
Morgan P. Suder Partner EMAIL: msuder@wilsonturnerkosmo.com TEL: 619-236-9600 Morgan P. Suder Partner Practice Areas Employment EDUCATION BS with Honors from University of Texas at Austin, 2009 - JD from University of San Diego School of Law, 2013 - Morgan Suder is a partner in the firm’s Employment Law group. Her practice is focused on representing employers in a variety of employment disputes, including wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment, retaliation, failure to accommodate, and wage and hour litigation. Morgan practices in both state and federal courts. She handles cases at all stages of litigation, including through trial and appeal. She has also represented clients in charges filed with the Department of Fair Employment and Housing, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement. In addition to litigation, Morgan advises clients on a broad range of employment-related issues and conducts supervisor training and employee handbook reviews. Morgan practiced labor and employment law at Wilson Turner Kosmo from 2013 to 2019. She rejoined the firm in 2024 after serving for four and half years as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Civil Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California. During her time there, she defended the United States in a wide variety of civil litigation matters involving employment discrimination, medical malpractice, personal injury, and constitutional tort claims. She received excellent results on behalf of the United States, including prevailing on numerous motions for summary judgment and at trial, including serving as first-chair in a four-day trial in which a federal jury returned a unanimous verdict in favor of the United States. Her collateral duties included creating and presenting office-wide workplace conduct trainings, and serving as the Civil eLitigation Coordinator, the Anti-Harassment Point-of-Contact, a Special Emphasis Program Manager for the Federal Women’s Program, and a mentor for the Department of Justice’s Mentorship Program. In 2021, she received the Rookie of the Year Award for her outstanding contributions to the office’s mission in her first year of service. She also previously served as a Judicial Extern for the Honorable Anthony J. Battaglia in the Southern District of California and the Honorable J. Michael Seabright in the District of Hawaii. Morgan received her B.S., with honors, from the University of Texas at Austin, and her J.D. from the University of San Diego School of Law, where she was Comment Editor of the San Diego Law Review, National Team Competitor and member of the USD Appellate Moot Court Executive Board, and Chair of the American Bar Association Law Student Division. Her article was selected for publication in the 2012 edition of the San Diego Law Review. In 2023, she received the USD School of Law’s 2023 Rising Star Recent Alumni Award. As an active member of the San Diego legal community, Morgan served on the San Diego Chapter of the Federal Bar Association’s Board of Directors from 2016 to 2018, and she will be serving on the Advisory Board from 2024 to 2026. She also co-chaired the Chapter’s Annual Conferences from 2018 to 2020. In 2021, she was awarded the FBA’s Distinguished Service Award. In addition to her FBA leadership, Morgan has been a member of several San Diego law associations including Lawyers Club of San Diego, the San Diego County Bar Association, and the Louis M. Welsh Inn of the American Inns of Court. She also served on the San Diego Volunteer Lawyer Program’s Women and Families Resource Fair Task Force and was a volunteer instructor for Project LEAD, which is a law-related elementary education program. Federal Bar Association, San Diego Chapter, Board of Directors (2016-2018), Co-Chair of the Annual Conference (2018-2020), Advisory Board Member (2024-2026) American Inns of Court, Louis M. Welsh Inn, Associate (2014–2017) San Diego County Bar Association, Civil Litigation Section, At-Large Member (2015) San Diego Volunteer Lawyer Program’s Women and Families Resource Fair Task Force Lawyers Club of San Diego, Member Association of Business Trial Lawyers, San Diego Chapter, Member Defense Research Institute, Young Lawyers Division, Member Project LEAD, Volunteer Instructor for Fifth Grade Students University of San Diego School of Law, Rising Star Recent Alumni Award (2023) Federal Bar Association, San Diego Chapter, Distinguished Service Award (2021) U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California, Rookie of the Year Award (2021) First-chaired