During these challenging times, Severson & Werson remains open and in full operation, consistent with the firm’s previously established contingency planning. While many of our attorneys and staff will be working remotely, as a firm, we continue in full operation. We are here to help, as always.
The dormant Commerce Clause does not prohibit California from applying its labor laws to airline employees who reside or are employed predominantly in California. The airline's block time method of computing pay was similar to the pay scheme approved in Oman v. Delta Air Lines, Inc. (2020) 9 Cal.5th 762, and so did not offend California Labor Code guarantees of… Read More
A defendant can be held liable for negligent misrepresentation on two disparate theories. First, under Rest.2d Torts section 311, a defendant may be liable for negligent misrepresentation in endorsing a product that physically harms the plaintiff. (See Hanberry v. Hearst Corp. (1969) 276 Cal.App.2d 680.) Here, plaintiff suffered no physical injury and so couldn't rely on that theory to pursue… Read More
The federal Poultry and Poultry Products Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. §§ 451 et seq.) expressly preempts state laws that impose different or additional labeling requirements to the labels approved by the Secretary of Agriculture under the PPIA. (21 U.S.C. 467e.) This decision holds that the federal statute preempts any state law claim that the federally approved label for a poultry… Read More
Having secured a default judgment against the contractor that build a retaining wall on adjacent property which collapsed damaging plaintiff's property, plaintiff sued the contractor's general liability insurer. This decision holds that the trial court erred in entering summary judgment in the insurer's favor. The insurance policy was an occurrence policy. With a continuing loss, coverage attaches when the damage… Read More
Following n Hill v. Superior Court (2016) 244 Cal.App.4th 1281 and Kerley v. Weber (2018) 27 Cal.App.5th 1187, and disagreeing with Levin v. Winston-Levin (2019) 39 Cal.App.5th 1025, this decision holds that double damages may be awarded under Probate Code 859 without a finding of bad faith if the defendant has taken or concealed property of a dependent adult, a… Read More
Plaintiff contracted mesothelioma, allegedly from asbestos-concrete pipe manufactured by defendant, a successor to Johns Manville's asbestos-concrete business. A $15 million punitive damage award is reversed for lack of evidence that an officer, director or managing agent of defendant acted with malice, oppression or fraud or authorized or ratified any conduct. Romo v. Ford Motor Co. (2002) 99 Cal.App.4th 1115 doesn't… Read More
Brown, a teacher, complained that the electro-magnetic waves emanating from the new wi-fi system installed in her school caused her chronic pain, headaches, nausea, itching, burning sensations on her skin, ear issues, shortness of breath, inflammation, heart palpitations, respiratory complications, foggy headedness, and fatigue. She reported her symptoms to the school, which initially gave her the option of having it… Read More
A PAGA suit under Lab. Code 2988 may be brought against the employer in any county in which an aggrieved employee worked and a Labor Code violation was allegedly committed. The private plaintiff need not bring the action in the county in which he worked or where the violations against him occurred. Read More
A release that ratepayers were required to sign in order to obtain a partial rebate of illegal water charges was enforceable. The city did not fraudulently conceal facts from ratepayers. Its FAQs said the partial refund was due to the statute of limitations barring claims for any greater refund and revealed that the overcharges had been assessed for a longer… Read More
The Ninth Circuit applies the abuse of discretion standard of review to review a summary judgment in a trademark infringement case if the summary judgment is granted on equitable grounds such as unclean hands, laches or acquiescence. Read More
