Jerusalem Beligan, a.k.a. "The Rocket"

Following in his father's footsteps, Jerusalem became an attorney for the people, like it was a family calling, something the Beligans are called to do. Jerusalem is grateful to his father for the role model he set for Jerusalem and for mentoring him through the process of becoming a people's attorney. Following the family tradition, Jerusalem is passing on what he learned from his father to his children.

Civil Prosecutor - The "Mission"

Jerusalem considers himself a "civil prosecutor", an attorney who's chosen mission is representing everyday people, protecting their rights and pursuing their interests. In other words, being an everyday hero to everyday people. Jerusalem is passionate about standing up for people who have been wronged. He enjoys and excels at facing off against corporate giants, insurance companies and abusive employers who have wronged clients, just the way he faced off against much bigger and seemingly stronger opponents when excelling in high school football.

Football Success leads "The Rocket" to Professional Success

Jerusalem was a standout football player in high school. Although small in size compared to most varsity football players, Jerusalem excelled playing against bigger, seemingly stronger opponents. To this day, Jerusalem, who was known as "The Rocket", holds school and Sierra League football records for yards gained after punts and kick-offs. He returned a punt once for a 96 yard touch down, which is still a league record. He started the football season one year by returning the opening kick off eighty yards for a touchdown to the delight of a roaring crowd.

While playing football Jerusalem learned the benefits of discipline, sacrifice, determination and a lot of hard work. He includes individual hard work and team hard work in his formula for success. He learned that a well disciplined, motivated, determined team will defeat a bigger, stronger, faster more talented group of individuals. He learned to use his size, intelligence and quickness combined with team work to defeat larger, stronger opponents. Just look at the following list of large companies and governmental organizations that Jerusalem has held accountable, "defeated" if you will, when they took advantage of their employees. He is making records in the legal profession just as he did in high school football. Note: "Confidential Settlement" usually means that the defeated opponent didn't want the public to know the "score", how much they paid to settle the claim.

Some of "The Rocket's" Professional Successes:

• Representing 590 Los Angeles Police officers against the City of Los Angeles for unpaid overtime, Jerusalem recovered $6,720,000, consisting of $3,360,000 in back pay, $1,120,000 in liquidated damages and $2,240,000 in attorneys' fees.
• Represented sheriffs of the San Bernardino Police Department in two FLSA claims against the County of San Bernardino for unpaid overtime. Confidential settlement.
• Huntington Beach Police Officers' Association et al. vs. City of Huntington Beach et al., a representative action on behalf of numerous police officers against the City of Huntington Beach for unreimbursed expenses under Labor Code 2802. Confidential settlement.
• Jackson et al. vs. Jamba Juice Company et al., United States District Court for the Central District of California, a FLSA collective action in which current and former assistant managers brought an action against Jamba Juice Company for unpaid overtime. Confidential settlement.
• Poe et al. vs. Automobile Club of Southern California et al., Superior Court of the State of California for the County of Los Angeles, case number BC274967, a representative class action brought on behalf of numerous Claims Legal Investigators for unpaid overtime, violation of Business & Professions Code 17200, and conversion. Confidential settlement.
• Dellarossa vs. Pearlworks, Inc. et al., Superior Court of the State of California for the County of Orange, Civil Complex Center, case number 02CC00371, a representative class action on behalf of numerous former and current employees for unpaid overtime, denial of meal-and-rest periods, violation of Business & Professions Code 17200, and conversion. Confidential settlement.
• Deyoung vs. Elite Exteriors, Inc., Superior Court of the State of California for the County of Orange, Civil Complex Center, case number 05CC00229, a class action brought on behalf of numerous former and current employees for unpaid overtime, violation of Business & Professions Code 17200, and conversion. Confidential settlement.
• Represented approximately 400 former and current servers at Opah Restaurant against Bigfish Restaurant Enterprises, LLC for tip-pooling violation, unpaid overtime, minimum wage violation, denial of meal-and-rest periods, unlawful deduction of wages, failure to maintain accurate payroll records, violation of Business & Professions Code 17200, and conversion. Confidential settlement.
• A class action against Platinum Equity Financial on behalf of a number of mortgage brokers who were misclassified as independent contractors by their employer and whom sought back wages for minimum wage violation, unpaid overtime, denial of meal-and-rest periods, failure to maintain accurate payroll records, violation of Business & Professions Code 17200, and conversion. Confidential settlement.
• In Re Taco Bell Wage and Hour Actions, United States District for the Eastern District of California, case number 1:07-cv-01314-OWW-DLB [1:09-CV-1074-OWW-DLB (Consolidated)], a wage-and-hour class action involving 18,000 former and current employees of Taco Bell for, among other things, unpaid overtime, meal-and-rest violations, unreimbursed expenses, and other civil penalties under the Private Attorney General Act ("PAGA"). Confidential settlement.
• Diapo et al. vs. Flight Centre USA, Inc., United States District Court for the Central District of California, case number CV 09-4790 (RZX), a wage-and-hour class action involving nearly 300 former and current employees of Flight Centre for, among other things, unpaid overtime, meal-and-rest violations, unreimbursed expenses, and other civil penalties under PAGA. The case settled for $1,800,000.

Education

Raised in Diamond Bar, CA, Jerusalem was an outstanding student and athlete at Roland High School. He played on the varsity football and track teams, which is where he got his nick name, "The Rocket" due to his quickness and ability to avoid tacklers. He graduated magna cum laude from the University of California, Riverside in 1997. His studious work earned memberships in Phi Beta Kappa, the Golden Key National Honor Society, and the only honor society for college and university students of government in the United States, Pi Sigma Alpha. He went on to obtain his Juris Doctor from Southwestern University School of Law in 2000. That same year he passed the California State Bar, and at the young age of twenty five he began practicing law.

Devoted Husband and Father

Jerusalem resides in Ladera Ranch, California with his wife, Jackie, and three children. Jackie is a 7th grade English and English Language Development teacher at Bernice Ayer Middle School ("BAMS") in San Clemente, CA. Jackie and Jerusalem's oldest daughter, Jaylene, is a high school sophomore. Their son, Jayden, is in the second grade. Jerusalem named his youngest daughter "Justice" because of his devotion to the law and hopes that one day she may follow in her father's and grandfather's footsteps. Jerusalem envisions "Justice" practicing law in the family tradition or better yet, presiding in court as a "Judge Justice." When he takes time for himself he enjoys being active, playing basketball (the "Rocket" is still quick) and spending time with his family.