Dianna Lyons, Principal
Admitted
- California (1977)
- U.S. Supreme Court (1984)
Education
- University of California at Davis School of Law (J.D., 1977), American Jurisprudence Award for Labor Law
- California State University, Stanislaus (B.A., 1966).
I grew up in California's Central Valley in a migrant farm worker family and spent 26 years with César Chavez' United Farm Workers of America, AFL-CIO. I was an organizer in California, New York, Ohio and Florida, and then, from 1977 through 1992, I was an attorney. For the last six years I was the UFW's Chief Counsel. In 16 years representing Chavez and the UFW, I tried labor cases and handled hundreds of appeals, including more than 20 before the California Supreme Court.
At The Firm, I head the Law & Motion & Appellate Department.
I am a member of the State Bar of California, Consumer Attorneys of California, Alameda-Contra Costa Trial Lawyers Association, and the AFL-CIO Lawyers Coordinating Committee.
Reported Cases
California Supreme Court:
- Agricultural Labor Relations Bd. v. Tex-Cal Land Management, Inc. (1987) 43 Cal.3d 696, 739 P.2d 140
- Ag. Labor Relations Bd. v. California Coastal Farms, Inc., (1982) 31 Cal.3d 469, 645 P.2d 739
- Andrews v. Ag. Labor Relations Bd. (1981) 28 Cal.3d 781, 623 P.2d 151
- Buttram v. Owens-Corning Fiberglas Corp. 91997) 16 Cal.4th 520, 941 P.2d 71
- Carian v. Ag. Labor Relations Bd., (1984) 36 Cal.3d 654, 685 P.2d 701
- Chevron v. WCAB (Steele) (1999)___Cal.4th___(S059214)
- George Arakelian Farms, Inc. v. Ag. Labor Relations Bd., (1989) 49 Cal.3d 1279, 783 P.2d 749
- George Arakelian Farms, Inc. v. Ag. Labor Relations Bd. 91985) 40 Cal.3d 654, 710 P.2d 288
- Harry Carian Sales v. Ag. Labor Relations Bd. (1985) 39 Cal.3d 209, 703 P.2d 27
- Highland Ranch v. Ag. Labor Relations Bd. (1981) 29 Cal.3d 848, 633 P.2d 949
- J. R. Norton Co. v. Ag. Labor Relations Bd. (1979) 26 Cal.3d 1, 603 P.2d 1306
- Kaplan's Fruit & Produce Co. v. Superior Court (1979) 26 Cal.3d 60, 603 P.2d 1341, 160 Cal.Rptr. 745
- Karahadian Ranches, Inc. v. Ag. Labor Rel. Bd. (1985) 38 Cal.3d 1, 694 P.2d 770, 210 Cal.Rptr. 657
- Kaufman v. Court of Appeal, (1982) 31 Cal.3d 933, 647 P.2d 1081, 184 Cal.Rptr. 302
- Lindeleaf v. Ag. Labor Relations Bd. (1986) 41 Cal.3d 861, 718 P.2d 106
- Ramirez v. Plough, Inc., (1993) 6 Cal.4th 539, 863 P.2d 167, [for amicus Trial Lawyers for Public Justice]
- Rivcom Corp. v. Ag. Labor Relations Bd. (1993) 34 Cal.3d 743, 670 P.2d 305
- Sam Andrews' Sons v. Ag. Labor Relations Bd. (1988) 47 Cal.3d 157, 763 P.2d 881
- San Clemente Ranch, Ltd. v. Ag. Labor Relations Bd. (1981) 29 Cal.3d 874, 633 P.2d 964
