Admissions
California
Courts
All California Courts
U.S. District Court for the Central, Northern, and Eastern Districts of California
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
Related Practice Areas
Litigation involving Claims of Harassment, Discrimination and Wrongful Termination
Unfair Business Practices Including Trade Secret Claims
Contract and Fraud Claims
Real Estate Litigation and Construction Defect Claims
Partnership Disputes and Fiduciary Breaches
Education
Lincoln Law School, J.D., 1993
Alumni Trial Advocacy Award
American Board of Trial Advocates Student Trial Advocate of the Year
University of Southern California, B.A., 1988
Christopher F. Wohl, Partner
Christopher Wohl is a Partner at Palmer Kazanjian, and joined the firm in 2006. His litigation practice emphasizes employment and business matters and counseling. Mr. Wohl has conducted trials, mediations and arbitration hearings in a broad range of employment and business cases. He has obtained jury verdicts in federal, California and Nevada trial and appellate courts in employment cases including sexual harassment and discrimination, contract disputes, fraud claims, unfair business practices, partnership disputes, real estate and construction defect claims, and other general civil litigation disputes. Wohl holds the highest rating as a litigator (AV Preeminent*) through Martindale-Hubbell and is also recognized as a Super Lawyer in Northern California.
Business and General Civil Litigation Experience –
Lead counsel in successfully obtaining defense verdict and a judgment on the Cross-Complaint in a breach of contract and fraud action filed in Las Vegas, Nevada (Clark County Superior Court) by plaintiff general contractor against the defendant residential developer. During the two-week trial, the jury rejected all of plaintiff’s claims including the alleged $2 million dollars in damages and instead found in favor of defendant on the Cross-Complaint awarding general and punitive damages. The jury’s verdict was upheld by the Nevada Supreme Court.
Complex breach of contract action in Sacramento County Superior Court between two equal shareholders in a family-owned business. The Plaintiff shareholder alleged the existence of a binding contract to sell his shares that was breached by the other shareholder. The Plaintiff sought approximately $2.5 million dollars in damages based on the stock’s value and other components of the alleged contract to sell. At the conclusion of trial in June of 2017, it was determined that while there was a breach of the contract to sell shares of stock, the breach did not cause the Plaintiff to suffer any damages. Judgment was therefore entered in the nominal sum of $1.00 (one dollar) with the parties bearing their own attorney’s fees and costs.
Defense of the largest manufacturer of concrete roof tile in the United States in a declaratory relief and breach of contract lawsuit filed in Delaware where tens of millions in damages were sought. This case was litigated globally including depositions in Paris, France; Sydney, Australia; Hong Kong, and throughout the United States. This multi-million dollar dispute settled confidentially shortly before trial was to commence in Delaware.
Defense of energy management company CEO in a complex business fraud action by the Plaintiff, an energy finance company, seeking more than $20 million dollars in damages against all defendants; the action settled confidentially through mediation prior to trial.
Sacramento County Superior Court jury verdict after weeks-long trial between business partners litigating claims including fraud, breach of fiduciary duty and breach of contract.
Lead counsel in obtaining defense verdict in favor of a Lake Tahoe business owner following two week jury trial in El Dorado County Superior Court.
Lead counsel in jury verdict in favor of general contractor following a weeklong jury trial in Placer County Superior Court.
Successful prosecution of breach of contract action involving the sale of commercial property after 10 day trial in Alameda County Superior Court.
Successful complex breach of contract arbitration on behalf of multi-family construction general contractor against a subcontractor which also included an award of attorney’s fees and costs.
Obtained verdict following a three day trial on a breach of contract claim involving a breach of contract in Placer County Superior Court.
Obtained defense verdict on behalf of a large commercial insurance company after trial in Contra Costa County Superior Court
Unanimous California Supreme Court decision in O’Riordan v. Federal Kemper Life Assurance, 36 Cal. 4th 281, affirming that an independent agent has a duty to disclose to an insurer any material information he or she has pertaining to a life insurance applicant and that an insurer is deemed to have knowledge of any such facts. Review Case
Obtained settlement on behalf of former owners of a wholesale produce company arising from their $4.1 million dollar sale involving the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act of 1930.
