Tag Archives: Legal and Law

Los Angeles Unified School District and Others Learn Elementary Lesson in Contract Law After $2.5 Million Verdict and Seven Year Legal Battle

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- A small business construction subcontractor emerged victorious from a hard fought seven-year legal battle when $3.2 million in services, labor and materials were not paid by the Los Angeles Unified School District, their contractor, and their Insurance Bonds company. Nowland Law, a business litigation firm, secured a ruling in favor of the plaintiff December 9th, 2022 for work that the plaintiff performed in 2015.

In the David vs. Goliath legal battle, the well-funded trio of defendants used an array of strategies to shake off George Toro of WnG Construction, including accusing him of deleting emails relevant to the case, stealing trade secrets, other frivolous claims that caused turnover of 2 prior counsels for the plaintiff.

George Toro of WnG Construction JV Inc., was excited when, in 2015, he signed a deal to do work as a subcontractor for the Los Angeles Unified School District. It was a large project, ultimately composed of 18 separate jobs, where George Toro worked with his team to build out internet and WLAN infrastructure on solar projects for the school district. The project represented $5.5 million worth of work for WnG Construction.

Toro's excitement faded when his company completed the work as agreed but was not paid by Los Angeles Unified School District, nor by the general contractor of the projects, AAA Solar Electric. By late 2015, Toro had requested meetings with the general contractor. Instead of scheduling a sit down, WnG was promised payments soon, but was then subsequently ghosted by AAA Solar Electric.

Contractors engage in large projects confidently because they are typically covered by bonds. In this case, Philadelphia Indemnity Insurance Company had a set of existing bonds for the project, which should have been accessible to WnG. The bonds were not paid to WnG. Despite multiple requests for payment to LAUSD, the indemnity company and the general contractor, payment in full was withheld for reasons that the court mostly rejected in its ruling. The costs, delays, and financial impact resulted in the smaller subcontractor going out of business as it was forced to lay off its employees and close. George Toro had no idea that what lay ahead of him was a seven-year legal battle in order to finally reach a victorious verdict in his favor.

The case, "WNG Construction JV, Inc V. AAA Solar Electric, Inc" (case number VC065473) filed in the Southeastern district of Los Angeles Superior Court, has been worked on by at least 15 individual attorneys from a variety of law firms, racked up almost 300 calendared events in the court room, and is likely to exceed its current count of 988 filed documents, across its seven years of litigation. The $2.5 million complaint will not include yearly interest fees that can legally be imposed by the judge, as well as attorney's fees and court costs. These costs are expected to be substantial and may double the total liability of the general contractor, the indemnity company, and the school district to an estimated rough total of $5 million.

Before the trial, George Toro tapped Nowland Law to take on the case due to the firm's strong history in business litigation. Nowland Law had been victorious on behalf of the plaintiff in a similarly high profile case, in which the California State University system had attempted to flout millions of dollars in payments to another subcontractor.

Lead Attorney, Thomas F. Nowland said, "This was a 31 day trial which lasted over 4 months due to delays related to the COVID pandemic. The court awarded WnG the majority of its claims plus interest, costs, and prevailing party attorney's fees. The final judgment could be well over $5 million dollars."

Learn more: https://www.nowlandlaw.com

A small business construction subcontractor emerged victorious from a hard fought seven-year legal battle when $3.2 million in services, labor and materials were not paid by the Los Angeles Unified School District, their contractor, and their Insurance Bonds company. Nowland Law, a business litigation firm, secured a ruling in favor of the plaintiff December 9th, 2022 for work that the plaintiff performed in 2015.

Related link: https://www.nowlandlaw.com/

Corbin Sutter Named A Top 40 under 40 Florida Personal Injury Attorney By The National Trial Lawyers

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. /ScoopCloud/ -- All Injuries Law Firm is pleased to announce that Corbin Sutter has been selected for inclusion into the National Trial Lawyers Top 100 as a Top 40 under 40 Trial Lawyers in Florida. The Top 40 Under 40 designation is an honor given to only a select group of lawyers for their superior skills and qualifications in this field.

Membership in this exclusive organization is by invitation only and is limited to the top 40 attorneys in each state or region who have demonstrated excellence and have achieved outstanding results as personal injury lawyers.

The National Trial Lawyers Top 40 under 40 is a professional, invitation-only organization composed of premier trial lawyers from across the country who exemplify superior qualifications as attorneys. Selection is based on a process that includes those who have demonstrated exceptional leadership qualifications, reputation, influence, stature and public profile. The National Trial Lawyers provides accreditation to distinguished attorneys and also provides essential legal news, information, and continuing education to trial lawyers across the United States.

The team at All Injuries Law Firm congratulates Corbin Sutter for demonstrating superior qualifications, leadership skills, knowledge, and success. By combining resources, power, and influence Corbin Sutter has accomplished recognition as an top attorney in his field. All Injuries Law Firm is dedicated to preserving and defending justice for all with Corbin Sutter leading our team of professional attorneys.

Attorney Corbin Sutter is highly motivated to pursue justice for all who are injured in the Southwest Florida area and is inspired by being able to recover settlements for injured victims in the community. He is also a member of The Million Dollar Advocates Forum. The Million Dollar Advocates Forum is an elite group of civil trial lawyers, who represent the interests of injured people, helping to win financial compensation for injuries and other damages caused by negligence and the careless actions of others.

Learn more: https://www.allinjurieslawfirm.com/

All Injuries Law Firm is pleased to announce that Corbin Sutter has been selected for inclusion into the National Trial Lawyers Top 100 as a Top 40 under 40 Trial Lawyers in Florida. The Top 40 Under 40 designation is an honor given to only a select group of lawyers for their superior skills and qualifications in this field.

Related link: https://www.allinjurieslawfirm.com/

Vistage Recognizes Marie DiSante with 2022 Lifetime Achievement Award

IRVINE, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- CDF Labor Law LLP (CDF) proudly congratulates Marie DiSante, Founding and Firm Managing Partner, for being named the recipient of the Vistage 2022 Orange County "Lifetime Achievement Award." Vistage is the world's largest CEO coaching and peer advisory organization for small and midsize businesses. The "Lifetime Achievement Award" honors members with a track record of bold decisions benefiting their companies, communities and beyond, and who are an inspiration to their Vistage peers.

Marie co-founded CDF back in 1994 when law firm leaders primarily were men, and at that time she vowed to mentor and create leadership positions for women and diverse attorneys. Almost 30 years later, she has done just that. She has been at the helm of the firm since its inception, and she and her partners have grown CDF to five offices spanning the state, and from six to close to 50 attorneys (69% of whom are women or diverse attorneys).

Marie's transformative leadership has been instrumental in establishing CDF's thriving and diverse culture and laying a solid foundation for the next generation of leadership. She has been continually recognized for advancing and empowering women and diverse attorneys in the legal industry.

In addition to Marie's passion and focus on diversity, equity and inclusion, Marie has honed her business acumen through Vistage and leaned into collaboration, fast decision-making, and conservative financial management to lead the firm's growth and success. She has guided CDF through its expansion, the recession in 2009, and the recent global COVID pandemic. Her advice for new leaders is to remain nimble in any type of leadership role. Her adaptability and forwarding thinking led CDF to offer flexible work schedules before remote work became prevalent during the pandemic.

Marie's Management Tips:

* Pencil out what needs to be done and how much it will cost; then double it. Cash is king.

* Don't micromanage - give others power to make decisions and to implement them.

* Recognize your strengths and then surround yourself with others who have different strengths to complement yours.

Marie's leadership in the business community shapes her value-driven counsel to employers of all sizes - from start-ups to Fortune 500 enterprises. A big believer in empowerment, Marie now is focused on transitioning CDF leadership to the next generation. "When you support individuals and teams and give them the tools to succeed, it leads to the overall success of an organization," said Marie DiSante.

Don't just take Vistage's and CDF's word for it. Hear directly from Marie via the following video link as she answers the following questions:

1 - One accomplishment she is particularly proud of.

2 - A leader experience that makes her smile.

3 - What leadership philosophy inspires her.

4 - The lesson that has been most pivotal to her journey in the firm.

5 - One business trend that excites her.

Link to interview with Marie DiSante: https://vimeo.com/747382437/5d85c12ce0.

About CDF:

For close to 30 years, CDF Labor Law LLP has distinguished itself as one of the top labor, employment and immigration law firms in California, representing employers in single-plaintiff and class action lawsuits and advising employers on related legal compliance and risk avoidance. The firm has five offices throughout California - in Sacramento, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Orange County and San Diego. For more information, visit: www.CDFLaborLaw.com and find CDF on LinkedIn or Twitter to learn more about how the firm protects California employers.

For access to timely alerts on the latest California labor and employment law developments, sign up for the firm's blog by visiting: https://www.CalLaborLaw.com.

About Vistage:

Vistage is the world's largest CEO coaching and peer advisory organization for small and midsize businesses. For more than 60 years, they have been helping CEOs, business owners and key executives solve their greatest challenges through confidential peer groups and one-on-one coaching sessions. Today, more than 25,000 members in 25 countries rely on Vistage to help make better decisions for their companies, families, and communities.

CDF Labor Law LLP (CDF) proudly congratulates Marie DiSante, Founding and Firm Managing Partner, for being named the recipient of the Vistage 2022 Orange County "Lifetime Achievement Award." Vistage is the world's largest CEO coaching and peer advisory organization for small and midsize businesses.

Related link: https://www.cdflaborlaw.com/

Absolute Trust Counsel to Hold Free Virtual Trust Administration Event for California CFPs and CPAs

WALNUT CREEK, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- Leading Bay Area estate planning firm Absolute Trust Counsel will host a free virtual event, The Absolute Trust Academy Trust Administration 101, on October 28, 2022, to equip CPAs and CFPs with a stronger knowledge of trust administration processes. The webinar is aimed at enhancing advisors' client services and relationships. In addition, this event allows CPAs and CFPs to earn four hours of continuing education credits.

"Trust administration is an important topic for financial professionals for several reasons," said event host and Absolute Trust Counsel founder, Kirsten Howe. "CFPs and CPAs are often the first professionals contacted upon a death. Why? Because clients trust and depend on their advisors regularly and they have the deepest, broadest knowledge of their clients' situations.

"In addition, the trust administration process requires a coordinated effort among the attorney, financial advisor, CPA, and the family. All advisors play an important role in the process. Boosting their knowledge base benefits both their clients and their business. And, having these tools in their arsenal will also help build a more robust plan and head off future problems."

The event will be held from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. via Zoom and will feature several local experts who will teach the basics of what needs to be done when a client has died. Audience members will learn and implement proven planning strategies and tactics to address clients' unique needs while maximizing business potential.

"Clients really do rely on their CPAs and CFPs to get them through this very challenging time," Howe continued. "So, we are doing this webinar to help all CFPs and CPAs give even greater service to their clients."

