OUR PEOPLE

Kenneth M. Jones

Kenneth M. Jones

Partner / Los Angeles

linkedin phone 213-237-2402 vcard vCard email kjones@fordharrison.com

Ken's legal practice is solely focused on the representation of management in labor and employment law matters. 

Throughout Ken's career of more than 30 years practicing law, he has successfully represented business organizations in a wide range of labor and employment matters, including claims for wrongful termination, discrimination (based on disability, race, national origin, and sex), retaliation, harassment and violation of wage and hour standards. Ken has represented clients in both state and federal court, as well as before administrative agencies on the state and federal level. He often resolves cases and obtains favorable settlements on behalf of his clients at mediation. 

Ken often conducts workplace investigations and provides advice and counsel to employers and managers. He also enjoys lecturing and speaking at seminars, and has presented a wide variety of topics for the National Bar Association, the Langston Bar Association and the California Association of Black Lawyers.

Prior to joining FordHarrison, Ken was a Partner in the Los Angeles office of a boutique business law firm where he chaired the firm's labor and employment department and concentrated his practice in the areas of employment law, business disputes, product liability, and civil rights and public entity defense.

Representative Experience
  • Obtained defense verdict in jury trial against claims of race discrimination and wrongful termination by an African American insurance marketing professional. Plaintiff claimed that just before termination his supervisor sent him a racially derogatory photograph and revoked his authority for handling large accounts. Verdict was published as national “Case of Note” in Verdict Search and “Defense Verdict of the Week” in the Daily Journal.
     
  • Obtained summary judgment and a finding that the lawsuit was frivolous in favor of the County against claims by an HR investigator who sued for FEHA disability discrimination, failure to engage in the interactive process and failure to accommodate based upon her visual impairment and job-related injuries to upper extremities, claiming the performance standards were unreasonable.
     
  • Represented police department supervisor sued by police officers in three successive lawsuits for discrimination, harassment, and retaliation related to denial of promotions over a 10-year period. Obtained summary judgment for supervisor and successfully defended appeal. Lead counsel in two jury trials. In first trial prevailed on plaintiffs’ discrimination claims. In second trial Plaintiff obtained a modest verdict on retaliation claim; however, obtained a complete reversal on appeal based upon the same arguments originally asserted in defense JNOV motion. Obtained $70,000 plus cost judgment against plaintiff.
     
  • Obtained a summary judgment for employer on all claims brought by a Hispanic male over 40 who sued for race and age discrimination, and retaliation, after his position was eliminated during a reduction of force and he was not hired for an open position.
     
  • Represented a bank sued by the bank manager for race discrimination and retaliation after he was terminated for violation of bank expense reimbursement policy. Case settled for nominal amount upon plaintiff attorney’s receipt of defendant’s summary judgment motion.
     
  • Defended real estate broker and numerous related business entities in consolidated actions asserting claims for fraud, fraudulent transfers, and violation of Business & Professions Code, etc., relating to sales of undeveloped desert land. Defeated four motions for class certification. Case settled for nominal amount on second day of two-week bench trial when trial judge indicated that plaintiff’s fraud claims were unfounded.
     
  • Defended hundreds of breaches of warranty (lemon law cases). Obtained a nonsuit in one such case, and successfully defended the appeal that resulted in a published decision.
     
  • Achieved defense jury verdict for City in a 28 USC 1983 case arising from schoolteacher/minister’s allegations of unlawful arrest and excessive force by police officers. Tried case while the City police force was focus of intense media attention regarding a videotaped assault of African American teenager.
  • Prosecuted numerous False Claims Act actions for Section 8 fraud, including one action against housing authority employee who violated Section 8 and ethics rules. Settled case for restitution and penalties.
  • Represented international beverage company as local counsel in a Lanham Act case brought by competitor for claimed false advertising related to a juice product. Responsible for devising and implementing discovery and assisting in law and motion and trial strategy.
     
  • Prosecuted former executive of insurance company and his daughter for embezzlement of over $250,000 by way of fraudulent vendor invoicing scheme. Arbitration award issued in favor of client on all claims.
     
  • Obtained a defense verdict for automobile manufacturer in a case brought by a police officer for alleged braking system failure. Persuaded the court to exclude evidence of a 60 Minute exposé involving brake failures in the same truck model and proved that excessive speed caused the plaintiff’s accident and injuries.
     
  • Obtained a defense verdict for an automobile manufacturer for fire damage to a garage and house of a customer as a result of an alleged defective ignition component. The subject vehicle had been recalled for defects in the ignition which could cause vehicles to catch fire while the engine was turned off.
  • Represented renowned recording artist and music publisher in massive copyright infringement case relating to alleged unlawful sampling of works from music catalogue of George Clinton. Obtained dismissal of all counts without payment of any damages or attorney’s fees and assisted in negotiation of new licenses for the subject sampled works.
Education
  • Loyola Law School
    J.D., 1988
  • Oberlin College
    B.A., 1980
Services
Memberships
  • California State Bar Labor & Employment Section, Member
  • John Langston Bar Association, Member
  • State Bar Litigation Committee, Former Member
  • National Bar Association, Member
  • California State Bar Litigation Section, Member
Bar Admissions
  • California
Court Admissions
  • U.S. District Court for the Central District of California
  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California
  • U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California
  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit