Riverside Business Journal
Tuesday, February 18, 2025
GUEST COLUMNS

Friday, February 14, 2025

Trade secrets face new risks from AI, remote work, and global supply chains. Litigation counsel can help update protections, mitigate threats, and strengthen legal defenses.
When ocean-borne cargo is damaged or lost during transit without insurance, the liability for the loss depends on the terms set out in the bill of lading and various legal frameworks, including the Carriage of Goods by Sea Act (COGSA), while forum selection clauses may require claims to be pursued in foreign jurisdictions.

Thursday, February 13, 2025

The evolving regulatory landscape for digital assets, including the SEC's withdrawal of SAB 121 and President Trump's Digital Assets Executive Order, presents both opportunities and challenges for financial institutions
The Eaton Fire has devastated Altadena, challenging how to value property in a historically Black community with deep cultural and generational significance.

Wednesday, February 12, 2025

Employers in California often struggle with determining salaried exempt status for employees, as it involves both a "salary test" based on the minimum wage and a "duties test" requiring more than 50% of an employee's time be spent on higher-level tasks.
A recent California Court of Appeal ruling in Gharibian v. Wawanesa narrows the definition of "direct physical loss," potentially leaving homeowners affected by wildfire without proper insurance coverage for smoke, ash, and debris damage, exacerbating an already difficult situation for wildfire victims.

Tuesday, February 11, 2025

The U.S. and China, despite their fierce competition in AI, have opportunities to collaborate, leveraging each other's strengths in innovation and application to foster mutual growth and benefit global development.
California's Bulletin 2024-14 clarifies Proposition 103, outlining insurers' duties on lowest premiums, rate filings, credit card fees, wildfire mitigation discounts, and group insurance plan rules.

Monday, February 10, 2025

Think you're safe from IRS audits after three years? Think again - a single missing form or signature could give tax collectors more time to dig through your returns.
In California divorces involving minor children, courts require parents to address health insurance coverage, ensuring continuity of care through employer-sponsored plans, COBRA, Covered California, or Medi-Cal, while also establishing cost-sharing arrangements and procedures for medical expenses.

Friday, February 7, 2025

Lawyers are among the professions most vulnerable to alcoholism and mental health issues, with one in five lawyers having an alcohol problem and high rates of depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts.
A voter ID requirement in California is unlikely to come from the legislature but could be decided by voters through a ballot initiative.

Thursday, February 6, 2025

U.S. District Judge Clay D. Land dismissed the National Ranger Memorial Foundation's lawsuit, stating that Congress has the authority to decide whether Colonel John Singleton Mosby should be memorialized and that the Department of Defense properly implemented the decision.

Wednesday, February 5, 2025

California's fast-food industry faces significant pushback against Assembly Bill 1228, which raised the minimum wage to $20 per hour for workers, as local restaurant owners cite increased operational costs, reduced profitability, and community impact.
Analyzing Gov. Newsom's Executive Order N-7-25: Protecting fire victims or overstepping boundaries?

Tuesday, February 4, 2025

The Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) requires companies to file ownership reports, but ongoing lawsuits and conflicting rulings have left businesses in limbo, unsure of when or how to comply.
Childhood sexual abuse survivors face significant non-economic damages, including emotional distress and sexual dysfunction, but best practices avoid claiming sexual damages to protect privacy and prevent violating CCP 2017.220, which shields sexual history from discovery.

Monday, February 3, 2025

California's 2nd District Court of Appeal delivers a blow to "headless" PAGA actions in Leeper v. Shipt Inc. while carefully distinguishing--but not disturbing-- a key holding in Balderas.
New York Times v. Sullivan protects free speech by requiring public figures to prove "actual malice" in defamation cases--essential for democracy, though critics now challenge its relevance in the digital age.

Friday, January 31, 2025

In the wake of the Los Angeles fires, California's price-gouging protections are making property owners think twice about offering rentals, even as displaced residents desperately search for housing.
Ending birthright citizenship could leave people without legal protections, disrupt immigration policy, and cut federal funding to states, impacting services for residents.

Thursday, January 30, 2025

Two COVID-era cases from Michigan challenge the Supreme Court's murky standards for when government regulations amount to property takings.
Just as the DOI's Sustainable Insurance Strategy launches, unprecedented wildfire losses threaten to trigger FAIR Plan assessments that could spur more insurers to flee California.

