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in the news 02.23.2013 John Moot represents Inland Industries in proceedings currently before the California Public Utilities Commission in opposition to San Diego Gas & Electric’s application for a permit to construct a new electrical substation on the Chula Vista bay front. Link to February 23, 2013 Union Tribune article, “Dispute Over Power Lines Clouds Bayfront Plans”. 10.17.2012
On October 17, 2012, Sarah Evans and John Schena were speakers at the San
Diego Paralegal Association program “2012 Updates In Labor and Employment
Law.” For the written materials from their presentation,
click here 8.2012
“When I Was a New Lawyer”, featuring Dick Semerdjian, Chair-Elect, Tort
Trial & Insurance Practice Section of the American Bar Association (read
more) 4.19.2012 On April 19, 2012, Dick Semerdjian was a speaker for the American Bar Association program, "Doing Business in the United States: What You Need To Know About Investing, Product Liability and Dispute Resolution" in Beijing, China. This event was sponsored by the ABA Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section’s International Law and Products Liability Law Committees and co-sponsored by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, Beijing, China. Dick is the Chair Elect of the ABA Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section and will be sworn in as the Chair of ABA TIPS in August 2012. For Dick's presentation click here. 4.12.2012 Brinker - Supreme Court Decision Lessons Burden On California Employers with Regard to Meal and Rest Periods. The California Supreme Court handed down a landmark decision in the matter of Brinker v. Superior Court that will have employers across the state breathing a sigh of relief. The main issue before the Court was to determine whether the requirement that employers “provide” employees with meal and rest periods was intended simply to ensure that employers make such rest periods available to employees to use at their own option, or if there is actually an affirmative duty on the part of the employer to make sure that an employee takes all meal and rest periods and no work is performed during such times. Click here to read more 10.20.2010 On October 20, 2010, Jim Ballard successfully defended a real estate broker and its two agents against claims of negligence, non-disclosure and concealment. The case was tried to a jury in Vista over the course of five weeks. The Plaintiff demanded $1 million pre-trial and asked the jury for in excess of $3.5 million. 2.22.2010 Jim Ballard successfully defended a client against claims of racial discrimination, retaliation and wrongful termination. Mr. Ballard successfully sought and received summary judgment which disposed of the case prior to getting to a jury. 4.23.2009 Mechanic’s Lien Seminar Kevin Cauley was the primary speaker for the April 23, 2009 Mechanic’s Lien Seminar presented by the American Subcontractor’s Association, San Diego Chapter. The seminar covered the basic issues involved with Mechanic’s Liens, Private and Public Stop Notices, and collection issues. 3.20.2009 Construction Law Seminar Kevin Cauley was the primary speaker for the March 20, 2009 Construction Law Seminar presented by the Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc., San Diego Chapter. Seminar topics included Mechanic’s Liens, Stop Notices & Collections, Construction Contracts, Bidding Law, Change Orders, Contractors’ License Law, Litigation, Arbitration & Negotiation, Business Structure – Corporations, and more. 1.26.2009 Employers in California Beware - Law Makes Supervisory Sexual Harassment Training Mandatory! Although existing law makes sexual harassment unlawful and requires every employer to provide a workplace free of sexual and other forms of harassment, the law mandates certain sexual harassment training for all private and public sector employers with fifty or more employees. Click here to read more 10.28.08 Recent Developments in Employment Law It has been a busy few months on the employment law scene with two lawsuits of note to pass your way and a recent Appellate case that will impact the way you handle employees out on medical leave and their subsequent re-employment. click here to read more 8.19.2008 On August 19, 2008, Jim Ballard successfully defended Neopost, Inc. against claims of racial discrimination and wrongful termination. The case was tried to a jury in Oakland over the course of three weeks. The jury found in Neopost's favor on most causes of action and hung on others. After Plaintiff's pre-trial demand of $1.4 million and a claim to the jury in excess of $2 million the case ultimately settled for $100,001. 6.17.08 On June 17, 2008, Dick Semerdjian achieved settlement in the amount of $6.75 million on behalf of firm client, Dr. William Arterberry dba Farm ACW (“Farm”). A complaint was filed in San Diego Superior Court on January 2, 2007, against Defendant San Diego Gas & Electric (“SDG&E”) for breach of its utility duty of service under Public Utilities Code section 2106. Prior to the filing of the civil complaint, SDG&E’s alleged tariff issues were adjudicated before the California Public Utilities Commission, which ruled largely in the Farm’s favor. The civil suit in which Mr. Semerdjian achieved the large settlement included damages against SDG&E for increased electricity costs, lost profits and emotional distress. The parties conducted one full day and two half-days of mediation with mediator Justice Howard Wiener (Ret.), with settlement reached on the last day of mediation. Case settled for $6.75 million two weeks before trial. 