If you’re suing a public entity or public employee (acting within the scope of employment) for money or damages, you must first file a timely administrative claim. But what do you do if you’re late in filing your claim? (more…)
Filed under: Civil Litigation, Legal Topics, Tort Law | Tagged: Government Claims Act, suit against public entity, Tort Claims Act | Leave a Comment »
California’s dog-bite statute, CC §3342, imposes strict liability on dog owners with some interesting twists. (more…)
Filed under: Legal Topics, Real Property, Tort Law | Tagged: animal law, dog-bite statute, dogs, tort liability | Leave a Comment »
Disputes between neighbors over a fallen tree or a fence line can be extremely emotional. And when these disputes turn into litigation, this heated emotion can make it very expensive for your client. Here are 5 tips to make sure that at least your attorney fees get paid in the end. (more…)
Filed under: Civil Litigation, Legal Topics, Real Property, Tort Law, Young Lawyers | Tagged: advance fee agreements, attorney fee, attorney fee agreement, flat fee, hourly fee, neighbor disputes, neighbors | 4 Comments »
If nothing else, recent natural disasters have shown us the importance of carefully reading insurance policies before we buy them. But many people won’t do that, so that leaves it to attorneys to figure out coverage after disaster strikes. Attorneys faced with this task need an organized approach to determining whether coverage exists. (more…)
Filed under: Business, Legal Topics, Real Property, Tort Law, Young Lawyers | Tagged: insurance companies, insurance coverage, insurance policy, liability insurance | 1 Comment »
Some of the victims of the horrific mass shooting at a movie theater in Colorado last summer are suing the theater’s operators for having had no security guards on duty the night of the shootings and no plans for keeping people from sneaking in or out of the theater. This made me wonder, would the theater owner be liable under California law? (more…)
Filed under: Landlord/Tenant Law, Legal Topics, Real Property, Tort Law | Tagged: Auroro shooting, breach of duty, criminal act by third party, duty to provide security, landowner liability, premises liability, theater shooting | Leave a 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 »
Structured settlements — under which a plaintiff compromises a personal injury claim in exchange for a promise of periodic payments for a specified period — are very common in personal injury actions. But it may not be right for every plaintiff. (more…)
Filed under: Civil Litigation, Legal Topics, Litigation Strategy, Settlement Negotiation, Tort Law | Tagged: annuity, lump sum settlement, personal injury, settlement, structured settlement | 5 Comments »
You’ve taken on a car accident case. Who’s going to be your best witness? Many times it will be the officer who arrived at the scene. But how do you evaluate whether that officer will really be a good witness for your client? (more…)
Filed under: Civil Litigation, Legal Topics, Litigation Strategy, Tort Law | Tagged: automobile accidents, CHP officers, personal injury, police officers, witnesses | Leave a Comment »
The seemingly anonymous world of the Internet leads many of us to say things there that we would never say in person. But watch out, libel laws follow you into cyberspace. (more…)
Filed under: Business, Civil Litigation, Constitutional Law, Legal Topics, Social Media, Tort Law | Tagged: blog, blogger, defamation, internet, law school, law student, libel, opinion | 3 Comments »
Many condo complexes and buildings are governed by owner-members of the community. These folks often have little or no legal background and can get themselves into trouble when they get sued for personal injury or property damage within the development. To avoid having to unravel a disaster, counsel for these developments should arm the association management with some basic steps to take when slapped with a suit.
Filed under: Civil Litigation, Legal Topics, Real Property, Tort Law | Tagged: claims, common interest communities, condominium, homeowners' association | Leave a Comment »
