John Corcoran 13:31
What was your family that was back in Uzbekistan. What did they think about you coming to America? What was their perception of of that experience for you?
Nav Avloni 13:42
I think our family has always been very supportive in every way. I mean, when I think they think they’re, they’re supportive and proud.
John Corcoran 13:54
What were the debates they were talking about, around the dinner table?
Nav Avloni 13:58
I was mostly with my mostly with my dad, you know, they would vary, they would vary about, you know, the appropriate time to talk back versus Bite your tongue. And you know, why some can do it versus others cannot sometimes, you know, involve politics, sometimes it involves, you know, sensitive issues, but or, you know, gender related issues. I was always, you know, for me, it was I was always passionate, I would say I think going back even to our dinner table arguments about the inequality within genders. You know, at least what I perceived growing up, and not only in Uzbekistan, but in America, too. I think those are some of the debates we’ve had. And that’s, I think, like, that interest level continued to be fueled on over the years.
John Corcoran 14:53
So you you go to law school, you end up joining a civil rights law firm where you are All of them actually a number of high profile cases, including one against Tesla talk, talk a little bit about some of the cases you worked on.
Nav Avloni 15:07
Yeah. I worked at the California Civil Rights Law Group. It was a it was a great experience. I had an opportunity. And I still recall the very first Tesla case we got. I recall my paralegal calling me saying, Nah, you should come to the office right now. I remember coming to the office and seeing this black man in front of her crying. And I was like, whoa, what just happened? Yeah. So I remember summoning him to the conference room. He told me his story. And it was it was mind blowing. I was like, How could this be happening? Right here. And Fremont. Alameda County.
John Corcoran 15:44
This was a so there’s been a number of different cases against Tesla, but this was, this was a race case at the Fremont factory, correct?
Nav Avloni 15:53
Yeah, it was probably the first one of the very first I came out. And it was an individual who was a production associate there. And, you know, he talks about his hopes and dreams of coming to work for Elon Musk. And he moved all the way from Alabama, to California, got this job. So excited. But what he experienced at Tesla was, was unreal, it was I, I could not believe it until I started seeing his videos on his phone. And I was like, Whoa, did you really experience this? And then we prepared a lot sued on his behalf a complaint, we filed it. And after we filed that complaint, we started getting more calls. And we’re like, Well, hold on. He’s not the only one. And when we got so the first meal was do with Lambert. And then that’s when we got the father and son. You know, when Diaz was the Father, and he reached out, and then dimetric was Hassan. And then that’s when we filed the case on their behalf. To with Lambert had signed an arbitration agreement, because he was a production associate. That’s why you’ve never heard of that case, because it went over to arbitration. And he’s never had his day in court. The big difference with the DEA as father and son as they were contract attorneys, sorry, and didn’t contract employees. There were contractors. Yeah, they never signed that arbitration agreement. So they had their board, which is why people today know about their case, and know about what goes on inside Tesla. And the crazy part is even after we filed Owen, and emetrics, yes, this case, the calls kept coming. We kept getting calls from so many production associates that eventually we filed a class action. So Vaughn V. Tesla, right now, Marcus mon is the class representative as it’s still being litigated. And there are so many people that have been impacted in a very similar way, throughout Tesla. And, you know, it’s, I think it was a phenomenal experience. For me, it’s very sad that this had to be the case. But just because it’s so horrific, but it was a phenomenal experience for me to see how a case progresses from the very inception, and how it matters, what your rights are when you sign away via an arbitration agreement, versus when you get to go in court, and the power of that, right. All the appeals that happen in between and actually progressing to a class action case. So the development of it, I think, was a very enriching educational opportunity.
John Corcoran 18:26
For those that like being involved in such a high profile case that captured headlines.
