News & Insights

The California Supreme Court has confirmed that the attorneys’ fees an insured is compelled to incur due to a carrier’s bad faith (its “Brandt fees”) are compensatory damages to be considered when...

This month’s key California employment law cases involve wage-and-hour issues, arbitration, and employment discrimination based on marital status. Wage and Hour – Lopez v. Friant & Assocs., LLC, 2017 WL 4251126 (Cal....

Senate Bill 63 significantly expands job-protected leave for millions of Californians. The new law allows employees who work for a company with 20 or more employees within a 75-mile radius to take up to 12 weeks of leave to...

Kelby Van Patten and Scott S. Thomas gave an informative CLE presentation on the topic: “What Every Litigator Should Know About Insurance Coverage.” Every litigator must know enough about insurance to protect...

It’s nearly impossible to turn on the TV and not hear something about the NFL player protests and whether such actions are protected speech under the First Amendment.  While these protests started last season, they...

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, September 19, 2017 – Payne & Fears LLP is pleased to announce that James R. Moss, one of the firm’s partners, has been appointed by Governor Gary R. Herbert to the Utah State Charter School...

Arbitration – Sprunk v. Prisma LLC, No. B268755, 2017 WL 3614265 (Cal. Ct. App. Aug. 23, 2017) Summary:  Employer waived right to compel arbitration against class members by not timely pursuing arbitration. Facts:...

Partner Dan Fears presented the topic “Managing Crises Created by Employees” at the Association of Business Trial Lawyers (ABTL) Annual Seminar....

Although you’re an in-house counsel, not an insurance coverage specialist, you need to stay informed about insurance to avoid jeopardizing your company’s ability to secure insurance coverage when it gets sued....

You are in negotiations with a copyright owner to obtain a license to her work, which you want to publish, distribute, and/or license yourself.  You want to ensure that you have the right to enforce the copyright against...

The California Fair Employment and Housing Council (“FEHC”) recently adopted amendments to the existing regulation on sex discrimination which address transgender identity and expression.  Some changes are subtle,...

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals recently rejected the U.S. Department of Labor’s (“DOL”) tip-credit guidance, commonly known as the “80/20 rule,” as well as its guidance on tasks unrelated to a tipped occupation....