- Sullivan v. Delta Air Lines, Inc. (1998) 15 Cal.4th 288, 935 P.2d 781
- Tex-Cal Land Management, Inc. v. Ag. Labor Relations Bd. (1979) 24 Cal.3d 335, 595 P.2d 579
- Triple E Produce Corp. v. Ag. Labor Rel. Bd. (1983) 35 Cal.3d 42, 671 P.2d 1260, 196 Cal.Rptr. 518
- United Farm Workers of America v. Ag. Labor Rel. Bd. (1985) (37 Cal.3d 912, 694 P.2d 138
- Vista Verde Farms v. Ag. Labor Rel. Bd. (1981) 29 Cal.3d 307, 625 P.2d 263, 172 Cal.Rptr. 720
Court of Appeal:
- Adamek & Dessert, Inc. v. Ag. Labor Rel. Bd. (1986) 178 Cal.App.3d 970, 224 Cal.Rptr. 366
- Ag. Labor Rel. Bd. v. Laflin & Laflin (1979) 89 Cal.App.3d 651, 152 Cal.Rptr. 800
- Ag. Labor Rel. Bd.v. Exeter Packers, Inc., (1986) 184 Cal.App.3d 483, 229 Cal.Rptr. 87
- Arakelian Farms, Inc. v. Ag. Labor Rel. Bd. (1980) 111 Cal.App.3d 258, 168 Cal.Rptr. 537
- Banales v. Municipal Court (1982) 132 Cal.App.3d 67, 183 Cal.Rptr. 7
- Breaux v. Ag. Labor Rel. Bd., (1990) 217 Cal.App.3d 730, 265 Cal.Rptr. 904
- Butte View Farms v. Ag. Rel. Bd. (1979) 95 Cal.App.3d 961, 157 Cal.Rptr. 476
- Cadiz v. Ag. Labor Rel. Bd. (1979) 92 Cal.App.3d 365, 155 Cal.Rptr. 213
- California Coastal Farms, Inc. v. Doctoroff (1981) 117 Cal.App.3d 156, 172 Cal.Rptr. 552
- California Coastal Farms v. Ag. Labor Rel. Bd. (1980) 111 Cal.App.3d 734, 168 Cal.Rptr. 838
- Cardinal Distributing Co. v. Ag. Labor Rel. Bd. (1984) 159 Cal.App.3d 758, 205 Cal.Rptr.
- Carian v. Ag. Labor Rel. Bd. (1983) 145 Cal.App.3d 508, 193 Cal.Rptr. 434
- Carl Joseph Maggio, Inc. v. Ag. Labor Rel. Bd. (1984) 154 Cal.App.3d 40, 201 Cal.Rptr. 30
- Castle Farms, Inc. v. Ag. Labor Rel. Bd. (1983) 140 Cal.App.3d 668, 189 Cal.Rptr. 687
- Dan Tudor & Sons v. Ag. Labor Rel. Bd. (1979) 100 Cal.App.3d 621, 161 Cal.Rptr. 124
- F & P Growers Assn, v. Ag. Labor Rel. Bd. (1965) 172 Cal.App.3d 1127, 218 Cal.Rptr. 736
- F & P Growers Assn. v. Ag. Labor Rel. Bd. (1985) 168 Cal.App.3d 667, 214 Cal.Rptr. 355
- Frudden Enterprises, Inc. v. Ag. Labor Rel. Bd. (1984) 153 Cal.App.3d 262, 201 Cal.Rptr. 371
- George Arakelian Farms, Inc. v. Ag. Labor Rel. Bd., (1986) 186 Cal.App.3d 94, 230 Cal.Rptr. 428
- George Arakelian Farms, Inc. v. Ag. Labor Rel. Bd. (1984) 150 Cal.App.3d 664, 198 Cal.Rptr. 194
- Harry Carian Sales v. Ag. Labor Rel. Bd. (1984)151 Cal.App.3d 197, 198 Cal.Rptr. 658
- Holtville Farms, Inc. v. Ag. Labor Rel. Bd. (1985) 168 Cal.App.3d 388, 214 Cal.Rptr. 241
- J. R. Norton Co. v. Ag. Labor Rel. Bd. (1987) 192 Cal.App.3d 874, 238 Cal.Rptr. 87
- J. R. Norton Co. v. Ag. Labor Rel. Bd. (1984) 162 Cal.App.3d 692, 208 Cal.Rptr. 746
- J.R. Norton Co. v. ALRB ( UFW, AFL-CIO) (1984) 158 Cal.App.3d 646, 205 Cal.Rptr. 165
