As we head into the New Year, RPNA has been keeping abreast of a myriad of new state laws affecting employers, some of which will have an immediate impact on the business community. Some of the most critical are: 1. Minimum Wage Increase: The state minimum wage has increased from $16.00 to $16.50 per hour, based on adjustments…
First, RPNA wants to express its sympathy and concern for those who have been evacuated or are less fortunate and have lost their homes or loved ones. Some of us personally have been evacuated, yours truly included, and some other RPNA employees. This is all such a tragedy and, sadly, is unlikely to be a one-off. Times…
RPNA is thrilled to announce as of January 2025, the elevation of one of its Senior Attorneys, Muhammed Hussain, to Partner! Since joining RPNA, Muhammed has excelled primarily in employment and business litigation, representing employers in federal and state courts across complex class actions and individual employee claims. Muhammed recently second chaired a jury trial…
The California Court of Appeal’s decision in Chavez v. California Collision, 2024 WL5064368, has significant implications for wage and hour claims, particularly in the context of settlement offers and attorney’s fees. While Code of Civil Procedure § 998 typically allows cost recovery if a settlement offer is rejected and a worse judgment is obtained, this case clarifies that…
On September 28, 2024, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed the Freelance Worker Protection Act (FWPA) into law, effective January 1, 2025. This law enhances protections for freelance independent contractors, requiring businesses to obtain written contracts for specified professional services, and requiring that such freelance workers are timely paid. Here are some key elements of the…
A new California law which became effective in March 2024 has made California employers scramble to implement effective privacy protection policies for their employees. The new law, the California Privacy Rights Act (“CPRA”), imposes the requirements of existing privacy rights law to personal data that employers obtain from their employees, leaving many of them asking…
As most employers in California are aware, in June of 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court held in Viking River Cruises, Inc. v. Moriana (“Viking River”) that Private Attorney General Act (“PAGA”) actions could be split into individual and non-individual claims and the individual claims could be subject to arbitration. The Court expressed its view that…
Author: Joseph C. Gjonola Recently, the California Supreme Court accepted a Petition for Review filed by RPNA on behalf of our extraordinary client SANTA YNEZ BAND OF CHUMASH MISSION INDIANS, in their lawsuit against Lexington Insurance Company for business injury coverage triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic. In the face of extensive documentary and expert…
Author: Burton E. Falk Last week the California Supreme Court made a pivotal ruling that could have significant implications for your responsibilities as employers during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The Court clarified that employers do not owe a tort-based duty to non-employees to prevent the spread of COVID-19 to family members under workers’ compensation laws.…
By Trevor Witt An upcoming ballot measure could significantly affect your business and provide some much needed relief from costly and frivolous lawsuits for employers. The November 2024 ballot will contain a measure titled “Fair Pay and Employer Accountability Act,” which proposes to repeal the Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) in California. PAGA was initially…