Healthcare providers have long been aware that there can be severe penalties for submitting claims to a federal healthcare payment program where the services were provided by a person excluded from participation in the program. Eligibility of personnel to participate in such programs is determined through background checks, with appropriate updating, that include checking the […]
As of January 1, 2015, commercial real estate agents and brokers in California are required to comply with a more strict set of agency disclosure requirements. The effect of which imposes stringent agency disclosure requirements on commercial brokers (formerly applicable only to residential brokers) in connection with the sale (or lease exceeding one year) of […]
Dickson v. Burke Williams, Inc.(filed 3/6/15) B253154 is a case in which the jury awarded plaintiff employee $35,000 in compensatory damages, plus $250,000 in punitive damages, based on its finding that defendant employer failed to take reasonable steps to prevent sexual harassment by the massage therapy company’s customers. However, while the jury made a special […]
In Grebing v. 24 Hour Fitness (pub. ordered 2/19/15) B255866, plaintiff was injured on a low row machine when the clip connecting a handlebar to a cable/pulley assembly attached to weights failed. Plaintiff had read a warning on the machine advising users to be sure the safety clip was in working order prior to use. Additionally […]
California’s Uniform Electronic Transactions Act (“UETA”) at Civil Code sections 1633.1 et seq. provides at section 1633.7; “(a) A record or signature may not be denied legal effect or enforceability solely because it is in electronic form. (b) A contract may not be denied legal effect or enforceability solely because an electronic record was used […]
In Richey v. AutoNation, Inc. (filed 1/29/15) S207536, the California Supreme Court responds, “No.” The court concluded that even if the arbitrator in that case committed error in accepting the untested “honest belief” defense, any error did not deprive the employee plaintiff of an unwaivable statutory right because of the overriding rationale that employee was […]
Effective January 1, 2015, commercial landlords are prohibited from entering into leases or other occupancy agreements that include any unreasonable restriction or prohibition on the installation or use of an electric vehicle changing station (“EV Station”) in a parking space associated with the commercial property. AB 2265 was enacted in an effort to promote, encourage […]
In my December 18, 2013 blog article, I commented on the California Supreme Court action in granting review of and depublishing the Court of Appeal opinion in Mendiola v. CPS Security Solutions Inc. I noted there may be no safe haven to allow most employers to contract away employees’ claims for wages for employer-controlled sleep […]
The Federal Labor Standards Act of 1938 (FLSA), which provides minimum wage and overtime compensation to employees for hours worked per week in excess of 40, was amended by Congress in 1947 (Portal-to-Portal Act) to exempt an employer from liability for (1) time spent by employee traveling to work site, and (2) activities preliminary or […]
