California

California Voters to Determine the Fate of PAGA: A Game-Changing Labor Law

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Sacramento, California – In a consequential battle over labor laws, California voters will have the power to determine the fate of the Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA), a unique state law that makes it easier for employees to sue their employers. The law, signed just days after the recall of former Governor Gray Davis in 2003, allows workers to file lawsuits on behalf of themselves and other employees. However, a business-backed ballot measure aimed at repealing PAGA will be on the November ballot, fueling a heated political and legal fight that has been ongoing for … Read more

Real Estate Professionals in California Hit with New Lawsuit Alleging Collusion and Inflated Commissions

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SACRAMENTO, California – Real estate professionals in California are facing yet another commission lawsuit. On Thursday, Willsim Latham, LLC. filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Sacramento, alleging collusion among real estate industry players to artificially inflate real estate agent commissions. The lawsuit targets MetroList Services, the area’s Multiple Listing Service (MLS), as well as various local Realtor associations and brokerages including RE/MAX, Anywhere, Keller Williams, eXp World Holdings, NorCal Gold, Williams L. Lyon & Associates, Guide Real Estate, Paul M. Zagaris Real Estate, and Century 21 Select Real Estate franchise. MetroList, unlike other … Read more

California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services Deputy Director Accused of Sexual Harassment and Retaliation Resulting in Delays for Wildfire Victims

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Sacramento, California – A lawsuit filed at Sacramento County Superior Court accuses a deputy director for the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) of sexual harassment and claims that retaliation resulted in a delay in state support for wildfire victims. The plaintiff in the case, identified as Kendra Bowyer, alleges that she experienced a year of inappropriate comments and advances from deputy director Ryan Buras, including non-consensual touching and trying to enter her bed while she was sleeping. The lawsuit also accuses Cal OES of failing to respond to previous reports of harassment … Read more

Unforeseen Consequences: A Look at Prop. 19 and Other Laws Shaking Up California Real Estate

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Riverside, California – As we reflect on the year 2023, it is clear that it was a year of significant legislative changes. From the implementation of Proposition 19 to the introduction of the Uniform Partition of Real Property Act and the enactment of the Corporate Transparency Act, there was no shortage of legal developments to keep individuals and businesses on their toes. Proposition 19, also known as “The Home Protection for Seniors, Severely Disabled, Families, and Victims of Wildfire or Natural Disasters Act,” took effect in part in February and fully in April 2021. While … Read more