4.18.2007 On April 18, 2007, Jim Ballard successfully defended Neopost, Inc. against two claims of disability discrimination and one claim of failure to accommodate a disability by a former employee. The matter was tried to a jury for over three weeks in Alameda County Superior Court. The jury took less than two hours to return defense verdicts on all claims. This is Mr. Ballard's second successful defense of Neopost, Inc. against claims of discrimination 12.7.07 2007 Developments in Employment Law by Jim R. Ballard Two recent cases have further defined the Employer's role in dealing with disabled employees. In Wysinger, the Court confirmed that the duty to provide a reasonable accommodation to a disabled employee is separate and distinct from the employer's duty to engage in a good faith interactive process with the disabled employee to explore accommodations. The duty to engage in the interactive process exists even where there is no reasonable accommodation available and the employer can be held liable for its failure to so engage even where there is no finding of disability discrimination. My memo detailing the case and its application to employers is attached as a pdf document. In Green, the Supreme Court confirmed that the employee bears the burden of proof to show that he/she could perform a job's essential duties with or without reasonable accommodations. Previous to Green, there had been a split of authority as to whether the burden fell on the employer or the employee. This significantly eases the employer's burden of proof in a disability discrimination case as well as potentially signals a shift towards more rigorous standards in dealing with disability discrimination. My memo detailing the Green case is attached as pdf document as well. On November 5, 2007, Jim Ballard received a judgment in excess of $6.3 million on behalf of 75 clients involved in failed land deal in Colorado. Factoring in settlements reached prior to the trial, Mr. Ballard recovered over $8 million for the defrauded clients. The lawsuit, a combination of contract and security claims, was the culmination of over two years of work investigating and prosecuting the claims. 10.31.06 On October 31, 2006, Jim Ballard obtained a $5.96 million jury verdict (later reduced to $2.4 million after post-trial motions) in a malicious prosecution action on behalf of his client, Dr. Sara Sukumar. The case was tried to a jury for over four weeks and resulted in one of the biggest verdicts for malicious prosecution in the history of San Diego County and one of the largest verdicts for the 2006 year. Jim also handled the appeal of the matter which resulted in the judgment being affirmed. Ultimately, after costs and interests were added to the judgment, Jim collected over $3 million for his client. 2.1.07 Dick Semerdjian installed as new chairman of the San Diego International Sports Council 9.20.06 Dick Semerdjian Nominated The Daily Transcript's Top Influentials 7.2.06 Dick Semerdjian named one of the San Diego Daily Transcript's Top 10 Attorneys for 2006. |
Trial BAR NEWS
The Application of Attorney-Client Privilege; Trial Bar News,
February 2103
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Expert Testimony or “Smelly Cat”; Trial Bar News, January 2013
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Discovering a Plaintiff’s Current Personnel File; Trial Bar News,
December 2012
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“No Harm, No Foul”; Trial Bar News, November 2012
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Court Does Not Abuse Its Discretion; Trial Bar News, October 2012
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Employing Discovery to Continue a Summary Judgment Hearing; Trial
Bar News, August/September 2012
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Beware - The Appealability of a Discovery Order; Trial Bar News,
June/July 2012
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The Attorney Work Product Doctrine and Unintended Waiver; Trial Bar
News, April 2012
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Court Does Not Abuse Its Discretion in Refusing to Hold-Camera Document
Inspection Prior to Imposing Discovery Sanctions; Trial Bar News,
March 2012
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Addressing the Disorganized Production; Trial Bar News, February
2012
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Egregious Discovery Misconduct Warrants Court’s Entering of Order of
Default Against the Offending Party; Trial Bar News, January 2012
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The Role of Pitchess Discovery in Non-Criminal Actions; Trial Bar
News, November 2011
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An Attorney’s Communications to Another Attorney Regarding A Legal
Opinion of an Ongoing Case is Protected By the Attorney-Client Privilege;
Trial Bar News, October 2011
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The Validity of an Entity’s Right to Privacy; Trial Bar News, June
2011
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To Google or Not To Google – What employers are entitled to discover
and consider in employment hiring decisions; Trial Bar News, May 2011
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The Limits of Trial Court’s Discretion Under Civil Code Section 1717;
Trial Bar News, April 2011
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Emails Between Attorneys and Clients Not Always Protected By Privilege;
Trial Bar News, March
2011 Download
Unjustified Objections to Interrogatories About Responses to Previous
Interrogatories Merit Sanctions; Trial Bar News, February 2011
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Deposition Subpoena Is Valid Even Though Not Accompanied by an Executed
Affidavit or Declaration; Trial Bar News, October 2010
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Discovery Sanctions Are Only for the Past Costs Incurred; Trial Bar
News, September 2010
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Keeping Discovery Within the Scope of a Forum Non Conveniens Motion;
Trial Bar News, July 2010
Does Section 473 Include an In-House Counsel Who Is Also a Corporate
Officer?; Trial Bar News, June 2010
Failure to Comply With Discovery May Cost More Than Just Sanctions;
Trial Bar News, April 2010
Attorney Work-Product Privilege Does Not Extend to Written and Recorded
Witness Statements; Trial Bar News, March 2010
Privileged Means Privileged; Trial Bar News, January 2010
Preventing the Apex Deposition; Trial Bar News, December 2009
Think Before You Object – The Appellate Court Affirms a Sanctions Award;
Trial Bar News, November 2009
Answering Questions About Discovery in California From Your
Out-of-State Contacts Just Got Easier; Trial Bar News, June 2009
Rules Regarding Discovery Sanctions and Motions to Withdraw or Amend an
Admission; Trial Bar News, May 2009
Attorney-Client Privilege Limits Corporate Director's "Absolute Right;"
Trial Bar News, February 2009.
A Mechanics' Lien: What's In It For You?,
by Kevin T. Cauley
Discovery Cut Off Motions; Trial Bar News, October 2008
Terminating Sanctions; Trial Bar News, August/September 2008 Discovery Issues; Trial Bar News,
July 2008 |
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