a four-day jury trial in the United States District Court, Southern District of California, resulting in a unanimous defense verdict for the U.S. Department of the Navy on a claim of race discrimination. The press release can be found here. Previously obtained partial summary judgment on plaintiff’s retaliation claim (Gardner v. Braithwaite, 607 F. Supp. 3d 1106, 1113 (S.D. Cal. 2022)). Co-chaired a bench trial in the United States District Court, Southern District of California, resulting in a defense verdict for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs on claims of negligence and medical malpractice. Successfully defended a Fortune 100 company in a lawsuit filed in Los Angeles Superior Court alleging claims of defamation, disability discrimination, retaliation, failure to accommodate, and failure to engage in the interactive process. The jury returned a 12-0 unanimous defense verdict on each cause of action. Obtained summary judgment in the United States District Court, Southern District of California, against claims of disability discrimination and retaliation (Valli v. Mayorkas, No. 21-CV-1390-RBM-BGS), 2023 WL 8704726 (S.D. Cal. Dec. 15, 2023)). Obtained summary judgment in the United States District Court, Southern District of California, against disability discrimination claims brought on behalf of four plaintiffs (Simmons v. Toro, No. 19-CV-01448-RSH-WVG, 2023 WL 4858155 (S.D. Cal. Jan. 24, 2023)). Previously granted a motion to dismiss, resulting in the dismissal of seventeen of the plaintiffs’ causes of action (Simmons v. Modly, No. 19-CV-1448-JLS-WVG, 2020 WL 4784739 (S.D. Cal. Aug. 18, 2020)). Obtained summary judgment in the United States District Court, Southern District of California, against claims of race and sex discrimination and retaliation (Mendoza v. DeJoy, No. 21-CV-0991-H-JLB, 2022 WL 18832234 (S.D. Cal. Dec. 20, 2022)). Obtained summary judgment in the United States District Court, Southern District of California, against claims of disability discrimination, failure to accommodate, failure to engage in the interactive process, hostile work environment, and retaliation (Yarn v. Wilkie, No. 19-CV-0893-W-KSC, 2021 WL 5494319 (S.D. Cal. Nov. 23, 2021)). Obtained summary judgment in the United States District Court, Southern District of California, against claims of discrimination and hostile work environment based on disability, race and sex, failure to accommodate, and retaliation (Hollins v. Wilkie, No. 19-CV-2201-DMS-JLB, 2021 WL 1906462 (S.D. Cal. May 12, 2021)). Granted dismissal on a motion to dismiss against the plaintiff’s claims of race and sex discrimination, retaliation, and intentional infliction of emotional distress (Navarro v. Wolf, No. 20-CV-0394-L-AHG, 2021 WL 1195884 (S.D. Cal. Mar. 30, 2021)). Obtained summary judgment in the United States District Court, Southern District of California, against a pro se plaintiff’s claims of negligence and medical malpractice. Summary judgment affirmed by Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals on a FEHA disability discrimination and failure to accommodate case where the employee alleged she was wrongfully terminated pursuant to the employer’s leave of absence policy (Markowitz v. UPS, 711 F. App’x 430 (9th Cir. 2018)). Prevailed on a motion to dismiss, without leave to amend, in the United States District Court, Central District of California, in a wage and hour class action alleging meal and rest period, wage statement, and failure to timely pay wage violations. Obtained summary judgment in Los Angeles Superior Court against claims of retaliation, failure to prevent retaliation, and wrongful termination in violation of public policy. Negotiated favorable settlements for clients in complex FEHA discrimination, harassment, and retaliation cases. “Overcoming Barriers to a Flexible Workplace,” ACCA Employment and Labor Roundtable (June 2017) Recent Developments in Automobile Law, 51 Tort Trial & Ins. Prac. L.J. (2016) Recent Developments in Automobile Law, 50 Tort Trial & Ins. Prac. L.J. 227 (2015) The Current State of the Court Funding Crisis and Its Impact on the San Diego Superior Court, ABTL Report (Fall 2014) Brown Bag Luncheon with Judge Gonzalo P. Curiel, ABTL Report (Winter 2013) Brown Bag with Judge Marilyn L. Huff, Federal Bar Association Newsletter (Spring 2013) Harmonizing Equitable Exceptions: Why Courts Should Recognize and “Actual Innocence” Exception to the AEDPA’s Statute of Limitations, 49 San Diego L. Rev 1283 (2012)
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Morgan P. Suder

