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I am part of a company in California where one of the board members has been directing our employees to work temporarily for another company he is involved in. This has been happening for at least 6 months, and we disagree with this practice as there are no formal agreements and the companies are... View More

answered on Jun 12, 2025
Hello. As long as the Board approves it, and it's not ultra vires to the purpose of the original organization, it's legal. Now, if contracts are not being handled correctly or there's fraud, that's different. Good luck.
I am part of a company in California where one of the board members has been directing our employees to work temporarily for another company he is involved in. This has been happening for at least 6 months, and we disagree with this practice as there are no formal agreements and the companies are... View More

answered on Jun 12, 2025
The situation you describe appears to be breach of fiduciary duty and misappropriation of corporate assets. You should immediately speak with the Corporation counsel as well as bring the issue to the Corporation's board.
I am part of a company in California where one of the board members has been directing our employees to work temporarily for another company he is involved in. This has been happening for at least 6 months, and we disagree with this practice as there are no formal agreements and the companies are... View More

answered on Jun 12, 2025
Generally speaking, the situation you've described is not allowed. Here are the main issues I see:
1. Director’s Breach of Duty: Directors must act in the best interests of their company and its shareholders. Using the company's employees for another business without proper... View More
I had an "at will" one-year contract with a company, which was terminated early due to alleged poor performance. During my 7-month tenure, I never received any feedback or performance evaluation. There were no discussions or formal reviews concerning my work. Is this early termination... View More

answered on Jun 3, 2025
Hello. You can't be "at-will" and under a contract at the same time. It's one or the other. If you were at-will, you can be terminated for no reason or any reason, so long as the reason is not illegal (which based on what you wrote, it isn't), with or without notice. If you... View More
I asked a friend to move my travel trailer because my truck was down. While driving too fast on back country roads, he lost the trailer off his truck, and it crashed, rendering the trailer unusable. There was no formal agreement between us, and my girlfriend witnessed the incident. The county... View More

answered on Jun 3, 2025
If you had comprehensive insurance on the trailer, it will be easier to go through your own insurer. You can bring a claim against your friend if he was negligent. His liability insurer should cover the loss, up to its liability limits. If neither of you had insurance, well, good luck collecting.
I purchased an engine online using Affirm on May 7, but the merchant has not provided a tracking number or proof of shipment. The promised delivery date was May 15, but it is now May 29, and I have not received the item. The merchant accused me of scamming to cancel the order. I started a dispute... View More

answered on May 29, 2025
Sorry to hear you are apparently being taken advantage of by Affirm and/or this merchant. A professional legal analysis would require more facts and a review of Affirm and the merchant's terms of service. However, it seems patently unfair that a failure to respond by the merchant triggers an... View More
I recently accepted an offer for an exempt position at a company after leaving my city government job. The offer included an "at-will" employment clause allowing termination without cause. Prior to and during the interview, I verbally informed the company about my ethical restrictions... View More

answered on May 27, 2025
Hello. Did your offer letter confirm or reference these restrictions? That would've been ideal.
You can try to negotiate anything. Severance isn't required by law. I would think that the company would want to give you generous severance package, however, due to what's... View More
I recently accepted an offer for an exempt position at a company after leaving my city government job. The offer included an "at-will" employment clause allowing termination without cause. Prior to and during the interview, I verbally informed the company about my ethical restrictions... View More

answered on May 27, 2025
You can always try to negotiate a better severance payment, but there is no legal right to more money. In fact, you are not entitled to any severance, even under these conditions. You became employed at will which means you can be terminated at any time and for any reason or even no reason at... View More
My department was dissolved without notice, and I was given 26 hours to choose whether to accept a pay cut or leave. I chose the pay cut. The dissolution occurred mid-pay period; one week I worked under my previous pay rate and the next week under the new lower rate. I received no documents to sign... View More

answered on May 23, 2025
Your employer can only reduce your pay prospectively. Thus, you are entitled to be paid at your old higher rate until the date you agreed to the lower rate. You can file free online a complaint with Labor Commissioner for the difference.
My department was dissolved without notice, and I was given 26 hours to choose whether to accept a pay cut or leave. I chose the pay cut. The dissolution occurred mid-pay period; one week I worked under my previous pay rate and the next week under the new lower rate. I received no documents to sign... View More

answered on May 21, 2025
Hello. If you're non-exempt, you're entitled to one pay period of notice for a pay change. If you're exempt, you're not legally entitled to any notice. If you were exempt, and told, told that week one would be at the old, higher rate, then that's what should have happened.... View More
If the deed is vested as community property with the Right of Survivorship, and we then transfer the property into a trust, can the trust stipulate that the community property status no longer applies? Additionally, can the initial down payment and its proportional return on the investment be... View More

