Today is election day – so don’t forget to vote! Even though the Presidential, Senate, or Congressional elections may be a foregone conclusion (depending upon your location), there are a number of hotly contested ballot propositions and voter initiatives worth reviewing and contributing to their ultimate fate. For assistance on Read more…
Simas & Associates, Ltd. is open Monday through Thursday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and Fridays, 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM. Special appointments for advice and consultation can be made after hours and on weekends. In November, Simas & Associates, Ltd.’s offices will be closed on the following dates in Read more…
It is important for all members in an animal health care team to understand and know their roles. Often a Registered Veterinary Technician (“RVT”) and an unregistered veterinary assistant’s (“assistant”) roles can overlap but a veterinarian or a RVT, may be subject to discipline by the Veterinary Medical Board (“VMB”) Read more…
Cleaning out client files can be a tedious and intimidating process for an attorney, particularly if he/she is not aware of the ethical responsibilities involved. An attorney has the duty to protect the client’s identity, as well as the identity of every third party involved with a case (California Rules Read more…
Berman Hearings are administrative hearings conducted by the California Labor Commissioner to determine the legitimacy and extent of an employee wage claim against an employer. The Berman Hearing was named after Howard Berman, the member of the California State Assembly who instituted it. It is designed to provide a speedy, informal, Read more…
California law has a strong preference for lawsuit settlements, for public policy reasons (such as judicial efficiency). As such, the state legislature has declared that evidence of an offer to settle is inadmissible to prove liability (Evid. Code § 1152), and that all statements made during mediation are confidential (Evid. Code Read more…
The California Contractors State License Board (CSLB) recently announced that it has joined forces with the contracting boards from Arizona, Nevada and Oregon, as well as the National Association of State Contractors Licensing Agencies (NASCLA) to issue a nationwide consumer alert regarding the excessive illegal and deceptive ad postings on Read more…
Many companies rely upon unpaid interns as a way to minimize costs and provide opportunities to eager workers who are willing to work for free in hopes of ultimately securing a paid position. However, such an approach is risky, and more than likely, illegal in the state of California. The Read more…
In California, “expungement” of a record (under Penal Code section 1203.4) does not mean that the conviction never happened. It simply relieves a person from the criminal penalties of their actions. What are some other options? Sealing the Record of a Minor Unlike expungement of a record (under Penal Code Read more…
Californians are able to get relief from certain criminal baggage through a process that we commonly call “expunging” a record. However, unlike in some states, this process does not completely wipe the slate clean. On the contrary, it only relieves a person from the criminal penalties of their actions, which Read more…