Almost every company relies on contracts for many aspects of business operations. You may have contracts with vendors, clients, and many other parties. Some agreements may be informal and entered into verbally, but this does not make them invalid. In many situations, however, a contract must be in writing under the law or the parties prefer to have a formal written contract. Before you ever sign on the dotted line, you should first have an experienced business lawyer thoroughly review your contract. This goes for many types of agreements, including: Partnership or operating agreements Buy/sell agreements Vendor contracts Commercial leases Purchase or sale agreements Real estate contracts Employment contracts Common Contract Risks There are many risks of signing a contract without the counsel of a business attorney. The following are…

The holiday season is upon us, and everywhere you turn, people are shopping, gathering, and celebrating. From holiday office parties to family dinners to meeting with old friends, you can bet that many people are enjoying some eggnog, wine, champagne, and other alcoholic drinks during the holiday season. Problems arise when revelers decide to drive home after the party. Law enforcement agencies know that drunk driving increases from Thanksgiving to New Year’s, and they increase enforcement efforts during this time. However, police can’t arrest every drunk driver before they cause accidents, and a drunk driving accident can disrupt the holiday season for you and your family. Holding Drunk Drivers Liable for Your Losses If a drunk driver causes injuries, they should be held completely accountable for your medical bills, lost…

Most of the time, the products we use around the house work well and serve their purpose. We don’t worry about those things hurting us or our families. However, sometimes a defective product makes its way onto the marketplace, and results in injuries. Just about anything can be dangerous: our vehicles, our cosmetics, our household appliances, and so many more. And because there are so many different types of injuries, that arise out of so many different circumstances, the legal realm of product liability can be confusing. Depending on your unique circumstances, your San Diego product liability attorney will advise you on the best type of claim to file, so you can recover damages for your suffering. You may also be included in a mass tort, or class action, claim.…

Hundreds of new businesses are formed every year in California. The majority of those companies will have to shut their doors within the first two years of operation, while a few will go on to be quite successful. Despite the wealth of information available online these days to entrepreneurs, simply putting this generic advice into action doesn’t guarantee a prosperous enterprise. While you may be able to learn some of the basics from the internet, like how to file for your LLC, if you want to set yourself apart from other new companies, there’s one investment that you should make: general counsel. Every good entrepreneur knows that they should take advantage of the resources around them, like tutorial videos, free seminars, and networking events. However, they also acknowledge that there…

You’ve probably heard advertisements on TV or on the radio, or perhaps have gotten invitations in the mail, to join a class action lawsuit. This is a common response to a mass tort, which simply means that the negligent or malicious actions of one party have negatively affected more than one person. Some examples of mass torts would be: defective products, unsafe medications, and traumatic incidents such as plane crashes or building collapses. When one action impacts a whole group of people, they may be able to come together and file a lawsuit, known as a class action lawsuit. Sometimes, class action lawsuits are used to settle disputes, like those within a business or family group, but most often, they include a selection of unrelated individuals who have all suffered…

In the world of personal injury law, one of the major factors in a case is the location where the injury occurred. Often, a person is injured on someone else’s property- either owned by an individual or a business- and this is a critical component of determining liability. People are generally expected to provide safe access to their property, and this responsibility is known in legal terms as “premises liability.” In cases where people or businesses fail to maintain a reasonable level of safety on their property, they may be held responsible for any injuries that occur there. However, this concept is not as simple and straightforward as it initially may seem. If you were hurt while walking through a store, or visiting a friend’s apartment complex, it doesn't automatically…

Losing someone you love is never easy, but when their death comes out of a tragedy or accident, it can make the grieving process even more difficult. In circumstances where someone loses their life due to the negligence of another party, this is legally known as “wrongful death.” In many cases, the family or other surviving loved ones/dependents may be eligible to file a wrongful death lawsuit to recover damages. Most wrongful death lawsuits follow a criminal trial, as most deaths due to negligence are tried as criminal acts. However, your case may be different, so it’s important to talk to a qualified San Diego wrongful death attorney about your unique circumstances. Some occurrences that may lead to someone’s wrongful death include: Motor vehicle accidents Fires Chemical leaks or spills Hazardous…

Whether you’re in real estate development, construction, manufacturing, or another industry, it’s important that your daily operations fall within the legal bounds. These days, there are hundreds of different laws and regulations that dictate how we do business, and failing to follow them could have disastrous consequences. Especially if you come in contact with governmental agencies on a routine basis, keeping your company in check is a smart move. Businesses can encounter hefty fines, production stalls, and even complete shut-downs if they are found to be in violation of certain rules. If you are a business owner, you’ve worked hard to build your company and it’s important to keep it profitable for years to come. So, understanding the regulations and how to operate within them is crucial. Here are a few…

Many of us trust our local law enforcement and other government officials to keep us safe and protect our communities. However, in the last few years, there is growing concern about police brutality and excessive use of force, with many cases making national headlines. While there are slightly different laws in each state, detailing what amount of force is permitted and in which situations, there is a general understanding of how civilians and suspects are to be treated. The term “excessive force” refers to situations where government officials use more than the minimum amount of force necessary to diffuse an incident and/or protect themselves from harm. This can be seen in a multitude of situations, from prisoner handling and military trainings, to traffic stops and other law enforcement duties. The term “police…