Channel Islands National Park

JONATHAN FRASER LIGHT
Partner

Nordman Cormany Hair & Compton LLP
1000 Town Center Drive
Sixth Floor
Oxnard, California 93036

Direct Dial 805-988-8305
Direct Fax 805-988-7705
Email jlight@nchc.com
vCard download

Professional Experience

With over 25 years of experience serving more than 200 national, regional and local employers in the private and public sector, and with the highest "AV" rating from Martindale-Hubbell, JONATHAN FRASER LIGHT advises clients on day-to-day and incident-related employment matters involving:

  • Wage and hour issues
  • Reviews, discipline, probation and termination
  • Exempt v. non-exempt status
  • Reductions in force/layoffs
  • Harassment and discrimination investigations
  • Personnel handbooks and related documents
  • Substance abuse issues
  • Temporary and leased employee matters
  • Management and non-exempt employee training
  • Protection of proprietary information and trade secrets
  • Arbitration agreements and severance agreements

As a leading attorney in Ventura County’s largest law firm, Jon and the full NCHC team of over 35 lawyers offer full-service legal counsel and employment training programs to companies of all sizes. By working with employers and their employees, NCHC helps clients reduce liability and protect against lawsuits. Services and training include:

  • Periodic employment law updates and free roundtable discussions for small groups
  • Sex harassment training for managers and non-managers
  • Management strategies for hiring, layoffs, reviews, discipline and terminations
  • Strategies for protection of proprietary information and trade secrets

With success as the hallmark of effective litigators, Jon shares with the NCHC litigation team a stellar reputation for results on behalf of clients. His case notes as sole or lead trial attorney include a variety of matters with results in favor of NCHC clients:

  • Two-week jury trial in Santa Barbara on behalf of a large national title company accused of discrimination and wrongful termination. 11-1 verdict in favor of NCHC client.
  • Three-week jury trial in Ventura on behalf of an international aerospace manufacturer and its management employee who were sued for sex harassment. Despite difficult facts, we prevailed on all causes of action (10-2 verdict).
  • In a wrongful termination and slander jury trial, NCHC prevailed on all causes of action on behalf of a Ventura County physician (10-2 verdict).
  • A publicly traded employer was sued for $4 million by an employee claiming breach of contract in Orange County. Our success on motions during trial knocked out the entire lawsuit.
  • A San Diego County trial resulted in a complete defense verdict in a race and sex discrimination action filed against a Los Angeles-based national corporation.
  • Two successful jury trials in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties on behalf of a large international retailer, in which plaintiffs sought damages for wrongful termination and sex harassment.

Mr. Light has proven tough as lead trial counsel in a variety of actions:

  • Four months in trial as lead counsel for the farming family that was a focal point of the Oxnard Dunes Toxic Waste Litigation, the largest civil case in Ventura County history, which ultimately settled.
  • A successful will contest on behalf of the sister of the decedent, who purportedly executed a deathbed will in favor of his estranged wife. Despite an attorney and a doctor claiming that the decedent was competent, we succeeded in invalidating the deathbed will and recovering over $350,000 in real and personal property for the sister.
  • Seven-week jury trial on real estate fraud and misrepresentation claims against a large national real estate broker and its agents. We were successful on all causes of action (11-1 verdict).
  • Representation of a publicly traded real estate investment trust in a shopping center breach of contract claim filed in Los Angeles. We prevailed at trial and recovered real property sufficient to cover the $300,000 debt, despite the defendants’ attempts to block the proceedings in bankruptcy court, two appeals and separate lawsuits in two other counties.

Mr. Light has experience in a variety of jurisdictions:

  • California State Superior and Appellate Courts
  • Federal District and Circuit Courts
  • California Department of Fair Employment & Housing (DFEH)
  • Federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)
  • California Division of Labor Standards Enforcement (Labor Commission)
  • National Labor Relations Board (NLRB)
  • Federal Department of Labor (DOL)
  • Occupational Safety & Hazards Administration (OSHA and Cal/OSHA)
  • Public Agency Hearings/Board Action
  • Other Administrative Hearings
  • Binding and Non-Binding Arbitration
  • Mediation

Community

Beyond frequently lecturing to business groups and civic organizations on employment issues, Jon serves the community where he lives and works as a current or former board member of the Ventura County Bar Association (President, 2007), Ventura County Taxpayers Association, the Ventura County Boy Scout Council (President, 1993-1996), the Channel Islands Ballet, and the Ventura County Medical Resource Foundation (Chairman, 1993-1996).

He is the author of the nationally acclaimed and award-winning book, The Cultural Encyclopedia of Baseball, the Second Edition of which was published in 2005. He is a frequent speaker on Baseball. Jon is the Production Manager for the Footworks Youth Ballet and has coached girls' softball in Camarillo. He is also a member of the National Eagle Scout Association.

Education

Jon is a 1981 graduate of the UCLA School of Law, where he was a member of the Law Review. He graduated magna cum laude in history from UCLA in 1978, and is a 1986 graduate of the National Institute for Trial Advocacy.

Personal

Jon Light lives in Camarillo with his wife of 24 years, Angela, and their 16-year-old twin daughters, Katherine and Elena.