Category Archives: General
MARIJUANA & OPERATION OF VEHICLES IN CALIFORNIA
Effective January 1, 2018, many new laws have come into effect in the State of California. In the practice of personal injury litigation, attorneys deal with not only issues of liability, causation and damages, but also peripheral issues including the laws of driving under the influence. It is common knowledge of the illegality of… Read More »
CALIFORNIA PENALIZES HOSPITALS STATEWIDE
The California Department of Public Health has recently issued fines and penalties against nine California hospitals. The fines, totaling $549,555, arose from 10 reports of negligence occurring from 2014 to 2017. The hospitals fined include: Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital in Santa Barbara; Palmdale Regional Medical Center in Palmdale; Doctors Medical Center in Modesto; Methodist… Read More »
Can You be Fired for Filing a Workers’ Compensation Claim?
Employees in California are entitled to compensation if they are injured on the job, and more importantly, they have the right to file a workers’ compensation claim without fear of retaliation. Unfortunately, however, there are several employers out there who take workers’ compensation claims personally and who may attempt to fire an injured worker… Read More »
Major Changes in the State Bar of California
The California State Bar was created by the California Legislature in 1927 when they enacted the State Bar Act.1 The State Bar of California is a public corporation (not an association), formed to fix qualifications for the admission to practice, adopt rules of professional conduct, and conduct disciplinary proceedings (all with the approval of… Read More »
Getting Ready for Your Birds to Leave the Nest: A Pre-College “To Do” List
If your son or daughter just graduated from high school in 2017, chances are you are busy preparing for the date on which you will take him or her to college. You may have already engaged in considerable pre-planning: You may have visited the college on multiple occasions and toured the campus and dormitories;… Read More »
Motorcycle Lane Splitting
Lane splitting refers to the process where a motorcyclist passes other vehicles by riding between lanes of stopped or slow moving traffic, or riding between vehicles along the lane line. This practice generally occurs on freeways or multi-lane highways. While considered annoying and even unsafe by most motorists (other than the motorcyclist), if done… Read More »
We Will Miss John Van de Kamp
John K. Van de Kamp (1936-2017) was a man of great stature, conviction, ability and accomplishment. He was a good husband, a good father, a good friend. He was a respected and effective leader in many roles, including his service as the Los Angeles County District Attorney and as our State Attorney General. He… Read More »
Chief Justice’s “State of the Court” Address Smacks of Politics (?)
A few weeks ago, many of us lawyers and judges, selected leaders from across the state, came together in Sacramento to lobby legislators to give more attention to the needs of the courts and access to justice in our legal system through funding of needed repairs and construction to facilities, budgetary concerns regarding staffing… Read More »
What to Bring to Your Free Initial Consultation
Visiting your California personal injury lawyer for the first time can be intimidating, especially when you or your loved one are reeling from the effects of a personal injury accident. Yet speaking with an attorney is the first step toward recovering the compensation and monetary damages you need to address your losses and expenses…. Read More »
Is California a “Fault” State for Car Insurance Purposes?
When a California car crash occurs, which driver’s insurance pay for the damages? This is a fundamental question that many car crash injury victims have in the aftermath of a collision. After all, identifying the proper insurance company with which to file a claim, or identifying the party who may be responsible for paying… Read More »
