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.
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 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, Employment, Law360 (2017, 2019)
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