Partner

Practice Areas

Employment

EDUCATION

BS with Honors from University of Texas at Austin, 2009 -
JD from University of San Diego School of Law, 2013 -

Morgan Suder is a partner in the firm’s Employment Law group. Her practice is focused on representing employers in a variety of employment disputes, including wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment, retaliation, failure to accommodate, and wage and hour litigation. Morgan practices in both state and federal courts. She handles cases at all stages of litigation, including through trial and appeal. She has also represented clients in charges filed with the Department of Fair Employment and Housing, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement. In addition to litigation, Morgan advises clients on a broad range of employment-related issues and conducts supervisor training and employee handbook reviews.

Morgan practiced labor and employment law at Wilson Turner Kosmo from 2013 to 2019. She rejoined the firm in 2024 after serving for four and half years as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Civil Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California. During her time there, she defended the United States in a wide variety of civil litigation matters involving employment discrimination, medical malpractice, personal injury, and constitutional tort claims. She received excellent results on behalf of the United States, including prevailing on numerous motions for summary judgment and at trial, including serving as first-chair in a four-day trial in which a federal jury returned a unanimous verdict in favor of the United States. Her collateral duties included creating and presenting office-wide workplace conduct trainings, and serving as the Civil eLitigation Coordinator, the Anti-Harassment Point-of-Contact, a Special Emphasis Program Manager for the Federal Women’s Program, and a mentor for the Department of Justice’s Mentorship Program. In 2021, she received the Rookie of the Year Award for her outstanding contributions to the office’s mission in her first year of service.

She also previously served as a Judicial Extern for the Honorable Anthony J. Battaglia in the Southern District of California and the Honorable J. Michael Seabright in the District of Hawaii.

Morgan received her B.S., with honors, from the University of Texas at Austin, and her J.D. from the University of San Diego School of Law, where she was Comment Editor of the San Diego Law Review, National Team Competitor and member of the USD Appellate Moot Court Executive Board, and Chair of the American Bar Association Law Student Division. Her article was selected for publication in the 2012 edition of the San Diego Law Review. In 2023, she received the USD School of Law’s 2023 Rising Star Recent Alumni Award.

As an active member of the San Diego legal community, Morgan served on the San Diego Chapter of the Federal Bar Association’s Board of Directors from 2016 to 2018, and she will be serving on the Advisory Board from 2024 to 2026. She also co-chaired the Chapter’s Annual Conferences from 2018 to 2020. In 2021, she was awarded the FBA’s Distinguished Service Award.

In addition to her FBA leadership, Morgan has been a member of several San Diego law associations including Lawyers Club of San Diego, the San Diego County Bar Association, and the Louis M. Welsh Inn of the American Inns of Court. She also served on the San Diego Volunteer Lawyer Program’s Women and Families Resource Fair Task Force and was a volunteer instructor for Project LEAD, which is a law-related elementary education program.

Federal Bar Association, San Diego Chapter, Board of Directors (2016-2018), Co-Chair of the Annual Conference (2018-2020), Advisory Board Member (2024-2026)
American Inns of Court, Louis M. Welsh Inn, Associate (2014–2017)
San Diego County Bar Association, Civil Litigation Section, At-Large Member (2015)
San Diego Volunteer Lawyer Program’s Women and Families Resource Fair Task Force
Lawyers Club of San Diego, Member
Association of Business Trial Lawyers, San Diego Chapter, Member
Defense Research Institute, Young Lawyers Division, Member
Project LEAD, Volunteer Instructor for Fifth Grade Students

University of San Diego School of Law, Rising Star Recent Alumni Award (2023)
Federal Bar Association, San Diego Chapter, Distinguished Service Award (2021)
U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California, Rookie of the Year Award (2021)

