Lee v. Rockstar Staffing CA2/4

BACKGROUND

A. Factual Background The following facts are taken from the trial evidence. In summarizing the facts, we view the evidence in favor of the judgment. (King v. U.S. Bank National Assn. (2020) 53 Cal.App.5th 675, 681.) Lee has sickle cell anemia, a blood disease. Her red blood cells mutate and become rigid, causing abnormal clotting, reduced blood flow, and injuries to tissue and bone. She suffered painful flare-ups once or twice yearly, sometimes needing a hospital stay. Between flare-ups, Lee was fully functional and “completely normal like anybody else.” Rockstar is a hospitality staffing agency, and Malibu, the operator of a hotel and restaurant, was one of Rockstar’s clients. In their contract, Rockstar agreed to “‘recruit, screen, interview, and assign its employees . . . ’” to work at Malibu. In May 2019, Lee saw a Rockstar advertisement seeking applicants for restaurant jobs. She applied and was interviewed.

2 She signed an “Employment Acknowledgement,” confirming her understanding she was “an employee of Rockstar Staffing . . . .” When Lee was assigned to a client, Rockstar said she would be an employee of both Rockstar and the client. Rockstar arranged…