Sarah Brite Evans

Partner

email

sarah@ssbclaw.com

Telephone

619-236-8821

Biography

Sarah Evans is a litigation attorney who represents individuals and corporations in cases involving business torts, contracts, employment, and securities. Sarah has also successfully prosecuted and defended clients in class action cases involving employment and wage issues as well as alleged unfair business practices, unfair competition and securities fraud. Sarah is co-author of the employment law chapter in “A Practitioner’s Guide to Class Actions” published in 2010 by the American Bar Association.

Sarah is actively involved in the local community as well. She has represented many pro bono clients, receiving the Wiley M. Manual award for pro bono legal services in 2001, 2002 and 2006. She also serves on the board of directors for the Affordable Housing Advocates. Sarah served a three year term on the Lawyers Club board of directors, including one year as vice president. She recently joined the Workforce and Education Committee for the South County Economic Development Council.

Sarah was named to the San Diego Daily Transcript's Top Young Attorneys 2007. In 2008, Sarah was named a Top 40 Under 40, San Diego Brightest Young Leaders, by the San Diego Metropolitan Magazine.

Recent Cases/Settlements

Recently, Jim Ballard and Sarah Evans defended two companies in putative class actions alleging field service technicians were not properly compensated for their travel time as well as claims for unpaid overtime, missed rest and meal breaks, and improper deductions. Collectively, the putative classes sought millions of dollars in allegedly unpaid compensation but both matters were settled on a class-wide basis for less than 12% of what plaintiffs sought.

Ballard and Evans have also defended a client sued in a Labor Code Private Attorney General Act claim. In that PAGA representative action on behalf of employees of a local tourist business, the plaintiff alleged that the business failed to comply with certain Labor Code provisions involving rest and meal breaks, business expense reimbursements, and other issues. This matter was settled for less than 4% of the penalties plaintiff sought in the case.

Ballard and Evans successfully defended a financial services firm sued in three separate class actions by stock broker plaintiffs who alleged that they were misclassified as exempt from overtime under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act and state wage and hour laws, that they were not reimbursed for business expenses, and that they were not given breaks for meals and rest periods as required by state law. After class counsel demanded a significant amount to settle the class action, Ballard and Evans negotiated small settlements with all but one of their client’s then-current account executives then resolved the remaining class claims at mediation before plaintiffs’ motions for class certification were filed for settlements totaling well less than 13% of the original demand.

Practice Areas

Business & Commercial Litigation

Employment Litigation

Securities Arbitration

Unfair Competition Litigation

Education

University of Southern California

Notre Dame Law School

Memberships

California State Bar

San Diego County Bar Associatio

Lawyers Club of San Diego, Board of Directors (2005-2008), Vice President (2007-2008), Awards Committee Chair (2007-2011)

American Inns of Court, William L. Todd Chapter, Membership Chair (2004-2011), Executive Committee (2004-current)

Affordable Housing Advocates, Board of Directors (since 2002)

South County Economic Development Council, Workforce and Education Committee Member