First-chaired a four-day jury trial in the United States District Court, Southern District of California, resulting in a unanimous defense verdict for the U.S. Department of the Navy on a claim of race discrimination. The press release can be found here. Previously obtained partial summary judgment on plaintiff’s retaliation claim (Gardner v. Braithwaite, 607 F. Supp. 3d 1106, 1113 (S.D. Cal. 2022)).
Co-chaired a bench trial in the United States District Court, Southern District of California, resulting in a defense verdict for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs on claims of negligence and medical malpractice.
Successfully defended a Fortune 100 company in a lawsuit filed in Los Angeles Superior Court alleging claims of defamation, disability discrimination, retaliation, failure to accommodate, and failure to engage in the interactive process. The jury returned a 12-0 unanimous defense verdict on each cause of action.
Obtained summary judgment in the United States District Court, Southern District of California, against claims of disability discrimination and retaliation (Valli v. Mayorkas, No. 21-CV-1390-RBM-BGS), 2023 WL 8704726 (S.D. Cal. Dec. 15, 2023)).
Obtained summary judgment in the United States District Court, Southern District of California, against disability discrimination claims brought on behalf of four plaintiffs (Simmons v. Toro, No. 19-CV-01448-RSH-WVG, 2023 WL 4858155 (S.D. Cal. Jan. 24, 2023)). Previously granted a motion to dismiss, resulting in the dismissal of seventeen of the plaintiffs’ causes of action (Simmons v. Modly, No. 19-CV-1448-JLS-WVG, 2020 WL 4784739 (S.D. Cal. Aug. 18, 2020)).
Obtained summary judgment in the United States District Court, Southern District of California, against claims of race and sex discrimination and retaliation (Mendoza v. DeJoy, No. 21-CV-0991-H-JLB, 2022 WL 18832234 (S.D. Cal. Dec. 20, 2022)).
Obtained summary judgment in the United States District Court, Southern District of California, against claims of disability discrimination, failure to accommodate, failure to engage in the interactive process, hostile work environment, and retaliation (Yarn v. Wilkie, No. 19-CV-0893-W-KSC, 2021 WL 5494319 (S.D. Cal. Nov. 23, 2021)).
Obtained summary judgment in the United States District Court, Southern District of California, against claims of discrimination and hostile work environment based on disability, race and sex, failure to accommodate, and retaliation (Hollins v. Wilkie, No. 19-CV-2201-DMS-JLB, 2021 WL 1906462 (S.D. Cal. May 12, 2021)).
Granted dismissal on a motion to dismiss against the plaintiff’s claims of race and sex discrimination, retaliation, and intentional infliction of emotional distress (Navarro v. Wolf, No. 20-CV-0394-L-AHG, 2021 WL 1195884 (S.D. Cal. Mar. 30, 2021)).
Obtained summary judgment in the United States District Court, Southern District of California, against a pro se plaintiff’s claims of negligence and medical malpractice.
Summary judgment affirmed by Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals on a FEHA disability discrimination and failure to accommodate case where the employee alleged she was wrongfully terminated pursuant to the employer’s leave of absence policy (Markowitz v. UPS, 711 F. App’x 430 (9th Cir. 2018)).
Prevailed on a motion to dismiss, without leave to amend, in the United States District Court, Central District of California, in a wage and hour class action alleging meal and rest period, wage statement, and failure to timely pay wage violations.
Obtained summary judgment in Los Angeles Superior Court against claims of retaliation, failure to prevent retaliation, and wrongful termination in violation of public policy.
Negotiated favorable settlements for clients in complex FEHA discrimination, harassment, and retaliation cases.

“Overcoming Barriers to a Flexible Workplace,” ACCA Employment and Labor Roundtable (June 2017)
Recent Developments in Automobile Law, 51 Tort Trial & Ins. Prac. L.J. (2016)
Recent Developments in Automobile Law, 50 Tort Trial & Ins. Prac. L.J. 227 (2015)
The Current State of the Court Funding Crisis and Its Impact on the San Diego Superior Court, ABTL Report (Fall 2014)
Brown Bag Luncheon with Judge Gonzalo P. Curiel, ABTL Report (Winter 2013)
Brown Bag with Judge Marilyn L. Huff, Federal Bar Association Newsletter (Spring 2013)
Harmonizing Equitable Exceptions: Why Courts Should Recognize and “Actual Innocence” Exception to the AEDPA’s Statute of Limitations, 49 San Diego L. Rev 1283 (2012)