Senior Associate Michael A. Morguess is a writs and appeals attorney in the Rains Lucia Stern St. Phalle & Silver, PC (“RLS”) Labor Litigation Group. Over the past two decades, Michael has earned an excellent reputation among his peers and the bench, distinguishing himself as a strong legal advocate in public sector labor and employment litigation matters on behalf of labor organizations and individual employees. His practice covers a wide range of public employment issues, including First Amendment and other constitutional rights, collective bargaining, disciplinary matters, and the Public Safety Officers Procedural Bill of Rights Act. As a former research attorney in the Los Angeles Superior Court Writs Department, Michael has developed sought-after expertise in handling petitions for writ of ordinary and administrative mandate. He is frequently contacted by other attorneys to consult on administrative mandate matters and receives the high honor of word-of-mouth client referrals from around the state.

Since 2008, Michael has been certified by the California State Bar as an Appellate Specialist. He has litigated well over one-hundred appeals and has argued more than 75 times to the California Supreme Court, Court of Appeals and Ninth Circuit, and has briefed matters to the United States Supreme Court.

Some of Michael’s published appellate cases include Dahlia v. Rodriguez 735F.3d 1060 (9th Cir. 2013) (en banc) Ellins v. City of Sierra Madre 710 F. 3d 1049 (9th Cir. 2013), Claremont POA v. Claremont (2006) 39 Cal. 4th 623; Bonome v. City of Riverside (2017) 10 Cal. App. 5th 14; Ellins v. City of Sierra Madre (2016) 244 Cal. App. 4th 445; Hughes v. County of San Bernardino (2016) 244 Cal. App. 4th 542; Dept. of Corr. & Rehab. v. St. Pers. Bd. (McCauley) (2015) 238 Cal. App. 4th 710; Sabey v. City of Pomona (2013) 215 Cal. App. 4th 489; Rialto Pol. Benefit Assn v. City of Rialto (2007) 155 Cal. App. 4th 1295; Alhambra POA v. Alhambra (2003) 113 Cal. App. 4th 1413; Upland POA v. Upland (2003) 111 Cal. App. 4th 1294; and Otto v. Los Angeles Unif. Sch. Dist. (2001) 89 Cal. App. 4th 98.

He has also served as an assistant city attorney to several Southern California cities, and as a research attorney for Judge David P. Yaffe in the Writs and Receivers Department of Los Angeles Superior Court.

Michael is admitted to practice in California, Oregon and Washington, as well as the United States Supreme Court, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the United States District Court (Northern, Eastern, Central, and Southern District Courts of California). Michael serves as the current Chair of the Character and Fitness Board of the Washington State Bar Association for its 2021-2022 term.

Michael grew up in New York. He graduated cum laude with a Juris Doctor degree from Western State University College of Law in Fullerton, California.

Disclaimer: Any results set forth herein are based upon the facts of that particular case and do not represent a promise or guarantee.