Nav Avloni 18:36
I don’t know if it was very different from any other case, to me, at least, because for me, like the focus is really the client and what we’re able to do. I think the judge was Judge Orrick was very good. He sent on toxic media. I don’t want to hear about it. And so I think at least during the trial, all the attorneys were very hush hush about what was going on and talking to the media. So I think it’s good Their story was heard. I think it’s important for at least Californians to know what’s going on here in Alameda County, and try to, you know, institute some sort of change for progress. Since the class action case was filed. I believe the California Civil Rights Department got involved the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission got involved. So it clearly you know, the awareness is there now.
John Corcoran 19:31
Yeah, yeah. Now, you it’s kind of parallels to you coming to America. You had a major change in your career, you went out on your own, you started your own firm couple years ago, which is not easy to do. I can say having done it myself. It’s hard to set up a new firm. There’s so many challenges. What was that experience like for you going out leaving California Civil Rights Law Group and starting your own firm?
Nav Avloni 20:00
Where do I start? Oh, God, I still remember being so excited. Well, to back off, I’ve never really thought I’d be running my own firm, although I guess I have both parents who were business owners. And so I’ve seen through my mom, you know, what were the challenges that come with growing and, you know, music school, she was a musician, and I’ve seen through my dad, the stress and the crazy hours you put in, you know, when you really care about something, so, I had an idea. But you know, it’s like one of those experiences, you really don’t know what it’s like, until you actually do it. Sure. Oh, I remember when I first launched, I was so excited. I was like, ready, okay, I’m gonna, you know, I’m ready to go. And then I remember working the first half a year, very hard, I would say probably not the hardest in my life, but very, very hard. And then I still remember in January, sitting down with my husband, and thinking, I don’t know if I can do this, you know, you have that moment. Because you’re wearing so many hats, you have so many responsibilities, you have so many people looking up and counting on you. And it’s just you. Yeah, and you know, there’s, you know, the the financial aspect to because it’s a risk and in the contingency fee business, like, I don’t charge my clients hourly.
John Corcoran 21:20
And I was gonna point that out, because that makes starting a business in this realm, so much more challenging, because not like you’re doing a fee for services type of business, you as you said, you only get paid if you’re successful. So that adds a whole nother element of risk for you.
Nav Avloni 21:37
Exactly. And so when you when a contingency if you rolled when you take on cases, you know, they progress and develop sometimes over a you know, over half a year, sometimes two years, sometimes three, or sometimes four. Right now I have a case that I’m ready to file, which I know the other side’s going to appeal, it’s going to be hanging out for three years, somewhere. So when I started off, yeah, I was working very hard. And I would say in January, of my like, my first half a year, I looked at my husband, I was like, I don’t know, I don’t know, if I’m gonna make it and then you know, there was a snowball effect, something happened and February and all the cases I was working on a good portion of them just started resolving. And that is one of the best feelings is when you can see your clients finally being able to move on and their chapter in their life and putting, you know, putting closure to the scary chapter and you’re able to move on. And you know, as the spring really, I think I’m glad I waited that extra month when the snowball effect kicked in, because it really, I think, solidified that I was on the right path. I was doing the right thing. And if I can do it again, I mean, I would do it in a heartbeat. There’s nothing like having your own firm, I would say, at least in my opinion, based on my personality type that I’ve learned.
John Corcoran 22:56
Yeah, yeah. Now, when we were chatting before this couple of comments kind of stood out for me, you said, I generally like safety. I don’t like taking risks, and I avoid battles. And you are a business owner who in a litigator. So I’m curious, like, how do you manage a business where you, you have to take risks, and you know that there is no inherent safety, and you have to go to battle?
