LOS ANGELES (Legal Newsline) - Edward Chen filed a federal lawsuit on December 9 in the Central District of California against his former law firm.
The defendants are YK Law LLP f/k/a Mei and Weiner LLP; Yongyuan Li, a/k/a Henry Li; Jesse Jules Weiner; and Xiangrong Mei, and they are charged with breach of contract, breach of good faith and fair dealing, and defamation.
According to the lawsuit, in September 2020, Chen joined the firm as senior counsel after an offer of an employment agreement which the firm was to extend through December 31, 2020, with a change in position and title to a “contract partner” beginning on January 1, 2021.
On Nov. 16, 2021, Weiner met with Chen and attempted to terminate his employment with the firm, which was improper and in violation of the parties’ agreement, the suit claims. Chen suggested the firm prepare a notice of termination of the agreement, and he would be willing to waive the written notice requirements, the suit says.
Weiner did not agree and doubled down that Chen could be “terminated” at-will as an employee of the firm, the suit says. A final paycheck also was not provided to Chen for his work, further violating the terms of the agreement, the suit says.
Defendants are alleged to have recklessly, maliciously, fraudulently, and oppressively, with the wrongful intention of injuring Chen and abused and/or prevented the existence of any conditional privilege. Chen is representing himself.
Central District Court of California case number 8:21-cv-02032-DOC-ADS