Douglas A. Plazak joined Reid & Hellyer in 2007 and has been a partner with the firm since 2008. Focusing primarily on business litigation and employment law, he also practices bankruptcy law, representing both creditors and borrowers.

He recently prevailed in the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals on behalf of Chapter 7 Trustee, Robert S. Whitmore, in Stevens v Whitmore, 15 F.4th 1214 (9th Cir. 2021). The case involved debtors who failed to properly schedule a lawsuit in their bankruptcy petition by only listing the lawsuit in their statement of financial affairs (SOFA). Doug successfully argued that the Chapter 7 Trustee had not abandoned the claim by virtue of the debtors’ failure to properly schedule the lawsuit.

Taking a leadership role with issues in the field of employment law, he testified before members of the California Legislature at the Legislative Summit on Jobs and Regulations in California as a knowledgeable professional in this field.

His column about the impact of California’s labor laws was published in the Press-Enterprise, centering on the strict rules governing the workplace related to the length of the workday as well as overtime pay, and how they can lead to unfortunate consequences for employees and employers.

Outside of his professional legal career, Doug had a foray of television notoriety when he served as a contestant on the television game show Jeopardy! in January 2002. He finished second to a four-time winner in the classic three-way trivia program and describes his experience as unforgettable.

Doug graduated from the University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law in 1995 and from California State University, Sacramento in 1992. He is active with the Riverside County and Orange County bar associations as well as the Greater Riverside Chambers of Commerce Governmental Affairs Council and spends his time outside of practicing law golfing, playing basketball and playing the guitar.

Bar Admissions

  • California, 1995
  • U.S. District Court Central District of California, 2002
  • U.S. District Court Eastern District of California, 2002
  • U.S. District Court Northern District of California, 2002
  • U.S. District Court Southern District of California, 2002

Practice Areas

Employment Law:  Represent primarily employers in wage and hour, discrimination, and severance agreement issues.

Bankruptcy Litigation

Representation of Trustees, Creditors and Debtors in Chapter 7, 11 and 13 Bankruptcies

Asset Exemption, Objection to Claims, Plan Objections, Relief from Stay, etc.

Adversaries and Contested Matters, including Non-Dischargeability Litigation and Motions to Dismiss

Appeals to the Ninth Circuit Bankruptcy Appellate Panel

General Litigation

Including Breach of Contract Actions and Collections

Fraternities/Sororities

  • Lambda Chi Alpha