Attorneys
Todd Croutch's nearly 20 year legal practice has involved litigation in a variety of areas such as: personal injury, product liability, employment litigation of sexual harassment, discrimination, retaliation, wage and hour issues, contract and related tort claims, professional liability/malpractice, complex commercial and business matters involving breach of contact, trade secrets, unfair competition/business practices, corporate/partnership disputes and dissolution, and related tort claims, securities, business collection matters, and insurance coverage, subrogation, contribution and bad faith actions at both the trial and appellate level in federal and state courts.
Todd has litigated cases in a wide array of industries such as: healthcare, construction, retail, insurance, manufacturing, transportation, securities, insurance, and real estate. Clients he has represented range from entrepreneurs to publicly traded companies such as: Evanston Insurance Company, Essex Insurance Company, Zurich Insurance Companies, USF&G, Arthur J. Gallagher & Company, Veterinary Care of America, Mar Pizza ( an owner of multiple Dominos Pizza franchises), Huntington Memorial Hospital, Methodist Community Hospital, Windward Capital, SL Reed & Company, and Currie Technologies.
Todd's abilities and successes in employment law are well known in California. Todd has extensive experience in representing management, as well as individual officers, directors and supervisors, and employees in employment litigation. Todd also has advised clients in a variety of labor and employment issues such as employee termination decisions, compliance with non-discrimination laws, investigation of sexual harassment complaints, drug testing, wage and hours issues, and related policies and procedures. Some of his litigation successes include:
- Stevenson v. Huntington Memorial Hospital, one of the seminal California Supreme Court cases on age discrimination, and in which a unanimous defense verdict was obtained.
- DeRuyter v. Methodist Hospital, the issue of religious entity exemption from the California Fair Employment and Housing Act that was before the California Supreme Court.
- Green v. Par Pools, involving allegations of discriminatory failure to equally compensate female employees and allegations of sexual harassment. Todd received a defense judgment and also successfully defended the appeal on the equal pay issue.
- SL Reed/Windward Capital Management v. Christenson and Anderson, a breach of contract and fraud action arising out of the settlement of an underlying employment/business litigation, which resulted in a trial court judgment in favor of Todd's clients on both causes of action and an award of contractual and punitive damages, plus a costs of proof award of over $170,000 for expenses and fees.
As a Partner in the Firm, Todd carries responsibility of supervising other lawyers and staff members, and heads the Firm's practice in matters involving employment and other areas.
Education
San Diego State University, B.S., Business Administration, 1986
Dean's List, top 10% of graduating class
University of New Hampshire, Dean's List
Loyola Marymount University School of Law, Juris Doctor, 1989
Admission to Practice
All Courts of the State of California, 1989
United States District Court, Central District of California, 1989
United States District Court, Southern District of California, 1989
United States Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit, 1989
California Supreme Court, 1989
Past or Present Professional Organizations & Activities
American Bar Association
Member, State Bar of California, Employment Law Section
Lecturer, Employment Litigation, Prevention & Defense Strategies
Panelist, 2002, ABA Advanced Mediation and Advocacy Skills Training, negotiating in the Caucus Stage of Mediation.
Strathmore's Who's Who in Law for 2004-2005