Firm News

After spending roughly 64 years at 311 N. Douty Street, our firm moved into the beloved Hanford Furniture building in 2009. While keeping a lot of the original details, we underwent some remodeling that has resulted in the beautiful office we have today. Check out our before and after photos below!  

On March 4, 2019, the California Supreme Court, in a unanimous decision, declined to find a vested right to purchase additional service credit in CalPERS members. From 2003 to 2012, CalPERS members could purchase up to five years of additional service credit after they retire. Purchasing additional service credit increased the size of the members…

Wills A will is a document where its creator, called the “testator,” will designate who receives his or her property upon his death. A will has the benefit of being relatively simple and inexpensive to create. A formal will needs to be witnessed by at least two witnesses in order to be valid in California.…

If you’re looking to adopt a child in California, you have a complex road ahead of you.  And it should be.   Taking legal responsibility for someone is no small feat.  The courts want to know you are ready for this lifelong commitment. In order to begin the adoption process in the state of California, you…

On April 30, 2018, the Supreme Court of California issued an opinion dictating what legal standard will be applied when determining the relationship between a worker and an employer. The court adopted a test called the “ABC” test, which determines whether a worker is an employee or an independent contractor. When a worker is an…

Are you looking to start a nonprofit to help your community? Is that the same as being tax-exempt? There is a common misconception that they are the same – in fact they are two related but different things. Usually when someone wants to start a “charity” what they really want to do is be a…

The common saying goes: “It it’s not in writing, it didn’t happen.”  You might be surprised to know that when it comes to contract law, the opposite is actually true.  Verbal contracts are not only enforceable, but there are only certain types of contracts that MUST be in writing.  Knowing this distinction is important to…

Non-solicitation clauses and non-compete clauses are commonly included in employment contracts. A typical non-Solicitation clause may state that the employee will not solicit any business or customer with whom they had contact with during their employment for a certain period of time post-employment.  A typical non-complete clause may state that the employee will not enter…

The California Constitution requires every local agency to comply with the California Public Records Act (“CPRA”). The CPRA states that the right of access to information is a fundamental and necessary right of every person in the state. The CPRA is a vital component of California’s commitment to operating an open government and democracy. The…

As kids, we were told not to say bad words and if you did, your parents would make you wash your mouth out with soap.  Luckily, I never had to wash my mouth out with soap, but I was curious if it would really be that bad.  So one day I took the smallest taste…