The long-time Managing Attorney for Legal Services of Northern California’s Redwood Regional office, which serves Humboldt and Del Norte Counties, will retire on May 31, 2016. Mr. Smith is a graduate of Pomona College, Claremont, California. He graduated from New York University School of Law in 1973. He has been providing legal assistance to the Redwood Region since 1979, where … Read More
Physician Report Thyself
Occasionally it happens that a physician who has worked incredibly hard throughout his or her life runs into legal trouble. When those troubles includes any criminal element—if for example a physician is charged by information or indictment with a felony or pleads to or is convicted of a misdemeanor or a felony — the physician’s obligation is to self-report to … Read More
Janssen Malloy LLP supports Legal Services of Northern California
Janssen Malloy LLP continues in its tradition of commitment to Legal Services of Northern California (“LSNC”). Partner Mike Morrison served on the LSNC Board of Directors for 7 years. He was an active member until his term expired. Recently, the California State Bar appointed Janssen Malloy LLP partner Amelia Burroughs to continue in Mike’s place as the representative on the LSNC … Read More
California’s Fair Pay Act
In October 2015, California’s Governor Brown signed into law equal pay protections for California employees. The legislation authored by Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson to strengthen the older California Equal Pay Act and to rectify gender wage inequality. The Fair Pay Act protects employees who discuss their pay or seek to enforce their rights from discrimination or retaliation by employers. Employees now … Read More
420 Employees
The California legislature recently enacted the Medical Marijuana Regulation and Safety Act. The Act consists of three separate bills which create a comprehensive state licensing system for the commercial cultivation, sale, transport, and distribution of medical marijuana. Assuming the Act is signed into law by California’s Governor Jerry Brown, January 1, 2016 is its effective date. Any person operating pursuant … Read More
U-be a Class of Employees
Recently, a federal court in California certified a class action of Uber drivers who claim they are really employees and were misclassified by Uber as independent contractors. Uber defended the class status of the Uber drivers, arguing that each driver, as independent contractors, had a special contractual relationship with Uber and couldn’t prosecute their individual claims as a class. Drivers for … Read More
California Labor Commissioner Opines on Sick Leave
This month, the California Labor Commissioner has offered an opinion letter to help California employers interpret the requirements of the new Healthy Workplaces, Healthy Families Act of 2014—otherwise known as the new sick leave law in California. The opinion letter provides guidance to employers who have employees who do not work a traditional 8-hour per day schedule. Humboldt County employers … Read More
Put the “Self” Back into Self-Employed
Recent data available from the Census Bureau suggests that almost 11,000 Humboldt County residents identify as self-employed. If you own and operate your own business, you’ve likely had occasion to consider California’s employment laws. There is a great local resource for employers in Humboldt and Del Norte counties. The Northcoast Employer’s Advisory Council meets regularly, typically in Eureka, to discuss … Read More
California’s New Sick Leave Law Now in Effect
As of July 1, 2015, California’s new sick leave law is in effect. At this time, Humboldt County employers need a written policy that specifically caps sick leave, or they will be subject to the required statutory accrual rate of one hour of sick pay for every 30 hours worked. If you are a Humboldt County employer and do not know … Read More
Multi-Agency Enforcement Unit Issues Guidance
California’s Labor Employment Task Force (“LETF”) has just provided written guidance to employers about obligations for employing workers and what to expect during an inspection. The LETF is a multi-agency enforcement task force in California charged with enforcing labor laws, particularly for underground employment industries, like car washes, restaurants, manufacturing, roofing, construction, agricultural and auto repair businesses. For Humboldt County … Read More