Decades of Election Law & Civil Rights work
Because of my civic and political engagement, during the more than 43 years I have practiced law folks have frequently asked me to help them with election law matters. Annually…
Be Very Careful If You Are Tempted To Go Judge Shopping
During the more than 36 years I have practiced law folks who have tried to handle their cases by themselves, and some who have struck out represented by other lawyers,…
Spousal Support – Judges Barred from making Cookie Cutter Decisions
“An award of spousal support is a determination to be made by the trial court in each case before it, based upon the facts and equities of that case, after…
Child Support – should it include Child Care Costs and the Cost of Travel to Visits in California?
California dictates factors that a Judge must calculate in Child Support cases in a complex matrix of statutes in its Family Code. Nevertheless, there are factors that a custodial or…
San Luis Obispo’s chance to turn lead into gold
The Tribune newspaper: published 4/23/2015 - Viewpoint Like most resident and taxpayers, I think the San Luis Obispo City Council should be seeding our public tax dollars in ways…
Spousal Abuse and Spousal Support. When is one a defense against the other?
Spousal Abuse and Spousal Support. When is one a defense against the other? In an opinion issued September 10, 2014, the California Second District Court of Appeal considered an appeal…
What is Community Property?
What is Community Property? And how is it different from other kinds of ownership? Simon & Garfunkel’s song “America” begins with "Let us be lovers we'll marry our fortunes together,…
Stop lawsuits brought to muzzle your freedom of speech
The Anti-SLAPP motion. CCP § 425.16. Each of us grows up in the United States knowing that engraved on our DNA is an inalienable right to speak, publish, and participate…
Do Mothers & Fathers have equal rights in Paternity Cases?
Do mothers and fathers have equal rights in Paternity Cases? Yes, but a father’s rights to paternity must be earned. In California an unwed father does not have any statutory…
Qui Tam Actions [a suit in the name of the King]
Private Citizens rewarded when they recoup funds fraudulently charged and paid by local governments. The California False Claims Act. by Stewart D. Jenkins Unscrupulous individuals and companies that dupe Cities…