Environmental & Energy, Administrative/Regulatory
New GHG rule for oil and gas facilities
By Shannon S. Broome, Daniel Grucza
The California Air Resources Board approved greenhouse gas emission standards for crude oil and natural gas facilities.
Presiding Juvenile Judge Annemarie Pace collaborates with kids, families for best outcomes.
Immigration
When arriving from abroad, do you have a right to an attorney?
By William L. Coffman, Daniel J. Herling
Entering the United States has become a brave new world of border inspections and electronic device examination.
Now that the Trump University litigation has settled, some ask why California does not prohibit the use of "college" or "unive...
Constitutional Law
Tattoo artist can bring First Amendment challenge
By Karen A. Henry
James Real brought a civil rights action against the city of Long Beach, claiming the city's zoning ordinances impinge his Fir...
Labor/Employment, Constitutional Law, Civil Rights
Does Hewlett-Packard's diversity initiative violate Title VII?
By Tamara M. Kurtzman
The company's "diversity holdback" mandate, which threatens to withhold up to 10 percent of an outside law firm's invoiced fee...
The 7th Circuit said Title VII prohibits an employer from discriminating on the basis of sexual orientation -- the first feder...
California Courts of Appeal, Administrative/Regulatory
State Ellis Act trumps local tenant-relocation ordinances
By C. Danny Wang
San Francisco landlords may breathe a sigh of relief -- tenant-relocation payments won't be dramatically increased when they e...
As one insurer recently found out, risk-shifting provisions in their policies — specifically, one which seeks to shift the cos...
With the continuing popularity of donor-advised funds and with the issuance of regulations regarding the operation of such fun...
Whatever the future holds for Supreme Court nominees, both sides will have to live with the consequences of the end of the fil...
Judge Elaine Lu balances efficiency and thoroughness in an LA court with 15K pending cases.
Labor/Employment
IRS memos aren't final word on 401(k) hardship distributions
By Edward M. Bernard, Elizabeth J. Masson
Employers and plan administrators may not rely on or cite the IRS memorandum as legal authority -- it is not a pronouncement o...
Appellate Practice
Recent ruling clarifies two key wage statement questions
By John C. Kloosterman
One of the most contentious areas of litigation between California employees and employers involves what's listed on the emplo...
Better late than never rarely applies to appeals -- failing to raise issues during trial can be determinative. ...
The plain truth is that sheriffs are not enforcing immigration law on our streets despite accusations that we are. By Donny Yo...
With the confirmation of Justice Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court -- the Constitution, the rule of law and the American peopl...
Senate Democrats did not filibuster Judge Neil Gorsuch to stop his confirmation - they did it to express a protest message tha...
Perspective
Go directly to MFAA: Do not stop at court; do not collect $200
By Jonathan A. Goldstein
While participation is voluntary for the client, attorneys must participate in this forum if the client so elects to proceed u...
Law Practice, Law Office Management
Protect your firm from partner departures
By Daniel O'Rielly, Dena Roche
Well drafted partnership agreements lessen the likelihood that top partner talent will depart the firm. ...
Creditors' access to trust distributions
By Mark J. Phillips, Sevag P. Kechichian
A recent case asked whether and when a bankruptcy estate can access a beneficiary's interest a spendthrift trust. By Mark J. P...
U.S. Supreme Court, Government, Criminal, Constitutional Law, Civil Rights
Where does LA DA stand on list of problem deputies?
By Richard Ceballos
Los Angeles County Sheriff Jim McDonnell is attempting to send a list of 300 or so problem deputies to prosecutors in order to...
My hunch is that many Americans would be troubled by a justice who can only look to the past and who, as a matter of principle...
Civil Litigation, Letters, Law Practice, 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals
Unfortunate headline for stolen art case
By Stanley W. Levy
I was shocked to see the lead story for this year's CLAY winners under the banner headline "Ensuring historic art is in the ri...
Can you turn down pay and have the Internal Revenue Service respect it? Let's consider the case of President Donald J. Trump. ...
Robust intellectual property protection, especially patent protection, is a critical due diligence consideration for investors...
Insurance, Corporate, California Supreme Court
Reasonable expectations for 'replacement cost' coverage
By Robert K. Scott, Jacquelyn Mohr
Earlier this year, the California Supreme Court made an important ruling that will help to combat the "Underinsurance Crisis."...
Law Practice, Ethics/Professional Responsibility
Avoiding unintentional attorney-client relationships
By J. Randolph Evans, Shari L. Klevens
Carefully worded engagement and correspondence letters and disclaimers will help avoid creating an attorney-client relationshi...
Law Practice, Constitutional Law
Attorney general headed down a dangerous road
By John C. Eastman
The undercover investigation of Planned Parenthood was not unlike numerous others conducted by investigative journalists seeki...
Administrative/Regulatory
Conflicting messages on business regulation
By Jeffrey L. Bornstein, Andrew G. Spore
Despite Trump's remarks on slashing regulation, recent developments suggest that the DOJ is still focused on prosecuting corpo...