Chris Scheithauer is an experienced litigator, with a focus on employment class action and PAGA litigation, as well as employment law advice. He also has experience in employee benefit litigation and counseling under ERISA.Chris’s employment practice involves representing employers in defending individual and class action claims pertaining to wage and hour disputes, employment discrimination and harassment, wrongful termination, breach of contract, unfair competition and misappropriation of trade secrets. He defends employers involving wage and hour claims under the FLSA, as well as California’s statutes and Wage Orders. He represents employers sued under California’s PAGA statute for Labor Code violations.Chris’s ERISA practice involves representing employers, plan fiduciaries and trustees in matters concerning employee benefit plans. He represents companies and their ERISA plans in defending claims for wrongful denial of employee benefits. Chris also defends companies, officers and directors, and other alleged ERISA plan fiduciaries against claims for breach of fiduciary duties in 401(k) class actions regarding company stock declines and claims for excessive investment and administrative fees.Chris has represented clients such as Northrop Grumman, State Street Bank & Trust, CMS Energy, Bank of America 401(k) Plan, AECOM, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, Cal Pacific Specialty Foods, Poured, Countrywide Financial Corporation 401(k) Plan, Best Choice Products, Christensen Brothers General Engineering, Loan Depot, Amazon, Elite Athletes Services (U.S. Olympic Training Center), J2 Medical Supply, Lifestyle Solutions, U.S. Framing, the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association, and Yahoo, among others.SIGNIFICANT MATTERS- Obtained defense verdict in favor of employer USA Debusk against claims for wrongful termination and various wage/hour claims- Successfully defended PAGA claims brought by employees against construction framer- Defeated class certification in wage and hour claims against online retailer- Defeated class certification in wage hour/PAGA case against construction company- Obtained dismissal of PAGA claims brought by former employee of media company- Obtained successful resolution of discrimination and wage/hour claims against trucking company- Obtained judgment in favor of Northrop Grumman in a pension-benefits dispute- Assisted plan trustee obtain judgment defending ERISA dispute involving the General Motors ERISA 401(k) Plan- Won multi-million dollar verdicts in favor of Northrop Grumman in real estate disputes