Photo of Clarisse C. Petersen

Clarisse C. Petersen is a principal in the Orange County, California, office of Jackson Lewis P.C. She counsels and defends employers in all aspects of employment law, including wrongful termination, harassment, discrimination, retaliation, defamation, disability-related claims, and wage-and-hour violations.

On July 13, 2020, the State of California announced that, due to the surge in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations, the following industries must close indoor operations on a statewide basis:

  • Restaurants
  • Wineries and tasting rooms
  • Movie theaters
  • Family entertainment centers
  • Zoos and museums
  • Cardrooms

Bars, breweries, and pubs are required to close all operations (indoor

The California Court of Appeal, in its recent decision in Schmidt, et al. v. Superior Court, County of Ventura 2020 Cal. App. LEXIS 54 (January 22, 2020), affirmed the trial court’s ruling in favor of the employer, the Ventura County Superior Court.

Two court employees alleged that a security guard employed by a private company