Commercial Law & Contracts › Construction Law › Business Torts

CEQA Litigation: The Cost Of Doing Business In California

There has been a lot of news lately on the costs of CEQA litigation, as well as the potential for the statute to be used as a tool to stop development, good or bad, or exact concessions or pay-offs. What is CEQA? CEQA, or...more

Can an Intervening Insurance Company Sue for Breach of Contract?

If a party in litigation has a default judgment entered against it, can its insurance company still file a motion to intervene and use the same defenses that would have been available to the insured if not procedurally barred...more

Contribution Between Insurance Carriers And The Duty To Defend

In St. Paul Mercury Insurance v. Mountain West Farm Bureau, 210 Cal. App. 4th 645 (10/25/12), the California Court of Appeal addressed the duty of an insurance carrier to defend a general contractor named as an additional...more

Recent Insurance Coverage Decisions Of Note In California

California Courts handed down some interesting decisions re insurance coverage during the fourth quarter of 2012: St. Paul Mercury Insurance v. Mountain West Farm Bureau (10/25/12) In an equitable contribution action, an...more

Indemnity Prohibition

On January 1, 2013, new rules governing indemnification in construction contracts went into effect under SB 474 in California. The new law impacts commercial real estate, and public and residential projects. The big picture...more

Business Interruption Insurance

Business Interruption Insurance Business Interruption Insurance (“BII”) is a form of commercial insurance coverage that provides limited but useful protection when a business is unable to continue normal operations or occupy...more

California Civil Depositions Limited To Seven Hours Under New Law

Some attorneys are known for being long-winded time wasters who act with little regard for efficiency, especially when billing at an hourly rate. Although we believe the length of a deposition is often dictated by the...more

Trial Tactics for Insurance and Corporate Defense Cases

Insurance companies and corporate defendants often begin a lawsuit at a disadvantage due to the mere fact that they are being sued by a plaintiff who alleges to have been injured and/or damaged. It is therefore crucial to...more

Litigation Management: A Win-Win

Using tools and strategies to effectively and intelligently proceed a case through the litigation process, based on the goals and expectations of a specific client, is an important part of effective legal representation. This...more

Daubert Standard For Expert Testimony Almost Applied In California

The standard for admitting expert scientific testimony in a federal trial under the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure was established in the case of Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceutical (US Supreme Court, 6/28/93), then...more

Insurers: Does Your Policy Contain a Broadly Worded EIFS Exclusion? If You’re in Washington, You Might Be in Luck!

Recently, Washington courts have issued a number of opinions resolving a variety of issues against insurers. For instance, the Washington Supreme Court presumed that there is no attorney-client privilege in a bad-faith suit...more

The Lesser of Two Evils? Court Holds that Statutory Measure of Recovery Under a Mechanic’s Liens Is the Lesser of Reasonable Value...

In Appel v. Superior Court (No. B244590, 3/11/13), California’s Second District Court of Appeal held that the proper measure of a mechanic’s lien claim is the lesser of the reasonable value of the services and materials...more

Tiara Condominium Association, Inc. v. Marsh & McLennan Companies

Economic Loss Rule

The Florida Supreme Court held that the Economic Loss Rule is limited to product liability cases. However, as discussed in the concurring opinion, this holding will not open up the flood gates for tort claims. Rather, the...more

Maryland's appellate courts preserve the corporate shield against efforts to pierce the corporate veil

Maryland remains one of the toughest jurisdictions for plaintiffs seeking to pierce the corporate veil and impose personal liability on corporate owners for contract debts. Maryland has long recognized an equitable claim to...more

NJ Appellate Division Decision Highlights Gaps in Existing LLC Law in New Jersey and Importance of Having an Operating Agreement

In my prior blogs I’ve addressed the importance of having an operating agreement for any business owner operating as a limited liability company (“LLC”), and have also covered the recent legislative changes in New Jersey with...more

Sweeping Changes to New Jersey’s LLC Law

The members of any New Jersey company that is currently operating as a limited liability company (“LLC”) should endeavor to fully understand the impact of a law enacted in September 2012, the Revised Uniform Limited Liability...more

Duty Of An Insurer To Defend An Additional Insured

Many commercial contracts require the seller to maintain insurance against stated risks and also requires that the purchaser be named an additional insured under the seller’s insurance policies. This typically requires that...more

Employee Burnout

Sometimes employers can’t see the forest from the trees. This is often the case when it comes to the work environment, including workplace policies, and their impact on employee productivity and retention. In the rush to...more

Retroactive Revival Of Liability By Legislation

The US Supreme Court sometimes makes news by refusing to hear cases, not by taking them. That was certainly the case on May 29, 2012 when the Supreme Court declined to hear a case in which Minnesota’s high court upheld state...more

Spoiling Evidence Intentionally Comes With A Price

The same tools and practices that help technology users maintain and administer their computer systems in an efficient and confidential manner may also be used improperly to spoil digital data and other evidence that is...more

Waiting Period Deleted From Bill Aimed At Predatory ADA Litigation Practices

A requirement to wait 30 days before filing lawsuits for construction-related accessibility claims under the Americans with Disabilities Act has been deleted from the latest version of a bill (SB 1186) winding its way through...more

Corporate Sustainability and Social Entrepreneurship

Corporate sustainability and social entrepreneurship are the driving forces behind an increasing number of business decisions made on a daily basis. They represent a growing trend that melds traditional corporate purpose,...more

New Penalties For Misclassifying An Employee As An Independent Contractor

Senate Bill 459 went into effect on January 1, 2012 and imposes increased penalties against any employer in California who willfully misclassifies an employee as an “independent contractor”. Willful misclassification is...more

The Next Big Step For Renewables: Energy Storage

The promise of renewable energy has been partly realized as renewables, including wind and solar, have attracted significant investment over the years and now generate output that comprises a useful contribution to our...more

New Penalties For Misclassifying An Employee As An Independent Contractor

Senate Bill 459 went into effect on January 1, 2012 and imposes increased penalties against any employer in California who willfully misclassifies an employee as an “independent contractor”. Willful misclassification is...more