When choosing an expert witness in a case, you may have a choice between an insider, i.e., an employee-expert, versus an outside expert. Deciding which one to use requires an understanding of the pros and cons of the employee-expert. (more…)
Filed under: Civil Litigation, Employment Law, Legal Topics, Litigation Strategy | Tagged: employee-expert, expert, expert witness, insider, litigation, trial | 1 Comment »
A “Divorce Hotel” may be coming soon to a luxury hotel near you! As the New York Times explains, “Check in on Friday, married. Then, with the help of mediators and independent lawyers, check out on Sunday, divorce papers in hand, all for a flat fee.” Not surprisingly, this concept may have the makings of a reality show too. (more…)
Filed under: Divorce Law, Family Law, Legal Topics | Tagged: community property, divorce, marital dissolution, mediation | 2 Comments »
A construction project is like a marriage. As with any marriage, there are inevitably some bumps along the way. If the bumps are too big, one or both sides call their lawyers and file for divorce. Construction law practitioners who find their client in the midst of a construction divorce need to move fast to secure their client’s claim. That’s where a writ of attachment may come into the picture. (more…)
Filed under: Business, Legal Topics, Real Property | Tagged: construction, contract law, mechanics' lien, prejudgment remedies, remedies, writ of attachment | 1 Comment »
Do you understand medical expense coverage on an automobile insurance policy? It can be very confusing, particularly as to what it covers and how other coverage may impact it. Here are the basics on medical coverage in auto policies, which will hopefully clarify its purpose and help you get the most for your clients with this type of coverage.
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Filed under: Civil Litigation, Legal Topics, Tort Law | Tagged: automobile accidents, automobile insurance, first party insurance coverage, med-pay, medical coverage | Leave a Comment »
Do you have trouble remembering names at a cocktail party? Imagine trying to remember names and facts about potential jurors under the pressure of voir dire examination! There is a handy tool to help with this — a jury box chart. (more…)
Filed under: Civil Litigation, Criminal Law, Legal Topics, Litigation Strategy | Tagged: iJuror, jurors, jury box chart, jury selection, trial practice, voir dire | 1 Comment »
Most attorneys are aware of the frequent client complaint about lack of communication from attorneys. Some say it’s the top client complaint about attorneys. So how do you make sure that those complaints are never about you? Here are 4 steps to help you keep those lines of communication open. (more…)
Filed under: Practice of Law, Starting a Law Practice | Tagged: client communications, letter to client, opening a law office, solo practice, status report | 5 Comments »
One of the fundamental rules of thumb for cross-examining a witness at trial is not to ask a question to which you don’t know the answer. But there are situations in which you can’t take such a low-risk approach to the case. You may have to throw this rule out the window and take your chances to resuscitate a weak or even middling case. (more…)
Filed under: Civil Litigation, Criminal Law, Legal Topics, Litigation Strategy | Tagged: cross-examination, questioning, trial, witnesses | Leave a Comment »
With the recent nuptials of Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan, there has been speculation as to whether the billionaire Facebook CEO had Ms. Chan sign a premarital agreement. We may never know the answer to that question — at least not if the marriage is a successful one — but we do know that premarital agreements are recognized under California law. But that doesn’t mean you can agree to anything in a premarital agreement; there are some things that you just can’t sign away. (more…)
Filed under: Divorce Law, Estate Planning, Family Law, Legal Topics | Tagged: divorce, marital dissolution, marriage, premarital agreement, prenup, Zuckerberg | 2 Comments »
Employment litigation can be highly charged; both sides may be emotional about the case as well as being concerned with the costs of litigation and the time it will take. Given that reality, don’t pull the trigger on bringing an employment case until you’ve followed these five steps. (more…)
Filed under: Civil Litigation, Employment Law, Legal Topics | Tagged: damages, discrimination, Employment Law, reinstatement, remedies, wrongful termination | 1 Comment »
Citizen’s arrest was in the news recently when the leader of a self-described black militia group wanted to attempt a citizen’s arrest on George Zimmerman, the neighborhood watch leader who was later arrested by the police for the fatal shooting of Trayvon Martin. In another recent situation, a cyclist attempted a “citizen’s arrest” of a jogger who bumped into him. There are many people just itching to make a citizen’s arrest, but few have any idea about what it really means. (more…)
Filed under: Criminal Law, Legal Topics | Tagged: citizen's arrest, exclusional rule, Fourth Amendment, illegal search, police officer, search | Leave a Comment »
