Civil Litigation

GRT Law is proud to provide both employee and employer representation.

Looking for Sacramento civil litigation lawyers? Goyette, Ruano & Thompson’s (“GRT”) Civil Litigation Department handles various types of pre-litigation matters and lawsuits to aggressively litigate for all clients.

We provide a wide variety of services related to civil litigation in Sacramento. We can successfully take on large class actions, individual plaintiff cases, arbitration, and mediation. We are also skilled at negotiating settlements with state and federal courts, providing strong defense for employers/businesses, or prosecuting civil actions for employees/claimants seeking monetary damages for violations of the law.

We take on cases in the private sector, public sector, union clients, simple complaints, or complex administrative appeals. GRT Sacramento civil litigation lawyers have successfully defended and prosecuted lawsuits under every type of employment and labor law scenario.

Sacramento Civil Litigation Lawyers

GRT Civil Litigation serves as your Sacramento civil litigation law firm, providing our clients with representation to ensure each client’s case receives a fair trial and a just hearing.

Our civil litigation attorneys are highly experienced in civil litigation law and bring to the table multiple attributes that aid in creating strong cases as well as factual and well-thought-out arguments. As a team, we pride ourselves on being a highly successful civil litigation law firm. Each member of our staff has the experience necessary to see each case through to the end.

Civil Litigation Attorneys in Sacramento

With Goyette, Ruano & Thompson’s background in legislation, our Sacramento California civil litigation lawyers understand the inner workings of the courtroom and have the persistence and patience to follow through to a satisfactory solution. This approach leads to GRT typically being more prepared than opposing counsel, resulting in the best outcome possible for the client.

We encourage individuals who believe they have a case to reach out to us. Our law firm handles many major civil litigation cases in Sacramento. GRT Civil Litigation understands that our clients have specific, often time-sensitive needs that must be addressed. We strive to make ourselves readily available to provide you with the support you need to ensure you are properly represented in the courtroom.

Additionally, our collective experience as Sacramento civil litigation lawyers allows our firm to provide each client with a competitive edge. With experience across multiple industries, we are ready and prepared to represent you in court.

Call us when you need a civil litigation attorney or pre-litigation attorney in Sacramento. GRT’s Civil Litigation attorneys can offer a discreet and professional review of your case.

The Basics of Civil Litigation in California

Civil litigation encompasses a wide range of legal disputes that do not involve criminal charges. With any civil matter in California, having a skilled civil litigation attorney can help you defend your rights and interests. Common types of civil litigation cases Goyette, Ruano & Thompson (GRT Law) handles include:

Employment Disputes: Legal issues between employers and employees, including wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment, or wage disputes.

Business Litigation: Legal disputes involving business entities, such as breach of fiduciary duty, shareholder disputes, partnership disputes, or business torts.

Appellate and Writ Practice: Handling appeals or writ petitions to challenge or seek review of trial court decisions or rulings.

Class Action: Lawsuits brought by a group of individuals who have suffered similar harm or injury caused by the actions of a common defendant.

Wage and Hour: Legal matters related to compliance with wage and hour laws, including issues such as unpaid wages, overtime pay, meal and rest breaks, or misclassification of employees.

Trust and Estate Litigation: Legal disputes concerning trusts, wills, probate, estate administration, or the distribution of assets among beneficiaries.

Goyette, Ruano & Thompson, Inc.’s dedicated team of attorneys are well-versed in guiding clients just like you through civil litigation in California. We understand that every case is unique, and we craft an approach that meets your personal needs and circumstances.

Our Approach: Patience. Persistence.

When faced with a civil litigation matter in California, the stakes can be high. Having skilled legal representation can make all the difference. At Goyette, Ruano & Thompson, Inc., we believe in a proactive and strategic approach to civil litigation. From conducting thorough legal research to crafting compelling arguments in the courtroom, our attorneys are committed to advocating for our client’s best interests every step of the way.

Our team of California civil litigation lawyers is dedicated to providing personalized attention and strategic guidance. We know the courtroom. We have the experience to see your case through to the end, and our diligent approach helps keep us better prepared than opposing counsel.

The Steps for Starting Your Case

Your path to a favorable resolution begins here. Reach out to Goyette, Ruano & Thompson, Inc. today:

1.- Contact us for a case evaluation: Schedule a consultation with our experienced legal team to discuss the details of your case and get personalized guidance on your options.

2.- Initial Assessment and Strategy Development: After reviewing the specifics of your situation, we’ll work with you to develop a strategic plan fit to your needs and objectives.

