In America, both police the military wear uniforms. These serve many purposes, including making members easily identifiable and emphasizing group unity. Uniforms can also have legal importance, as they delineate between combatants who represent governments and those acting independently. Yes, uniforms are important. The question is, just how uniform do uniforms have to be? Members […]
Published on January 6, 2017
In an extremely troubling case, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission recently filed suit against Goodwill Industries of the East Bay Area and its affiliate, Calidad Industries, and a supervisor for their janitorial services contractor. In its complaint, the EEOC claims the supervisor made a habit of sexually harassing female janitorial staff, falsifying their time records, […]
Published on January 3, 2017
Pregnancy, its effects on the body, and the various check-ups needed during the process all make work more challenging for pregnant women. Too much strain or stress during pregnancy can also cause developmental problems for the baby. Employers are required to provide reasonable accommodations to all pregnant women, but all too often, these accommodations are […]
Published on December 13, 2016
No matter how you feel about the recent election and its outcome, recent statistics have shown that the number of acts against minorities and ethnic groups has been rising. It is in situations like these where it is most important to understand your rights and what protections are offered under the law. What is discrimination? […]
Published on November 18, 2016
Workplace sexual harassment is one of most the pressing issues facing society. As a country, it is impossible to know which direction we are headed if we do not know how we got here. Back in 1991, the Supreme Court set an important precedent for workplace sexual harassment. At the time, it was widely considered […]
Published on October 7, 2016
As an employee you strive to get to work at your scheduled time and give an honest day’s work for an honest day’s pay. You follow all of the policies in your employee manual, and you have no blemishes in your employee record. Your employer expects it of you and most play by the same […]
Published on September 20, 2016
The Unruh Civil Rights Act is one of four statutes enforced by the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH), an agency of the California state government established in 1959. The overseeing DFEH protects its state residents from employment, housing and public accommodation discrimination, along with hate violence. According to a study of employee […]
Published on August 15, 2016
This month, the California Supreme Court decided Sanchez v. Valencia Holding Co., LLC, ___ P.3d ___, 2015 WL 4605381 (2015), wherein it held that the anti-waiver provision of California’s consumer protection statute is preempted by the Federal Arbitration Act (“FAA”). Id. at 15. The case involved a car purchaser who filed a putative class action […]
Published on August 18, 2015
Have you ever heard of a mandatory arbitration clause? You’ve probably agreed to one. In fact, if you listen to music online, use a cell phone, pay with a credit card, or work for a large employer, you’re probably bound to several at this very moment. But if you’re like most consumers and employees, a […]
Published on March 24, 2015
The results are in. And for the sixth year in a row, our very own Larry Organ has been named to the 2015 Northern California Super Lawyers. Every year, the Thomson Reuters organization selects “outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high-degree of peer recognition and professional achievement.” Following an […]
Published on March 6, 2015
As long as judgments have included economic damages, there have been judgment proof defendants. In personal injury law, for example, this problem has been addressed by the concept of mandatory coverage for those who participate in the activities that typically give rise to such claims. From car and homeowners insurance to workers compensation programs, these […]
Published on January 18, 2015
In Burwell v. Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc., 134 S.Ct. 2751 (2014), the Supreme Court held that the so-called contraceptive mandate of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) violated the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA). After finding that for-profit corporations are “persons” under the RFRA, the Court proceeded to declare that the ACA’s regulatory […]
Published on November 21, 2014