Ray E. Boggess represents and advises employers in all aspects of employment law. He defends employers in cases at both the trial court and appellate level in matters involving wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment, breach of contract, wage and hour laws, and other related claims.
Ray has been successful in obtaining multiple summary judgment wins for employers. He also has wide-ranging trial experience, from multiple jury and bench trials, to private arbitrations and administrative hearings. For example, Ray obtained a complete defense verdict for an employer following a two-week jury trial of a wrongful termination case in the Los Angeles Superior Court. Similarly, Ray obtained a complete arbitration award, which was confirmed by the Orange County Superior Court, for an employer accused of engaging in severe sexual harassment over the course of several years.
Ray also represents employers in traditional labor matters. He defends employers in labor arbitrations related to discipline, discharges, and collective bargaining agreement disputes.
Ray also focuses on defending employers in high-risk, complex, and class action employment litigation. Specifically, he has defended employers facing class and collective actions involving allegations of off-the-clock work, meal and rest break claims, overtime and termination pay issues, unfair competition, and claims for penalties under the California Private Attorneys General Act (“PAGA”). Ray’s successes include defeating class certification, securing the dismissal of class action claims on the pleadings, and obtaining a variety of victories at the trial court and appellate levels.
Ray earned his law degree from the University of California, Los Angeles, where he participated in the National Sexual Orientation Law Moot Court Competition and served on the Executive Board of the National Sexual Orientation Law Moot Court Competition. While in law school, he also served as a mentor in the UCLA EASE-In Program, where he assisted foster youth, ages 13-15, in the Los Angeles area.
Before joining Payne & Fears LLP, Ray served as a law clerk for the Orange County Superior Court. Ray is proficient in Portuguese.