3.- Representation and Advocacy: Once we’ve established a plan of action, our dedicated attorneys will diligently represent your interests, advocating on your behalf through every stage of the legal process.

Don’t face your civil litigation case alone. Contact Goyette, Ruano & Thompson, Inc. today to schedule a consultation with one of our experienced California civil litigation lawyers. Let us put our expertise to work for you and provide the representation you need to protect your rights and interests. We’ll advocate for your best interests and guide you through the legal process with confidence.

Areas Of Practice

Trust & Estate Litigation

Protecting Your Legacy: Trust and Estate Litigation Services

At Goyette, Ruano & Thompson, we understand the sensitive and complex nature of trust and estate disputes, and we are committed to providing compassionate and strategic legal representation to protect your rights and interests. Our firm offers comprehensive trust and estate litigation services to address disputes arising from wills, trusts, probate proceedings, and fiduciary responsibilities.

Our Trust and Estate Litigation services include:

Will Contests: We represent beneficiaries, heirs, and other interested parties in challenging the validity of wills based on grounds such as undue influence, lack of capacity, fraud, or improper execution. Our attorneys conduct thorough investigations, gather evidence, and present compelling arguments in court to contest wills and seek appropriate remedies.

Trust Disputes: We handle disputes involving trusts, including allegations of breach of fiduciary duty, mismanagement of trust assets, trustee removal or replacement, trust accounting disputes, and challenges to the validity or interpretation of trust documents. Our firm advocates for the rights of beneficiaries and trustees in trust litigation proceedings, seeking to protect trust assets and ensure compliance with the terms of the trust.

Probate Litigation: We represent clients in contested probate proceedings, including disputes over the administration of estates, distribution of assets, appointment of personal representatives or executors, and interpretation of wills or estate planning documents. Our attorneys provide skilled representation in probate court to resolve disputes efficiently and fairly, while safeguarding our clients’ interests and preserving the integrity of the probate process.

Fiduciary Litigation: We handle disputes involving fiduciary relationships, including claims against trustees, executors, administrators, guardians, conservators, and other fiduciaries for breach of fiduciary duty, self-dealing, conflicts of interest, or other misconduct. Our attorneys provide aggressive representation to hold fiduciaries accountable for their actions and seek appropriate remedies for beneficiaries and interested parties.

Alternative Dispute Resolution: We explore alternative dispute resolution options, such as mediation or arbitration, to resolve trust and estate disputes efficiently and cost-effectively outside of court. Our firm assists clients in negotiating settlements, crafting creative solutions, and preserving family relationships while resolving contentious trust and estate matters through alternative dispute resolution methods.

Estate Planning Review & Counseling: We provide comprehensive estate planning review and counseling services to help clients anticipate and prevent trust and estate disputes before they arise. Our attorneys review existing estate planning documents, identify potential areas of conflict or vulnerability, and offer strategic advice to minimize the risk of litigation and protect our clients’ legacies.

If you’re facing trust and estate litigation or anticipate potential disputes in your family’s estate planning matters, don’t hesitate to seek legal assistance. Contact Goyette, Ruano & Thompson today to schedule a consultation with our experienced trust and estate litigation attorneys. We’re dedicated to providing compassionate, effective, and results-driven representation to help you navigate through the complexities of trust and estate disputes with confidence and peace of mind.

Business litigation

Strategic Advocacy for Business Litigation Matters

At Goyette, Ruano & Thompson, we provide sophisticated legal representation for clients involved in business litigation. With a deep understanding of the intricacies of commercial disputes and a track record of success in high-stakes litigation, our firm offers strategic advocacy to protect the rights and interests of businesses facing complex legal challenges. Paul Goyette is an entrepreneur and a principle of several other business ventures. We recognize that business litigation is a another business strategy all designed to meet the goals of your business venture: profits.

Our Business Litigation services include:

Case Evaluation and Strategy: We begin by conducting a comprehensive evaluation of your case, assessing the legal and factual issues involved, and developing a strategic litigation plan tailored to your objectives. Our experienced attorneys analyze complex contractual agreements, financial documents, corporate records, and other relevant evidence to identify legal theories, anticipate challenges, and formulate effective strategies for success.

Dispute Resolution Options: We explore all available dispute resolution options, including negotiation, mediation, arbitration, and litigation, to achieve the most favorable outcome for our clients. Our firm is adept at navigating complex settlement negotiations and alternative dispute resolution processes to resolve disputes efficiently and cost-effectively while protecting our clients’ interests.

