California Supreme Court held today that the California Public Records Act (PRA) law provides the public with a right to emails and other communications, such as text messages, regarding government business written or received by public officials and employees, regardless of whether the communication was done using a private account Read more…
On April 20, 2017, Steven L. Simas, owner and founder of Simas & Associates, Ltd., will be serving as one of several presenters for Writs of Administrative Mandamus Demystified: A Step by Step Guide. This day-long seminar is being hosted by Pincus Professional Education. The seminar will be held at the Tsakopoulos Library Read more…
All single-user toilet facilities in any California business establishment, place of public accommodation, or state or local government agency must be identified as all-gender toilet facilities. Effective March 1, 2017, a single-user toilet is defined “a toilet facility with no more than one water closet and one urinal with a locking Read more…
Research abounds showing that for many businesses, referrals are the most successful method for getting new clients. This is no different for the practice of law. A good referral is awesome: the client fits your practice and already has an incoming positive impression of you and the quality of your Read more…
Current California law makes it legal for human patients and their designated primary caregivers to possess and cultivate marijuana for their personal medical use with the recommendation or approval of a California-licensed physician or surgeon. In addition, the recently passed Proposition 64 “Legalizes marijuana under state law, for use by Read more…
Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) Director Awet Kidane plans to resign from his position at the end of February 2017 to purse a new opportunity, he told state employees in a message this week. Kidane has led a department that oversees more than 40 professional licensing boards, including ones that regulate medical Read more…
10 years of discipline data from the Medical Board of California shows a relationship between race and professional license discipline outcomes, so reports the California Research Bureau. Having conducted the research at the behest of the Medical Board of California (Board), the Research Bureau looked at the discipline imposed by Read more…
“Are you an unlawful user of, or addicted to, marijuana or any depressant, stimulant, narcotic drug, or any other controlled substance?” So asks Question 11(e) on Firearms Transaction Record, U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Form 4473. And as of January 16, 2017, that Read more…
The professionals at Simas & Associates, Ltd. regularly encounter individuals who have never needed to hire an attorney—and need one now. These are smart, successful, and savvy individuals, professionals, or business owners, sophisticated in the nuances of their practices, professions, specialties, services, offerings, or products. Unfortunately, that expertise does not Read more…
Right before this holiday season, the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control issued a warning to all of its licensees regarding the alleged impersonation of ABC agents and representatives throughout the state of California. The impersonation was conducted over the telephone or via email correspondence and indicated that an investigation had Read more…