Event topics and speakers include:

* Margaret Schopp, CPA, Schopp & Co. - "Tax Compliance: Form 706"
* Karen Fisher, Principal, Bishop Fiduciary Services, Ltd. - "Helping Clients with Best Practices"
* Jim O'Dea, Broker Associate, Redwood Mortgage - "Mortgage Loans to Irrevocable Trusts"
* Madison Gunn, Attorney, Absolute Trust Counsel - "The 7 Basic Steps of Trust Administration"
* Kirsten Howe, Esq., Managing Attorney, Absolute Trust Counsel - "The ABCs of Trust Planning"

For more information, or to register, visit: https://absolutetrustacademy.absolutetrustcounsel.com/trust-admin-101-optin.

About Absolute Trust Counsel:

Absolute Trust Counsel is among the most highly ranked estate planning law firms in Walnut Creek. The firm's areas of expertise include estate planning, trust administration, Medi-Cal planning, probate, retirement assets planning, and special needs planning. Absolute Trust Counsel's mission is to provide easy legal solutions for every client.

The firm's founder, Kirsten Howe, was admitted to the California bar in 1987 and has practiced in Walnut Creek since 1997. She earned her J.D. cum laude at the University of California, Hastings College of the Law, where she was a member of the Thurston Society and managing editor of The Hastings Law Journal. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Michigan.

She is a member of the Trusts and Estates Section of The State Bar of California, the Estate Planning and Probate Section, the Elder Law Section, and the Women's Section of the Contra Costa County Bar Association.

Learn more: https://absolutetrustcounsel.com/.

Leading Bay Area estate planning firm Absolute Trust Counsel will host a free virtual event, The Absolute Trust Academy Trust Administration 101, on October 28, 2022, to equip CPAs and CFPs with a stronger knowledge of trust administration processes. The webinar is aimed at enhancing advisors' client services and relationships.

Related link: https://absolutetrustcounsel.com/

Immigration Law Office of Los Angeles Case Changes U.S. Immigration Policy

LOS ANGELES, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- The Immigration Law Office of Los Angeles, P.C., a full-service immigration law practice that handles employment, investment, and family immigration cases, has achieved a landmark victory for a client unfairly refused permanent residency. The case has also fundamentally changed U.S. immigration policy.

The firm's client, was a Japanese woman who overstayed her status by over a year and was subject to a 10-year bar on returning. She subsequently left the United States and reentered approximately 18 years before applying for permanent residency based upon her marriage to a U.S. citizen.

Under the Immigration and Nationality Act, noncitizens who accumulate more than 180 days of unlawful presence before leaving the United States cannot reenter until a certain period of time (three years or 10 years) passes. However, this INA provision did not address how the timeline would be affected if the person returned before the bar was lifted.

In this case, the 10-year bar had expired by the time she sought permanent residency in 2019, but USCIS denied her application, claiming that she had been required to remain outside the country during that time.

Her attorney, Michael Piston of the Immigration Law Office of Los Angeles, P.C., argued that she should not have been denied permanent residency because over 10 years had passed since her departure and she was now married to a U.S. citizen.

U.S. District Court Judge Consuelo Marshall ruled in favor of the client, agreeing that the bar expires after 10 years, even if the person is in the United States for most of that time.

On June 24, USCIS announced a policy change to comply with this and one other subsequent court decision, based upon this one, in addition to an unpublished Board of Appeals decision from the Department of Justice.

Under the new policy, the following rules and conditions apply:

* Noncitizens who depart or are removed after over 180 days of unlawful presence will not be considered inadmissible unless they apply again within three to ten years.

* Once they leave, the three-year or 10-year period begins and will run uninterrupted, regardless of where the noncitizen is located during that time.

In a statement to The Epoch Times, Attorney Piston said, "This policy change would be great for our client. That means she could have been granted adjustment of status by the USCIS and she wouldn't have had to go through all these problems."

About the Immigration Law Office of Los Angeles, P.C.:

The Immigration Law Office of Los Angeles, P.C. is a full-service immigration law firm managed by award-winning attorneys. The firm, which represents individuals in employment, investment, and family immigration matters, has a legal team of attorneys with 80 years of combined experience and a track record of over 35,000 cases approved.

For more information, call (213) 375-4084 or visit https://immigrationhelpla.com/

RELATED LINKS:

https://immigrationhelpla.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/New-USCIS-POLICY-2022.pdf

The Immigration Law Office of Los Angeles, P.C., a full-service immigration law practice that handles employment, investment, and family immigration cases, has achieved a landmark victory for a client unfairly refused permanent residency. The case has also fundamentally changed U.S. immigration policy.

Related link: https://immigrationhelpla.com/

17 CDF Labor Law LLP Attorneys Named to 2023 Best Lawyers® Lists

IRVINE, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- CDF Labor Law LLP (CDF) is pleased to announce nine lawyers have been included in the 2023 edition of The Best Lawyers in America® and eight lawyers were recognized in the 2023 Best Lawyers in America "Ones to Watch" for various employment-related practice areas from metropolitan areas throughout California.

Since it was first published in 1983, Best Lawyers has become universally regarded as the definitive guide to legal excellence. Attorneys are reviewed by their peers on the basis of professional expertise and undergo an authentication process to make sure they are in good standing.

CDF's 2023 Best Lawyers in America (in alphabetical order by first name).

* Brent M. Giddens (Litigation, Labor & Employment). Brent's practice focuses on defending employers in individual, representative and class actions before California state and federal courts. His clients cover a wide variety of industries, including large national employers as well as small businesses. He is also regularly called upon to advise on complex corporate reorganizations and policy considerations. Further, he has also served as lead defense counsel in numerous NLRB trial proceedings, organization drives, strikes, picketing, and has extensive experience negotiating collective bargaining agreements.

* Dawn M. Irizarry (Employment Law - Management). As the chair of CDF's Healthcare Practice Group, Dawn has substantial experience representing employers throughout the healthcare industry, including hospitals, medical technology companies, physician groups, and urgent care centers. In addition, Dawn has spent years defending clients in a myriad of other industries, including financial services, hybrid automotive, legal and other professional service providers, sports and entertainment, air transportation, publishing, energy, oil and gas, and retail, among others. Dawn's experience includes providing daily advice to her clients on California's complex employment laws and aggressively defending them in the gamut of employment-related claims in federal and state court, as well as in arbitration and before administrative agencies.

* Joel M. Van Parys (Employment Law - Management and Litigation - Labor and Employment). Joel represents management in all aspects of the employer/employee relationship. This includes litigation defense of claims for wrongful termination, discrimination and harassment, retaliation, wage and hour violations, employee misclassification, with an emphasis on independent contractor claims and Unfair Competition.

* John R. Giovannone (Employment Law - Management). John represents employers in the full range of employment law matters, from single plaintiff to class-based wage/hour, contract, discrimination, harassment, and licensing litigation, and including traditional labor proceedings as well. While his bedrock skill set lies in employment litigation and trial advocacy, a major component of his practice involves advice and counsel so as to position his clients to avoid disputes where possible, and to prevail via litigation when necessary.

* Leigh A. White (Class Actions - Defense). Leigh focuses her practice on complex litigation and dispute resolution, ranging from workplace discrimination, harassment, retaliation, PAGA claims, and wage and hour class actions. With over 25 years defending California employers, she has a proven record of defeating class certification, obtaining favorable settlements, and representing employers at high-stakes trials. She partners with clients in developing business goals and strategies and works closely with employer human resources departments to navigate multifaceted employment law issues in California.

* Marie D. DiSante (Employment Law - Management and Litigation - Labor and Employment). Marie co-founded CDF in 1994 and has helped grow the firm to five offices throughout California - supported by close to 50 attorneys. Marie continually positions her clients at the forefront of emerging and unprecedented class action litigation in the state, and her dual role as a California business owner and entrepreneur allows her to understand client workplace challenges firsthand.

* Mark S. Spring (Employment Law - Management and Litigation - Labor and Employment). Mark leads CDF's traditional labor law practice where he focuses on management representation in union-management relations and employment-related litigation. He has successfully battled and negotiated against a variety of unions, including Teamsters, UFCW, IBEW, Laborers, SEIU and Stationary Engineers. Additionally, he has a successful record representing elected officials, public figures, athletes and executives in sexual harassment lawsuits and other high-profile matters.

* Nicole A. Legrottaglie (Employment Law - Management and Litigation - Labor and Employment). Nicole's practice focuses on defending a broad range of employment claims, including class actions and single plaintiff claims of discrimination, retaliation, harassment, wrongful termination, and wage and hour litigation. Additionally, Nicole has significant experience in traditional labor law.

* Tim M. Freudenberger (Employment Law - Management, Litigation - Labor and Employment, and Class Actions - Defense). Tim leads CDF's class action defense practice with a focus on wage and hour issues and PAGA actions. Tim helped shape class certification and trial principles in exemption cases with a successful California Supreme Court decision in the case of Duran v. U.S. Bank Nat. Assn., 59th Cal. 4th 1 (2014). He cemented this victory when he again defeated class certification after the case was remanded to the trial court, which was affirmed on appeal in a decision that discussed the weaknesses and unreliability of survey methodology in these types of exemption cases, Duran v. U.S. Bank, 19 Cal.App.5th 630 (2018).

According to Best Lawyers, recognition by "Ones to Watch" is also based entirely on peer review for attorneys who are in the earlier stages of their careers and have achieved outstanding professional excellence in private practice.

CDF's 2023 Best Lawyers in America "Ones to Watch" (in alphabetical order by first name).

* Alessandra C. Whipple (Labor and Employment Law - Management, and Litigation - Labor and Employment). Alessandra is experienced in advising and defending various employment disputes involving wrongful termination, harassment, discrimination and retaliation, defamation, breach of contract, unfair competition, trade secrets, and whistleblower claims. Her practice includes providing pragmatic day-to-day advice and counseling to companies on how to navigate California's ever-changing labor and employment law landscape.

* Allison O. Chua (Litigation - Labor and Employment). Allison represents and advises employers in all areas of labor and employment law. In particular, she has extensive experience defending employers against claims of discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wrongful termination, and wage and hour disputes in state and federal courts and before administrative agencies. Allison also has experience litigating cases involving misappropriation of trade secrets and unfair competition.

* Brian E. Cole II (Labor and Employment Law - Management and Litigation - Labor and Employment). Brian has extensive experience with employment litigation involving claims of wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment, retaliation, breach of contract, unfair competition, and wage and hour violations. He also has experience in defending companies of all sizes against class and PAGA actions.

* Candace R. DesBaillets (Labor and Employment Law - Management). Candace defends employers in individual and multi-plaintiff litigation matters including discrimination, harassment, retaliation, contracts, employment-related torts, and wage and hour claims. She has represented employers in state and federal trial and appellate courts, as well as before agencies including the EEOC, DFEH, and DLSE.

