Ralph L. Jacobson

Does it Matter Why You are Asking? California courts make critical inquiries about the “gig economy” in a wide variety of contexts. Questions encountered include: Who works for…

Under California law, registered domestic partners are “two adults who have chosen to share one another’s lives in an intimate and committed relationship.”‘ The California Domestic Partner Rights…

One common attribute of the “gig economy,” particularly associated today with “high tech” companies, is the retaining entity’s (The Company’s) frequent reliance on a worker placed by an employment agency

A great deal of litigation, in California and elsewhere has surrounded the issue of whether ride-service drivers should be construed as employees (or agents) of their “platform,” thereby rendering the platform or service vicariously liable for a driver’s negligently caused vehicular accidents.

It is hard to think of any public safety issue that has received more attention over the last few years than the use of smartphones while driving…

This article looks at problems of standing that arise when stepchildren are statutory claimants.

A typical personal injury claim against an individual defendant resolves in one of two ways: (1) settlement with the defendant, or (more commonly) his or her insurer, either…

According to the Washington Post of July 11, 2016, although Pokemon Go (the latest summertime craze made by Niantic, Nintendo, and the Pokemon Company) was released just five…

What is a Contingency Fee? Contingency fee contracts (contracts in which a fee is payable to an attorney only if a sum is recovered for the client from…

As common law doctrines evolve, sometimes their rationale, and proper application, can get lost; that can be because of just one “less than thoughtful” reported appellate decision. One…

In motor vehicle personal injury or wrongful death cases where the responsible driver was allegedly intoxicated, the injured plaintiff may want to consider seeking an award of punitive…

California’s “primary assumption of the risk” doctrine was first set forth in Knight v. Jewett (1992) 3 Cal.4th 296. That case involved a plaintiff’s claim for personal injuries…

photo credit: 2420 via photopin (license)   It is clear that the object of romantic interest in the Beatles’ song never anticipated a self-driving (“autonomous”) car; but as…

In California tort litigation arising from a wrongful death, the question often arises as to whether plaintiff claimants bear legal responsibility for the pre-death medical expenses of their…

Pursuant to Rule of Court 2.550(c) and its predecessor, California court records have long been “presumed to be open” to the public, absent exceptions for confidentiality required by…

It happens more than it should. Someone (here we will call her Ms. H.) invites some friends, maybe a lot of friends and maybe their friends as well,…

Almost two months after a jury verdict finding a public entity liable for decedent’s wrongful death, counsel for both sides finally agreed at a post-trial mediation, tentatively, to…

According to Techcrunch.com, a startup company called MetroMile is launching beta testing in the State of Washington of a new product: car insurance charged on a “per mile”…

This article explores a problem of statutory interpretation that arises in California when divorced parents are entitled to wrongful death recovery for the death of their child: i.e.,…

In order to obtain a Class B driver’s license, and be able to drive a passenger bus, a prospective driver in California must obtain medical certification of his…