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Chaleff Rehwald, The Premiere Caregiver Rights Law Firm, Expands in 2020 to Become Chaleff Rehwald Peterson! CHALEFF REHWALD, the leading law firm representing caregivers in wage theft actions, is expanding in 2020. We are happy to announce the addition of our new partner, Lauren Peterson. With Ms. Peterson’s addition, Chaleff Rehwald will become, Chaleff Rehwald Peterson. For the past 4-years, we have devoted ourselves to helping in-home and facility caregivers who have been the victims of wage theft. Through effective advocacy, we have recovered tens of millions of dollars in unpaid overtime for underpaid and overworked caregivers. We are recognized for scholarship in the area of caregiver rights and are known in the industry as tenuous litigators of wage theft cases. Our passion is driven by the simple fact that we represent clients who both deserve and need our help. Ms. Peterson’s elevation to partner represents a continuation and expansion of the firm’s core mission of obtaining justice for caregivers. Ms. Peterson has been employed as an associate attorney with the firm for over 6 years. She was there at the beginning, when the firm recognized the urgent need for caregiver rights advocates. She was instrumental in developing the legal theories and litigation strategies of our practice that
has made the firm wildly successful in helping caregivers. Ms. Peterson leads the firm’s practice representing caregivers who work for Residential Care Facility for the Elderly (“RCFE”). This area of law could be described as a niche within a niche. The rules and standards governing RFCE caregivers are different, and arguably more intricate, than the rules that govern domestic caregivers, providing oneon-one care. More importantly, litigating RFCE caregiver overtime cases requires an entirely different strategy and approach. Working on these cases has also forced Mrs. Peterson to expand her core competencies beyond caregiver rights, and into such diverse areas as fraudulent trans-
fers and bankruptcy law. While a challenging practice area, helping RFCE caregivers is vital, as many RFCE owners engage in wage theft purely for profit, knowing full well that they are violating the law. We see bad operators prey on economically desperate caregivers, many of whom are undocumented, believing that these individuals will not stand up for their rights. Ms. Peterson has proven this assumption wrong and held these bad operators accountable for their unlawful wage theft. Ms. Peterson’s sense of justice and passion for assisting marginalized members of society has made her a fiercely impactful litigator, one who is respected and feared by the defense bar. Chaleff Rehwald Peterson is also
expanding in other ways. We have added two new law clerks to support the attorneys in handling their caseloads. Alexandria Fish and Cara Crofts are both recent law school graduates who are excited to make a positive change in the domestic worker community. Under the supervision of attorneys, they assist the lawyers at Chaleff Rehwald Peterson with the day-to-day aspects of litigation, mediation and settlement. They allow Chaleff Rehwald Peterson to more effectively and efficiently represent caregivers. Chaleff Rehwald Peterson also released a new website in 2020, that is focused on providing caregivers the information they need to stand up for their rights. www.caregiverovertime.com More efficient, hungry and energized than ever, Chaleff Rehwald Peterson is devoted to making 2020 “The Year of The Caregiver.” It is estimated that there are over 300,000 domestic workers in the state. If just a small percentage of those caregivers take a stand against wage theft in 2020, and pursue claims, we firmly believe that the industry will be changed for good! Be part of the movement that changes an industry! Put a stop to domestic caregiver wage theft!
This article is an attorney advertisement written by Daniel Chaleff, employment law attorney at Chaleff Rehwald Peterson in Woodland Hills. Our examples are of a general nature and are not a guarantee regarding the outcome of your individual matter. The law firm focuses on caregiver rights. Please call us at (818) 807-4168 for a free and confidential consultation. Or visit us at www.caregiverovertime.com to learn more about caregiver overtime law. We offer a 24-hour chat line on our website.
GLOBAL NEWS
Covid-positive Filipino in Hong Kong recovers By JOYCE ANN L. ROCAMORA
MANILA — Another Filipino has recovered from the highly-contagious coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) in Hong Kong, the Philippine Consulate General reported on Friday. In a statement, the Philippine Consulate General in Hong Kong said the Filipino was certified Covid-19 free and discharged from the hospital on March 20. At present, only one Filipino Covid-19 positive patient remains at a hospital in isolation and the Consulate General is extending all necessary assis-
tance. "Let us continue to remain vigilant and together we can win the fight against Covid-19!!! Mabuhay ang mga nagkakaisang Pinoy sa Hong Kong (Long live the united Pinoy in Hong Kong)," the Consulate General said. Meanwhile, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) reported that two Filipinos tested positive for the Covid-19 in Singapore, bringing to 13 the total number of confirmed Filipino cases in the city-state.
"Through the information from the Singaporean Ministry of Health, the embassy confirms that the 12th and 13th Filipino nationals who were confirmed positive with Covid-19 are currently confined in hospitals," the DFA told reporters. Of the 13 Filipinos who contracted the disease, two have already been discharged. The Philippine embassy in Singapore remains in close coordination with local authorities and stands ready to help the remaining patients. (PNA)
US visa appointments postponed IN response to the Covid-19 measures implemented by the government, the United States Embassy in Manila has also suspended its rou-
By MELDA GUERRA
tine immigrant and nonimmigrant visa appointments and notarial services beginning March 16. “All applicants should monitor their e-mail address on record for visa appointment updates. We will resume routine services as soon as possible but are unable to provide a specific date at this time,” the Embassy said in a statement. But it reminded that the Machine Readable Visa (MRV) fee is valid and may be used for a visa application in the country where it was purchased within one year of the date of payment. “There is no fee to change an appointment and visa application fees are valid for one year in the country where the fee was paid,” it said. (Source: US Embassy Manila)
Duque on home quarantine HEALTH Secretary Francisco Duque 3rd on Thursday quarantined himself after a department official tested positive for the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19). “Yes, Secretary Duque is on home quarantine, but currently asymptomatic,” said Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire in a text message Thursday. Vergeire also said Duque has underlying conditions like asthma and hypertension. “He has already been tested for Covid-19 as he is asthmatic and hypertensive,” she said. The result of the test on the 63-year-old Duque will be known in two to three days. Given his conditions and age, the Health chief is considered vulnerable to the respiratory disease, whose fatalities are mostly old people, people with other illnesses, or both. Vergeire also confirmed on Tuesday that a DoH director from their central office tested positive for the new coronavirus. As of noon Thursday, the Philippines has 202 confirmed Covid cases, with 17 deaths and seven patients recovered. The DoH on Thursday reported 15 new cases, pushing the count to 217 from 215 on Wednesday. The DoH also announced another case of recovery, bringing that count to eight. A 48-year-old from Cavite, tagged as PH20, was admitted at the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine in Muntinlupa City on March 7. He has since been discharged after testing negative for the virus twice, but the DoH did not say when. There are 338 persons under investigation for Covid-19 in the country, either confined in government-chartered hospitals or in home quarantine. The DoH also has 2,825 people under DUQUE III monitoring. (TMT)