Meryl C. Maneker is a partner at WTK, where her practice focuses on the defense of class actions as well as the areas of product liability, employment and general business litigation.

In her class action practice, Ms. Maneker has extensive experience defending businesses in cases filed in state and federal court involving a wide range of issues including alleged violation of wage and hour laws, alleged defective products, and consumer claims. She has also defended numerous clients against claims of unfair competition under California’s unique statute, Business & Professions Code section 17200.

Ms. Maneker’s product liability practice focuses on the defense of manufacturers, distributors and retailers of products. Her clients are corporations in a wide range of industries, including the manufacturers of automobiles and medical products.

Ms. Maneker’s employment litigation practice focuses on the defense of employers in lawsuits involving claims of wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment, violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act, leave laws, wage and hour law, and other types of employment-related litigation.

Education

• New York University School of Law – J.D., cum laude, 1988
  Selected for Membership, Order of the Coif
  Articles Editor, Review of Law and Social Change
  Recipient, American Jurisprudence Award, Immigration Law
• Brown University – A.B., History, 1983
  Member, National Service Advisory Committee
  Delegate, United States Air Force Academy Assembly
  Editor, PEMBROKE: A Journal of Feminist Studies

Professional and Community Affiliations

• Lawyers Club of San Diego
  Member, Board of Directors (2008-Present)
  Treasurer (2008-Present)
  Co-Chair, Membership Development Committee (2007-2008)
• U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California
  Lawyer Representative (2008-Present)
  Co-Chair, Lawyer Representative Committee (2009-2010)
• Federal Bar Association
  Member, Government Relations Committee (2005-2008)
  FBA Designee, Merit Selection Committee, Southern District Bankruptcy Judge Position (2007)
  President, San Diego Chapter (2004, 2005)
• American Law Institute
  Member, Members Consultative Group, Principles of the Law of Aggregate Litigation
• Americans Inn of Court, Louis M. Welsh Chapter
  Barrister (2001-2003)
• San Diego County Bar Association
  Member, Leadership Outreach Committee (2008)

Awards and Accolades

• YWCA's 2008 Tribute to Women and Industry (TWIN) Award - Recipient

Publications

• Author, "Litigating Wage and Hour Cases: Defendants' Perspective" and Co-Author, "Mediating Wage and Hour Disputes"
  California Wage and Hour Law and Litigation (Continuing Education of the Bar) (2010)
• Co-Author, “Emerging Issues In Cosmetics and Other Beauty Product Litigation”
  Product Liability Law: Current Law, Strategies and Best Practices (Practising Law Institute) (2009)
• Co-Author, “Women- and Minority-Owned Law Firms: Diversity From The Top Down”
  For The Defense (Defense Research Institute) (July 2008)
• Author, “Defending The No-Injury Product Liability Class Action”
  The Practical Litigator (ALI-ABA) (May 2003)
• Author, “Deceptive Trade Practices Or Deceptive Litigation Practices?”
  Defense Practice Seminar Course Book (Drug and Medical Device Litigation, Defense Research Institute) (April 1999)

Speeches and Teaching Engagements

• Panelist, "Class Communications and Notice" and "Settlement Pitfalls," Second Annual Class Action Symposium, Consumer Attorneys of San Diego (October 23-24, 2009)
• Panelist, “CAFA  and The Federalizing of Class Actions,” Class Action & UCL Conference, Bridgeport Seminars (August 4, 2006)
• Panelist, “Employment Class Actions: Tips for Bringing and Opposing Class Certification Motions,”  Labor and Employment Law Section of the San Diego County Bar Association (July 26, 2006)
• Panelist, “Inaugural Judith N. Keep Federal Civil Practice Seminar,” San Diego Chapter of the Federal Bar Association (September 23, 2005)
• Panelist, “Federal Civil Litigation in California,” Lorman Education Services (July 21, 2005)
• Panelist, “Changes In Class Action Practice Under Rule 23: What You Need to Know,” San Diego Chapter of the Federal Bar Association (November 13, 2003)

Representative Matters

• Negotiated numerous settlements of wage and hour class actions for employers that have included, among other things, allegations of misclassification, violations of meal and rest period requirements, and off-the-clock work and related claims for penalties.
• Successfully opposed certification of a putative class of thousands of non-exempt California employees of national retailer in lawsuit asserting violations of meal and rest period requirements and other wage and hour provisions.
• Obtained dismissal of putative class action, affirmed by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, against pharmaceutical company alleging fraud and invasion of privacy by use of medical history form in job application process.
• Obtained judgment for defendant as second chair in a non-jury trial of an age discrimination and retaliation case.
• Represented automobile manufacturer in class action alleging unfair competition in marketing of mini-vans.
• Obtained summary judgment for national food retailer in breach of contract action brought by former employee.
• Obtained defense verdict as second-chair trial counsel for automobile manufacturer in case alleging wrongful death from roll-over of a sport-utility vehicle.