* Corey J. Cabral (Labor and Employment Law - Management, and Litigation - Labor and Employment). As Chair of CDF's PAGA Litigation Practice Group, Corey's practice has a special emphasis on defending employers in wage and hour class action and Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) lawsuits. He also has extensive experience with litigation involving claims of gender, disability and age discrimination, retaliation, harassment, defamation and wrongful termination.

* Denisha P. McKenzie (Litigation - Labor and Employment). Denisha's practice has a special emphasis on vigorously defending alleged claims of discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and wrongful termination. A significant portion of her practice is also dedicated to defending wage and hour single plaintiff, class action, and Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) lawsuits.

* Sander van der Heide (Litigation - Labor and Employment). Sander has extensive experience representing employers in a wide array of employment litigation matters from inception through trials and appeals. His practice focuses on high-stakes litigation representing employers in class and Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) actions by using data-driven insights and defenses. In addition to his litigation practice, he advises clients on proactively avoiding litigation and complying with California's complex employment laws.

* Tashayla "Shay" Billington (Labor and Employment Law - Management). Shay has significant experience in traditional labor law and unfair labor practice litigation. She also actively represents clients in Federal and California wage and hour litigation, discrimination and harassment litigation, union avoidance issues, writ litigation, and appellate work.

About CDF Labor Law LLP:

For close to 30 years, CDF Labor Law LLP has distinguished itself as one of the top labor, employment, and business immigration law firms in California, representing employers in single-plaintiff and class action lawsuits and advising employers on related legal compliance and risk avoidance. The firm has five offices throughout California - in Sacramento, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Orange County and San Diego. For more information, visit: www.CDFLaborLaw.com and find CDF on LinkedIn or Twitter to learn more about how the firm protects California employers.

For access to timely alerts on the latest California labor and employment law developments, sign-up for the firm's blog by visiting: https://www.callaborlaw.com/.

CDF Labor Law LLP (CDF) is pleased to announce nine lawyers have been included in the 2023 edition of The Best Lawyers in America® and eight lawyers were recognized in the 2023 Best Lawyers in America "Ones to Watch" for various employment-related practice areas from metropolitan areas throughout California.

Related link: https://www.cdflaborlaw.com/

CDF LABOR LAW LLP Named to Bloomberg Law’s Second Annual Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Framework

IRVINE, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- CDF Labor Law LLP, a California employment, labor and immigration employer-side law firm, was named one of only 43 U.S.-based law firms to earn a place on Bloomberg Law's second Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) Framework list.

For the second year in a row, CDF was recognized for its level of disclosure of diversity-related metrics and distinguished performance against six core pillars: demographics, leadership and talent pipeline, recruitment and retention, business innovation and strategy, marketing, and diversity & inclusion in the community.

"CDF is no stranger to DEI. From its inception in 1994, CDF has provided a platform allowing everyone a structural opportunity to advance regardless of their race, gender or sexual orientation," says Marie DiSante, Co-Founder and Firm Managing Partner. "We believe that a firm culture that prioritizes inclusivity leads to better outcomes, for both our firm and our clients," she adds.

"We're proud to once again be recognized by Bloomberg Law by their inclusion of CDF in their DEI Framework report," said Alison Tsao, Partner and Chair of CDF's DEI Committee. "From our recruiting efforts, provision of leadership opportunities, to our strong involvement in DEI efforts in the broader legal community, we work tirelessly to enhance equality and inclusion in our workplace and the legal profession."

Bloomberg Law's DEI Framework was developed in 2021 in collaboration with Bloomberg's Gender-Equality Index team, as well as diversity leads at corporations and U.S.-based law firms. Performance was assessed across more than 85 metrics, each associated with one of the framework's six core pillars.

"The desire to incorporate DEI into the selection process for outside legal services presents a new challenge for the industry, but CDF has distinguished itself as a law firm worthy of consideration," said Joe Breda, President, Bloomberg Law. "Through a demonstrated commitment to DEI, CDF is helping to move the legal industry forward and we recognize their performance by naming them as a member of our 2022 DEI Framework."

CDF continues to make DEI a priority at the firm by participating in the 18-month long certification process for the 2021-2023 cohort of the Midsize Mansfield Rule. Created by the Diversity Lab, the Mansfield Rule is a growing movement to increase diversity in law firm recruitment and promotion practices. It is named after Arabella Mansfield, the first female lawyer in the U.S. It requires law firms to demonstrate year-long progress in increasing diversity in senior recruitment and leadership decisions and consider a minimum of 30 percent diverse candidates for these roles.

About CDF Labor Law LLP:

For close to 30 years, CDF Labor Law LLP has distinguished itself as one of the top labor, employment, and business immigration law firms in California, representing employers in single-plaintiff and class action lawsuits and advising employers on related legal compliance and risk avoidance. The firm has five offices throughout California - in Sacramento, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Orange County and San Diego.

For more information, visit: https://www.cdflaborlaw.com/ and find CDF on LinkedIn or Twitter to learn more about how the firm protects California employers.

For access to timely alerts on the latest California labor and employment law developments, sign-up for the firm's blog by visiting: www.CalLaborLaw.com.

About Bloomberg Law:

Bloomberg Law combines the latest in legal technology with workflow tools, comprehensive primary and secondary sources, trusted news, expert analysis, and business intelligence. Our deep expertise and commitment to innovation provide a competitive edge to help improve attorney productivity and efficiency. Bloomberg Law is the only legal research provider to include continuous enhancements to its platform at no cost to existing subscribers. For more information, visit https://pro.bloomberglaw.com/.

CDF Labor Law LLP, a California employment, labor and immigration employer-side law firm, was named one of only 43 U.S.-based law firms to earn a place on Bloomberg Law's second Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) Framework list.

Related link: https://www.cdflaborlaw.com/

LegalStream, LLC Launches The Largest Online Directory Of Personal Injury Attorneys and Healthcare Providers In America

SAN ANTONIO, Texas /ScoopCloud/ -- First established in 2019, LegalStream, a U.S. based SaaS company, today announced their brand new APP to help streamline your personal injury case, and they did it right here in San Antonio, Texas. LegalStream has stepped up, filled the communication gap plaguing the personal injury business, and has developed an online directory of the largest networks of personal injury attorneys and healthcare providers across the nation. With LegalStream's online directory, you can easily search for an attorney by specialty and location to help find the best attorney, and present your case immediately.

LegalStream offers a forward-thinking solution that breaks the barriers of traditional communication between parties in a personal injury case. It is user-friendly, and helps track all patient information on one single platform in the palm of your hands.

With LegalStream's national network of attorneys, you will find high-quality and highly-rated attorneys to assist you with your case. In a few simple steps using their online directory, you can easily search from and select the right attorney to review your case. Once connected, you will have access to your case anywhere at any time, right at your fingertips, with the ability to track case progress, medical information, and speak directly to both your attorney's office and healthcare providers office all from the LegalStream app, ensuring you never lose track of your personal injury case.

"We're focused on the message "Personal Injury, Streamlined." Our system is capable of serving all aspects of the management side of any personal injury case, and when we built it, we found out we were able to help attorneys & providers as well, given that the portal is 100% HIPAA Compliant," said company COO, Johnny Soto. "Using our network of peers, we were able to establish a foundation for the quality and class of the attorneys and healthcare providers and facilities in our initial database of potential representation for incoming plaintiffs who were presenting their case for the first time. This helped to build trust and authority in the San Antonio area, and we've looking to syndicate that nationally so Plaintiff's will always feel safe trusting LegalStream for their personal injury cases."

LegalStream has developed a 100% secure, HIPAA-compliant portal, that allows seamless communication between patient, provider, & attorney during the ongoing personal injury process, taking away all the pain of dealing with heavy support tasks associated with those phone calls & emails, letting you get back to your day-to-day life, without ever becoming worried that you're just not paying close enough attention to your personal injury matters, and ultimately, your settlement.

To find out more about how LegalStream is changing Personal Injury Law, how cases are handled and settlements decided, visit MyLegalStream.com today and present your case, or include your firm, or medical facility on their rapidly expanding platform, absolutely FREE.

About LegalStream:

Based in San Antonio, Texas, LegalStream is a privately held SaaS-company, specializing in Personal Injury Law, founded in 2019. The company provides white-glove plaintiff, attorney, & healthcare communication services for a variety of personal injury scenarios. LegalStream's executive team carries more than 40 years of direct experience handling communications between claimants, attorneys, & healthcare providers related to personal injury cases. Learn more: https://mylegalstream.com/.

LegalStream® is a registered trademark in the U.S. and Europe.

VIDEO (Vimeo): https://vimeo.com/716422111

First established in 2019, LegalStream, a U.S. based SaaS company, today announced their brand new APP to help streamline your personal injury case, and they did it right here in San Antonio, Texas. LegalStream has stepped up, filled the communication gap plaguing the personal injury business, and has developed an online directory of the largest networks of personal injury attorneys and healthcare providers across the nation.

Related link: https://mylegalstream.com/

Attorney Bernie Walsh Speaker at The FJA’s ‘Winning Truck Crash Cases’ Seminar

DAYTONA BEACH SHORES, Fla. /ScoopCloud/ -- Bernard F. Walsh, Esq. of the injury law firm Goldman Babboni Fernandez Murphy & Walsh, was a Program Chair and panel speaker at the Florida Justice Association's trucking accident litigation seminar. Titled "FJA Winning Truck Crash Cases," the seminar was an accredited Continuing Legal Education (CLE) event and held by the Florida Justice Association (FJA) at The Shores Resort & Spa, in Daytona Beach Shores Florida.

In addition to Attorney Bernie Walsh, the panel of expert speakers included ten other industry-leading trucking injury case litigators from law firms throughout the United States.

The FJA's aim of the seminar was to better equip member attorneys with the practical knowledge needed to take on difficult cases like Trucking Crash injury lawsuits, how to prepare for, and how to represent clients for these types of complex and highly contested landmark cases.

Mr. Walsh spoke to attendees in the live audience, and virtually on a variety of important points, covering the A-Z of How An Attorney Works A Trucking Case. Characterized as a "Must Attend" event, attendees of the seminar could earn up to 9 CLE credits at the seminar - a large amount of CLE credits for a single event. In Florida, lawyers must earn 33 CLE Credits every 3-year period ensuring attorneys in the Sunshine State can better represent clients by staying up to date as the legal landscape evolves.

Attorney Bernie Walsh offered this comment about the event, "Trucking cases are not for the inexperienced or faint of heart, and it's essential that any attorney fully understands the scope of work, and demands on their firm such cases will require. Semi-trucks can weigh up to 80,000 pounds - when commercial truck crashes occur there is great potential for catastrophic harm to anyone nearby. Damages can amount to multiple millions of dollars, in injury, deaths, destroyed property, and more.

