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...
A recent decision is likely to be one of the last times the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit reviews a district c...
Bill could spell big changes for class action litigants
By Arthur F. Silbergeld
The House recently passed the Fairness in Class Action Litigation Act, which would add eight new sections to the Consumer Clas...
When someone says a deal term is "standard," ask why. Then ask why again. By Scott Wornow ...
Civil Litigation, Intellectual Property
The legal status of online reviews
By Jean-Paul Jassy
Recent developments shed light on the legal protections afforded online reviews and the hosting sites that post them. ...
Administrative/Regulatory
Address housing costs with balance
By Jeffrey McCoy, Jeremy B. Talcott
The California Supreme Court just added unnecessary delay and expense to a sorely needed development project while 1,375 futur...
While most agree that our future will be filled with autonomous vehicles, the road to get there will be complicated and thorny.
Insurance
Insurers cannot escape coverage without a 'final adjudication'
By Fiona A. Chaney
A recent ruling serves as a stern warning to insurers that absent a true "final adjudication," they must continue to pay defen...
An IRS ruling on an issue is clearly best if you can get it. Yet, you can't always get it. What's more, in some cases it can b...
My last two columns explored the substance of extraordinary writs, but form also matters.
You never know who's going to read your column. It could even be someone like Shaquille O'Neal. ...
LA County Judge Marguerite Downing talks to the juveniles in her courtroom about their futures.
Constitutional Law, Administrative/Regulatory
An assault on religious principles
By William J. Becker Jr.
First, and overreach by Attorney General Xavier Becerra, and now a state law restricting religious institutions.