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I am involved in a personal injury claim in California, but the attorney representing the plaintiff is only licensed in Arizona. They are asserting the use of California Civil Code of Procedure 999 (CCP 999) for pre-mediation. No complaint has been filed yet in either state. Can an Arizona-licensed... View More

answered on Jun 18, 2025
There might be an issue with the attorney's lack of a CA license to practice law in CA, making him ineligible to practice law in CA, and, whether the pre-lawsuit negotiations are the practice of law. If the attorney has associated another lawyer who is licensed in CA, or has an attorney in... View More
My husband had two wisdom teeth extracted by the prison medical institution. After weeks of pain and swelling, the provider took an X-ray and realized his jaw was fractured. It took one month before he could receive treatment at an outside hospital. Now, his jaw is wired shut for 5 weeks. Can the... View More

answered on Jun 5, 2025
Yes you can.
Where the medical staff failed to meet the standard of care, there is a claim.
In order for such a case to be viable, the harm caused but be sufficient to warrant bringing a lawsuit. For example, if the failure to treat caused additional harm such as the jaw being... View More
My husband had two wisdom teeth extracted by the prison medical institution. After weeks of pain and swelling, the provider took an X-ray and realized his jaw was fractured. It took one month before he could receive treatment at an outside hospital. Now, his jaw is wired shut for 5 weeks. Can the... View More

answered on Jun 17, 2025
Yes, a prison medical provider can be sued for medical malpractice under California law, including MICRA (Cal. Civ. Proc. Code § 340.5), which allows one year from the date the injury was discovered or should have been discovered. Delayed diagnosis and treatment of a jaw fracture following tooth... View More
My partner was offered a mental health diversion program for our domestic abuse case, and the court issued a protective order against him to protect me. I don’t want the protective order anymore. If he agrees to the mental health diversion program, will the protective order be lifted? How long... View More

answered on May 30, 2025
No. The mental health diversion program will not lift the protective order in a domestic abuse case. The fact a defendant has decided to accept a diversion program doesn't mean he is any less of a threat. An alcoholic can decide to go to A.A. meetings or treatment.
My partner was offered a mental health diversion program for our domestic abuse case, and the court issued a protective order against him to protect me. I don’t want the protective order anymore. If he agrees to the mental health diversion program, will the protective order be lifted? How long... View More

answered on May 29, 2025
The mental health diversion program and protective orders operate as separate legal mechanisms, and participation in diversion does not automatically result in the lifting of a protective order in domestic abuse cases. Protective orders are specifically issued by the court to ensure victim safety... View More
I lost my home in the Eaton fire in Altadena, CA. My family and I received no evacuation warnings, and there was no firefighting assistance or water during the incident. My daughters are traumatized by the experience, and we learned that a neighbor died without any warning. Many residents in west... View More

answered on May 4, 2025
You have six months time limit from the date of the incident in which to file a claim against the government entity. However, the case against Edison is a much stronger case. Edison has admitted fault and a mass tort action ( NOT a class action) is being pursued against Edison. You recover much... View More
I recently found a stone at Capitola Beach, which I believe might be ambergris, weighing about 506 grams. I'm trying to confirm its identity and legality. I've attempted to contact ambergris experts but haven't received a response yet. I'm unsure whether I can sell it or if I... View More

answered on May 6, 2025
The website of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) advises as follows, "You may not collect, keep, or sell ambergris because it is a part from an endangered marine mammal." (sperm whale) NOAA provides the following number for assistance: (301) 427-8401, from:... View More
I am an ex-felon residing in California and I'm considering becoming a court reporter. My felony conviction was for a sales case, which occurred 7 years ago. I have completed a rehabilitation program and had the conviction expunged. Is it possible for someone in my situation to pursue a career... View More

answered on Apr 28, 2025
Convictions are not expunged in California. They are only dismissed, and if dismissed under the proper statute, they cannot be referred to or used unless you are seeking a job in law enforcement or national security.
The best way to find out if you can be a court reporter, contact one or... View More
I received a bench warrant for failing to appear at my remand date in Visalia, California because I had to work and didn't want to lose my job. I have not notified the court about my situation, but I would like to consult with a lawyer to understand my options. How can I resolve this issue... View More

answered on Apr 28, 2025
Addressing a bench warrant issued for failure to appear due to work conflicts in Visalia, California, requires prompt and strategic action to mitigate potential legal consequences. Under California law, a bench warrant is issued when a defendant fails to appear as required, pursuant to Penal Code... View More
How could AB625 affect a soon-to-be parolee who is currently on EOP status in a California prison, with parole scheduled for August 2025? I'm interested in understanding any potential changes to parole conditions or early release possibilities that this bill might bring.

