Biography

Sandy McDonough specializes in representing employers in all aspects of employment litigation, including union matters, wrongful termination, harassment, discrimination and class action suits. She also regularly advises clients with regard to employment issues, including employee discipline, terminations, leaves of absence, and wage and hour violations.

Prior to joining Paul, Plevin, Sullivan & Connaughton, Ms. McDonough represented public entities in litigation involving the Government Tort Claims Act, civil rights actions, constitutional violations and contract disputes. She also represented insurance carriers with regard to coverage opinions, bad faith actions and declaratory relief actions, and represented entertainment clients in all matters, including film financing, contractual disputes and wrongful termination.

At Paul, Plevin, Sullivan & Connaughton, Ms. McDonough has focused her practice in both the private and public sector, representing, among others, the Regents of the University of California, Rubio’s Restaurants, HSBC Bank, Chapman University, the Trustees of the California State University, the San Diego, Los Angeles, and Orange County Superior Courts, and the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority.

Ms. McDonough has a favorable history of obtaining dismissals at the initial pleading stage and through summary judgment, and has also obtained advantageous settlements in numerous matters, both within and outside the mediation process. She has utilized demurrers or motions to dismiss to obtain dismissal of dozens of matters, and prevailed on summary judgment in a substantial number of matters, as well. She also has a favorable record at the appellate stage, and representing large entities at matters brought to arbitration.

Ms. McDonough is currently an adjunct professor of the Pre-Trial Advocacy class at USC Law School, and was previously an assistant instructor for that course for seven years.  In the course, Ms. McDonough teaches law students such skills as successfully drafting and arguing motions, effective settlement techniques, and the art of depositions. Ms. McDonough also currently teaches masters-level students the legal aspects of human resources management at Webster University.  Finally, Ms. McDonough was a regular contributor to Matthew Bender’s publication entitled “California Labor and Employment Bulletin” for several years.

 Professional Activities

• Member, California Association of Workplace Investigators
• Member, Todd Inn of Court
• Member, California Public Employers Labor Relations Association (CALPELRA)
• Member, San Diego County Bar Association

Recent Speaking Engagements

• Avoiding Legal Pitfalls – Council of Graduate Departments of Psychology (COGDOP), Charleston, South Carolina, 2011
• The Seven Habits of Frequently Sued Managers – CALPELRA Annual Training Conference, 2010
• Special Issues in Public Sector Investigations – California Association of Workplace Investigators (CAOWI), 2010
• Special Issues in Public Sector Investigations – County Counsels' Association of California Employment Law Study Section Conference, 2010
• Avoiding Legal Pitfalls – Council of Graduate Departments of Psychology (COGDOP), San Diego, 2010
• 2011 Legal Update – Paul, Plevin, Sullivan & Connaughton Annual Employment Law Update, 2010
• Conducting Workplace Investigations – CALPELRA Annual Training Conference, 2009
• Working Together to Prevent Workplace Harassment – Various PPS&C Clients, ongoing