Wednesday, January 29, 2025

Los Angeles wildfires have destroyed thousands of homes, giving residents the option to rebuild or relocate using insurance funds, but affordability, rising costs, and emotional strain make the decision difficult.
Observations and lessons at the one-year anniversary of the rules' implementation.

Tuesday, January 28, 2025

The implementation of Section 10D clawback rules has begun to reshape executive compensation policies, as companies navigate disclosure requirements, recovery analyses, and the broader implications for risk management and governance.
New SEC rules require companies to adopt clawback policies for executive compensation, but many firms are going beyond the mandates, implementing discretionary policies to address broader risks, align with shareholder expectations, and deter misconduct while navigating evolving regulatory and investor pressures.

Monday, January 27, 2025

Navigating the tax implications of insurance proceeds after a wildfire can be complex, but there are mechanisms in place--like exclusions, deductions, and deferrals--that can help minimize the tax burden for homeowners, especially when considering future lawsuit recoveries and the new federal tax law.

Friday, January 24, 2025

In a year that reshaped California trust and estate law, five pivotal cases from 2024 delivered significant changes with far-reaching implications for practitioners and clients alike.
Recent class action lawsuits targeting chocolate products revive questions about the use of embedded Proposition 65 allegations.

Thursday, January 23, 2025

California's new "Worker Freedom from Employer Intimidation Act," SB 399, banning mandatory workplace meetings on political, religious, or union matters, faces a constitutional challenge from business groups, sparking a legal battle that could redefine workplace speech and labor law boundaries.
In response to the California State Bar's guidance on the ethical use of Generative AI in legal pleadings, a California attorney was sanctioned $2,500 for submitting a motion that included fabricated case citations and quotations, highlighting the importance of verifying AI-generated content and ensuring compliance with Rule 11.

Wednesday, January 22, 2025

Despite efforts by Attorney General Rob Bonta and Secretary of State Shirley Weber to overturn Huntington Beach's voter identification law, the city may prevail due to its authority as a charter city to manage its own elections.
When representing a client while accepting payment from a third party, CRPC Rule 1.8.6 requires informed written consent, preservation of confidentiality, and unwavering commitment to the client's best interests to avoid ethical pitfalls and ensure compliance.

Tuesday, January 21, 2025

Before Jan. 7, Southern California's idyllic neighborhoods were beloved for their beauty and charm, but the recent wildfires have turned these once serene landscapes into hellscapes, leaving behind ashes and memories.
The Los Angeles wildfires mark the first large-scale test of recently enacted California insurance regulations designed to protect homeowners, expedite claims, and ensure fair treatment for wildfire victims during recovery efforts.

NEWS

General News

Friday, February 14, 2025

At the heart of the complaint, filed Tuesday, is a statement the plaintiffs claim the company made about SCE's use of a wildfire prevention tool that temporarily shuts off electrical power in neighborhoods during dangerous weather conditions.
General News

Friday, February 14, 2025

How do you want your social media pages, smartphone photos and computer files handled after you die?
General News

Friday, February 14, 2025

The ruling keeps the case alive but dismisses key claims, setting up another legal battle over the emotional distress caused by the wrongful death notification.
General News

Thursday, February 13, 2025

Examples of spoiled broth abound in the political realm, but a very obvious and current example is California's haphazard approach to its worst-in-the-nation homelessness crisis.
General News

Thursday, February 13, 2025

SpaceX accuses the California Coastal Commission of unconstitutional conduct and bias, claiming interference with its plans for more launches at Vandenberg. The legal battle continues with a motion hearing set for March.
General News

Thursday, February 13, 2025

A California appeal court sided with Wawanesa Insurance, denying Saddle Ridge Fire victims' claims for smoke damage, setting a precedent for future wildfire insurance disputes.
General News

Wednesday, February 12, 2025

A lawsuit claims Nature's Path toaster pastries contain too much of the wrong kind of sugar.
General News

Wednesday, February 12, 2025

America has seen this movie before: President Donald Trump, who imposed stiff tariffs Monday on imported steel and aluminum, did so once before, in 2018.
General News

