Recent Blog Posts
What Is the Anti-Davis Law?
In 2015, the Supreme Court of California made a landmark decision regarding the date of separation in a divorce. The focus of the case was one simple idea: Can ex-spouses actually be “living separate and apart” (as defined by Family Code 771) if they are still living in the same home? The spouses each… Read More »
Fatigue Blamed for Truck and Train Wreck
Semi-truck drivers are supposed to follow tight federal regulations when it comes to how much they drive in a day. According to the Department of Transportation, they are allowed to drive 11 hours after 10 consecutive hours off, or 10 hours after 8 consecutive hours off. Of course, with the holiday season, there is… Read More »
Calif. City Sued Over Death Caused by Dead Tree
Municipalities are responsible for maintaining trees found on public property, especially those that are near sidewalks and roads. When they fail in their duties, residents may be gravely injured — or even killed. This has been the case at least four times over the last 16 months. Recently, an 80-foot eucalyptus tree fell in… Read More »
Most Common Holiday Crimes
For many Californians, Christmas and the holiday season in general really is the best time of the year. SoCal gets down to pretty mild temperatures, and closer to the Oregon border, snow may even be in the forecast. Shoppers have been out in full force since Black Friday, buying lots and lots of presents… Read More »
Arcadia Rollover Crash Claims 3 Lives
On December 13 at about 1:50 a.m., a sedan overturned in Arcadia, at the intersection of Las Tunas Drive and Live Oak Avenue. The driver hit a wall and flipped. At the scene, three people were pronounced dead. One of the victims, Raymond Daniel Yniquez, age 21, was the assistant softball coach at Arroyo… Read More »
New Law Could Vacate Offenses Affecting Immigration Status
In September, California Governor Jerry Brown signed into law Penal Code § 1473.7. This new statute allows certain criminal offense convictions to be vacated, with no time limit or custody agreement. Though many criminals may benefit from the new law, it specifically helps those whose immigration status may be adversely affected by a conviction…. Read More »
What Prop 64 Means for You
As Californians cast their votes for the next President of the United States, they also made decisions on several different state and local issues. One such measure was Proposition 64, which would change marijuana laws. The proposal passed with over 56 percent of the vote, making California the fifth state to legalize marijuana for… Read More »
What Are California’s Statutory Rape Laws?
It is illegal in California for an adult to have sexual intercourse with a minor. In the eyes of the law, an adult is any person 18 or older, and it is a crime even if the intercourse is consensual. Those who break this law are committing statutory rape. The laws of statutory rape… Read More »
MBLK Help! I Missed My Court Date
You knew that you had a court date, but life got in the way. No matter the reason, you failed to appear and now you are worried. You don’t want to attract attention to yourself, but you don’t want to get into any more trouble with the court. What do you do? The first… Read More »
What is the “Rape Shield Law”?
Rape shield laws have been enacted across the country in an effort to protect victims of sexual crimes during criminal proceedings. These laws prohibit defendants from introducing details of the victim’s past sexual behavior or reputation into evidence. Throughout history, defendants in sex crimes trials have attempted to smear the reputation of victims. Men… Read More »