You were excited about a used car purchase because of the vehicle’s relatively low mileage. But now the auto is nothing but trouble. Is it possible that someone tampered with the car’s odometer? Yes, it is possible. There are devices available that people can use to alter a digital odometer reading. They can use these …
A wage and hour class action is where one or more workers bring a legal action on behalf of a larger group of workers, alleging that they all suffered the same or similar damages because of the employer’s violation of labor laws. The top six grounds for a wage and hour class action lawsuit are: minimum wage violations, misclassifying …
You are charged with sexual assault in connection with a domestic violence matter. However, you believe you committed the crime because you were easily startled due to your post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Is it possible to use your PTSD to challenge the charge? The answer largely depends on the facts of your case and how …
You were recently arrested for DUI. The police searched your vehicle after taking you into custody and found evidence of a drug crime. Can a prosecutor really use this evidence to support a drug charge? Is it really legal for the police to search my car without a warrant? There are certain situations where law …
Yes. As of January 1, 2015, undocumented immigrants in California can obtain a special “AB 60 license” without a social security number.1 This was the result of California Assembly Bill 60, the “Safe and Responsible Driver Act.” An AB60 license looks the same as a regular driver’s license (DL), but is marked “Federal Limits Apply” in …
Legal Analysis: What is the crime of "oral copulation with a minor"?Watch this video on YouTube Penal Code 288a PC prohibits oral copulation with a minor under the age of 18. Oral copulation is defined as any contact, no matter how slight, between the mouth of one person and the sexual organ or anus of …
Some employees who have paid time off (PTO) are eligible to cash it out. Before going ahead with this option, there are four key things you should consider: not all states make employers offer this option, employers can limit how much PTO you can cash out, your employer’s policy should be in the employee handbook, …
There is no such thing as a “typical” slip and fall settlement because the circumstances surrounding every injury are different. However, many non-fatal slip and falls tend to settle for between $10,000 and $50,000. Fatal accidents frequently settle for over $200,000. The extent of your injuries and your share of fault will drive the settlement …
You were arrested for a crime and heard that it is punishable by custody in county jail. Is jail the same as prison? If not, what’s the difference? State prisons are operated by state governments and usually house inmates for over a year (and sometimes as long as “life”). Jails, by contrast, are typically operated …
Most workplace harassment lawsuits are based upon allegations of quid pro quo harassment or a hostile work environment. The 7 most common grounds for workplace harassment lawsuits are: disability discrimination, racial harassment, sexual harassment, age discrimination, harassment based on national origin, color harassment, and religious discrimination. Some of these can also support a discrimination lawsuit. …
Some car accidents are caused by pedal error. A pedal error is when the driver steps on the accelerator when he or she actually meant to hit the brake pedal. While these accidents are generally low-speed crashes, they can seriously hurt pedestrians or bicyclists. They can also involve storefronts. Drivers who cause them may have …
People arrested by the California Highway Patrol (CHP) are generally taken to local county jails, city jails, police department jails or holding facilities. Aside from the CHP Lockup facility in Sacramento, the CHP does not operate its own system of jails. If arrestees are not released on bail or their own recognizance, they are held in these facilities …
You were just cited for speeding on a rural California road by a CHP officer. Can this be right? Isn’t the CHP just responsible for overseeing California’s major highways? The California Highway Patrol can generally exercise its law enforcement authority anywhere in the State of California. The CHP has primary patrol jurisdiction over the following: …
Burglary is usually a crime involving moral turpitude, but not always. Crimes of moral turpitude generally involve either dishonesty or base, vile, or depraved conduct that would shock a reasonable person. Convictions can lead to immigration consequences or professional discipline. They can also be used to impeach you if you are a witness in a …
You took a bat to an ex-girlfriend’s mailbox out of anger. Now you are under investigation for the crime of vandalism. Is this a serious crime? Can vandalism lead to a felony charge? It can. Most states say that vandalism can be charged as a felony if: the crime results in property damage that is …
Sexual harassment is defined as unwelcome sexual conduct in the workplace that creates a hostile work environment or amounts to a quid pro quo. Sexual harassment is illegal and victims have legal recourse, which includes bringing a lawsuit for damages. If you are experiencing sexual harassment in the workplace, we advise you to consider the …
You are facing a criminal case for DUI. It seems simple enough and you are thinking about handling it yourself without the help of a DUI lawyer? Can you? You can usually represent yourself in a DUI case. You are considered a “pro se” defendant when you are not represented by a DUI defense attorney. …
You were recently cited for reckless driving by the California Highway Patrol (CHP). You now want to contest the ticket. The CHP officer that cited you said he caught you on the patrol car’s Mobile Video Audio Recording System (MVARS). Can you get a copy of the MVARS video? Most likely, yes. MVARS footage is …
You were arrested for drunk driving and find that your car is stuck in an impound lot. You are facing new impound charges every day. Can a police officer really impound a car following a DUI arrest? Yes. Most jurisdictions say that police departments have the authority to impound your vehicle if you are arrested …
A background check revealed that you were convicted of DUI two years ago. A potential employer is now asking for a disposition date for the offense. What exactly is this? With respect to a criminal case, the date of disposition refers to the date that a court made a final ruling on your case. The …
The sudden stop defense can be used by the driver of the trailing vehicle in a rear-end car accident. While generally, the driver of the trailing vehicle is liable in these accidents, that is not always the case. If the leading driver suddenly stops, in certain circumstances they may be responsible or at least share …
The pain and suffering multiplier is a way of estimating how much compensation you deserve in a personal injury case. It multiplies your economic damages by a number between 1 and 5 to estimate your noneconomic damages. The multiplier method is one of the most common accident settlement formulas that personal injury lawyers and insurance …
You were recently charged under California Penal Code 273.5 for committing corporal injury on your spouse (which is essentially domestic violence). The district attorney is now saying that the charge could result in a “strike” on your criminal record. Is this correct? It can be, depending on the facts of the case. A domestic violence …
Missing nosing on a stair can cause a serious stairway accident. A stair’s nosing gives you more room to step your foot or can keep it from slipping. If there is a lack of sufficient nosing, then the stairway becomes more dangerous, especially when you are climbing down. Victims of these accidents can hold the …
If you were arrested for driving under the influence (DUI) in California, the arresting police officer most likely gave you a pink “Notice of Suspension.” The notice informs you to request a DMV hearing to prevent the suspension of your driver’s license. But what phone number do you call? You must contact a Driver Safety …
