Ashcroft v. Iqbal

Holding that a claim is plausible where a plaintiff's allegations enable the court to draw a "reasonable inference" the defendant is liable

Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly

Holding that a complaint's allegations should "contain sufficient factual matter, accepted as true, to 'state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face' "

Univ. of Tex. Sw. Med. Ctr. v. Nassar

Holding that application of the " ‘because’ of" requirement of Title VII's antiretaliation provision requires proof of "but-for" causation

Moss v. U.S. Secret Service

Holding that the court lacked jurisdiction over the district court's deferral of the summary judgment motion

Starr v. Baca

Holding that a series of investigative reports documenting systemic deficiencies in a jail put the defendant-supervisor on notice of the risk of the harm that befell the plaintiff

Balistreri v. Pacifica Police Dept

Holding that a cognizable gender discrimination claim could be brought by a female domestic violence victim where the victim alleged police denied protection and made misogynistic comments including that "he did not blame [the victim's] husband for hitting her, because of the way she was 'carrying on'"

Guz v. Bechtel National, Inc.

Holding that an implied covenant "cannot be endowed with an existence independent of its contractual underpinnings. It cannot impose substantive duties or limits on the contracting parties beyond those incorporated in the specific terms of their agreement."

Whittlestone, Inc. v. Handi-Craft Co.

Holding that a motion to dismiss under Rule 12(b) is the appropriate means of disposing of an improper claim for relief

Yanowitz v. L'Oreal USA Inc.

Holding that to establish a "protected activity," an "employee's communications to the employer [must] sufficiently convey the employee's reasonable concerns that the employer has acted or is acting in an unlawful discriminatory manner."

Western Min. Council v. Watt

Holding the Court should not "assume the truth of legal conclusions merely because they are cast in the form of factual allegations"

Rule 12 - Defenses and Objections: When and How Presented; Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings; Consolidating Motions; Waiving Defenses; Pretrial Hearing

Granting the court discretion to exclude matters outside the pleadings presented to the court in defense of a motion to dismiss

Rule 8 - General Rules of Pleading

Holding that "[e]very defense to a claim for relief in any pleading must be asserted in the responsive pleading. . . ."

Section 12102 - Definition of disability

Recognizing ADA claim where plaintiff is "regarded as" disabled

Section 3294 - When damages recoverable for sake of example and by way of punishment; employer liability for acts of employee; death from homicide

Stating plaintiff may recover punitive damages "in addition to the actual damages"

Section 12940 - Unlawful employment practices

Failing to prevent sexual harassment

Section 3600 - Generally

Noting that liability for compensation under California's Workers’ Compensation Act is "in lieu of any other liability whatsoever to any person "

Section 2922 - Termination at will of either party

Stating where an employment has no specified term, it "may be terminated at the will of either party on notice to the other."

Section 3200 - Workmen's compensation known as workers' compensation

Section 12926 - Definitions in connection with unlawful practices

Providing examples of "reasonable accommodation"

Section 11065 - Definitions

Defining essential and marginal functions

Section 11019 - Terms, Conditions and Privileges of Employment

Defining harassment

Section 11034 - Terms, Conditions, and Privileges of Employment