Trial Advocacy: If litigation becomes necessary, our trial attorneys provide aggressive advocacy and skilled representation in state and federal courts. We have a proven track record of success in complex business litigation trials, including breach of contract claims, business torts, and shareholder derivative actions. We prepare meticulously for trial, conduct thorough witness examinations, present compelling legal arguments, and pursue favorable verdicts or settlements on behalf of our clients.

Class Action Defense: We defend businesses facing class action lawsuits alleging violations of consumer protection laws, securities fraud, antitrust violations, or other claims. Our firm has extensive experience in class action defense, representing clients in complex multi-district litigation (MDL) proceedings and coordinating defense strategies across multiple jurisdictions. We work tirelessly to protect our clients’ interests and minimize exposure to liability in class action matters.

If your business is facing complex legal challenges, don’t navigate them alone. Contact Goyette, Ruano & Thompson today to schedule a consultation with our experienced civil litigation attorneys. We’re dedicated to providing strategic, effective, and results-driven representation to help you achieve your goals and overcome the complexities of business litigation with confidence and success.

Appellate & Writ Practice

Goyette, Ruano & Thompson is one of the select labor and employment firms that also has extensive experience with writ petitions and appeals.

Whether the decision originates from a superior court, administrative agency, or a department of state government, Goyette, Ruano & Thompson has aggressively represented many clients in writs petitions (administrative and traditional mandate) and appeals to our state’s courts of appeal. Our California appellate lawyers have argued before district courts of appeal throughout California as well as before the Ninth Circuit. We handle appeals from virtually any imaginable trial court decision as well as administrative appeals of every kind.

What is a Writ and Appeal?

A court writ is a formal, legal document or an order from a higher court directing a person or entity such as a lower court to perform or stop some kind of action or deed. In terms of who can file a writ petition, know that any judge, court, or other entity with administrative or judicial jurisdiction can do so.

In contrast, an appeal is a formal request to a superior court to review the final judgment, order, or decision made by a court. It’s typically done in cases when the defendant believes a legal error was made in the trial by any entity, be it the attorney, judge, or another party. In addition another distinction between a writ and an appeal is that there is a limitation to a defendant making an appeal on a case to the next higher appellate body in a trial as they can do it only once. However the best part about court writs is that a defendant may file multiple writs in one trial.

Types of Writs

A writ is a common legal document and is issued after a judgment has been given. It allows the concerned people in a suit to carry out the judgment. Writs are of many types as they can take the form of a writ of habeas corpus, summons, warrant, writ of execution, or order. However the two most common types of writs are subpoenas and warrants.

Why Choose Goyette, Ruano & Thompson?

Goyette, Ruano & Thompson has some of the most renowned writs and appeals attorneys in Sacramento with extensive knowledge in administrative law and disciplinary hearings before city, county, and state administrative tribunals. As such, Goyette, Ruano & Thompson is a natural choice for those who have received unfair decisions from these entities and refuse to take “no” for an answer.

Our clients include a wide array of licensed professionals of every conceivable type, including medical professionals, nurses, EMTs and paramedics. With some of the best appeal lawyers in California, Goyette, Ruano & Thompson is the preeminent firm defending law enforcement personnel and firefighters statewide, we handle appeals involving denials of concealed carry weapons (CCW) permits for honorably retired peace officers and appeals involving industrial disability retirement benefits.

Seek Expert Legal Counsel & Service

Employee associations and unions already look to Goyette, Ruano & Thompson for our expertise in pursuing and obtaining writs of mandate and appellate victories. We are proud of our track record in our writs and appeals division and have achieved several notable victories and positive outcomes for our clients. Administrative mandamus or appellate work requires the expertise of an attorney who has represented clients in numerous administrative cases, regularly files appeals, and can spot reversible error in the record below. A writ petition or appeal is not a trial “do-over” but a careful review of the record to spot legal error that can justify overturning the outcome of the trial below. If you or someone you know is considering filing a petition for writ of mandate, appealing an adverse license decision, or appealing an adverse action from a state, county, or city agency, then please contact Goyette, Ruano & Thompson. Are you ready to consult our writs and appeals attorneys in Sacramento? Consultations are always free.

Class Action

Goyette, Ruano & Thompson is one of only a few wage and hour law firms in California experienced in class action litigation and representing the employees or plaintiffs in these actions.