answered on May 20, 2025
Transferring community property (even if titled with right of survivorship) into a trust does not change its community property character unless there’s a valid transmutation agreement signed by both spouses under California Family Code §§ 850–852. However, placing the property into a trust... View More
I am a California resident and independent contractor entering into a contractor service agreement. The agreement includes a governing law clause stating that the agreement will be governed by the laws of the State of Virginia, and that the courts of Virginia shall have exclusive jurisdiction over... View More

answered on May 19, 2025
If you really were not an employee, and were properly classified as an independent contractor, you do not get the protections of the California Labor Code. Sorry.
I am a California resident and independent contractor entering into a contractor service agreement. The agreement includes a governing law clause stating that the agreement will be governed by the laws of the State of Virginia, and that the courts of Virginia shall have exclusive jurisdiction over... View More

answered on May 19, 2025
Hello. 925 only references "employee". A 1099 contractor is not an employee, so 925 would not apply. There is a clause about a contract and having it negotiated or being represented by an attorney, but that still references the person as an "employee". Good luck.
I am a member of a California LLC with 55 members, managed by another LLC. Our operating agreement specifies a contact for the Manager, but this was changed without notice or consent. Now, I can only communicate through an Investor Relations team that neither provides Manager access nor answers my... View More

answered on May 16, 2025
The manager's conduct in changing the contact method without notice or consent may not be lawful under California LLC laws and the operating agreement, depending on the specific terms of the operating agreement and the manager's fiduciary duties. California law provides that the operating... View More
I was driving a vehicle that was gifted to me, but it is in my ex’s name. I recently got into a fender bender and found out that the insurance coverage for the car was removed a year ago without my knowledge. The car was purchased for me in February 2023, and my ex had been paying for the... View More

answered on May 16, 2025
If it’s in your ex’s name, it might be his car. However, you were driving. You had an accident. It’s your responsibility. It’s also your ex’s responsibility as the apparent vehicle owner who let you drive the car with his permission.
The situation involves a TOD deed, signed by my now-deceased parent on October 2nd, 2023, witnessed by two non-relatives. The notarization was completed separately ten days later on October 12th, 2023, and signed by my parent's valid Power of Attorney (POA), one of the daughters who is an... View More

answered on May 14, 2025
There are two types of notarizations a notary may use: (1) jurats; and (2) acknowledgments. [You only need to know the names. Don’t worry about what they mean unless you plan to become a notary.] Notaries must follow different rules for each type of notarization.
Most commonly, real... View More
I hired a temporary worker for a 3-day evaluation period and sent his payment two days after his last working day. Due to the Thanksgiving holiday, the postal service delayed the payment, and he received it late. We communicated via text, but there was no formal contract. Now, the worker is asking... View More

answered on May 17, 2025
It is a common error for employers to believe they can mail a final payment, NOT SO FAST! If you hire an employee who YOU terminate- for cause or for the end of the temporary work, you have to pay them right then. In person. Or before. (no one pays before because few workers would return for the... View More
I am an employee at a waxing establishment in California. A guest experienced a skin tear during a procedure I performed while following company procedures, and she is now suing both the company and me. Although I am a paid employee, I have received a contract from the company's lawyer to sign... View More

answered on May 10, 2025
Anyone can be sued for anything.
You are sued for activities performed within the course and scope of your job and the injury was not intentional, the employer has a legal obligation to indemnify you for reasonable and necessary expenses, including the costs of defending the claim or paying... View More
I am an employee at a waxing establishment in California. A guest experienced a skin tear during a procedure I performed while following company procedures, and she is now suing both the company and me. Although I am a paid employee, I have received a contract from the company's lawyer to sign... View More

answered on May 10, 2025
Yes it’s legal. Your employer has a duty to indemnify you for expenses you incur in the course and scope of employment. If you refuse the employer’s offer of a defense, it can argue that any expenses you incur were voluntary and it doesn’t have an obligation to indemnify you.
I recently left my job at a tech company in California, where I signed an NDA as part of my employment agreement. HR and IT have requested that I submit my personal USB device for inspection and wiping, claiming I downloaded some work-related files before my departure. I've deleted most of the... View More

answered on May 9, 2025
Hello. You've said here that there were work files on the device, so the company has a legitimate concern about what else you might have. I'd ask them if they'd take a Declaration from you that you have deleted everything you had (assuming that's true). You no longer work there,... View More
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