The recent earthquakes in California brought attention to the ShakeAlert system, which is intended to detect significant earthquakes quickly enough to send alerts to people before the shaking arrives. This system is in its infancy, but there’s hope it will eventually give the public precious seconds to take cover. But will it also give rise to
CEB
CEB – Continuing Education of the Bar California – provides practical legal resources to help lawyers achieve success. Inspired by our mission and values, CEB has innovated since 1947 to continually deliver useful information about the law, and the practice of law, in California. We are a self-supporting program of the University of California.
Latest from CEB - Page 2
Do You Need an Expert to Spot Insanity?
The general rule is that you need an expert witness to testify when the subject is “sufficiently beyond common experience that the opinion of that expert would assist the trier of fact.” Evid C §801(a). When it comes to a person’s sanity, you don’t always need an expert.
Under Evid C §870, there are three…
Do’s and Don’ts for Expert Declarations in Support of Summary Judgment
The testimony of an expert in support of a motion for summary judgment or for summary adjudication of issues is usually presented through a declaration under penalty of perjury. CCP §2015.5. Here are five do’s and don’ts for these expert declarations.
…
Does No Physician Report Mean No Supplemental Job Displacement Benefit?
The following is a guest blog post by Michael W. Sullivan of Michael Sullivan & Associates LLP, an aggressive workers’ compensation defense firm with offices throughout California. Mr. Sullivan is a bar-certified Specialist in Workers’ Compensation Law.
An employee who suffers residual effects from an injury and can’t return to work is entitled to…
How to Get California Public Records
The usual discovery requests don’t always get you what you need. Sometimes you’ll do better seeking a public record under the California Public Records Act (Govt C §§6250–6276.48).
Requests for information from state agencies can be invaluable in some cases. For example, in County of Los Angeles v Superior Court (2000) 82 CA4th 819, an…
What to Know Before Selling Food Made at Home
The cottage food industry—small batch food production from home—is growing, as are the related laws and regulations. Here’s what those who want to get in on the trend need to know.
The Homemade Food Act, effective in 2013, is intended to stimulate the development, at the neighborhood level, of homemade low-risk food products. See Stats…
Does Child Support Change When Life Changes?
When a parent who pays child support loses a job or lands a much higher paying job can you get the child support order modified?
Short answer: Maybe.
When evaluating a request for modification of an existing support order, the court generally focuses on whether there’s been (Marriage of McCann (1996) 41 CA4th 978, 982)…
The Danger of Refreshing Recollection
Sometimes a witness needs documents to refresh his or her recollection. This can lead to a tough choice for attorneys.
There’s a big downside to letting your witness review a document while testifying: The opposing attorney may be entitled to receive copies of documents used to refresh recollection even if they’re otherwise privileged. Evid C…
Are There Consequences to Taking the Fifth in a Workers’ Comp Case?
The following is a guest blog post by Michael W. Sullivan of Michael Sullivan & Associates LLP, an aggressive workers’ compensation defense firm with offices throughout California. Mr. Sullivan is a bar-certified Specialist in Workers’ Compensation Law.
The Fifth Amendment protects a person from answering “official questions in any other proceeding, civil or criminal,…
4 Tips for Writing Better Briefs
Regardless of the subject matter and whether it’s a criminal or civil issue, these four tips will help you draft the strongest brief possible.
1. Shorter is better. Judges must read many legal papers every day, so they like short briefs. Make your points in simple declarative sentences followed by citations of authority. Don’t allow…