Civil Action with Brian & Shant

Brian and Shant interview civil rights trial lawyer V. James DeSimone ("Jim"). Jim tells us about his cutting-edge practice and the impact his work has had on society.  Jim also discusses important changes to California civil rights laws. Jim is an accomplished trial lawyer dedicated to representing individuals in civil rights cases, with an emphasis on employment discrimination and harassment, em...

Brian and Shant catch up with Christine Spagnoli, a partner of Greene, Broillet & Wheeler in Santa Monica, specializing in representing plaintiffs in product liability, personal injury and legal malpractice actions.  Chris shares her story of how she came to spear-head litigation to protect consumers from injuries and deaths involving vehicle defects. Chris has obtained many multimillion-dollar ve...

Brian and Shant discuss the possibility of using conversion as a means of recovering wages, some clarity regarding 998 offers, arbitrability of UCL claims, dangerous conditions of public property, the inability to arbitrate ERISA claims, and the rules regarding consenting to the jurisdiction of a magistrate judge. Have questions for us? You can reach us at 213-217-5000, or visit our website at www...

Brian and Shant speak with Genie Harrison, a civil rights and employment attorney with a reputation for being a fierce advocate for victims of sex abuse. Genie discusses some of the challenges women face in all careers (including in the practice of law), proposes changes we should all fight for, and makes a big announcement. In 2018, Genie Harrison was recognized by the Daily Journal as one of the...

Brian and Shant talk with Robert Simon, co-founder and lead trial lawyer at the Simon Law Group, at the CAALA Conference 2019 in Las Vegas. Bob shares his story of how he got started, his efforts to empower young trial attorneys, and important cases he has handled that paved the way for the basic tools used in personal injury cases. Bob Simon and his Justice Team have obtained record-setting verdi...

Brian and Shant discuss the California Supreme Court eliminating employees ability to seek unpaid wages under Labor Code section 558, an important decision regarding 128.7 sanctions, using statistical sampling to establish liability for purposes of class certification, liquidated damages in a settlement agreement, and attorney disqualification. Have questions for us? You can reach us at 213-217-50...

Brian and Shant discuss a Notice Prejudice case (one of the very important principles in Insurance Law, a Removal Case involving Federal Court, a Privacy Rights case versus Facebook that deals with standing & injury issues, a Driver Privacy Protection Act, an arbitration of UCL claim and how you can't arbitrate it, and finally a type of governmental immunity called Trail Immunity.  Have questions...

Brian and Shant discuss some good news (for a change) for consumers regarding class actions. Cases include: Noel v. Thrifty Payless, Inc. (2019) 7 Cal.5th 955: The California Supreme Court held that the ascertainability element of class certification does not require the ability to give notice to every single class member.  Nguyen v. Nissan North America, Inc. (9th Cir. 2019) 932 F.3d 811: The 9th...

Summary: Brian and Shant discuss a number of cases that set generally good precedent for plaintiffs. They cover cases about FEHA claims arising out of the conduct of an coworker, challenges in a premises liability case involving criminal conduct, successfully arguing a defendant waived right to arbitrate, and forum selection clauses that violate public policy. Have questions for us? You can reach...

Brian and Shant discuss a slew of bad plaintiff cases today, including a California Supreme Court opinion that arose out of the breach of a confidentiality clause and settlement agreement (AKA the worst case scenario for plaintiff lawyers), J&J talcum case, a personal injury case and how to perfect your appeal, a rogue juror, an abuse case with no recourse, and an insurance case and how to interpr...

Brian and Shant discuss a FEHA cases and new trial motions and standards for reviewing those, attorney's fees in Lemon Law cases, a cautionary tale and reminder about edicare/Medi-Cal leans in personal injury cases, an attorney fee case risen out of civil rights action, RFA's and actually using them (the costs of proving truth of something that was denied in RFA), and the burden of proof for estab...

Brian and Shant discuss Facebook and the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, relief under 473 (relief for a default) aka lawyers getting petty, professional negligence & CPA's screwing up with taxes and the statutes of limitation that governs that, a rule that clarifies Rule 4-2 which involves contacting represented parties (who counts and who does not), and a Supreme Court case called Manhattan Co...

Brian and Shant discuss case certification for purposes of a nationwide class settlement, a California Court of Appeal for the 4th District's duty to defend an additional insured in an insurance case, A 9th circuit case decertification & standing, and strict requirements for it, a UCL claim in an employment case, and civility & the law, and motions to get relief from default. Have questions for us...

Brian and Shant discuss a defendant waiving their right to arbitration, handling a claim with an insurance company and not signing over rights, Ninth Circuit Court of Appeal arbitration, Class Action Fairness Act, Porter Ranch & SoCal gas leak case, and mandatory fee arbitrations & whether or not it's appealable when you get an order denying trying to compel arbitration over attorney's fees. Have...

Brian and Shant discuss a United States Supreme Court Case that has to do with the Class Action Fairness in Removal Statute, treble damages under penal code, failure to prosecute during a case in trial, picking off class representatives from First District Court of Appeal, and one-way attorney fee statute under labor code.  Have questions for us? You can reach us at 213-217-5000, or visit our webs...

Brian and Shant discuss three cases involving arbitration, primary assumption of risk (The Fireman's Rule), and an insurance case from The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Have questions for us? You can reach us at 213-217-5000, or visit our website at www.kbklawyers.com.

Brian and Shant discuss juror misconduct and the collateral source rule, forum selection clauses, employment contracts, and a new statute that's favorable to plaintiffs, two issues of first impressions regarding the five year rule in a "death knell" doctrine, uninsured motorist coverage in the context of an umbrella policy, and PAGA & claim splitting.  Have questions for us? You can reach us at 21...

Brian and Shant discuss serving complaints on foreign governments, dealing with injuries sustained while working for a subcontractor, immunities of a school district, deadlines for giving notice of a medical malpractice claim, arbitration in interstate trucking, and TCPA claims.  Have questions for us? You can reach us at 213-217-5000, or visit our website at www.kbklawyers.com.

Brian and Shant discuss the application of SCOTUS’s ruling in Epic Systems in PAGA cases, requirements for an order denying class certification, Religious Organization Exemption in employment discrimination cases, relief under CCP 473b, the lack of requirement of special relationship in elder abuse cases, and deadlines for seeking removal of a case to federal court.

Brian and Shant discuss cy pres in class action settlements, obtaining a default judgment in a PAGA case, expert declarations in malpractice cases, disqualification of lawyers in a partnership dispute, insurance coverage when insured fails to pay self-insured retention, and liability of a national fraternity for injuries sustained by a plaintiff at a local party.

Brian and Shant discuss equitable tolling of class actions, piece rate work and meal breaks, trends in application of forum selection clauses, timeliness in seeking disqualification of lawyers, and attorney fees in settlement of PAGA actions.   Have questions for us? You can reach us at 213-217-5000, or visit our website at www.kbklawyers.com.

Brian and Shant discuss trends in enforcing arbitration clauses, blowing deadlines to challenge a judge, importance of an expert declaration when opposing a MSJ, federal preemption in false advertising claims against drug manufacturers, and construction defect class actions. Goonewardene v. ADP, LLC (2019) 6 Ca.5th 817: Employer can enforce an arbitration agreement between an employee and a staffi...

Kabateck LLP presents Civil Action with California trial lawyers Brian and Shant. Join us as hosts Brian Kabateck and Shant Karnikian analyze legal issues and developments in California law affecting plaintiff lawyers and their practices. The show presents a summary of recent appellate decisions affecting all area of plaintiff-side civil litigation, from personal injury to employment, from landmar...