FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Makarem & Associates filed two sexual harassment lawsuits on September 19th, 2025, in the Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles, against YOGURTLAND FRANCHISING, INC., CG YOGURT, LLC, and GERARDO MELGAR. Case numbers:...
Here To Help Clients To A Better Future
Firm News
When the Ride Turns Dangerous: Understanding Passenger Rights After Rideshare Sexual Harassment
Rideshare services such as Uber and Lyft have transformed the way people travel. Whether commuting to work, heading to the airport, attending social events, or getting home after a night out, millions of passengers rely on rideshare companies every day. The...
More Than a Ride: Holding Uber and Lyft Accountable for Driver Sexual Misconduct Allegations
Rideshare platforms have become a routine part of daily transportation built on speed, accessibility, and convenience. With a few taps, passengers can summon a ride through services like Uber and Lyft and expect to arrive safely at their destination. However, a...
Driven Into Fear: Examining Sexual Harassment and Reporting Failures in the Rideshare Industry
Rideshare services have reshaped modern transportation by making mobility faster, cheaper, and more accessible. Millions of passengers rely daily on platforms like Uber and Lyft to move between work, social events, airports, and home. But beneath the...
Power Dynamics and Retaliation: When Workplace Influence Creates a Hostile Environment
Workplace harassment remains a persistent issue across industries, but its impact is often magnified when power imbalances are involved. When one employee holds authority over another, misconduct can become more difficult to challenge, easier to conceal, and more...
The Residency Power Play: Quid Pro Quo in California Medical Training
Introduction Hospitals, residency programs, and medical training environments operate within highly structured hierarchies where power dynamics can significantly impact the careers and well-being of healthcare workers. Medical residents, fellows, nurses, interns, and...
The “This-for-That” Trap: Understanding Quid Pro Quo in California
The phrase “quid pro quo” literally means “this for that,” and in the workplace context it refers to situations where job benefits or workplace consequences are tied to sexual conduct or inappropriate personal demands. Under California law, quid pro quo sexual...
Flirting Between Colleagues: When Friendly Behavior Crosses Into Abuse of Power
Workplace relationships and friendly interactions are common, but when flirting enters the picture—especially between individuals with unequal power—it can quickly become legally problematic. What may begin as casual or mutual behavior can cross the line into...
Target on the Defensive: The Birkley v. Target Harassment Case
Recent litigation, including the Birkley v Target Center lawsuit of 2025, underscores a growing issue in the retail industry: the use of internal disciplinary systems as tools for harassment and retaliation. Filed in federal court, the case centers on allegations that...
Amazon Warehouse Vulnerability: Fighting “Automated” Harassment in 2026
As retail shifts increasingly toward e-commerce, massive fulfillment centers—like those operated by Amazon—have become central to the workforce. While these environments rely on automation and performance tracking systems, recent legal filings suggest that human...