"The scale of these cases demands the defendant will come well-prepared with a skilled legal team attempting to limit their liability and as such any attorney looking to represent the victim needs to be fully prepared. Events like this one that the FJA holds are essential to informing attorneys of what they will need to prepare for before making the decision to represent a client for a trucking case."

About Trucking Accident Attorney Bernard F. Walsh

A leading expert in trucking accident cases in Florida, Attorney Bernie Walsh has spoken at several legal education seminars and remains an active member of many legal organizations including, the Academy of Truck Accident Attorneys (ATAA), the Association of Plaintiff Interstate Trucking Lawyers of America (APITLA), the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, and has been a member of the Florida Justice Association Board of Governors. Bernie Walsh represents clients across Florida, including Manatee and Sarasota Counties.

For More On Attorney Bernie Walsh and Truck Accident Injury Cases Visit: https://www.justicepays.com/bradenton/truck-accidents

Goldman Babboni Fernandez Murphy & Walsh

2822 University Parkway, Sarasota, FL 34243

Bernard F. Walsh, Esq. of the injury law firm Goldman Babboni Fernandez Murphy & Walsh, was a Program Chair and panel speaker at the Florida Justice Association's trucking accident litigation seminar. Titled "FJA Winning Truck Crash Cases," the seminar was an accredited Continuing Legal Education (CLE) event and held by the Florida Justice Association (FJA) at The Shores Resort & Spa, in Daytona Beach Shores Florida.

Related link: https://www.justicepays.com/

Sarasota Lawyer David L Goldman Opening New Law Office on University Parkway

SARASOTA, Fla. /ScoopCloud/ -- Attorney David L Goldman of the injury law firm Goldman Babboni Fernandez Murphy & Walsh, is now serving Sarasota area clients from the law firm's newest office opened on University Parkway on April 25, 2022.

Well-known in the Sarasota Florida area community, Attorney David L Goldman has served as a board member on several civic and community-focused organizations, including the Second Chance Last Opportunity, Gulf Coast Latin Chamber of Commerce, the Sarasota-Manatee Jewish Community Center as well as a supporting member of several other local organizations.

Attorney David L Goldman has earned a 100% client recommended rating on Martindale.com and has a 4.5 out of 5 client satisfaction rating on Avvo.com.

Opened on April 25, Attorney David Goldman will be serving clients from Goldman Babboni Fernandez Murphy & Walsh's new office at University Parkway. Mr. Goldman will continue to meet existing and new clients from any of the law firm's other locations, at the client's home, or even at a hospital room when needed.

Attorney David L Goldman had this comment about serving clients from the new location, "As our community has grown, our law firm has also been fortunate enough to grow too. More and more people are moving to southern Sarasota County to places like Venice, North Port, and Punta Gorda, so we decided to open an office more convenient to I-75 for clients who wish to come to our office. Our new location has state-of-the-art features and will allow our whole team to work more efficiently. We are excited about seeing clients from our new office."

Goldman Babboni Fernandez Murphy & Walsh's new office location is 2822 University Parkway, Sarasota, FL 34243, and open to clients as of April 25.

About Attorney David L. Goldman:

Attorney David L. Goldman has been representing clients in injury law cases for more than 30 years. Mr. Goldman is a member of the American Association of Justice, the Association of Trial Lawyers of America, and the Southern Trial Lawyers Association. Mr. Goldman is an Eagle Member of the Florida Justice Association and the Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers where he received the prestigious Legislative Leadership Award.

To Learn More About Attorney David L. Goldman visit his law firm website at https://www.justicepays.com/

Attorney David L Goldman of the injury law firm Goldman Babboni Fernandez Murphy & Walsh, is now serving Sarasota area clients from the law firm's newest office opened on University Parkway on April 25, 2022.

Related link: https://www.justicepays.com/

Attorney Daniel Murphy Now a Full Partner at Goldman Babboni Fernandez Murphy & Walsh

BRADENTON, Fla. /ScoopCloud/ -- Attorney Daniel Murphy, of Goldman Babboni Fernandez & Walsh, has been elevated to full partner. Citing his exemplary record of working tirelessly for clients in Bradenton Florida and across all of Manatee County.

With the elevation of Attorney Daniel Murphy as a full partner, the SW Florida injury law firm of Goldman Babboni Fernandez & Walsh is Now Goldman Babboni Fernandez Murphy & Walsh.

The injury law firm's managing partner Bernard Walsh, Esq. had this to say: "Danny Murphy has been proving himself time and time again, compassionately helping our clients obtain financial compensation for their injuries and delivering peace of mind to people in a time of need. The legal profession in southwest Florida can be a competitive, fast-paced, and high-stress field to work in, and that also has a real impact on the lives of many in our community.

"Attorney Danny Murphy has thrived in this environment, becoming an indispensable member of our law firm, and we are proud to call Danny Murphy a partner. As a result, our law firm is now Goldman Babboni Fernandez Murphy & Walsh."

About Injury Law Attorney Daniel Murphy:

Attorney Daniel Murphy has earned a 4.9 out of 5 rating at AVVO.com, with a 5 out of 5 rating from client AVVO.com client reviews. SuperLawyers(r) has named attorney Daniel Murphy a "Top Rated Personal Injury Attorney in Bradenton, FL," and Attorney Daniel Murphy has been recognized as a Rising Star by the American Institute of Legal Advocates. Attorney Daniel Murphy is also a member of the Executive Committee Of The Manasota Trial Lawyers Board.

Learn more about Danny Murphy Goldman Babboni Fernandez Murph & Walsh's law firm website: https://www.JusticePays.com

Goldman Babboni Fernandez Murphy & Walsh

2822 University Parkway, Sarasota, FL 34243

Main phone: 833 954 1234

Attorney Daniel Murphy, of Goldman Babboni Fernandez & Walsh, has been elevated to full partner. Citing his exemplary record of working tirelessly for clients in Bradenton Florida and across all of Manatee County.

Related link: https://www.justicepays.com/

All That Glitters is Not Gold: Attorney Debuts Shocking Legal Thriller ‘The Golden Prison’ – Blows the Lid off Secret World of High-Stakes Business Crime

NEW YORK CITY, N.Y. /ScoopCloud/ -- Attorney Paul Alexander Sangillo announces the debut of his first novel, "Golden Prison" (ISBN: 978-1941015469). This novel is the first of its kind, offering a never-before-seen look into the hi-stakes, impossibly stressful world of law students and young lawyers.

Once you pick up this startling book, get comfortable, because you will not put it down. This novel is a gripping, astonishing, and addictive, and features strong characters that you will root for along the way.

Paul Sangillo wrote "The Golden Prison" to de-stress as a high-powered attorney, and reached into some of his own past experiences with true-life cases and colorful characters. The heart of his novel grew from the very real struggle of all law students and new lawyers, who face hundreds of hours of work weekly and relentless, impossible deadlines.

For the first time, an attorney has shared the often grim reality and deep pain law students and young attorneys face as they must work all night, every night, with many turning to drugs.

But Sangillo also brilliantly reinvents one of the most classic themes in literature along the way, in the character of an ethical, poor student who finds himself emerging from the bleak realties of a poor student to the gold-encrusted, jaded world of a giant corporation.

"The Golden Prison" is a fast-paced, unpredictable journey that takes a rags-to-riches story through its nightmare journey. Drugs, murder, and exquisite love scenes in a romance that may change everything, blend with the young attorney Jeff Rhode's code of honor, as he faces extremely dangerous situations at his new firm.

"The Golden Prison" serves as a warning to ambitious students entering the work force to be wary of the slippery slope of doing "just one more" unethical thing to get ahead or survive in the cut throat world of business.

Jeff Rhode will keep you at the edge of your seat, as he faces the riches that imprison him while trying to remain compassionate and follow the law.

"The Golden Prison" is a riveting story of one young lawyer who battles to remain honorable - and alive - in the midst of a corrupt, multi-billion-dollar company that may be guilty of murder.

The next time you sit across from your attorney, you will never look at him or her the same.

"Law school is like running on a treadmill set at an incline of 15 at the highest speed you can imagine," said author Paul Sangillo. "Most of us were exhausted and stressed out, but turned to coffee or just suffered through the long hours. But many law students turned to drugs, and sadly, that habit continued when they join these heavy-hitter business, who literally have you work overnight. Simultaneously, once a new attorney joins a firm, there is seismic shift that happens, between the balance of the rule of law and reality of how big business really operates."

"The Golden Prison" is available in print or eBook on Amazon, Good Reads and Kindle. To purchase the book visit: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1941015468

If you would like to interview author Paul Sangillo, or receive a free copy to review "The Golden Prison," contact Diane Lilli at DLillinj@gmail.com

About Paul Sangillo

Attorney and author Paul Sangillo has been practicing law since 1997, specializing in corporate, real-estate and transactions. Paul Sangillo wrote this book because of the fascinating characters and stories he encountered as a young attorney.

Attorney Paul Alexander Sangillo announces the debut of his first novel, "Golden Prison" (ISBN: 978-1941015469). This novel is the first of its kind, offering a never-before-seen look into the hi-stakes, impossibly stressful world of law students and young lawyers.

California Ferret Owners Submit Ballot Initiative to Attorney General for Legal Opinion, But Attorney General Ignores Civil Code on Domestic Animals

SAN DIEGO, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- Non-profit Legalize Ferrets (legalizeferrets.org) announced today that we are disappointed that California Attorney General ignores Civil Code in Domestic Ferret Ballot Initiative.

LegalizeFerrets.org, a ferret legalization grassroots organization, has repeatedly asked the California Attorney General for a legal opinion.

Since the civil code says domestic animals are legal:

CIVIL CODE - CIV

DIVISION 2. PROPERTY [654 - 1422]

There may be ownership of all inanimate things which are capable of appropriation or of manual delivery; of all domestic animals; of all obligations; of such products of labor or skill as the composition of an author, the good will of a business, trade marks and signs, and of rights created or granted by statute.

Every credible source, and even the name states - domestic ferrets are domestic animals Therefore we wanted to know if the state of California officially recognized the domestic ferret as domestic would that mean they're legal? But we never received a reply from the AG.

According to the California Attorney General's website:

* As the chief law officer of the state, the California Attorney General provides legal opinions upon request to designated state and local public officials and government agencies on issues arising in the course of their duties. The formal legal opinions of the Attorney General have been accorded "great respect" and "great weight" by the courts.

Supporters of LegalizeFerrets.org have asked their representatives to make this request without success. So, we filed a ballot initiative in hopes that the title and summary would answer this question.

It was a treacherous journey. The AG's office ignored all our questions. We dealt with the Legislative Analyst's office and the Secretary of State's office - all successful; those people were friendly and helpful. But we could not get an answer on how to submit the ballot initiative from the AG until a Democratic Party activist with the state of Alaska gave us a contact phone number at the Secretary of State's office. Anabel Renteria finally emailed us with the suggestion:

You can submit your initiative anytime, in person, at the following address:

Department of Justice
1300 I St.
Sacramento, CA 95814

Five weeks later the title and summary were posted on their website:

California law identifies ferrets as wild animals that are restricted because "such animals are undesirable and a menace to native wildlife, the agricultural interests of the state, or to the public health or safety." Current law and regulations make it illegal to own ferrets as pets without a state permit.

