With the ongoing drought and the endless debate over responsible development, land use law is a fertile field of confusion, controversy, and contempt. Municipalities, counties, community services districts, and the state each have their own set of rules and regulations, and navigating the myriad laws can be the bane of anyone taking on a development project or petitioning a city … Read More
Independent Contractors Get an Uber Lyft
In mid-March, two federal court judges in Northern California determined that juries will decide the question of whether the drivers for the ride services Uber and Lyft have been misclassified by those services as independent contractors. Employee plaintiffs in each case are alleging that they—and a class of similarly situated drivers—should be classified as employees. The two cases are Cotter v. … Read More
Transferring a Salmon Permit from a Lost Vessel
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife regulates and facilitates the issuance, maintenance, and transfers of California commercial salmon permits. In general, permits can be transferred between vessels in certain circumstances, including upon the loss, theft, or destruction of the permitted vessel. Transfers following one of these events, however, are subject to strict restrictions and time limits. Applications to transfer … Read More
Auto Insurance Policy Med-Pay: What is it?
Most California automobile insurance liability policies include (or offer to include) medical payments coverage, or “med-pay,” for short. Most people aren’t familiar with med-pay coverages, don’t know whether they have this coverage, and don’t know how to open up or engage such coverage, even though they have paid a premium for it. This column will address and explain the concept, … Read More
County Road Provides Unsafe Sight Distance
Janssen Malloy LLP recently tried a case against CalTrans and State Parks for failing to provide sufficient sight distance at the exit for Grizzly Creek State Park. Based upon a recent decision by the California Supreme Court a case against Lost Angeles County will head to trial based upon a dangerous condition caused by an inadequate sight distance. The California … Read More
CA Requires Training to Prevent Abusive Conduct
California’s law that requires employers to provide annual sexual harassment training to all supervisors was amended to include prevention of abusive conduct. The new law defines abusive conduct as “conduct of an employer or employee in the workplace, with malice, that a reasonable person would find hostile, offensive, and unrelated to an employer’s legitimate business interests. Abusive conduct may include … Read More