Insurance, Environmental & Energy
Four options for dealing with climate-related disasters: defend, adapt, retreat, or buy/rent-out
By Chinye Uwechue
California is facing a crisis as insurance companies are leaving the state due to the increasing frequency and severity of cli...
Judges and Judiciary, Ethics/Professional Responsibility
How does impartiality work when judges are selected because of their real and perceived biases?
By Mark B. Baer
United States Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas has been criticized for his alleged ethical violations and bias. However, ...
Criminal, California Supreme Court
Petitioners and AG Bonta ask California Supreme Court to review constitutionality of death penalty
By Douglas Fuchs, Eric Vandevelde
The California Supreme Court could either grant review and appoint a special master, as suggested by the AG, or deny review wi...
Consumer Protection Law
Navigating the 'junk fee' crackdown
By Alejandro Moreno, Skylar Stoudt
California has banned undisclosed fees across various services, and the FTC has proposed a rule to eliminate hidden fees natio...
Technology
Use of AI in employment decisions: What’s next in California?
By Rebecca L. Stuart
Governments have been trying to stay ahead of the specific concerns AI raises in the employment context, but there is still re...
Examining four cases: The Supreme Court’s decision on trust amendment procedures, the extent of power of a healthcare proxy, c...
Real Estate/Development
Can landlords seek shelter under the Ellis Act to remodel and evict low-income tenants?
By Mark S. Martinez
The court’s decision could have significant repercussions for the southern California landlord-tenant legal landscape.
Law Practice, Ethics/Professional Responsibility
Understanding client engagements and compensation structures
By Christine C. Rosskopf
The fee agreement is a critical document when a dispute arises between a lawyer and their client. It outlines the scope of the...
Law Practice
Crafting the future: Business plans and strategies for law firm growth
By George Brandon
Essential strategies for law firms to enhance growth and success.
Securities, Law Practice
Preparation is key to a successful SEC fund exam
By Sara L. Terheggen
SEC examinations are unpredictable, time-consuming, and potentially detrimental for a fund’s reputation and longevity if an en...
The Piper case challenged a statute that authorized school districts to exclude Native American children from public schools a...
Labor/Employment
Harry Bridges: The labor union leader who fought for workers’ rights and faced decades of litigation
By John S. Caragozian
Harry Bridges, a labor union leader, had a significant impact on California’s economy and was involved in decades of litigatio...
The California Supreme Court’s recognition of an implied exclusive easement was a radical and unprecedented change in the law ...
Constitutional Law, Civil Rights
An American epic: 20 Years of same-sex marriage
By Zachary Freire-Aviña
Twenty years after the first same-sex marriage was performed in Massachusetts, the legal and societal landscape of same-sex ma...
Real Estate/Development
Controversy surrounds Ellis Act as Los Angeles apartment complex faces evictions
By Anna Liu
The Ellis Act, a state law in California, allows property owners to exit the rental business. However, a recent case involving...
Civil Rights
The Port Chicago 50 must be exonerated and you can help
By Shahrad Milanfar, Gabriel Milanfar
Exoneration would correct a historical injustice and recognize the courage and sacrifice of the Port Chicago 50. It would also...
Labor/Employment
What California employers need to know about SB 553 and workplace violence prevention plans
By Mike Arias
The plan must consider the different roles and responsibilities of employees, such as public-facing, remote, or field workers....
Environmental & Energy, Administrative/Regulatory
Unveiling mineral rights ownership: legal and regulatory considerations, challenges, and pitfalls
By Adam Ferrari
Mineral rights owners need to conduct thorough due diligence and title searches, engage experienced legal counsel and industry...
Attorneys relying solely on Zoom for court appearances may find themselves lacking the essential interpersonal abilities and c...
Environmental & Energy, Administrative/Regulatory
Will California’s new electric rate structure reduce bills?
By Megan J. Somogyi
The fixed charge’s effect on electric bills will depend on various factors, such as the customer’s consumption patterns, the u...
Constitutional Law, Civil Rights
None of our business: Recent anti-SLAPP cases on the distinctions between public and private issues
By Ashfaq G. Chowdhury
The anti-SLAPP regime requires that the statements or conduct at issue be in connection with a public issue or an issue of pub...
Entertainment & Sports
Preparing players and lawyers for a new college sports landscape
By Frank N. Darras
The parties involved in House v. NCAA are discussing a potential settlement that would create a $2.7 billion fund for f...
Torts/Personal Injury, Government
Trail immunity—is the condition an integral part of the trail?
By Michael E. Rubinstein
Trail immunity is a confusing area of law that applies a broad definition of what constitutes a trail, and plaintiffs face a h...
Labor/Employment
No summer break for employers: How to comply with CA’s Workplace Violence Prevention Program
By Hannah Sweiss, Abby Putzulu
Non-compliance with the Workplace Violence Prevention Plan can lead to expensive citations and penalties. California employers...
Jeopardy! would show the presidential candidates’ knowledge of history, geography, business, and other relevant topics, as wel...
Technology, Intellectual Property
USPTO digs into DNA of inventions to determine whether originator is human enough to hold patent
By Anita Taff-Rice
Commenters fault USPTO rules for providing inadequate guidance to inventors using Generative-AI.
Immigration
Sleepwalking into a humanitarian disaster on the US border
By Marcelo Gondim
The immigration issue is distorted by political wrangling, misinformation, and dehumanizing rhetoric, which prevents people fr...
Judicial decisions are based on public policy and legal principles, but often lack the time and resources to address the compl...
Constitutional Law, Administrative/Regulatory
CFPB public funds identification and expenditure authorization suffice
By Philip M. Howe
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in a 7-2 decision that the funding for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is constit...
Criminal
Glossip Swirl: Supreme Court will hear criminal discovery obligation case
By Brian M. Hoffstadt
The Supreme Court will hear Glossip v. Oklahoma, a case involving criminal discovery obligations of prosecutors, and pr...