’s Best Places to Work Awards program recognizes outstanding companies whose benefits, policies and practices are among the best in the region. HAE is truly honored to win this award because it cannot be bought. The Best Places to Work award is based on an extensive review process and anonymous surveys of our employees.  

Creating a great workplace where employees are eager to give their best effort every day is challenging. Being named to the list demonstrates that our organization has what it takes to recruit and retain a highly engaged workforce. 

Haeggquist & Eck celebrated its 15th anniversary in 2023. In addition to the amazing insurance benefits we provide, here are some additional benefits to working at HAE: 

  • We focus on quality of cases, not quantity. As an attorney, you will have a relatively small number of cases, so you can go dive deep into each case and provide the best possible representation and service for your clients. 
  • We have no billable hour requirements. Litigation is stressful by itself. You don’t need to add the stress of billable hours. 
  • We support your development as an employee, as a person, and as a citizen. Any type of continuing education you want to take that advances your role at the firm and provides you with the opportunity to better serve your clients, we will support you and help make it happen. 
  • You will be joining a high-energy team of professionals who are passionate and excited about their work and their mission in the world. 
  • We proactively recruit women, people of color, and people from the LGBTQIA+ communities. We believe that people from historically marginalized communities have a special insight into the experiences and oppression that our clients have faced in their workplaces. 
  • All work is collaborative. You’re never on your own. Your work will never be static. We all care about bettering our careers, bettering the firm, and bettering our client experience. 

If you are interested in joining our team, let us know. 

Haeggquist & Eck Attorneys voted Best Lawyers in America 2024 and Alreen Haeggquist is voted Lawyer of the Year for 2024. 

We’re honored to announce that Haeggquist & Eck attorneys Alreen Haeggquist, Amber Eck, and Aaron Olsen have been voted Best Lawyers in America for 2024. Alreen Haeggquist was additionally voted Lawyer of the Year for 2024. This award is particularly impressive, as it is presented to a single lawyer in each practice area and geographic region. 

At Haeggquist & Eck, we strive for excellence in all that we do to provide our clients with the best legal representation possible. These awards are meaningful to Haeggquist & Eck because they are the result of multiple peer review surveys. To be recognized by other lawyers as one of the Best Lawyers and Lawyer of the Year is truly gratifying and says a lot about our team.  

“Best Lawyers is the oldest and most respected peer-review publication company in the legal profession. 

Recognition by Best Lawyers is widely regarded by both clients and legal professionals as a significant honor, conferred on a lawyer by their peers. For more than four decades, our publications have earned the respect of the profession, the media and the public as the most reliable, unbiased source of legal referrals anywhere. 

Our lists of outstanding lawyers are compiled by conducting exhaustive peer review surveys in which tens of thousands of leading lawyers confidentially evaluate their professional peers. If the votes for a lawyer are positive enough for recognition by Best Lawyers, that lawyer must maintain those votes in subsequent polls to remain in each edition. Lawyers are not permitted to pay any fee to participate in or be recognized by Best Lawyers.” Source: https://www.bestlawyers.com/about-us 

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