Blog Posts in 2018

Eminent Domain in California

Although few property owners are ever approached by the government to give up what they own, eminent domain impacts all residents through property taxes, economic growth and property security. The eminent domain process begins with a public project. When selecting a project location, the goal is to render the greatest public good and the least private injury. If it is determined that all or a ...

Home Businesses & Zoning Laws

Your local planning department has established zones for mom and pop shops (commercial zones), large factories (industrial zones) and homes (residential zones). While certain local zoning ordinances prohibit all types of business (especially richer communities), the majority allow for small, non-polluting home businesses, as long as any home containing a business is used primarily as a residence ...

Bipartisan Group of Lawmakers Introduce Bill to Protect State Marijuana Laws

Early last month, a bipartisan group of lawmakers introduced new legislation to ease federal restrictions on cannabis and solve a few of the biggest problems facing the industry in several states. The bill, known as the Strengthening the Tenth Amendment Through Entrusting States Act, or STATES Act, comes from Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Cory Gardner (R-Colo.). While the STATES Act would ...

Former Chipotle Manager Awarded $8 Million for Wrongful Termination

The former manager of a Chipotle Mexican Grill in Fresno, who was accused of stealing over $600 dollars, was awarded nearly $8 million dollars by a California jury for wrongful termination. In 2015, Jeanette Ortiz, a manager at the restaurant, was accused of theft by her bosses. They claimed they had her on tape stealing the money, but when Ortiz asked to see the evidence, she was told it had been ...