No mention of the conflict between California's civil code which allows ownership of all domestic animals and other, namely Fish and Game Code which says:

* FISH AND GAME CODE 2116: Put ferrets in a group of wild animals. Says they are "not normally domesticated in this state as determined by the commission."

* FISH AND GAME CODE 2118: It is unlawful to import, transport, possess, or release alive into this state, except under a revocable, nontransferable permit as provided in this chapter and the regulations pertaining thereto, any wild animal of the following species: (ferrets are included in this list).

* (CCR), title 14, section 671: (a) It shall be unlawful to import, transport, or possess live animals restricted in subsection (c) below except under permit issued by the department. (You know ferrets are included in this list)

* (CCR), title 14, section 671: (b) The commission has determined the below listed animals are not normally domesticated in this state.

Why are these codes relevant but the civil code allowing ownership of all domestic animals isn't even mentioned?

Why won't the AG's office even communicate with us? We have a very valid and sincere question.

Facts are stubborn things. No one states that the domestic ferret is a wild animal. No one believes they are "wild," "undesirable," or a "menace." They are legal in 48 states without any negative consequences.

Learn more at: https://www.legalizeferrets.org/

Non-profit Legalize Ferrets (legalizeferrets.org) announced today that we are disappointed that California Attorney General ignores Civil Code in Domestic Ferret Ballot Initiative. The ferret legalization grassroots organization, has repeatedly asked the California Attorney General for a legal opinion.

Related link: https://www.legalizeferrets.org/

Reefer Rabble Rouser Ed ‘NJWeedman’ Forchion to Present Oral Arguments in Federal Lawsuit Against New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy

TRENTON, N.J. /ScoopCloud/ -- Reefer rabble rouser Ed "NJWeedman" Forchion and his longtime attorney, John Vincent Saykanic, Esq. will get another day in court to fight the green fight on Wednesday, February 23, 2022 when oral arguments are presented per his cannabis related lawsuit directed at Governor Phil Murphy (Case 3:20-cv-16582-PGS-TJB FORCHION v. MURPHY at: http://njweedman.com/Federal_Cannabis_lawsuit.pdf).

The state is once again seeking dismissal of the case. Governor Murphy, represented by the Attorney General of New Jersey Gurbir S. Grewal, initially requested the dismissal last year to no avail. Honorable Peter G. Sheridan, U.S.D.J., United States District Court for the District of New Jersey will preside.

The case sets an unheralded precedent in the ongoing battlefield for representation with legalization in the booming cannabis industry. In a 40-page document, initially filed November 19, 2020 at the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, Forchion declared "unconstitutional and invalid the application and implementation of the 'Constitutional Amendment to Legalize Marijuana,'" asserting that the Regulated Cannabis Act, as the amendment is referred to in the lawsuit, "deprives him of equal protection and due process under the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution as it subjects him to selective prosecution."

In addition, Forchion noted that voters were duped into believing that they were voting to legalize marijuana, while unwittingly sanctioning a cannabis industry which only grants legalization to a majority of Caucasian owned corporate entities while criminalizing individuals of color, who in effect will not be granted similar access to grow, sale and distribute.

Fast cut to 2022 and Forchion's assertions have become quite substantial. The state of New Jersey made national headlines just recently for their limited awarding of medicinal licenses to minority contractors. To date, reportedly, only one out of 56 medicinal licenses have been granted to a partially Black owned and operated business.

Ed Forchion, along with his attorney, John Vincent Saykanic, Esq., have a zealous history of fighting and documenting the inequities in the cannabis industry. They challenged the state of New Jersey before the United States Supreme Court regarding pertinent issues pertaining to reefer, racial discrimination, and religion back in March of 2016 when Forchion's legal team filed a Petition for Writ of Certiorari to the U.S. Supreme Court (US Supreme Court Docket - 15-8533). They proceeded to present ten questions for review and response from the Court per the subject of race and religion, as it relates to cannabis. The filing marked a landmark stance in the marijuana movement though the case was eventually dismissed.

"Ed has always taken a somewhat radical stance in the fight for legalization and representation in the marijuana community. A visionary of sorts, his observations have tremendous legal merit. Considering the state's longtime racial disparity in marijuana arrests which have taken an unfair toll on its minority communities, this current filing against the governor is sure to set a benchmark as all eyes are currently on New Jersey," states Saykanic.

As Forchion, who recently appeared on MSNBC's "The Cross Connection with Tiffany Cross," explains, "I've been talking about reefer, race and reparations for decades now. Finally, the media, politicians and community leaders are echoing what I have been saying all along. When I created the hashtag '#SellWeedLikeImWhite,' I was taken to task. But here we are in 2022, and the now legalized cannabis industry is run by predominantly Caucasian owned corporations who are benefitting and stepping on the backs of legacy market vendors like myself."

"In short, the community that paved the road for legalization and paid the price with incarceration and felonies, are being locked out of the 'new' industry. My lawsuit boldly addressed these issues, and we are hoping to effect change. This next opportunity for us to present oral arguments in court is a huge victory in this ongoing battle," notes Forchion.

As cited in his lawsuit, Forchion has been vehemently retaliated against in the past by the State of New Jersey. In 2002, he was jailed for advocating the legalization of marijuana. Forchion was held at the Burlington County Jail from August 19, 2002, until late January 2003 when United States District Court Federal Judge Joseph E. Irenas, U.S.D.J., hearing his civil rights suit, agreed that the state had violated Forchion's First Amendment right to advocate marijuana's legalization and ordered him to be released.

In 2016, Forchion and his former partner, Debi Madaio, had their restaurant raided by Mercer County law enforcement authorities on marijuana dealing charges. Forchion was held without bail for over 400 days due to the retaliatory charge of witness tampering. He was acquitted by a jury and all charges were dismissed with no convictions.

Media, legislature, politicians and cannabis activists and supporters worldwide are continuing to take close heed of this case as it maneuvers the smoky realms of legalization.

To light it up with Ed "NJWeedman" Forchion go to https://linktr.ee/NJWeedman .

MEDIA CONTACT:
Makeda Smith
makeda@jazzmynepr.com
Phone Number: 323-380-8819

Reefer rabble rouser Ed "NJWeedman" Forchion and his longtime attorney, John Vincent Saykanic, Esq. will get another day in court to fight the green fight on Wednesday, February 23, 2022 when oral arguments are presented per his cannabis related lawsuit directed at Governor Phil Murphy (Case 3:20-cv-16582-PGS-TJB FORCHION v. MURPHY).

Related link: https://www.facebook.com/NJWEEDMAN

The Orange County Register Names CDF One of Orange County’s Top Workplaces for Third Year in a Row

IRVINE, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- Acclaimed California labor, employment and immigration defense law firm CDF Labor Law LLP (CDF) proudly announces it has been named one of the 2021 Top Workplaces by the Orange County Register for the 3rd consecutive year. The award rounds out a year of numerous accolades for CDF.

The firm was also recently named the smallest one of only 28 US-based law firms to earn a place on Bloomberg Law's inaugural "Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) Framework" list, was named a "Top-100 Social Impact Leader" by Law360, and CDF's California Labor & Employment Law Blog was ranked #7 on the list of the "Top 40 California Law Blogs & Websites" by Feedspot.

"Our employees are the basis of our continued success," said Marie DiSante, CDF Founding Partner and Firm Managing Partner. "We are honored that their feedback recognizes our decades of commitment to providing our employees with a diverse and inclusive culture where they can thrive. These very characteristics shined as our teams across California, from the staff to our attorneys, worked together during the pandemic to navigate through uncharted waters. They are the true recipients of this award."

The Orange County Register list is based solely on employee feedback gathered through a third-party survey administered by research partner Energage, LLC, a leading provider of technology-based employee engagement tools. The anonymous survey measures several aspects of workplace culture, including alignment, execution and connection.

Todd Wulffson, the Managing Partner of CDF's Orange County Office, said that "One of our priorities in 2022 is the same one we have had for over 25 years - to foster a workplace that attracts and retains the best talent to provide the best client service possible for California employers. It has always been our attorneys and staff at CDF that make us great."

About CDF Labor Law LLP

For over 25 years, CDF Labor Law LLP has distinguished itself as one of the top labor, employment and immigration law firms in California, defending employers in single-plaintiff and class action lawsuits and advising employers on related legal compliance and risk avoidance. The firm has five offices throughout California - in Sacramento, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Orange County and San Diego. For more information, visit: www.CDFLaborLaw.com and find CDF on LinkedIn or Twitter to learn more about how the firm protects California employers. For access to timely alerts on the latest California labor and employment law developments, sign-up for the firm's blog by visiting: https://www.callaborlaw.com/.

Acclaimed California labor, employment and immigration defense law firm CDF Labor Law LLP (CDF) proudly announces it has been named one of the 2021 Top Workplaces by the Orange County Register for the 3rd consecutive year. The award rounds out a year of numerous accolades for CDF.

Related link: https://www.cdflaborlaw.com/

BUG-A-SALT Pursues Canadian Retailer Selling Knock-Off Product

SANTA MONICA, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- Skell, Inc. (dba Bug-A-Salt) filed a lawsuit on Sept. 13, 2021, against Uncle Weiner's Wholesale, a chain of stores in Canada operated by Indigo Wholesale, Inc., according to Bug-A-Salt's attorney, Liat Cohen, Esq. The claim is for relief against the defendants who have, according to Cohen, interfered with Bug-A-Salt's intellectual property rights by offering for sale, selling, distributing, and advertising a counterfeit bug-killing device which infringes on Canadian trademarks owned by Bug-A-Salt.

Bug-A-Salt invented and manufactures an insect eradication device in the form of a shotgun which shoots salt to kill flies and other annoying insects. Uncle Weiner's has been selling an inexpensive knock-off of the Bug-A-Salt product, claiming it is the legitimate item. The case number is T-1397-21, and was filed in Alberta, Canada, Federal Court.

Indigo Wholesale, Inc., is an Alberta, Canada-based company. Cohen says that Discovery in the lawsuit has now shown that Uncle Weiner's has been selling these knock-off guns since 2016. The Defendants marketed and advertised the fakes as being authentic goods of Bug-A-Salt. Canadian Yelp reviews give Uncle Weiner's 11/2 stars out of a possible 5.

According to Bug-A-Salt's President, Erika Schimik, "These fake goods are cheating the public who have come to expect quality products from us. We are taking legal actions against Indigo Wholesale (dba Uncle Weiner's) to prevent any further abuses and to protect our rights."

Bug-A-Salt's products can be found at https://www.bugasalt.com/.

Liat Cohen Law Offices P. C. may be contacted via: https://liatlaw.com/.