Due to the large scale and complicated nature of class action litigation, potential actions for groups or ‘classes’ of both and unionized public employees have to be carefully evaluated to determine if the cases are viable and can succeed. The firm’s litigation lawyers are specialists at thorough evaluations of such disputes, which may be treated as class actions. Due to the large scale and complicated nature of class action litigation, potential actions for groups or ‘classes’ of both private sector employees and unionized public employees have to be carefully evaluated to determine if the cases are viable and can succeed. The firm’s class action attorneys in Sacramento are specialists at thorough evaluations of such disputes, which may be treated as class actions.

What is a Class Action Lawsuit? When to File One

A class action lawsuit can be filed by one or more claimants in case of a claim that pertains to a common violation or liability and one that affects a large group of people. These lawsuits typically pertain to both employment and consumer protection.

Filing a class action lawsuit is recommended when an individual’s claim is small and not worth pursuing on an individual basis. It also helps save time and money, as well as be more effective in addressing the larger issue.

For example, wage and hour class action lawsuits are common in California. These class action lawsuits are filed against an employer for wage and hour violations, such as not paying overtime or minimum wage, or not providing meal and rest breaks.

If you believe that you have suffered a wage and hour violation at your workplace, you may be able to file a wage and hour class action lawsuit. To do so, you will need to consult with an experienced class action attorney to discuss your case and see if you are eligible to join a class action. Goyette & Associates offers wage and hour class action California services to help workers get the justice they deserve.

If you have been the victim of wage and hour violations, don’t hesitate to contact Goyette & Associates today to discuss your case. We will fight for you and make sure that you receive the compensation you are entitled to.

Situations That Warrant a Class Action Lawsuit

There are vast number of legitimate reasons for filing class action lawsuits, some of which include the failure to pay minimum wage, no overtime pay, failure to provide breaks, wrongful termination, or even the failure to provide time off. The truth is these don’t even begin to skim the surface of the diverse domains of class action lawsuits. There are others pertaining to injuries at the workplace, uniform code, reimbursement for travel expenses or mileage, discrimination on account of race, gender, or age, and many, many more.

Based on the diverse reasons, some of the primary types of class-action lawsuits include illegal wage deductions, unpaid overtime, missed meal or rest breaks, unpaid expense reimbursement, salary misclassification, and unpaid commissions.

In cases of consumer protection, the reasons include misleading or false advertising, data breaches, injuries, and other relevant matters.

How to Start a Class Action Lawsuit in California?

As vast as the number of reasons for filing a class action is the expertise required to get a ruling in your favor. Class action litigation requires years of work, and an experienced legal team can not only tackle the challenges that lie ahead but will also do their due diligence to thoroughly investigate the situation. More importantly, they are equipped with the knowledge and insight required to protect employees’ rights. Therefore, it’s essential to file a class action lawsuit with the help of a legal team that possesses both the expertise and experience.

In terms of the process, the first step is for the plaintiff to initiate and file a lawsuit in California and then move for certification as a class. The court would then evaluate the eligibility for certification and whether or not the claims should be tried.

Why Choose Goyette, Ruano & Thompson?

Goyette, Ruano & Thompson wage and hour lawyers – the best class action lawyers in Sacramento – have successfully litigated class actions for groups of both private sector employees and unionized public employees. In the private sector, the firm’s wage and hour lawyers have successfully undertaken traditional class actions in which the class must be certified for groups of misclassified as ‘white collar’ exempt employees to recover overtime pay owed as well as for groups of ‘blue collar’ hourly employees to recover prevailing wages and overtime pay owed.

For public employees, the firm’s litigation lawyers are well versed in the Fair Labor Standards Act (“FLSA”), the federal wage law applicable to public employees. Class Actions or ‘collective actions’ under the FLSA are unique since, unlike traditional state wage law class actions or other traditional federal law class actions, FLSA based actions require each potential class member to affirmatively join or “opt-in” to the lawsuit. This opt-in requirement creates a multitude of other issues and potential complications. Goyette, Ruano & Thompson’s class action lawyers in Sacramento are experienced at handling these FLSA class actions and have handled and continued to handle large FLSA based class actions seeking overtime pay for large groups of public employees.

If you believe you may have a wage and hour claim which is the same or similar to your co-workers or to other employees of the same employer and are asking yourself, “Do I qualify for a class action suit?” or “how to file a class action lawsuit?” contact the class action litigation attorneys at Goyette, Ruano & Thompson for a free evaluation of your potential class action claims.

Civil Litigation Attorneys

If you need a Civil Litigation attorney contact our office to schedule your case evaluation. Call us today at 916 851 1900 or fill out the form below.