Defended a large swimming pool contractor in a wrongful death action that settled prior to trial.
Employment Litigation Experience –
Oral Argument before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeal in September 2018, on behalf of Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians, owners and operators of the Red Hawk Casino. Shingle Springs appealed the judgment of the Eastern District Court granting Plaintiff Unite Here International Union’s Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings. The Union filed a Petition to Compel Arbitration arising from an arbitration provision within a “neutrality agreement” between Shingle Springs and the Union. The Union alleged that Shingle Springs breached a provision within the “neutrality agreement” when two employees were terminated and therefore the parties were required to arbitrate those personnel matters. Shingle Springs refused to arbitrate on the grounds that: any arbitration over a strictly intramural personnel decision was not arbitrable under the “neutrality agreement; not subject to arbitration prior to the Union establishing majority status, which would be unlawful in violation of Section 8(a)(2) of the National Labor Relations Act as well as similar provisions under the “neutrality agreement;” and also precluded by Tribal law.
Defense Verdict in 2015 trial Sacramento County Superior Court on behalf of large commercial general contractor involving claims by employee for wrongful termination, retaliation and discrimination based on age and alleged disability.
Oral Argument before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeal obtaining a reversal on behalf of Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians owners and operators of the Red Hawk Casino. The former employee filed her lawsuit in state court alleging wrongful termination and related employment claims including an alleged violation of the Family Medical Leave Act (“FMLA”). Shingle Springs removed the Complaint to United States District Court for the Eastern District of California on the basis of that court’s federal question jurisdiction over the FMLA claim and supplemental jurisdiction over the state law claims. Shingle Springs then filed a motion to dismiss the Complaint for lack of subject matter jurisdiction arguing the its sovereign immunity protected it from suit. The district court denied Shingle Springs’ motion on the ground that the it had unequivocally waived its tribal sovereign immunity by removing the action to federal court. Shingle Springs filed an appeal with the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeal arguing that the its removal of a case from state to federal court does not constitute a waiver of its immunity from suit. Following oral argument, the Ninth Circuit reversed the district court’s order in favor of Shingle Spring holding that the act of removal does not express the clear and unequivocal waiver that is required to relinquish its immunity from suit.
Arbitration defense award in 2015 on behalf of local Bank and its CEO/President involving claims brought by the Bank’s former employee for breach of contract, fraud, unfair business practices, and labor code violations.
Defense verdict following two-week jury trial in Sacramento County Superior Court in a partnership dispute involving claims for breach of contract and fraud.
Defended large southern California based private security guard company through trial in Los Angeles County Superior Court in complex wage and hour action filed by a class of employees; the case settled during trial.
Summary adjudication on 10 of 14 Claims in the United States District Court for the Eastern District action on behalf of national title company involving claims for breach of contract, discrimination, wrongful termination, and other employment-related claims.
Jury verdict in favor of fraud investigator involving disability discrimination following a two week trial in Sacramento County Superior Court.
Defended large property management company during two-week jury trial in Sacramento County Superior Court in case involving claims for sexual harassment and wrongful termination.
Jury verdict in United States District for the Eastern District following two-week trial for claims including wrongful termination and sexual harassment.
Defended and prosecuted actions under the Uniform Trade Secrets Act and unfair competition laws.
Lead counsel in defending numerous actions in claims involving sexual harassment, discrimination, wrongful termination, and wage and hour violations.
Professional Activities
Member, Labor and Employment Law Section – California and Sacramento County Bar Associations
Member, Labor and Employment Law – American Bar Association
Member, American Trial Lawyers Association
Member, Rotary Club of Sacramento
Past Board Member, Make-A-Wish Foundation – Northeastern California and Northern Nevada
*AV®, AV Preeminent®, Martindale-Hubbell Distinguished and Martindale-Hubbell Notable are certification marks used under license in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards and policies. Martindale-Hubbell® is the facilitator of a peer-review rating process. Ratings reflect the anonymous opinions of members of the bar and the judiciary. Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Ratings™ fall into two categories - legal ability and general ethical standards.