Skell, Inc. (dba Bug-A-Salt) filed a lawsuit on Sept. 13, 2021, against Uncle Weiner's Wholesale, a chain of stores in Canada operated by Indigo Wholesale, Inc., according to Bug-A-Salt's attorney, Liat Cohen, Esq. The claim is for relief against the defendants who have, according to Cohen, interfered with Bug-A-Salt's intellectual property rights

Related link: https://liatlaw.com/

Legal Counsel for Blockchain Smart Contracts Announced for Carbon Tokenization

CHEYENNE, Wyo. /ScoopCloud/ -- Carbon Asset Network (CAN) announces that Oklahoma-based Wurtz & Associates will provide oversight and facilitation of the blockchain-based "smart contracts" related to the recently revealed initiative by CAN. Through an innovative protocol, this process tokenizes land resources for carbon sequestration and protection of the soil and water resources. The initiative makes use of the natural process of photosynthesis, which reduces carbon in the air.

"We chose Kimberly Wurtz's firm to oversee this aspect because she is specialized in property law and water law, as well as land management, and has focused her firm on solely assisting landowners," says John Robitaille, Director of Carbon Asset Network. "Her firm will act as the point of contact for tokenizing the landowner assets from start to finish."

The initiative will also have support from a Digital Asset Manager who will provide the information necessary to validate the resource's title and ensure the smart contracts are properly in place. The use of blockchain creates a secure, unchangeable title and legal language in contracts so there is upmost transparency and accountability. This initiative will be the first to apply this type of technology to a real property in a way that not only benefits the landowner, but also benefits the land and promotes climate wellness.

"At Wurtz & Associates, our focus is to help empower landowners in protecting their land and resources. By utilizing blockchain, landowners can participate in CAN's grants for soil health, water, carbon, and other essential aspects to ensure that the land thrives," says firm owner Kimberly Wurtz. "Our firm is a fierce advocate for landowner rights and the protection of all natural resources."

Carbon Asset Network offers grants from the nonprofit Synergy for Ecological Solutions to land managers to create a total ecological solution in consultation with CAN's agronomy experts. Through photosynthesis, an increase in soil health will result in a decrease of carbon in the air.

For more information:

http://CarbonAssetNetwork.com

https://www.wurtzpropertylaw.com/

Carbon Asset Network (CAN) announces that Oklahoma-based Wurtz & Associates will provide oversight and facilitation of the blockchain-based "smart contracts" related to the recently revealed initiative by CAN. Through an innovative protocol, this process tokenizes land resources for carbon sequestration and protection of the soil and water resources.

Related link: http://CarbonAssetNetwork.com/

CDF’s California Labor and Employment Law Blog Listed 7th on Feedspot’s ‘Top 40 California Law Blogs and Websites’

IRVINE, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- CDF Labor Law LLP (CDF), a California-based labor, employment and business immigration defense law firm, proudly announces its California Labor & Employment Law Blog ("blog") has been ranked 7th on Feedspot's recent list of the "Top 40 California Law Blogs and Websites." CDF's blog (www.CalLaborLaw.com) is an online web journal that allows our subscribers to access the most current information on the full spectrum of California-related labor and employment topics, as well as practical solutions for compliance.

CDF is not new to the blogosphere. The firm's California Labor & Employment Law Blog has been operational since 2005 and is being read by over six thousand subscribers. CDF's blog just doesn't cover the law, it takes the guesswork out of the often complicated legal developments and provides our subscribers with a succinct review of how changes to California labor and employment laws impact their workplace and offers suggestions for compliance.

"Amidst the constant fluctuations in California employment law, CDF's Blog Editorial Board communicates the most relevant news and trends for business owners, human resources professionals and in-house counsel on the latest developments in labor and employment law, as well as analysis and commentary regarding best practices," said Editor in Chief of CDF's blog, Mark S. Spring. "Our blog posts have proven especially helpful during this period of unprecedented challenges spurred by the constantly evolving laws, regulations and local ordinances related to the COVID-19 pandemic, as they are designed to provide employers with the insight they can leverage immediately."

CDF's Blog Editorial Board closely monitors, tracks and reports on legislative and judicial developments, court decisions, administrative agency opinions and new or revised requirements or regulations, as well as other topics of interest for those responsible for managing a workforce in California and for resolving the problems that often arise in the context of the employer-employee relationship, including such topics as Arbitration Agreements, COVID-19, Class Actions, Court Decisions, Discrimination, Harassment & Retaliation, Employee Hiring, Discipline & Termination, Employee Leaves, Immigration, Internal Investigations, New Laws & Legislation, Non-Compete and Trade Secrets, Cal/OSHA Issues, Personnel Policies and Procedures, Union-Management Relations, Wage & Hour Issues, Workplace Privacy and more.

Feedspot's methodology for its ranking included reviewing post frequency, relevancy, web traffic, social media followers, age of blog, domain authority, to name a few.

CDF's collective intelligence from our dedicated team of employment law attorneys is just one click away on our award-winning blog.

Look to http://www.callaborlaw.com/ for more in-depth coverage of California's legal employment law landscape.

To subscribe to CDF's blog click here or visit https://www.cdflaborlaw.com/tools/announcements.

About CDF Labor Law LLP

For over 25 years, CDF Labor Law LLP has distinguished itself as a powerhouse in labor and employment law in California, defending employers in single-plaintiff and class action lawsuits and advising employers on related legal compliance and risk avoidance. Through decades of dedicated commitment to high-quality legal work and providing consistent and practical management solutions to our clients, CDF has earned a reputation as one of California's leading law firms. The firm has five offices throughout California - in Sacramento, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Orange County and San Diego. For more information, visit: www.CDFLaborLaw.com and find CDF on LinkedIn or Twitter to learn more about how the firm protects California employers.

CDF Labor Law LLP (CDF), a California-based labor, employment and business immigration defense law firm, proudly announces its California Labor & Employment Law Blog ("blog") has been ranked 7th on Feedspot's recent list of the "Top 40 California Law Blogs and Websites."

Related link: https://www.cdflaborlaw.com/

Attorney David Goldman Guest Speaker at Sarasota Charity Organization Fund Raiser

SARASOTA, Fla. /ScoopCloud/ -- Attorney David L Goldman was a guest speaker at the "Night Of Hope" fundraising event, held by the Second Chance Last Opportunity charitable organization in Sarasota, Florida.

On the evening of Thursday, October 28, 2021 Second Chance Last Opportunity held a "Night of Hope" event to celebrate its 26th anniversary as a successful local 501(c)(3) charitable organization. The event took place at Michael's On East restaurant and raised over $50,000.

A 25th Anniversary event had originally been planned the previous year but was cancelled due to covid. During the pandemic Second Chance transformed itself into an emergency crisis center and distributed food and other items such as toiletries and diapers multiple days a week.

Second Chance was founded by the organization's CEO, Dr. April Glasco, and was originally a small storefront operation on MLK Jr. Blvd in Sarasota. Board Chairman, Attorney David L. Goldman, addressed the event crowd of over 150 attendees.

Goldman noted that the organization remained open throughout the pandemic and has served over 80,000 different individuals. A network of volunteers and suppliers was created to obtain and distribute the food and other supplies and remains intact to deliver services to those in need.

Goldman explained that despite the organization's new and expanded role, Second Chance continues to provide all of the other services that it had come to be known for, such as its life skills management and job training classes to transition clients from homelessness to permanent employment.

In the past few years Second Chance has also focused on the problems faced by young women, offering classes and workshops to help young women break the shackles of dependence and bad influences. Additionally, Second Chance provides children's programs such as its "Out of the Box" programs, as well as community festivals, art classes and more.

About Attorney David L. Goldman

Goldman, a Sarasota personal injury attorney for more than 30 years, has been associated with Second Chance for more than 16 years, initially serving as a volunteer before joining the board. For the past several years, Mr. Goldman has served as board chairman during which time the organization has expanded the services it provides. The law firm of which Goldman is partner, ("Justice Pays") was a Gold level sponsor of the event.

More on David Goldman at https://www.justicepays.com/

Attorney David L Goldman was a guest speaker at the "Night Of Hope" fundraising event, held by the Second Chance Last Opportunity charitable organization in Sarasota, Florida. Goldman noted that the organization remained open throughout the pandemic and has served over 80,000 different individuals.

Related link: https://www.justicepays.com/

Bug-A-Salt Wins Settlement Over Dillard’s Dept. Store

SANTA MONICA, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- Bug-A-Salt (a subsidiary of Skell Inc.) this month prevailed in a patent and trademark infringement lawsuit against Dillard's Department Stores, according to the Bug-A-Salt, attorney, Liat Cohen, Esq.

Dillard's, in a settlement, paid an undisclosed sum of money for selling counterfeit Bug-A-Salt guns to kill flies, mosquitos, and other insects. The case number is 1:20-CV-O1567-UNA and was filed in United States District Court of Delaware.

Lorenzo Maggiore, CEO of Skell Inc., and inventor of the Bug-A-Salt, stated "We have a zero-tolerance policy against pirates and other knock-off artists who try to profit from our product and we will take action to protect our Intellectual Property rights from any of these counterfeiters."

The lawsuit was initiated by Skell's attorney, Liat Cohen, who zealously took steps to see the case moved through the legal system with maximum effect.

"Liat (Cohen) has assisted us on many issues and the successful outcome against Dillard's sends a message. We don't put up with people trying to profit off of our hard work," said Bug-A-Salt's President, Erika Schimik.

Bug-A-Salt's sales have been steadily increasing, even during the Covid 19 epidemic. Their products can be found at https://www.bugasalt.com/.

Bug-A-Salt (a subsidiary of Skell Inc.) this month prevailed in a patent and trademark infringement lawsuit against Dillard's Department Stores, according to the Bug-A-Salt, attorney, Liat Cohen, Esq.

Related link: https://liatlaw.com/

European Court of Human Rights Affirms Freedom of Religion or Belief of Russian Scientologist

LOS ANGELES, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has once again affirmed the rights of Scientologists in Russia to practice their religion based on Article 9 of the ECHR Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, announced the Church of Scientology International.

Article 9 states:

"Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief, in worship, teaching, practice and observance.

"Freedom to manifest one's religion or beliefs shall be subject only to such limitations as are prescribed by law and are necessary in a democratic society in the interests of public safety, for the protection of public order, health or morals, or for the protection of the rights and freedoms of others."

In its September 28, 2021, judgment in Kuropyatnik v. Russia, (Application no. 64403/11), the ECHR ruled that Scientologist Vladimir Leonidovich Kuropyatnik, a Moscow Scientologist, was illegally detained by a Russian police officer who questioned him on the basis of his membership in the Scientology religion.

The Court found Kuropyatnik's October 13, 2010, detention deprived him of liberty and violated Articles 8 and 9 of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms which guarantee the right to respect for private and family life and freedom of thought, conscience and religion.

