Biography
During his prestigious tenure as a Federal Judge of the United States District Court, Eastern District of California, Hon. Frank C. Damrell, Jr. (Ret.) presided over a wide variety of employment cases including, discrimination cases falling under the ADA and DFEH, wage and hour class actions, trade secret and non-compete disputes. As a neutral, Judge Damrell has handled matters involving wrongful termination, trade secret and employee raiding, wage and hour disputes, misappropriation, breach of contract, and unfair competition.
Described by attorneys as fair, reasonable, and pragmatic, Judge Damrell’s broad knowledge base and practical approach prove a commitment to the processes of ADR and bringing parties to settlement. Judge Damrell’s enthusiasm makes him a quick study, taking efforts to understand the issues of a case inside and out.
Representative Matters
- Dennis Service v. Union Pacific Railroad, No. CIV. S98-2327 FCD DAD (2001). Case brought by locomotive engineer against employer alleging discrimination in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA ) for failing to reasonably accommodate a medical condition
- Successfully settled matter involving former employee of agricultural firm starting new firm and allegedly using trade secret techniques and attempting to take client lists from former employer
- Cases of employees with former employer involving wage & hour issues as well as misappropriations and unfair competition claims
- Mediated claims by restaurant employees where owner hired undocumented employees and allegedly took advantage of them regarding hours, wages and accommodations, also included unlawful detainment claims
- Memberships and Professional Activities
- Appointed by Governor Jerry Brown to, Delta Stewardship Council, 2013-Present
- Appointed by California Chief Justice, Tani Cantil-Sakauye, as Vice Chair of the State Steering Committee on the Power of Democracy, 2013-Present
- Appointed by Chief Justice, John Roberts to the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation, 2008-2011
- Member, Judicial Branch Committee of the United States Judicial Conference, 2001-2004 and 2007-2011
- Member, National Advisory Committee of Federal Judicial Pay, 2008-2009
- Chair, Judicial Branch Subcommittee on Civic Education for the Federal Judiciary, 2001-2004
- Member, 9th Circuit Education Committee, 2002
- Vice Chair of the Board, The Foundation for Democracy and Justice, 2014-Present
- Director, Close Up Foundation Board, Washington, D.C., 2012-Present
- Director, Justice Anthony Kennedy Learning Center in Sacramento, 2013-Present
- Served on the Board of Advisors for the National Conference on Citizenship, 2004-2008
- Founder, Operation Protect & Defend, a civics education program for high school students in the Sacramento area, 2002
- Appointed Chair of the California State Consumer Advisory Council by Governor Jerry Brown, 1975-1980
- Appointed to the California State Consumer Advisory Council by Governor Ronald Reagan, 1973-1975
- President, Consumer Federation of California, 1972-1975
- Served on the Board of Overseers, McCarthy Center for Public Service and the Common Good, University of San Francisco, 2005-2006
- Served on the Board of Trustees, University of California, Merced, 2005
- Served on the Board of Regents, University of Santa Clara, 1986-1994
- Served on the Board of Visitors, University of Santa Clara Law School, 1983-1994
- Member, California Bar, admitted 1965
- ADR Profiles
- "People Reader," ADR Profile, Daily Journal, December 2, 2016
- Principal, Cotchett, Pitre & McCarthy, 2011-2015
- Judge, United States District Court, Eastern District of California, 1997-2011
- Damrell, Nelson, Schrimp, Pallios & Ladine, 1968-1997
- Deputy District Attorney in Stanislaus County, 1966-1968
- Deputy Attorney General for the State of California, 1964-1966
- L.L.D. (Hon.), Santa Clara University, 2005
- L.L.B., Yale Law School, 1964
- B.A., University of California, Berkeley, 1961
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