As a business owner, you understand how vitally important contracts are to the success of your company. This understanding should extend to your employees. Tailoring employment contracts to fit your employees' various roles can help shield your business from potential...
Firm News
Utilizing NDAs during a merger
Mergers can be crucial for many businesses. Not only can they open them up to new markets, but they can create more dynamic and profitable organizations. However, companies shouldn't jump into an agreement like this right away. They will want to have a solid...
Tips for small businesses worried about legal disputes
Most small business owners and operators will one day run up against a legal dispute. Many have already done so. Oftentimes, these entrepreneurs respond by making sacrifices, one study found. That included voluntarily reducing pending invoices or providing extra...
What can happen to cause inverse condemnation?
California public entities and landowners understand that inverse condemnation can be a complex issue. There are two type of property takings that can lead to inverse condemnation. This land seizure is usually brought by private landowners against government entities...
New Case Update: Atlantic Richfield Co. v. Christian
2020 U.S. LEXIS 2405 (2020) (USSC Docket No.17-1498) On April 20, 2020, the United States Supreme Court issued an opinion in Atlantic Richfield Co. v. Christian, on writ of certiori from the Montana Supreme Court, that involves the interplay between the Comprehensive...
CEQA, EIRs, and the “substantial impact”
Environmental issues are huge when it comes to initiating any sort of construction in California. This is primarily due to limitations imposed by the California Environmental Quality Act. One of the biggest components of CEQA is the Environmental Impact Report, often...
A quick look at CEQA and Environmental Impact Reports
Government entities have a lot of red tape they have to clear before they can move forward with most of their projects, especially when it comes to real property. Whether its extending utility infrastructure, building new roads, or developing structures, governments...
Case Update-Farid Hedayatzadeh v. The City of Del Mar
COURT OF APPEAL DETERMINES THAT A PUBLIC ENTITY IS NOT LIABLE FOR AN ACCIDENT ON AN ADJACENT PROPERTY WHEN THE PUBLIC ENTITY HAS NOT ENGAGED IN AN AFFIRMATIVE ACT REGARDING THE USE OF ITS PROPERTY. The City of Del Mar (City) 13th Street terminates at an ocean bluff,...
Three ways to create an easement
Obtaining private property can come with obstacles. However, there are resources cities can use to make for a smoother transaction. Depending on the circumstances, they may want to look at using an easement to obtain property they need. What is an easement? An...
New rent control laws could hurt both landlords and tenants
At the start of 2020, California became the second state to enforce rent control. Under the new law, landlords will only be able to increase rents for existing tenants by 5% annually plus inflation until 2030. However, these rules only apply to apartments built before...