Shahirah Ruddell is a senior counsel at Walsworth with extensive litigation experience in employment matters, including cases alleging racial discrimination and sexual harassment, and disability accommodation claims. She handles all aspects of pretrial litigation, including managing case strategy, pleadings, discovery, depositions, law and motion, mediations and arbitrations, and participating in settlement negotiations. She works closely with her clients and lead trial counsel to prepare cases for trial.
Before joining Walsworth, Shahirah represented clients in employment defense, construction litigation, and contractual disputes. She has handled matters for a wide variety of clients, including residential and commercial landlords, business owners and entities, and contractors. She served as one of several trial counsel representing a major public works contractor in a breach of contract case.
Shahirah has been recognized as a Rising Star by the Southern California Super Lawyers from 2020-2024.
- Employee v. Lithia Motors, Inc. – Secured a major defense arbitration award in a complicated employment matter on behalf of a Fortune 500 national auto dealership. The claimant alleged causes of action for wrongful termination, disability discrimination, failure to accommodate disability, family and medical leave (FMLA/CFRA) discrimination and retaliation, and whistleblower retaliation. However, the arbitrator ultimately found the claimant’s termination was lawful in all respects and rendered an award in favor of our client on all claims.
- Prevailed on summary adjudication on behalf of large public entity involving claims from employee alleging she was discriminated against due to her disability and that her employer failed to accommodate her due to an inability to find a light duty position for said employee. On summary adjudication the Court dismissed claims for disability discrimination, discrimination based on national origin, and failure to accommodate.
- Obtained a favorable settlement on behalf of a public entity employer in claim that employee alleged to be worth seven figures involving causes of action of disability discrimination and failure to accommodate.
- Southern California Rising Star, Super Lawyers, 2020-2024
- Walsworth Publishes 2023 Year-End California Employment Law Update
- As New Pay Data Reporting Deadline Approaches, Employers Must Ensure Compliance with New Requirements
- Walsworth Attorneys Secure Major Defense Arbitration Award in Complicated Employment Matter
- Walsworth Attorneys Named to Super Lawyers 2022 California Rising Stars List
- California Supreme Court Ruling Makes it Easier for Employees to Prove Retaliation Claims