The ECHR noted that at the time this incident took place, the Church of Scientology had been registered as a religious organization in Russia for more than two decades and that Russian authorities had consistently over the years acknowledged the religious nature of Scientology. This Court found Russian police targeting Mr. Kuropyatnik for being a Scientologist was a blatant abuse of his religious freedom by the Russian state and ordered Russia to pay him €8,000 in damages for violating his human rights.

This decision is consistent with the European Court of Human Rights landmark decision of 5 April 2007 in the case Church of Scientology Moscow v. Russia (Application no. 18147/02), which overturned the Moscow city government's refusal to register the Church of Scientology of Moscow as a religious organization. The Court found that Russia violated the rights of the Church of Scientology under ECHR Article 11 (the right to freedom of association) "read in the light of Article 9" (the right to freedom of religion) when it refused to reregister the Church of Scientology of Moscow.

Once again, the European Court of Human Rights has upheld that Scientologists are guaranteed the same rights by the European Convention on Human Rights granted to those of any other religious organization.

The European Court of Human Rights was established to create a mechanism for the resolution of human rights complaints against States parties to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms. The Convention was adopted by the Council of Europe in 1950. Located in Strasbourg, France, the Court has jurisdiction over 47 states in Europe, including Russia, with a combined population of some 820 million citizens.

This announcement was originally published as a blog on the Scientology Religion website. The Church of Scientology publishes this blog to help create a better understanding of the freedom of religion and belief and provide news on religious freedom and issues affecting this freedom around the world.

The Founder of the Scientology religion is L. Ron Hubbard and Mr. David Miscavige is the religion's ecclesiastical leader.

For more information on Scientology, visit the Scientology website or the Scientology TV network.

RELATED LINKS

https://www.scientology.tv/

https://hudoc.echr.coe.int/eng#{%22appno%22:[%2264403/11%22]}

https://polis.osce.org/convention-protection-human-rights-and-fundamental-freedoms-amended-protocol-no11

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has once again affirmed the rights of Scientologists in Russia to practice their religion based on Article 9 of the ECHR Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, announced the Church of Scientology International.

Related link: https://www.scientology.org/

Strategic Capital Attends the 2021 Colorado Trial Lawyers Association Convention, Sponsors Special Events

LITTLETON, Colo. /ScoopCloud/ -- From Thursday, August 5 to Saturday, August 7, the Colorado Trial Lawyers Association (CTLA) held its annual convention. While they offered virtual attendance, they also hosted the conference in person in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. The Strategic Capital team joined them at The Steamboat Grand for the hybrid event, which was themed "Conquering New Horizons Together."

The 2021 convention included continuing legal education (CLE) credit opportunities alongside social events like a golf tournament and happy hour.

Ric Perez, Strategic Capital Senior Vice President and National Marketing Director, said, "Strategic Capital was proud to be back on the road sponsoring our good friends and business partners at the Colorado Trial Lawyers Association."

Strategic Capital supported the event and Colorado trial lawyers through two distinct sponsorships. First, they sponsored the Friday night happy hour at the convention. This social event featured a full bar, games, and a special beer tasting event - plus a root beer tasting for any underage attendees.

Beyond hosting this opportunity for attendees to network while their families relaxed, Strategic Capital also announced that they will be a Silver Sponsor at the 2nd Annual CTLA/Case Coalition Par 3 Classic, the Summer Sunset Bash. This golf tournament will be held on Friday, September 17, and will benefit Colorado Trial Lawyers Care (CTLC), which pools resources to help those in need.

CTLC is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization that provides rapid relief to individuals, families, and organizations experiencing hardship. That relief might come in the form of monetary aid, legal services, or basic necessities. The CTLC helps those affected by natural disasters, crime, and other challenging situations.

"We look forward to our continued support and are excited to be a Silver Sponsor at the 2nd Annual Summer Sunset Bash," Perez said of Strategic Capital's involvement in the upcoming CTLC fundraiser.

The Summer Sunset Bash begins at 3 p.m. at the Columbine Country Club Pool and Par 3 Complex in Littleton, Colorado. Attendees do not necessarily need to be golfers, as the event also gives individuals the option to choose to instead play tennis or attend the social event. The latter will feature food and drinks, music, lawn games, and a live and silent auction.

To participate in any portion of the Summer Sunset Bash, individuals must register in advance. Registration is available online at https://www.ctlanet.org/?pg=events&eid=107007&evAction=reg

Those unable to attend in person can participate in the silent auction online at https://www.32auctions.com/SSB21. Auction proceeds go to the Colorado Trial Lawyers Care fund.

Learn more at: https://www.strategiccapital.com/

Media Contact information:
Name: Ric Perez
Strategic Capital
Address: 575 Madison Ave Ste 1006 New York, NY 10022
Phone: (866) 256-0088

From Thursday, August 5 to Saturday, August 7, the Colorado Trial Lawyers Association (CTLA) held its annual convention. While they offered virtual attendance, they also hosted the conference in person in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. The Strategic Capital team joined them at The Steamboat Grand for the hybrid event, which was themed "Conquering New Horizons Together."

Related link: https://www.strategiccapital.com/

CDF Labor Law LLP Attorneys Receive Best Lawyers in America© Awards

IRVINE, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- CDF Labor Law LLP (CDF) proudly congratulates seven partners who were recognized in The Best Lawyers in America© for 2022 and four associates who were recognized in the 2022 Best Lawyers in America© "Ones to Watch" for various employment-related practice areas from metropolitan areas throughout California. In addition, Founding Partner Tim Freudenberger was named by Best Lawyers as the 2022 "Lawyer of the Year" in Class Actions - Defense, in Irvine, California for the third time.

Attorneys on the Best Lawyers list are divided by geographic region and practice areas. They are reviewed by their peers on the basis of professional expertise and undergo an authentication process to make sure they are in good standing.

According to Best Lawyers, recognition by "Ones to Watch" is also based entirely on peer review for attorneys who are in their earlier stages of their careers and have achieved outstanding professional excellence in private practice.

Only one lawyer is recognized by Best Lawyers for "Lawyer of the Year" based on the highest overall peer-feedback in their specific practice area and geographic region.

CDF's 2022 Best Lawyers in America (in alphabetical order):

Marie D. DiSante (Employment Law - Management and Litigation - Labor and Employment, Irvine, CA). Marie co-founded CDF in 1994 and has helped grow the firm to five offices throughout California - supported by close to 45 attorneys. Marie continually positions her clients at the forefront of emerging and unprecedented class action litigation in the state, and her dual role as a California business owner and entrepreneur allows her to understand client workplace challenges firsthand.

Tim M. Freudenberger (Employment Law - Management, Litigation - Labor and Employment, Class Actions - Defense, Irvine, CA and Lawyer of the Year in Class Actions - Defense, Irvine, CA). Tim leads the firm's class action practice with a focus on wage and hour issues and PAGA actions. Tim helped shape class certification and trial principles in exemption cases with a successful California Supreme Court decision in the case of Duran v. U.S. Bank Nat. Assn., 59th Cal. 4th 1 (2014). He cemented this victory when he again defeated class certification after the case was remanded to the trial court, which was affirmed on appeal in a decision that discussed the weaknesses and unreliability of survey methodology in these types of exemption cases, Duran v. U.S. Bank, 19 Cal.App.5th 630 (2018). Tim was also named the 2022 "Lawyer of the Year" in Class Actions - Defense in Irvine, CA for the third time by Best Lawyers.

Brent M. Giddens (Litigation, Labor & Employment - Los Angeles, CA). Brent's practice focuses on defending employers in class actions, as well as individual actions, before California state and federal courts. His clients cover a wide variety of industries and include large national employers as well as small businesses. He has also served as lead defense counsel in numerous NLRB trial proceedings, organization drives, and has extensive experience negotiating collective bargaining agreements.

Mark S. Spring (Employment Law - Management and Litigation - Labor and Employment, Sacramento, CA). Mark leads the firm's traditional labor law practice and his practice focuses on management representation in union-management relations and employment-related litigation. He has successfully battled and negotiated against a variety of unions, including Teamsters, UFCW, IBEW, Laborers, SEIU and Stationary Engineers. Additionally, he has a successful record representing elected officials, public figures, athletes and executives in sexual harassment lawsuits and other high-profile matters. In 2021, Mark was named by Best Lawyers as Sacramento "Lawyer of the Year" in the Employment Law - Management category.

Leigh A. White (Class Actions - Defense, Irvine, CA). Leigh focuses her practice on complex litigation and dispute resolution, ranging from workplace discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and wage and hour class actions. With over 25 years defending California employers, she has a proven record of defeating class certification, obtaining favorable settlements, and representing employers at high-stakes trials. She partners with clients in developing business goals and strategies and works closely with employer human resources departments to navigate multifaceted employment law issues in California. In 2020, Leigh was named by Best Lawyers as Orange County "Lawyer of the Year" in Class Actions - Defense category.

Joel M. Van Parys (Employment Law - Management and Litigation - Labor and Employment, Sacramento, CA). Joel represents management in all aspects of the employer/employee relationship. This includes litigation defense of claims for wrongful termination, discrimination and harassment, retaliation, wage and hour violations, employee misclassification, with an emphasis on independent contractor claims and Unfair Competition.

Nicole A. Legrottaglie (Employment Law - Management and Litigation - Labor and Employment, Sacramento, CA). Nicole's practice focuses on defending a broad range of employment claims, including class actions and single plaintiff claims of discrimination, retaliation, harassment, wrongful termination, and wage and hour litigation. Additionally, Legrottaglie has significant experience in traditional labor law.

CDF's 2022 Best Lawyers in America "Ones to Watch" (in alphabetical order):

Allison O. Chua (Litigation - Labor and Employment, Los Angeles, CA). Allison represents and advises employers in all areas of labor and employment law. In particular, she has extensive experience defending employers against claims of discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wrongful termination, and wage and hour disputes in state and federal courts and before administrative agencies. Allison also has experience litigating cases involving misappropriation of trade secrets and unfair competition.

Brian E. Cole II (Labor and Employment Law - Management and Litigation - Labor and Employment, Irvine, CA). Brian has extensive experience with employment litigation involving claims of wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment, retaliation, breach of contract, unfair competition, and wage and hour violations. He also has experience in defending companies of all sizes against class and PAGA actions.

Cody T. Stroman (Labor and Employment Law - Management and Litigation - Labor and Employment, San Francisco, CA). Cody's practice focuses on representing employers in class, collective, and representative actions. In addition to Cody's litigation practice, he advises clients on ways to proactively avoid litigation and comply with California's complex employment laws.

Alessandra C. Whipple (Labor and Employment Law - Management, Irvine, CA). Alessandra is experienced in advising and defending various employment disputes involving claims of wrongful termination, harassment, discrimination and retaliation, breach of contract, unfair competition, trade secrets, and whistleblower claims. Her practice includes providing significant pragmatic day-to-day advice and counseling to companies on how to navigate California's ever-changing labor and employment law landscape.

