Practice Areas
Practice Description
Jason McEwen is a Director in the firm’s litigation, labor and employment, and code enforcement departments.
Litigation
As a litigator, Mr. McEwen handles a wide variety of litigation matters for the firm’s public entity clients, including cases involving civil rights, labor and employment, and general tort liability. Mr. McEwen has significant experience in all aspects of civil litigation from case inception through trial and appeal.
Labor & Employment
In addition to representing clients in litigation matters related to labor and employment claims, Mr. McEwen advises the firm’s clients regarding various aspects of employment law, including the Fair Employment and Housing Act, Americans with Disabilities Act, Family Medical Leave Act, the California Peace Officer’s Bill of Rights Act, whistleblower laws, constitutional due process and right to privacy laws. Mr. McEwen also assists clients with workplace investigations into misconduct (including allegations of harassment, discrimination, retaliation, workplace violence, and other allegations of workplace misconduct), and represents clients in administrative hearings and arbitrations.
Code Enforcement
Mr. McEwen also heads the firm’s code enforcement division. In that capacity, he represents public entity clients in a wide variety of litigation and transactional matters related to all aspects of municipal code enforcement, including enforcement of state and local laws pertaining to land use, building standards, and personal conduct. Mr. McEwen serves as city prosecutor for several cities and represents public entities in civil nuisance abatement and administrative enforcement actions. He has handled hundreds of cases from inception through completion, including through appeal. He also regularly appears in court to oppose Pitchess motions aimed at gaining access to confidential peace officer personnel records and has prepared and argued many appellate court writs involving such motions.
Public Law
As a transactional attorney, Mr. McEwen serves as general counsel to a non-profit mutual benefit corporation, regularly advises the firm’s clients on issues related to code enforcement, planning and zoning, and police services, and serves as an independent hearing officer.
Professional Activities
Mr. McEwen is a member of the Orange County Bar Association
Representative Matters
- Obtained a published decision upholding city’s medical marijuana dispensary regulation against federal preemption challenge (City of Palm Springs v. Luna Crest, Inc. (2016) 245 Cal.App.4th 879)
- Successfully defended appellate challenge to city’s medical marijuana regulatory ordinance against state law preemption challenge
- Successful in several petitions to trial courts seeking appointment of health and safety receivers to take control of, and rehabilitate, substandard residential properties
- Involved in the successful closure of hundreds of unlawful businesses, including medical marijuana dispensaries and sexually oriented businesses
- Successful in multiple appellate writ petitions challenging trial court orders compelling disclosure of confidential information from peace officer personnel files
Education
- California Western School of Law (J.D. 2006)
- San Diego State University (B.A. 2003)