Nav Avloni 23:24
Yeah, I mean, you’re right, I’m spot on, I avoid battles whenever I can, like as often as I can, but I don’t ever compromise on who I am, or what my business is. So I’ll avoid it to a certain extent. I think honestly, information, information and knowledge is the key. And that’s the key that that really helps me make decisions. And whether I’m making a decision about what I should recommend to a client, or whether I’m making a decision on whether I should purchase a particular product or engage in you know, hire another associate, it’s really what information I have at that given time, what additional permission I can get, you know, because with clients, I want to make sure I give them the best assessment I can. So I want to know what the other side is thinking. You know, I want to know my clients perspective. But more importantly, even more so the you know, the the other side’s perspective and then assess them. And if my client has a horrible case, I’m going to tell her you have a horrible case or him and say I’m sorry, I can’t help. Or if I can help, then I would outline look, there are three or four risks. This is how you have to assess it, you have to take into account those risks. And I think same thing in business, right? When we’re making decisions whether I want to get a new product or bring on an associate. It’s like really, what is the need for it? What information do I have about you know what’s ahead. But yeah, I’m not a fan of the roller coaster. I have to say, I’m a huge fan of I love my job. I think that that’s probably the reason why I’m still doing it is because I can work forever and my family I speak as my family is like, Okay, you got to stop you guys. Because I genuinely enjoy it so much. It doesn’t feel like work to me. But yeah, I think nation is the easiest way to, to really make up that gap. Yeah. And trying to avoid battles.
John Corcoran 25:20
Yeah. And you, you’ve got a high profile case, I guess against University California, not a small defendant. you’ve filed a case against them talk a little bit about that one.
Nav Avloni 25:32
Yeah. So, you know, it’s interesting after I launch, my friend, most of my cases, right now are sexual assault cases, because I do work with a lot of sexual assault victims, and also whistleblower cases. And this client of mine, who, on whose behalf have filed the lawsuit, you know, she was a very committed employee, she came in with the, with a particular promise, you know, but then she saw some conduct take place that she thought was not okay. And she complained about it. And shortly thereafter, it gets fired. So, but yeah, whistleblower cases are, are probably, you know, also one of my favorite type of cases to handle because it’s when it’s very often you have the individual putting their interests taking a risk, and speaking up to do the right thing in order to either protect the institution, protect the employer or protect some employees. It’s a very noble act that I think in this particular case, the client was picking up, to protect, to try to protect the donors themselves, as well as the institution. And the treatment she received, I think, was very unwarranted. And hopefully, she will get some justice eventually.
John Corcoran 26:53
Yeah. And, you know, without reading too much into your background, it’s interesting to me that you here, you are an immigrant to this country. And, you know, you are standing up for this fundamental principle of protecting someone who reports wrongdoing. I think that’s a really interesting, you know, evolution for you. But can you reflect a little bit on on, you know, how, you know, how that, you know, moves you and motivates you, you’ll be being the one to stand up and use the system that we have here, and in order to protect, underrepresented to protect people that are being retaliated against?
Nav Avloni 27:40
Yeah, I don’t know if me being an immigrant has much to do with it, or where I am, but I think I’ve, you know, just like I initially mentioned those in our conversations, I really feel when I feel a sense of injustice in the person standing up to, to speak the truth, you know, I, I am very eager to help in any way I can. As you know, I’ve I’ve been in those situations, you know, I’ve been in situations where, you know, I thought something was not okay, let’s say, you know, and it happened to be, you know, a conservative group of people maybe, and mostly men and I, I spoke out and it just, you know, the reaction of might not have been the best one that I got, but I didn’t feel, you know, equally welcomed. And by, although I was trying to speak up for something that was potentially, you know, important and would have helped. I don’t know, maybe it is a cultural difference. I’m not sure. But I think I’ve always had this desire to protect the underdog, protect the person, the individual who was trying to do the right thing. And often they’re such good human beings, and they just want to make sure that actually, they’re more vulnerable or protected that people who don’t know about the harm that’s being done to them. So it’s an interesting cycle.
John Corcoran 28:58
Yeah, yeah. Well, now if this had been great, I’d love to share with everyone how they can get in touch with you where they can go to learn more about you and about your firm.
Nav Avloni 29:12
Yeah, John, sure, you can visit me on my website at avlonilaw.com For more, you can of course, send me an email always. It’s navruz@avlonilaw.com If you have any questions. Thank you so much, John. Awesome. Thanks so much.
Outro 29:27
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