Probate
Why T&E lawyers should have long-term disability attorneys on speed dial
By Frank N. Darras
Disability and long-term care insurance law is complex, which is why collaborating with a seasoned disability insurance lawyer...
U.S. Supreme Court, Environmental & Energy
Implementing high court ruling shows fluidity of CWA discharge permits
By Andre Monette
The question of whether the Clean Water Act requires a permit for a discharge has long been settled law — except when it’s not.
Judges and Judiciary, Civil Litigation
This is the story all about a COVID-era jury trial in LA
By Douglas W. Stern
Sometimes the stars simply align. In the end, this was such an occasion. But it was a long and rocky road to that end.
Law Practice, Judges and Judiciary
Potpourri or get it off your chest
By Arthur Gilbert
Looks like our Democracy is intact. Whatever one’s politics or rationale for positions extreme and otherwise, the courts maint...
Labor/Employment, Government
Fall of the paper wall: Arbitration may be curtailed in 2021
By Eric Kingsley
Miracles of miracles, the Democrats pulled off a double win in Georgia. Just days ago, we expected to see business as usual in...
Government, Constitutional Law
25th Amendment is not likely to provide a practical solution
By John H. Minan
President Donald Trump’s call for action for his supporters to assemble in Washington on Jan. 6 to save America and “stop the ...
Law Practice, Books
A complex golden age: ‘Lawyers of Los Angeles: 1950-2020’
By Howard B. Miller
For those of us part of the legal culture of California, and Los Angeles legal culture in particular, there is no better guide...
Judges and Judiciary, Government
Visionary becomes state’s new judicial appointments secretary
By George Nicholson
Few people outside the legal profession realize that Luis Cespedes, the governor’s newly named Judicial Appointments Secretary...
2020 was a big year for published trusts and estates cases, including California Supreme Court decisions. The following articl...
Civil Litigation, 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals
Ruling offers insights on consumer injuries and standing strategy
By James Sigel, Adam Sorensen
In a recent decision, the federal appeals court clarified Article III’s standing requirements where a plaintiff challenges the...
Government, Constitutional Law
How the president’s powers can be removed
By Robert Nida
In response to the acts of President Donald Trump resulting in uprising in our nation’s capital on Tuesday, politicians, comme...
Ethics/Professional Responsibility
Potential liability to third parties for legal opinions
By Shari L. Klevens, Alanna G. Clair
Providing a “legal opinion” may seem like a core function for lawyers that is anything but controversial.
Government, Criminal
Policy changes herald sea change in LA criminal justice system
By Dmitry Gorin, Alan Eisner
As the new year begins, criminal law practitioners in Los Angeles county are beginning to adapt to massive changes brought abo...
Law Practice, Ethics/Professional Responsibility, Civil Litigation
Year in review 2020: cases involving lawyers
By Kenneth C. Feldman, Alex A. Graft
Review trends in cases against lawyers in 2020; MCLE credit available.
Government, Corporate
White collar investigations under the Biden administration
By Robert E. Dugdale
President-elect Joe Biden’s potential appointment of U.S. District Judge Merrick Garland as the nation’s next attorney general...
Alternative Dispute Resolution
Virtual arbitration of business disputes: Looking back, moving forward
By Zela Claiborne
As the pandemic has worn on, now is a good time to reflect on some of the issues, grievances, and solutions to two common area...
U.S. Supreme Court, Securities
High court to again address class cert in securities fraud cases
By James J. Beha, Judson E. Lobdell
This term, the U.S. Supreme Court has another chance to address class certification in securities fraud class actions.
Technology, Law Practice
BigLaw might get boxed into providing AI-powered legal services
By Lance Eliot
There are some in BigLaw that are earnestly adopting AI-enabled LegalTech, while others are taking a wait-and-see stance. It i...
Tax, Labor/Employment
Tax rules changed in the latest stimulus package for COVID-19 relief
By Phil Jelsma
On Dec. 27, President Donald Trump signed the Consolidated Appropriations Act 2021, the second largest stimulus package passed...
Family
Custody during the COVID-19 pandemic: Considering move-away requests
By Sarah A. Thompson
Guidance on move-away requests during the pandemic.
Letters, Judges and Judiciary
Column on judicial language sets bad example
By Derek W. Hunt
The Dec. 29 column, "Disability terminology: The California Supreme Court sets the tone," by Thomas Coleman of the Spectrum In...
Judges and Judiciary, Criminal
Advocating against ‘one-size-fits-all’ protective orders during the COVID-19 pandemic
By Ashwin J. Ram, Jennie Shulkin
The public-facing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic are well documented: courthouse closures, remote hearings, and the spread o...
Data Privacy
What the EU-UK divorce means for GDPR privacy compliance
By Victoria Burke
One of the biggest divorce settlements of 2020 was finalized on Dec. 24 when the EU-U.K. Trade and Cooperation Agreement was r...
Family, Alternative Dispute Resolution
Ruling shows the perils of creative solutions in divorce mediation
By Franklin R. Garfield
Prospective clients sometimes tell mediators they are interested in creative solutions to their problems. In its most benign f...
Consumer Law
DFPI enforcement: Time will tell how active new agency is
By Matthew E. Sloan, Rachael Schiffman
In September, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed into law Assembly Bill 1864, the new California Consumer Financial Protection Law.
Labor/Employment
SB 973: Expanding employer obligations to submit annual pay data
By Emily Burkhardt Vicente, Andrew D. Quigley
Beginning in March, Senate Bill 973 will require private employers to submit annual "pay data reports" to the Department of Fa...
Rather than looking back over a memorably unpleasant time, let’s adopt the optimism of Sgt. Pepper and cast our glance at “20 ...
U.S. Supreme Court, Entertainment & Sports, Civil Litigation, Antitrust & Trade Reg., 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals
Supreme Court needs to rethink NCAA ‘amateurism’
By Maurice M. Suh, Daniel L. Weiss
This term the U.S. Supreme Court will reconsider rulings finding the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s rules restrict...
Civil Litigation
Code of Civil Procedure Section 664.6 is now lawyer-friendly
By Michael R. Diliberto
Assembly Bill 2723 amends Section 664.6 and expands the party-signature requirement to provide that the writing may also be si...
Construction, Civil Litigation
Under what circumstances may a party ‘supplement’ its experts?
By Garret D. Murai
In construction litigation it’s not uncommon for parties and their attorneys to hire “experts.” There are even special rules s...