Van Dermyden Maddux Law Corporation

Investigative Law Firm in Sacramento, California

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  • Our Team
    • Sue Ann Van Dermyden – Senior Partner, AWI-CH
    • Deborah Maddux – Senior Managing Partner, Sacramento, AWI-CH
    • Nikki Hall – Managing Partner, San Rafael
    • Justin Kochan – Partner, AWI-CH
    • Jennifer A. Doughty – Senior Associate Attorney
    • Carrie A. McFadden – Senior Associate Attorney
    • Liz Paris – Senior Associate Attorney
    • Brendan M. Brownfield – Senior Associate Attorney, AWI-CH
    • Erich A. Knorr – Senior Associate Attorney, AWI-CH
    • Lindsay E. Ingham – Associate Attorney, AWI-CH
    • Matthew D. Rose – Associate Attorney
    • Carl C. Larson – Associate Attorney, AWI-CH
    • Lauren R. Becker – Associate Attorney, AWI-CH
    • Linh L. Luong – Associate Attorney, AWI-CH
    • Tessa N. Nevarez – Associate Attorney, AWI-CH
    • Maureen Dahl – Associate Attorney
    • Katherine Guilford – Associate Attorney
    • Mary Ann Demos – Senior Case Editor and Paralegal
    • Sarah Treseler – Case Editor
    • Lisa Mabie – Case Editor
    • Jennifer M. Maguire – Chief Operating Officer
    • Atoosa Vossoughi – Bookkeeper
    • Cristina Watson – Front Desk Coordinator
    • Theresa A. Phillips – Investigation Program Developer
  • Services
    • Workplace Investigations Services
    • Title IX Investigations Services
    • Title IX: Training for Employees Responsible for Compliance and Investigations
    • Title IX Hearing Officer Services
    • Employer and Employee Training
    • Expert Witness Services
    • Arbitration and Hearing Officer Services
    • Mediation and Resolution Services
  • FAQ
  • News/Events
    • Speaking Events
  • Careers
  • Contact

Workplace Investigations Services

 

Workplace investigations provide employers with an effective tool to make informed employment decisions. Workplace investigations provide employees with a forum to raise sensitive issues. In some cases, it is required by law. In others, it is the wisest action. We can help.

We are impartial investigators of complex workplace matters:

  • Discrimination
  • Harassment
  • Retaliation
  • Specialized disability and accommodation issues
  • Defamation
  • Improper governmental activities
  • Whistleblower allegations
  • Performance or misconduct issues
  • Wage And Hour Violations
  • Conflict of interest
  • Embezzlement
  • Violence
  • Corporate Fraud
  • Assault and Battery
  • Ethics and Compliance
  • Internal Affairs Investigations: Public Safety Officers Procedural Bill of Rights Act (POBR) and Firefighters Procedural Bill of Rights (FBOR) investigations

 

Impartial, really?

For transparency’s sake, let’s address the hard question. It is a common fear that outside investigators are biased. After all, they are paid by the employer. We understand. It is a legitimate fear. It assumes, however, that the employer has a preconceived outcome, that the investigator knows it, and that the investigator acts in bad faith to satisfy that preconceived outcome. Because our integrity and reputation depend on it, we practice in a way that avoids any appearance of or actual bias. That means we have no interest in the outcome of the investigation. How do we prove it? In part, by a thorough, credible analysis of the facts that shows the reader the reasoned conclusions.

This does not always mean that every party involved in the investigation will agree with our conclusions. It does mean that we take our job seriously, that we respect the parties and that we want to get it right.

How do we get it right?

Experience.

The VM team of attorney investigators have conducted thousands of investigations for public and private employers, as well as in schools, colleges and universities. The majority of those investigations involve discrimination, harassment, retaliation, misconduct or other civil rights allegations. Our attorneys also have extensive experience conducting Title IX investigations.

Witnesses and Experts.

Together, the partners have testified as experts and witnesses in all legal forums.

Hard work.

The Firm’s success is built on hard work. Continuing to educate and be educated, the attorneys are up-to-date on all relevant cases and law that affect their investigative work.

A Stellar Team.

This women-owned firm is the only California law firm to establish a team of experienced attorneys, paralegals and legal assistants who focus on neutral work and workplace investigations.

Involvement.

Association of Workplace Investigators (AWI) is a non-profit organization wholly dedicated to workplace investigations – the first of its kind in the nation. Sue Ann is a founding member, a board member, an officer, the Education Committee chairperson and otherwise active in and dedicated to this cutting-edge, rapidly-growing organization.

We use proven investigative techniques to gather detailed facts, analyze relevant data, and provide sound, reasoned conclusions.

In the end, we provide the decision-maker with a tool to make the hard decisions. The Firm’s investigative reports are comprehensive and complete the good faith investigative process.

So, whether you have a straightforward sexual harassment claim, or a complex, politically sensitive or highly publicized matter, we can help. From northern California to southern California, we want to help you solve problems and foster stronger working relationships.

About Us

Van Dermyden Maddux Law is an investigations law firm, dedicated to conducting workplace and Title IX campus investigations in California and Nevada.

VM Law is a Certified Small Business and Women-Owned business in California.

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Our Team

Sue Ann Van Dermyden
Senior Partner, AWI-CH
Deborah Maddux
Senior Managing Partner, Sacramento, AWI-CH
Nikki Hall
Managing Partner, San Rafael
Justin Kochan
Partner, AWI-CH
Jennifer A. Doughty
Senior Associate Attorney
Carrie A. McFadden
Senior Associate Attorney
Liz Paris
Senior Associate Attorney
Brendan M. Brownfield
Senior Associate Attorney, AWI-CH
Erich A. Knorr
Senior Associate Attorney, AWI-CH
Lindsay E. Ingham
Associate Attorney, AWI-CH
Matthew D. Rose
Associate Attorney
Carl C. Larson
Associate Attorney, AWI-CH
Lauren R. Becker
Associate Attorney, AWI-CH
Linh L. Luong
Associate Attorney, AWI-CH
Tessa N. Nevarez
Associate Attorney, AWI-CH
Maureen Dahl
Associate Attorney
Katherine Guilford
Associate Attorney
Mary Ann Demos
Senior Case Editor and Paralegal
Sarah Treseler
Case Editor
Lisa Mabie
Case Editor
Jennifer M. Maguire
Chief Operating Officer
Atoosa Vossoughi
Bookkeeper
Cristina Watson
Front Desk Coordinator
Theresa A. Phillips
Investigation Program Developer

Our Locations

Sacramento Office
2520 Venture Oaks Way, Suite 450
Sacramento, CA 95833
P: (916) 779-2402

San Rafael Office
899 Northgate Drive, Suite 210
San Rafael, CA 94903
P: (415) 755-4850

By Appointment Only

Oakland Office
1901 Harrison Street, Suite 1100
Oakland, CA 94612
P: (510) 844-7727

Reno Office
1 East Liberty Street, Suite 600
Reno, NV 89501
P: (775) 200-0360

 

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