A lawyer walks into a bar… While that is the title of a 2007 independent film about lawyers, law school, and the California Bar exam, it also relates to a very serious problem that has been brought to light. Attorneys are more likely to abuse drugs and alcohol than any Read more…
In the age of the Internet, it is imperative that any professional licensed by the State of California, from an accountant or contractor to a physician or physical therapist, look himself or herself up on the licensing board’s website on an occasional and frequent basis. The Department of Consumer Affairs–which Read more…
As one of California’s leading law firms representing licensed professionals and healthcare professionals throughout the State, Simas & Associates, Ltd. has and does represent physicians, accountants, contractors, veterinarians, and many other licensed professionals in hundreds of investigations throughout our many years of practice. Because this issue arises frequently, this blog is Read more…
A certified nursing assistant (“CNA”) performs “basic patient care services” in relation to the “safety, comfort, personal hygiene, and protection of patients.”[1] A CNA works under the supervision of a registered nurse or a licensed vocational nurse, and may not perform any services that must be performed by a licensed Read more…
Due to California Tax Season opening as of January 5, 2016, it is imperative to know if your back taxes will affect your profession. As of July 1, 2012, the Department of Consumer Affairs is required by Assembly Bill 1424 to deny applications for licensure or suspend a current license, Read more…
A cremated remains disposer (”CRD”) disposes of, or offers to dispose of, cremated human remains by scattering the ashes. These individuals must be registered in California with the Cemetery and Funeral Bureau (“Bureau”) to do so, and are highly regulated by the Business and Professions Code (“BPC”) and the Health Read more…
This is part of a series of posts on changes to the California Medical Marijuana industry. In part one, we discussed the history of medical marijuana regulations in the state of California and introduction to the California Medical Marijuana and Safety Act (“MMRSA”). On this blog, we previously discussed the outlines Read more…
The implementation date of the Home Care Services Consumer Protection Act has finally arrived. The act, which was passed in 2013, requires Home Care Organizations to be licensed within the Department of Social Services (CDSS) and creates a public online registry for Home Care Aides who have been background checked. This implementation Read more…
The California Administrative Procedure Act permits parties to use affidavits, declarations, and even letters in lieu of live testimony as evidence in an administrative hearing. This aspect is one of the big differences with civil litigation or criminal trial in that an unauthenticated document containing hearsay is permitted to be Read more…
This is part of a series of posts on changes to the California Medical Marijuana industry. In part two, we will discuss the specific provisions California Medical Marijuana and Safety Act (MMRSA), including the seventeen (!) different types of licenses which will be issued by various public agencies. History of Medical Read more…