Our community bore witness to tragedy this past weekend, when a fire ravaged a warehouse known as the "Ghost Ship", claiming the lives of 36 victims and counting. It is already being regarded as one of the most destructive structure fires our country has seen in more than a decade. The devastating impact of this […]

The city of Oakland faces wrongful death lawsuit over decayed tree that led to teen's death Public bodies and public employees do not have blanket immunity from lawsuits. Under California tort law, it is sometimes possible to hold local government entities liable for negligence or intentional acts. A family is suing the city of Oakland […]

Whenever an outdoor, temporary structure is built for commercial reasons (like a music festival, for instance), it is crucial for event organizers to take all reasonable precautions. A giant tent may not seem dangerous, but accidents involving wind or structural collapse can be deadly. Such a scenario seems to occur at least once each year […]

There are certain products considered so “cool” that manufacturers cannot wait to put them on the market. Unfortunately, the rush to make money often means that the products are not adequately tested. Companies don’t know how the products will be used – and abused – by consumers. But people can get hurt even when a […]

Most lawsuits alleging injuries from dog bites are fairly straightforward. Under California law, dog owners are liable when their pets attack other people. If someone is attacked by their own dog, the attack is tragic, but filing a lawsuit is usually out of the question. Who could be held liable in such a case, if […]

Over the past decade or so, new businesses and new business models have allowed average people to put their property to work. These include ride-sharing services like Uber and Lyft as well as temporary lodging services like Airbnb. There is little debate about the fact that the "sharing economy" is a popular concept. It may […]

As you might imagine, there are many liability issues with owning a bar. People often make bad decisions while intoxicated, which can lead to destruction of property or assault by customers. The loud atmosphere and poor lighting in many bars can also increase the risk of personal injury. Moreover, bars have to be careful not […]

If there is one rule to live by with premises liability, it is the notion that if you enter someone else’s property, you have a reasonable expectation to safety. Now, there are circumstances where this doesn’t hold up, and thus it isn’t exactly a “rule.” For example, if you are trespassing on someone’s else’s property, […]

In the world of restaurant dining, one type of experience is theatrical as well as delicious. Japanese restaurants featuring hibachi grills (also called teppanyaki grills) are very popular in large cities across California and throughout the United States. The trained chefs manning the grills often perform tricks, including interesting stacking of food ingredients and flipping […]

With summer still going strong, Californians in the Bay Area are enjoying the many traditions associated with the season. That includes going to Disneyland, Six Flags and many other amusement parks across the state. As recent history shows, improbable personal injuries can occur at amusement parks (like the measles outbreak at Disneyland earlier this year). […]