Wednesday, February 12, 2025

Huntington Beach City Attorney Michael Gates is known for championing conservative policies and leading high-profile legal battles against California state mandates.
General News

Tuesday, February 11, 2025

Credit card debt is weighing on many Americans.
General News

Tuesday, February 11, 2025

Anchor Stone Christian Church sued Santa Ana, claiming the city misled them into buying property and then denied a permit for religious use, violating their rights under federal law.
General News

Tuesday, February 11, 2025

Lawyers representing Altadena residents challenge Southern California Edison's claims of evidence that throws into doubt suggestions their equipment didn't start the Eaton fire.
General News

Monday, February 10, 2025

A California walnut farmer and a German investment group compete for lead plaintiff in a Super Micro class action, raising questions about investment patterns and plaintiff suitability.
General News

Monday, February 10, 2025

President Donald Trump denounced California's bullet train for the project's delays and rising costs on Tuesday, and said his administration would investigate how billions of federal and state dollars have been spent.
General News

Monday, February 10, 2025

Patterson & O'Neill, after legal victories forcing Los Angeles to approve housing permits, open a new office in LA to tackle the city's housing crisis after recent wildfires.
General News

Friday, February 7, 2025

LA city attorney targets Blueground US Inc. and two individuals, accusing them of price gouging after the wildfires, alleging price hikes over 50%. Legal actions include criminal and civil complaints to curb exploitation during the emergency.
General News

Friday, February 7, 2025

Dozens of lawsuits have been filed against Southern California Edison over its suspected role in the Eaton Canyon wildfire that devastated Altadena. As cases continue to be stayed and assigned to Judge Laura A. Seigle, one firm moved swiftly to secure a temporary restraining order to prevent the destruction of key evidence.
General News

Friday, February 7, 2025

Sebastian Siemiatkowski, CEO of Klarna, a Swedish tech firm that helps consumers defer payment on purchases, has repeatedly talked up the amount of work his company has automated using generative AI.
General News

Thursday, February 6, 2025

A federal judge in Orange County reversed his tentative order, affirming a $71.5 million verdict for the OMG Girlz and T.I. against MGA Entertainment in a trade dress dispute over "L.O.L. Surprise! O.M.G." dolls.
General News

Thursday, February 6, 2025

While the Irvine City Council maintained panic button requirements for worker safety, it removed compensation rules that would have doubled pay for cleaning beyond set room quotas. The decision followed intense lobbying from the hotel industry, drawing sharp criticism from labor advocates.
General News

Thursday, February 6, 2025

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals will reconsider a decision on the Los Angeles school district's now-defunct vaccine mandate for employees, as the nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. stirs vaccine policy debates.
General News

Wednesday, February 5, 2025

If you were planning to use your tax refund to buy the paper version of inflation bonds, you're out of luck: That option has been eliminated.
General News

Wednesday, February 5, 2025

Stubbs Alderton & Markiles persuaded a federal judge in Riverside to restrain U.S. Legal Support's former employee and her new employers from using trade secrets she is alleged to have taken with her when she switched jobs.
General News

Wednesday, February 5, 2025

Santa Ana is considering reinstating an advisory group to strengthen immigrant protections. Meanwhile, Huntington Beach is taking the opposite approach, challenging California's sanctuary laws in federal court. The outcome could have significant implications for immigration enforcement across Orange County.
General News

Tuesday, February 4, 2025

Attorneys representing Lucid shareholders claim that an Aug. 8 ruling from U.S. District Judge Araceli Martínez-Olguín in a separate securities case set the precedent for a new derivative suit. The complaint accuses 10 executives of breaching fiduciary duties by misleading investors about the electric automaker's production goals before its public debut, resulting in "tens of billions" in lost market cap and "millions" in investor losses.
General News

Tuesday, February 4, 2025

Conceptually, scrubbing carbon from the state's economy, particularly transportation and utility sectors, has enjoyed broad popular support. But as the self-imposed deadline looms, specific strategies to reduce emissions are encountering resistance as Californians feel their real world impacts.
General News

Monday, February 3, 2025

L.A. City Council and officials were accused of using discussions on a settled lawsuit about homeless encampments as a ruse to avoid the state's open meetings law, a lawsuit claims.
General News

