The proper allocation of the burden of proof during closing arguments is a recurring issue in civil litigation. On August 19, 2025, the Illinois First District Court of Appeals affirmed the trial court’s decision to grant a...more
In August 2025, the Ninth Circuit affirmed a district court’s decision to exclude an expert’s causation opinion as unreliable and grant summary judgment in favor of a herbicide manufacturer.The case, which arose from claims...more
12/3/2025
/ Appeals ,
Appellate Courts ,
Causation ,
Corporate Counsel ,
Daubert Standards ,
Environmental Litigation ,
Evidence ,
Expert Testimony ,
Expert Witness ,
Federal Rules of Evidence ,
Herbicides ,
Monsanto ,
Motion for Summary Judgment ,
Pesticides ,
Rule of Evidence 702 ,
Summary Judgment ,
Toxic Chemicals ,
Toxic Exposure
Senate Bill 20, also called the Silicosis Training, Outreach, and Prevention (STOP) Act, was signed into law by Governor Newsom on October 13, 2025.1 Senator Caroline Menjivar is on the forefront of this battle to avoid...more
10/27/2025
/ Cal-OSHA ,
California ,
Certification Requirements ,
Employee Training ,
Employer Responsibilities ,
Hazardous Substances ,
New Legislation ,
New Regulations ,
Occupational Exposure ,
OSHA ,
Public Health ,
Regulatory Requirements ,
Reporting Requirements ,
State and Local Government ,
State Legislatures ,
Training Requirements ,
Workplace Safety
The bar is rising for the developers of generative artificial intelligence (AI) platforms and other companies that utilize generative AI in public-facing applications. As AI becomes more integrated into everyday products and...more
10/20/2025
/ Artificial Intelligence ,
Design Defects ,
Emerging Technologies ,
Failure To Warn ,
Negligence ,
New Legislation ,
Product Defects ,
Proposed Legislation ,
Regulatory Requirements ,
Risk Assessment ,
Risk Mitigation ,
Strict Liability ,
Strict Product Liability
On August 11, 2025, the California Supreme Court issued a decision in the matter of Dana Hohenshelt v. The Superior Court of Los Angeles, ruling that the Federal Arbitration Act (“FAA”) does not preempt the California...more
8/19/2025
/ Arbitration ,
Arbitration Agreements ,
CA Supreme Court ,
Cal Code of Civil Procedure ,
California ,
Consumer Protection Laws ,
Contract Interpretation ,
Contract Terms ,
Dispute Resolution ,
Employment Litigation ,
Federal Arbitration Act ,
Fees ,
Preemption ,
State Arbitration Acts ,
Statutory Interpretation
A California Superior Court recently saw its decision reversed on appeal to the California Court of Appeal over several improper evidentiary rulings in Sabrena Odom v. Los Angeles Community College District, et al., (2025)...more
8/13/2025
/ #MeToo ,
Appeals ,
Appellate Courts ,
Bias ,
California ,
Colleges ,
Educational Institutions ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Employment Litigation ,
Evidence ,
Evidentiary Standards ,
Hearsay ,
Judges ,
Jury Trial ,
Jury Verdicts ,
Remand ,
Sexual Harassment
On December 29, 2023, the California Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board instituted an emergency regulation to address occupational exposure to respirable crystalline silica. This regulation addressed additional...more
6/18/2025
/ Cal-OSHA ,
California ,
Employee Training ,
Employees ,
Employer Responsibilities ,
New Regulations ,
Occupational Exposure ,
OSHA ,
Proposed Legislation ,
Regulatory Requirements ,
Reporting Requirements ,
Silica ,
State Labor Laws ,
Workplace Safety
California Proposition 65, officially known as the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986, has long been a significant regulatory framework for businesses operating within the state. Over the summer, the...more
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) “walkaround” rule went into effect on May 31, 2024. The rule is controversial, to say the least, and even before its effective date, it was targeted by industry and...more