On April 12, 2012, the California Supreme Court issued its long awaited opinion in Brinker Restaurant Corp. v. Superior Court of San Diego. The opinion clarifies employer’s meal break obligations under California labor law. According to the Court, an employer satisfies its obligation to provide employees with a thirty minute uninterrupted meal break when "it relieves its employees of all duty, relinquishes control over their activities and permits them a reasonable opportunity to take an uninterrupted thirty minute break, and does not impede or discourage them from doing so." If an employee wants to work through her break, she may. However, when the employer knew or should have known the employee worked through her break, the employer will be responsible for paying the employee for the time worked during the break. What this means for employers:

• Policy: Employers must maintain a meal break policy and breaks must be recorded.


• Enforcement: Employers do not have to police their employees, but must make meal breaks available. Employers cannot pressure employees to skip breaks.


• Effect: If an employee chooses not to take a break, or shortens her break, the employer will not owe a penalty. However, the employee must get paid for the time worked.


• Communication: Communication is key – it is crucial for employers to know whether employees are working through meal breaks, to ensure employees are paid for their work and that overtime is not triggered as a result of the extra time.

Atticus Finch, the attorney in Harper Lee’s novel To Kill a
Mockingbird, inspired Jeannette Witten to become an attorney by holding high
moral standards and staying true to his values. Flash forward to find Witten as
a shareholder in the Monterey law firm Parravano Witten PC. Witten specializes
in business law, particularly commercial transactions, corporate governance and
intellectual property. She says growing up in a family that owned numerous
small businesses made her aware from an early age of the worries and concerns
that come with entrepreneurship. “My job is to make sure my clients have a
strong legal foundation and every opportunity for success and growth,” she
says. “I bank on their success and the long term relationship of continuing
legal needs as they grow—not a quick buck.” She does a variety of pro bono
work, writes a wine law blog, runs marathons and is actively involved in her
community. For example, she’s on the board of the Court Appointed Special
Advocates, a nonprofit that helps kids who have to go to court.

Check out the Monterey County Weekly

Parravano Witten is hosting a reception this evening
providing attendees an opportunity to preview the beautiful painting generously
donated by Galerie Rue Royale Carmel which will be auctioned at the CASA Gala
next weekend.

SAVE THE DATE

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 29th

‎Parravano Witten PC is sponsoring the hottest Halloween Event in town! As a founding board member of The Offset Project, Jeannette Witten has helped establish this great Halloween Fundraiser to be held at Cannery Row Brewing Company Saturday, October 29th. All proceeds go directly to the Offset Project. 

IT’S A HALLOWEEN BASH!
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 29, 9 TO CLOSE
Mega (free-to-enter) Costume Contest:
1st Place $250 CRBC Cash, CRBC Cash for 2nd & 3rd Runner-ups too!
HAPPY HOUR DRINKS ALL NIGHT LONG with a $10 Donation to The Offset Project
DANCE TO DJ HANIF UPSTAIRS ✯ ROCK OUT TO BLINDING NEMO DOWNSTAIRS STELLAR RAFFLE BENEFITING THE OFFSET PROJECT with MAJOR GIVEAWAYS
including Kona Brand Cruiser Bike, 49ers Tickets, Snowboard Bindings and thousands of dollars in Gift Certificates
BOBBING FOR APPLES AND SO MUCH MORE!

At Parravano Witten
PC we celebrate the arts throughout the year but October,
National Arts and Humanities Month, will be special. 

Please join
Parravano Witten PC and Steven Whyte's
Sculpture Studio and Gallery, Carmel, CA at the private
exhibition opening: 

Mark your calendars! Exhibition Date is Thursday,
October 6th at 5 p.m.

198 Bonifacio
Place, Monterey

RSVP by
September 29th to: wwitten@parravanowitten.com

MONTEREY, CA 
(December 21, 2010)   Parravano Witten PC, a professional law
corporation dedicated to delivering practical, business-focused
solutions for clients, announced today that the firm has hired a new
team member Elizabeth Stevens as an associate attorney.

Most recently Stevens worked for Americans United For Separation For Church and State in Washington DC.

As an undergraduate, Stevens studied international political economy at Georgetown University in Washington, DC,
where she met her husband, Sean.  On graduation, Stevens was
commissioned as a naval officer and served on active duty for 3.5 years
in the cryptology field, primarily in San Diego.  She left the Navy to attend law school, then moved back to DC when Sean, who is a Navy helicopter pilot, was transferred there.

She served as a law clerk for Chief Judge Royce Lamberth of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, then as a litigation fellow at Americans United, a public-interest organization, where she focused on First Amendment issues.  They moved to Monterey earlier this year when Sean received orders to the Naval Postgraduate School.  Stevens is licensed in both California and DC, and her practice at Parravano Witten embraces general civil and
business litigation, business transactions and formations, and estate planning and administration.

She loves running, cycling, hiking, and essentially any outdoor activity that enables her to enjoy the phenomenal beauty of the Monterey Peninsula, and she is a keen follower of national and international politics and public-policy issues.

Support local charities by taking a hike and enjoying the sunshine this weekend. Check out www.hikeforcharity.com.

The month long exhibition of 10 unique photographs will take place June 1st – June 31st at Parravano Witten PC, Professional Law Corporation at 198 Bonifacio Place in Monterey and will feature the underwater photography of Scott Campbell.

The exhibition will be open every Tuesday from 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. for complim...entary public viewing. For more information call (831) 373-0486.

Ron and Jeannette have long been supporters and runners of the Big Sur International Marathon.  Jeannette will run the marathon on Sunday, April 26, 2009.  She is running in support of Will Power Research Fund www.willpowerresearchfund.com a nonprofit organization helping to raise funds to fight brain cancer.

Pick up your copy of the Monterey County Weekly's 20th Anniversary Edition.  Congratulaitons MC Weekly!

Sunday, September 28, 2008: Colleague of the Arts annual September Salon at the Conway home. Join COTA for an authentic Afghan dinner prepared by host Peterson Conway and support the talent youth of Monterey County (www.colleaguesofthearts.org).

Tuesday, September 30, 2008: Parravano Witten PC hosts 2^nd Annual Open House in conjunction with a Monterey County Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting in celebration of the opening of Parravano Witten’s new expanded office at 198 Bonifacio Place, Monterey, California.  Please join us for lovely local wines and scrumptious hors d’oeuvres for 4PM to 6PM.