- Jasmine Vineyards, Inc. v. Ag. Labor Rel. Bd. (1980) 113 Cal.App.3d 968, 170 Cal.Rptr. 510
- Karahadian Ranches, Inc. v. Ag. Labor Rel. Bd. (1984) 150 Cal.App.3d 720, 197 Cal.Rptr. 901
- Kawano, Inc. v. Ag. Labor Rel. Bd. (1980) 106 Cal.App.3d 937, 165 Cal.Rptr. 492
- Laflin & Laflin v. Ag. Labor Rel. Bd. (1993) 147 Cal.App.3d 1039, 195 Cal.Rptr. 711
- Lafline & Laflin v. Ag. Labor Rel. Bd. (1985) 166 Cal.App.3d 368, 212 Cal.Rptr. 415
- M. B. Zaninovich, Inc. v. Ag. Labor Rel. Bd. (1981) 114 Cal.App.3d 665, 171 Cal.Rptr. 55
- Maggio, Inc. v. United Farm Workers (1991) 227 Cal.App.3d 847
- Maggio v. Ag. Labor Rel. Bd. (1987) 194 Cal.App.3d 1329, 240 Cal.Rptr. 195
- Merrill Farms v. Ag. Labor Rel. Bd. (1980) 113 Cal.App.3d 176, 169 Cal.Rptr. 774
- Montebello Rose Co. v. Ag. Labor Rel. Bd. (1981) 119 Cal.App.3d 1, 173 Cal.Rptr. 856
- Nish Noroian Farms v. Ag. Labor Rel. Bd. (1983) 141 Cal.App.3d 935, 190 Cal.Rptr. 661
- Pandol & Sons v. Ag. Labor Rel. Bd. (1979) 98 Cal. App. 3d 580, 159 Cal.Rptr. 584
- Pasillas v. Ag. Labor Rel. Bd. (1984) 156 Cal.App.3d 312, 202 Cal.Rptr. 739
- Ruline Nursery Co. v. Ag. Labor Rel. Bd., (1985) 169 Cal.App.3d 247, 216 Cal.Rptr. 162
- Sam Andrews' Sons v. Ag. Labor Rel. Bd. (1984) 162 Cal.App.3d 923, 208 Cal.Rptr. 812
- Sandrini Brothers v. Ag. Labor Rel. Bd. (1984) 156 Cal.App.3d 878, 203 Cal.Rptr. 304
- Stirling v. Ag. Labor Rel. Bd., (1987) 189 Cal.App.3d 1305, 235 Cal.Rptr. 56
- Superior Farming Co. v. Ag. Labor Rel. Bd. (1984) 151 Cal.App.3d 100, 198 Cal.Rptr. 608
- Tex-Cal Land Management, Inc. v. Ag. Labor Rel. Bd. (1982) 135 Cal.App.3d 906, 185 Cal.Rptr. 588
- Triple E Produce Corp. v. Ag. Labor Rel. Bd. (1982) 127 Cal.App.3d 404, 179 Cal.Rptr. 565
- Ukegawa Brothers v. Ag. Labor Rel. Bd. (1989) 212 Cal.App. 3d 1314, 261 Cal.Rptr. 420
- United Farm Workers v. Ag. Labor Rel. Bd., (1993) 16 Cal.App.4th 1629
- Vessey & Co. v. Ag. Labor Rel. Bd. (1989) 210 Cal.App.3d 629, 259 Cal.Rptr. 77
- Vista Verde Farms v. Ag. Labor Rel. Bd. (1979) 96 Cal.App.3d 658, 158 Cal.Rptr. 20
- William Dal Porto & Sons, Inc. v. Ag. Labor Rel. Bd., (1987) 191 Cal.App.3d 1195
Federal Court:
- Beltran v. State of Cal. (9th Cir. 1988) 857 F.2d 542
- Beltran v. State of Cal. (9th Cir. 1988) 871 F.2d 777
- Careau Group v. United Farm Workers of America, AFL-CIO, (9th Cir. 1991) 940 F.2d 1291
- Ward v. Westinghouse Canada, Inc., (9th Cir. 1994) 32 F.3d 1405
Arizona Supreme Court:
- Bruce Church, Inc. v. United Farm Workers of America, AFL-CIO (1991) 169 Ariz. 22, 816 P.2d 919
- Bruce Church, Inc. v. Superior Court In and For County of Yuma, (1989) 160 Ariz. 514, 774 P.2d 818