Monday, February 3, 2025

Attorneys who have lost their homes in the L.A. County fires have no specific latitude for lapses in representing their clients, but colleagues and judges can be considerate if requests are made upfront.
General News

Monday, February 3, 2025

Parents beware. The money-lusting billionaires in Silicon Valley who, through social media, have already caused unprecedented child suffering -- including depression, eating disorders, suicide, drug-related deaths, invasions of privacy and sex trafficking -- they have unleashed a new horror.
General News

Friday, January 31, 2025

Trumpologists -- those who specialize in deciphering President Trump -- generally advise examining his actions rather than his words.
General News

Friday, January 31, 2025

District Attorneys from four Southern California counties are calling on Gov. Gavin Newsom to extend emergency price gouging protections beyond Los Angeles and Ventura counties. Citing the housing crisis caused by wildfire displacement, the prosecutors argue that loopholes in current law leave vulnerable residents at risk of exploitation.
General News

Friday, January 31, 2025

Michael J. Libman, the only attorney in the Los Angeles water billing litigation scandal ordered to disgorge his fees, was recommended for disbarment.
General News

Thursday, January 30, 2025

At this moment, California faces two crises: horribly destructive and deadly wildfires in Los Angeles County and fears that President Donald Trump will either deny federal relief or use it as leverage to force California to change its policies.
General News

Thursday, January 30, 2025

For the fourth time in recent years, a proposal to fund a law school at UC Riverside has been put on hold. With Riverside and San Bernardino counties facing severe attorney shortages, advocates argue the need for a local law school to serve the region's growing population remains critical.
General News

Thursday, January 30, 2025

The Terra Bella Irrigation District has accused the U.S. Department of the Interior of initiating a $500 million canal project without adequate funding and attempting to retroactively impose costs on water districts. The lawsuit also names the Friant Water Authority as a defendant.
General News

Friday, February 14, 2025

Four lawsuits claim the Television City project in LA's Fairfax District violates environmental and zoning laws, challenging the city council's approval of the studio complex expansion.
General News

Thursday, February 13, 2025

With deep expertise in patent litigation and IP strategy across life sciences, medical devices, and technology, the five-partner group enhances Morgan Lewis's ability to handle complex, high-stakes IP disputes globally.
General News

Wednesday, February 12, 2025

The EPA has given itself a 30-day deadline to clean up toxic waste from recent Los Angeles County wildfires, but objections have been raised about that prediction and a decision to store some of the waste on Will Rogers State Beach.
General News

Tuesday, February 11, 2025

Attorney Graham E. Berry was briefly removed from California's vexatious litigant list after 24 years by one Los Angeles judge, but another reinstated him due to lack of notification to the affected party.
General News

Monday, February 10, 2025

Marqeta Inc. shareholders filed a lawsuit against CEO Simon Khalaf and other executives, claiming "gross mismanagement" caused a 42.5% stock drop after undisclosed regulatory risks surfaced in Q3 earnings.
General News

Friday, February 7, 2025

The lawsuit, led by the Center for Biological Diversity, claims federal agencies failed to account for environmental impacts and ignored public input.
General News

Wednesday, February 5, 2025

9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals judges asked skeptical questions about the differences between Google and Epic Games.
General News

Tuesday, February 4, 2025

An Orange County judge accused of his wife's murder will be tried in his home court, the Los Angeles County judge who will preside over his trial has ordered.
General News

Monday, February 3, 2025

Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer is calling on the federal government to tighten restrictions on the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) visa waiver program, citing its role in enabling organized crime from Chile. House lawmakers have echoed his concerns, urging an evaluation of Chile's participation. Law enforcement officials warn that sophisticated burglary networks are exploiting the system to target homes across the U.S.
General News

Friday, January 31, 2025

Wisner Baum's clients have joined the dozens of lawsuits filed against Southern California Edison now that there is more evidence such as photos and video suggesting how the Eaton Fire might have ignited.
General News

Thursday, January 30, 2025

A Los Angeles judge has ordered Southern California Edison to refrain from reenergizing power lines in the area where the Eaton Canyon wildfire began, following disclosures of a fault on one of its transmission lines. The fire has claimed 17 lives and destroyed over 14,000 acres. Investigators are focusing on Edison's equipment as a possible cause.