Overview

In her practice, Jody A. Landry handles employment litigation matters of a broad variety, including both single plaintiff and class actions, that generally stem from claims of:

  • Overtime misclassification
  • Failure to provide meal/rest breaks
  • Wrongful termination
  • Sexual harassment
  • Employment discrimination
  • Retaliation
  • Breach of contract
  • Other wage and hour violations

Appearing in state and federal courts, she regularly handles class actions involving a variety of wage and hour issues arising under:

  • Fair Labor Standards Act
  • Fair Employment and Housing Act
  • California Labor Code (and Wage Orders)
  • Other California laws

Her notable litigation successes include obtaining defense jury verdicts in cases involving race discrimination/wrongful termination, disability discrimination, sexual harassment, retaliation and overtime pay. She also defeated a class certification on several alleged missed meal period claims.

Jody also handles administrative matters before California's Division of Labor Standards Enforcement and the Department of Fair Employment and Housing. She also spends a great deal of time advising and counseling clients on day-to-day human resource and personnel issues, including:

  • Handbooks
  • Discipline
  • Termination
  • Wage and hour matters
  • Layoffs, pregnancy leave
  • Family and medical leave
  • Employment benefits

Her clients include retailers, service establishments and manufacturing operations.

Jody served on Littler Mendelson's Associate's Committee for six years and on the Firm Nominating Committee for eight years. In law school, she was a member of the University of San Diego Law Review

Selected Matters

Jody has litigated 100+ class and/or PAGA cases. Provided below is a sampling of wage and hour cases where Jody obtained favorable results for clients.

  • In federal court, won summary judgment in a certified class of general managers for retail stores/restaurants for a travel store client.
  • In federal court, defeated class certification on a meal period class action for a car rental business with respect to mechanics, the case was then transferred back to state court where class certification motion was refiled and it was defeated again. Plaintiff appealed and the denial of class certification was upheld on appeal.
  • Defeated class certification on a meal and rest break class for a group of San Diego hospitals in a state court case. The case was appealed which required additional briefing on the class certification motion. The second motion for class certification was also defeated. Another appeal followed and the denial of class certification was upheld on appeal.
  • Defeated class certification on a meal and rest period case for a different car rental business in a federal court action.
  • Won a motion for summary judgment on a federal overtime exemption claim in a putative class/collective action in federal court with respect to claims adjusters for an insurance business. An appeal soon followed and the case resolved through an individual settlement.
  • Convinced counsel in putative class action WARN case that claims were meritless and reached an individual settlement. The defendant was a technology company.

Recognition

Named, Lawyer of the Year

The Best Lawyers in America©

2017, 2021, 2025

Named, The Best Lawyers in America®

2013-2025

Named, Top Lawyer

Labor & Employment

San Diego Magazine

2015

Awarded, AV® Peer Review Rating

Martindale-Hubbell

News, Analysis & Press

Jody Landry Recommends Less Alcohol for Holiday Office Parties

San Diego Business Journal

December 18, 2006

Speaking Engagements

Timely Talk About Wage and Hour Law Regular Rate Perils

May 22, 2018

Mastering the Exasperating: Navigating California’s Leave of Absence Laws

San Diego, CA

June 7, 2013

Education

  • J.D., University of San Diego School of Law, 1986magna cum laude
  • B.A., Pacific Union College, 1983

Bar Admission

California