Announcements & Accomplishments Archive

Below is a list of key points for your consideration when you designate an IRA beneficiary. Feel free to ask questions by replying to this email or call us.

Does your business generate designs, drawings, photographs, visual presentations, software, data, brochures or other written texts?  If so, there are a number of elementary steps which can be taken to ensure that you obtain – or retain – ownership of the copyright in such material.

In what appears to be a new trend, an Oregon jury awarded plaintiffs $5.2 million against a brokerage company for negligent hiring. The broker, Heyl Logistics, hired a motor carrier to transport a load. An accident occurred and the plaintiff's father was killed.

Does your business gain advantage from confidential technological or customer-related information? If so, have you adequately protected the confidentiality of that information? 

A “Power of Attorney” is a useful tool for the management of personal affairs.  It is a written document signed by a client (“the principal”) which grants authority to an attorney-in-fact (“the agent”) to carry out certain actions on behalf of the client who signed the document. A general power of attorney is a full delegation of authority; a special power of attorney is limited in scope by its term.  Since a power of attorney grants authority without direction, the agent should be an absolutely trustworthy candidate.

Partner Michael Descalso has coached Saint Francis High School's Mock Trial Team (Mountain View) for the past 5 years.  They recently attended the State Mock Trial Tournament competing against area high schools. It is an extremely rewarding experience mentoring these future young lawyers.

The California Assembly is working on a new law (AB45) which will amend the Public Utility Code to place significant obligations on Charter Party Carriers and limousine operators who transport passengers that possess or consume alcoholic beverages. 

If a new spouse is not "mentioned" in estate planning documents, he or she is entitled to an intestate share of the other spouse's estate... 

New California Labor Code section 2810.5(a), effective January 1, 2012, requires all employers to provide a mandated notice to all new hire employees starting January 1, 2012...

The United States Department of Transportation (DOT) has announced that interstate truck and bus drivers are prohibited from using hand-held cell phones while operating their vehicles...

Starting January 1, 2012, Washington is bumping up a slew of tax breaks to adjust for inflation.

The Department of Labor has added Sections 226.8 and 2753 to the California Labor Code allowing the Labor Workforce Development Agency to serve civil penalties of not less than $5,000 and not more than $15,000 for each violation in addition to those already permitted by law.