Ralph L. Jacobson

In California wrongful death litigation, today we take for granted that plaintiffs who are entitled to recover for the death of a relative under California Code of Civil…

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…

GJEL Accident Attorneys only handles contingency fee cases where a victim was seriously injured or killed due to someone else’s negligence.  What is a Contingency Fee? Contingency fee…

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…

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…

Assume the following factual scenario: a serious car accident occurs, injuring the plaintiff. Just after the accident, the insured defendant called her husband and discussed, in detail, the…

Nobody said running a multi-million dollar professional sports franchise would be easy. On top of issues surrounding players’ criminal activities, and their alleged drug use improprieties, have come…

Issues Related to Wrongful Death Damages in California When considering representation and suit as to a client’s losses arising from wrongful death in California, there are several initial…

The Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA, Government Code Section 12940 et seq.) permits claims of sexual harassment, sex discrimination, racial discrimination, retaliation, and other related assertions. When…

The California Insurance Equality Act: Real Change or Window Dressing? Under California law, registered domestic partners are “two adults who have chosen to share one another’s lives in…

Joining the gym gives many of us the motivation we need to stay fit. It’s so much easier to exercise surrounded by others doing the same thing — and who knows, you might make a few new friends! But consumers need to be careful while joining health clubs, and make sure all contracts represent their best interests.

Thirty eight years ago, I was involved in a high profile case. A trade school was trying to collect bills from their former students; the students, even though they had completed their courses at the school, could not find jobs, and in fact found their training useless in the job market. For the schools, suing the students was just the first step: if the students didn’t pay their costly tuition bills, then the schools could collect from the federal government, which insured the loans as part of its educational program. Meanwhile, the student would be left with an unpleasant reminder of his education: a lifetime of bad credit. A blog post by GJEL partner Ralph L. Jacobson.

Most states don’t have special certification programs for personal injury lawyers which can make the selection process hard. One result of that fact is that any attorney can…

Most lawyers and their clients know that, under California law, a person can be compensated for the full amount of damages (medical expenses, lost earnings, compensation for pain…

Among the issues unresolved since the introduction of underinsured motorist coverage in California by the 1984 passage of Ins C 11580.1(p) is the computation of the award by…

by Ralph L. Jacobson and Kristin Lucey Originally Published in the San Francisco Daily Journal The Fair Employment and Housing Act (Government Code Section 12940 et seq.) permits…