Morgan Lewis

Jason S. Mills

Partner

Jason S. Mills represents employers in the full range of employment-related claims, the defense of OSHA citations, and putative wage-hour class actions. Jason's broad experience as a trial lawyer includes defending employers in multiple jury trials addressing wrongful termination, discrimination, and disability claims. He also has bench trial experience, including a trial addressing Cal-WARN claims asserted under California Private Attorneys' General Act and numerous trials addressing workplace safety citations brought under federal OSHA and various state OSHA plans.

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Labor & Employment NOW
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    Extended Profile

    Jason has litigated every aspect of an employment—related claim at every employee level, from front-line worker to company executive. Jason has had significant success winning complicated cases at the summary judgment stage and, significantly, he is always prepared to take a matter to trial. 

    Jason has also defended against OSHA citations issued by federal OSHA, California OSHA, Washington OSHA, and all other West Coast state OSHA plans. He has investigated and defended against citations in virtually every industry, including utility, pipelining, construction, manufacturing, warehousing, medical, automotive, defense, and retail employers. Jason is a frequent speaker on OSHA issues and a contributor to various OSHA-related publications.

    Jason’s employment experience also includes defending against wage and hour putative class actions. He has prevailed on summary judgment on novel wage and hour claims, defeated class certification in various matters (including a notable victory in a security line case), and prevailed in a bench trial of a PAGA representative action by convincing the court that no PAGA penalties should be awarded. 

    While Jason devotes virtually all of his time to trial-court litigation, he also has argued before the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.

    Jason leads the firm’s labor and employment practice in the Los Angeles and Century City offices. He also serves as the pro bono chair for the Los Angeles and Century City offices and maintains a vibrant pro bono practice.

    Prior to joining Morgan Lewis, Jason was a commissioned officer in the United States Marine Corps, serving as a judge advocate at Camp Pendleton, California. In that role, he prosecuted and defended more than 250 individuals in Marine Corps courts-martial and litigated to verdict numerous jury trials. During a seven-month tour in Iraq, Jason prosecuted on behalf of First Marine Division operating in the Al Anbar province, prosecuting courts-martial in a hostile combat environment. He completed his five-year service at the rank of captain in 2005.

    Education

    • University of California, San Diego, 1996, B.A., With Distinction
    • University of Minnesota Law School, 1999, J.D., Cum Laude

    Admissions

    • Arkansas
    • California

    Awards and Affiliations

    Member, Practice Group of the Year, Labor & Employment, Law360 (2017)

    Finalist, The Recorder’s Litigation Department of the Year – Labor and Employment (2013)

    Listed, "Rising Star," Southern California Super Lawyers (2009–2014)

    Recipient, Two Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals for Superior Service While Serving as a Judge Advocate in Camp Pendleton and Iraq

    Publications

    December 14, 2017 (Updated December 21, 2017) - Update: December 31 Is Last Day To File Your 2016 Form 300A Data

    12/5/2016 - Cal/OSHA Inspections: Managing the Process to Position the Company for Success

    5/16/2016 - OSHA Electronic Recordkeeping Rule Creates Significant Reporting Requirements, Potential Enforcement Risks

    9/23/2014 - New OSHA Reporting Mandate Includes Single Employee Hospitalization

    6/6/2014 - OSHA’s Knocking – Got Counsel? - Bender's California Labor & Employment Bulletin, Vol 2014, No. 6

    July 2012 - Bad Facts, Entrenched Parties, and Imminent Trial? Maybe General Grant Can Help, Bender’s California Labor & Employment Bulletin, Vol. 2012, No. 7

    November 2011 - The Military Strategist’s Guide to Trial: The “Reserve Force,” Bender’s California Labor & Employment Bulletin, Vol. 2011, No. 11

    June 2011 - Looking at Trial Through the Eyes of a Military Strategist, Bender’s Labor & Employment Bulletin, Vol. 2011, No. 6

    May 2011 - Looking at Trial Through the Eyes of a Military Strategist, Bender’s California Labor & Employment Bulletin, Vol. 2011, No. 5

    News

    10/3/2018 - California Seeks to Take Up Mantle on Workplace Safety Reporting from OSHA, Business Insurance*

    9/1/2018 - OSHA Rule Change Falls Short for Employers, Business Insurance

    2/1/2018 - 18 Legal Tips: Handling OSHA Citations the Right Way, Intelivert

    7/16/2014 - Clarks Shoes to Step Over California Unpaid Wages Class Action, Law360

    6/27/2013 - Morgan Lewis Promotes Seventeen Lawyers to Partnership

    Events

    3/7/2017 - 2017 Midwinter Meeting of the ABA Occupational Safety and Health Law Committee

    10/18/2016 - Cal/OSHA Summit 2016: Leading-Edge Strategies for Exceptional Safety Management and Compliance in California

    5/10/2016 - The Use of Criminal Records in Hiring Compliance Risk and Opportunity