answered on Apr 24, 2025
AB625, if enacted, could influence the parole process for an EOP status inmate, who, by virtue of their severe mental disorder, requires enhanced clinical interventions while incarcerated. Under existing law, parolees with such conditions typically must undergo inpatient treatment unless the State... View More
I am facing a licensing suspension or revocation with the Department of Real Estate, even though my legal case is unrelated to real estate activity. My case involves money laundering charges related to buying and selling dollars at the border through exchanges, companies, individuals, and banks.... View More

answered on Apr 24, 2025
Under California law, the DRE may suspend or revoke a license if a licensee is convicted of a crime substantially related to the qualifications, functions, or duties of a real estate professional. However, since your money laundering charges—stemming from buying and selling dollars at the... View More
I need urgent help. My brother has been in the ICU since last week, and we just received a call from the hospital. We believe the Gardena Police Department beat him up. The hospital staff initially contacted us but are now acting as if he is in custody and won't allow us to see him without... View More

answered on Apr 23, 2025
To address the alleged police misconduct, several legal actions are available. A civil rights claim under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 can be pursued against the Gardena Police Department for excessive force, violating your brother’s Fourth Amendment rights, provided the officers’ actions were objectively... View More
My brother, who suffers from epilepsy and lives at a sobriety program, is in the ICU with head injuries and bruising. Records show he was arrested on 4/15, supposed to have court on 4/17 in Inglewood, but was released on his own recognizance on 4/16. Conflicting reports say he was brought to the... View More

answered on Apr 23, 2025
First, you can investigate the hospital’s failure to notify you, as California law requires hospitals to make reasonable efforts to contact family members within 24 hours if a patient is incapacitated. If this obligation was not met, you may request documentation of their efforts, which must be... View More
I was arrested by CPS and had my son removed from my home in Los Angeles County on March 20, 2025, with no allegations of abuse from my side, only my criminal record. My child's mother, who is currently incarcerated and has a history of substance addiction, had her other children removed from... View More

answered on Apr 21, 2025
Under California Welfare and Institutions Code § 300, CPS may remove a child only if there is clear evidence of substantial risk of harm. Removal based solely on your criminal record, without specific allegations of abuse or neglect, may not satisfy this standard unless CPS demonstrates a current... View More
Can I sue a school for targeting my child and proceeding with expulsion after an argument? There's an expulsion hearing soon, and discrepancies in her discipline reports suggest they were altered, as the initials don't match the altered names. Additionally, the school allowed my daughter... View More

answered on Apr 15, 2025
You would have to promptly review this with a litigation attorney to see if there is a cognizable claim, but schools have wide discretion to discipline. More important is addressing the pending expulsion.
The schools can call CPS in- you would need an attorney who focuses on... View More
I entered the U.S. in 1975 from the USSR as a permanent resident with my mom. I have derivative citizenship through her since she was naturalized when I was 14 in 1981. However, I missed the swearing-in ceremony due to a high school trip and never received a naturalization certificate; my mom... View More

answered on Apr 28, 2025
Based on the information you have provided above, it appears that you should not have any problems applying for the N-600. If you are still concerned, you may consider filing a FOIA to obtain copies of your entire file and ensure you have all supporting documentation that you may require before... View More
I received an order to comply regarding junkyard conditions and cleaned up as required. Despite complying with the order, the county charged me staff fees for time spent on the case. In previous instances last year, when similar complaints were made, we cleaned up, and no fees or fines were... View More

answered on Apr 11, 2025
You are getting billed for staff fees because you are a repeat offender. The claimant/reporter is not at fault, because the county found their complaint was justified, and issued an order to you to comply. The inspections are not harassment so long as actual violations are found and for a... View More
I was arrested 6 years ago in Willows, California, for a misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia. I initially showed up for my court date but stopped attending due to the hardship of driving several hours to Willows weekly. There has been an active warrant for my arrest for 7 years. The terms... View More

answered on Apr 9, 2025
To address unfeasible probation terms for your old misdemeanor charge in California, you can request a modification of the probation terms through the court. California law provides mechanisms for modifying probation conditions if they are unreasonable or cause undue hardship. The court has the... View More
My son was arrested nearly six years ago in California, and his case has not yet gone to court. The bail bondsman mentioned a five-year limit for taking a case to a jury. During these years, there have been multiple public defenders and deputy district attorneys involved, with frequent hearings... View More

answered on Mar 26, 2025
The only "statute of limitations" in criminal law applies to the filing of charges by the DA, not to the timing of a "speedy trial" after charges are filed in court. The California Criminal Code provides deadlines for certain courtroom proceedings, such as preliminary hearings... View More
I am a plumber who recently experienced an incident while working in a client's home. The homeowner had a seizure, and I caught them to prevent injury. The homeowner, who appeared to be of sound mind, explicitly instructed me not to call 911, and there was no harm done as a result. I'm... View More

answered on Apr 13, 2025
You were not negligent. From a textbook standpoint, you had no legal duty. In such situations, there could be a moral duty to seek help, but the homeowner asked you not to call 911 and you obliged, respecting their privacy. You handled the situation well. A medical professional may have insisted to... View More
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