Williams v. Law Offices of Carlin & Buchsbaum CA2/7

INTRODUCTION

Plaintiff Youlanda O. Williams appeals from a judgment in favor of defendants Law Offices of Carlin & Buchsbaum, L. L. P. and Gary R. Carlin (Carlin). The judgment was entered after the trial court sustained without leave to amend defendant’s demurrer to three of plaintiff’s four causes of action and granted summary judgment as to the remaining cause of action. We affirm.

FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

Plaintiff had been employed by the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) since 2002. She developed depression and anxiety related to her work. She filed a workers’ compensation claim in 2006 and thereafter retained the Law Offices of Mark Stephen Smith to represent her with respect to her claim. In 2008, plaintiff was terminated by LAUSD and she filed a civil action against it. On December 19, 2008, plaintiff signed a contingent fee retainer agreement with defendants, for them to represent her in her case against the LAUSD for disability discrimination, failure to accommodate and failure to engage. In February 2009, plaintiff had been rehired by LAUSD into the same position she held before she was terminated. Defendant filed a first amended complaint on…