About CDF Labor Law LLP

For over 25 years, CDF Labor Law LLP has distinguished itself as one of the top labor, employment and immigration law firms in California, representing employers in single-plaintiff and class action lawsuits and advising employers on related legal compliance and risk avoidance. The firm has five offices throughout California - in Sacramento, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Orange County and San Diego. For more information, visit: http://www.cdflaborlaw.com/ and find CDF on LinkedIn or Twitter to learn more about how the firm protects California employers. For access to timely alerts on the latest California labor and employment law developments, sign-up for the firm's blog by visiting: http://www.cdflaborlaw.com/.

MEDIA CONTACT
Dorothy Rausa
CDF Labor Law LLP
drausa@cdflaborlaw.com
949-622-1661

CDF Labor Law LLP (CDF) proudly congratulates seven partners who were recognized in The Best Lawyers in America© for 2022 and four associates who were recognized in the 2022 Best Lawyers in America© "Ones to Watch" for various employment-related practice areas from metropolitan areas throughout California.

Related link: https://www.cdflaborlaw.com/

Families Facing Food Insecurity Receive Over 27,000 Meals From Employees at CDF Labor Law

IRVINE, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- The stories are endless of jobs suddenly gone forever and families struggling to get by. As cities across the nation continue to deal with the economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic, employees at CDF Labor Law LLP (CDF) got busy partnering with food banks and programs aimed to get food into the hands of hungry communities.

"There isn't anyone in our five offices who hasn't seen neighbors, friends and family's jobs disappear because of the pandemic, it's heartbreaking," says longtime employee Dorothy Rausa at CDF. "I know I speak on behalf of other employees at the firm when I say how appreciative I am of the firm's stalwart efforts in the communities in which we work and live to help those in dire need."

She adds, "My co-workers were eager to give, plus with our firm's donation it made this project more important, I love that we take action to help others-not just during the holidays-but all year long."

CDF participated in the 5th annual Food from The Bar program, a campaign driven by the Orange County legal community which raises awareness and provides critically needed meals to food-insecure children, families and seniors in Orange County. Though not the largest law firm, CDF alone, through employee donations and firm sponsorship, raised over $9,000, providing 27,000+ meals to those in need.

Hosted by the Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County, which ran this year's program between June 1, 2021 - July 2, 2021, the legal community raised a record-breaking $117,661.38 which equates to 352,984 meals.

According to Firm Managing Partner, Marie DiSante, the mobilization of employees from all of its five offices throughout California was inspiring "It was an amazing outpouring of generosity. We may not be as large as other firms, but our employees have huge hearts. I couldn't be prouder," she says.

"I don't think anyone could have predicted how desperate the food need is this year," said Megan Hunker, Donor Relations Associate at Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County. "CDF's continued support, especially during a year like this has made a significant impact for Orange County children, families and seniors," she adds.

About CDF Labor Law LLP

For over 25 years, CDF has distinguished itself as one of the top employment, labor and immigration firms in California, defending, advising and counseling national and regional employers with California employees and workforces, as well as California-based startups, midsize ventures, and privately and publicly held companies and Fortune 500 corporations on legal compliance. CDF is ranked highly for its hiring and promotion of women and minorities and is committed to supporting the communities in which they work and live.

Its blog, https://www.callaborlaw.com/ has over 5,000 subscribers who seek the up-to-the-minute alerts on what California employers need to know about the state's ever-changing maze of laws and regulations.

For more information, visit: https://www.cdflaborlaw.com/.

MULTIMEDIA:

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RELATED LINKS:

https://www.feedoc.org/food-from-the-bar/

The stories are endless of jobs suddenly gone forever and families struggling to get by. As cities across the nation continue to deal with the economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic, employees at CDF Labor Law LLP (CDF) got busy partnering with food banks and programs aimed to get food into the hands of hungry communities.

Related link: https://www.cdflaborlaw.com/

NotaryCam Partners with Texas Mortgage Law Firm, RUTH RUHL, P.C., to Add RON to Firm’s Loss Mitigation Services

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- NotaryCam®, a Stewart-owned company and a pioneering provider of remote online notarization and identity verification / authentication technology for real estate and legal transactions, today announced it has partnered with RUTH RUHL, P.C., a Texas-based law firm, to add security and automation to the firm's loss mitigation services through remote online notarization (RON).

RUTH RUHL, P.C., works with mortgage servicers and subservicers in all 50 states to provide state and federally compliant loss mitigation document preparation services. Using NotaryCam's RON platform, RUTH RUHL, P.C., will provide its clients with a secure eSign and eNotary process that improves efficiency while, most importantly, reduces the risk of fraud.

"RON is readily available with loan originations, but the concept of RON for loss mitigation is now coming to fruition," Ruth Ruhl, founder and president of RUTH RUHL, P.C., said. "I want RUTH RUHL, P.C., to be ahead of the curve and able to service my clients in a proactive manner. Partnering with NotaryCam provides a solution to my clients' time and money; it will all be paperless."

"One of the great things about RON is that we're finding new ways to use the technology every day," said NotaryCam Division President Rick Triola. "NotaryCam is honored to work with RUTH RUHL, P.C., to advance eSign and eNotarization education and implementation in the mortgage industry. All aspects of the mortgage industry stand to benefit from increased technology, and we are proud to be an innovator in bringing RON to the loss mitigation sector."

NotaryCam engages multiple forms of identity authentication and verification methods and provides audio and video recording of each notarization. NotaryCam's platform also allows multiple parties to join the signing ceremony in person or from anywhere in the world and is supported by a robust, nationwide network of trained eNotaries available 24/7/365 to ensure a seamless, error-free notarization.

"Two of the factors that made this partnership with NotaryCam so attractive is the security of the platform and how it verifies the borrower's identity," continued Ruhl. "In my opinion, reducing the risk of fraud is key to my client's comfort level. The audio and video of the notary session, in my mind, helps to alleviate that risk. With NotaryCam, the notary is properly trained and understands the importance of the accuracy of both the borrower's signature and the electronic notary. Rick and I have the same commitment to our clients - excellence and customer service."

About NotaryCam, a Stewart Company

After pioneering the world's first multi-party/multi-state remote online notarization (RON), career real estate executive Rick Triola founded NotaryCam and completed the first mortgage remote online closing (ROC) in 2014. Today, NotaryCam, a Stewart-owned company, is the leader in online notarization and mortgage eClosing solutions, having notarized documents worldwide for hundreds of thousands of customers in all 50 states and more than 146 countries.

The company's patented eClose360® platform delivers the "perfect" online mortgage closing in every jurisdiction and supports all eClosing scenarios - RON, IPEN or Hybrids - with a flexible workflow for document recording and unparalleled identity verification, security and customer convenience. In addition to real estate transactions, NotaryCam provides RON services for the execution of electronic wills (eWills), legal docs (i.e. power of attorneys) and Apostilles. The company also proudly maintains an industry-leading 99.8 percent customer satisfaction rating.

Visit https://www.notarycam.com for additional information or to get a document notarized today.

@NotaryCam #ROC #RON #digitalmortgage #emortgage #eclosing #enotary

NotaryCam®, a Stewart-owned company and a pioneering provider of remote online notarization and identity verification / authentication technology for real estate and legal transactions, today announced it has partnered with RUTH RUHL, P.C., a Texas-based law firm, to add security and automation to the firm's loss mitigation services through remote online notarization (RON).

Related link: https://www.notarycam.com/

Santa Ana High School Students Get Mentorship Boost from CDF Labor Law for 10th year

IRVINE, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- Two high school juniors, from low to moderate income families in Santa Ana are about to get a significant boost to their career path from CDF Labor Law LLP, a California-based labor, employment, and immigration law firm who will sponsor them for an eight-week, paid internship. This is CDF's 10th year participating in Project SELF mentoring program of at-risk youth.

Project SELF was established in 1995 by the Project Youth, Orange County Bar Foundation and the Orange County Chapter of the Association of Legal Administrators with the goal to offer at-risk high school juniors, from low to moderate income families in Santa Ana, the opportunity to complete an internship at a law firm or law-related business. Project SELF works to reduce the risk of juvenile delinquency by providing youth with positive alternatives for spending their summers, access to professional and career environments they would not otherwise be exposed to, and the support of positive adult mentors.

"CDF has seen the positive impact Project SELF has on our local youth and we are proud to continue to provide high school students with mentorship and professional development opportunities." said Firm Managing Partner, Marie DiSante.

"We are thankful for CDF's continued partnership and support over the years," said Nancy Garcia, Associate Director at the Project Youth OCBF. Law firms like CDF help shape the future of our local youth by participating in this life-changing Program."

Learn more about Project Youth at: https://projectyouthocbf.org/

About CDF Labor Law LLP

For over 25 years, CDF Labor Law LLP has distinguished itself as one of the top labor, employment, and business immigration law firms in California, representing employers in single-plaintiff and class action lawsuits and advising employers on related legal compliance and risk avoidance. At CDF, diversity, equity and inclusion have been the bedrock of the firm since its inception. Our recruitment and retention programs are aimed at increasing diversity within our firm and in the legal profession.

For more information, visit: https://www.cdflaborlaw.com/

MEDIA ONLY CONTACT
Dorothy Rausa
CDF Labor Law LLP
drausa@cdflaborlaw.com
Phone Number: 949-622-1661

*LOGO link for media: https://www.Send2Press.com/300dpi/21-0615s2p-cdflaborlaw-300dpi.jpg

Two high school juniors, from low to moderate income families in Santa Ana are about to get a significant boost to their career path from CDF Labor Law LLP, a California-based labor, employment, and immigration law firm who will sponsor them for an eight-week, paid internship. This is CDF's 10th year participating in Project SELF mentoring program of at-risk youth.

Related link: https://www.cdflaborlaw.com/

Heath Spivey Named New President of DELTA |v| Forensic Engineering, Inc.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. /ScoopCloud/ -- DELTA |v| Forensic Engineering, Inc.™ announced today that they have appointed Heath Spivey, Manager of the Nashville Regional Office, as the new President of DELTA |v| Forensic Engineering, Inc.™, effective January 1, 2022. He will be succeeding Brian Anders, who will be stepping down from his current role as President and maintaining his titles of CEO and Founder of the organization. As President, Heath will be responsible for leading the companywide growth and strategic development of DELTA |v|™ as they continue maturing as an organization.

Heath brings over 14 years of experience working for DELTA |v|™ to his new role as President. His journey with DELTA |v|™ began as a young Associate Engineer in 2007, only three years after the company was formed. His incredible work ethic and dedication to fostering meaningful client relationships drove his upward trajectory within the organization, resulting in Heath being selected in 2014 to open DELTA |v|'s second regional office in Nashville, Tennessee.

"From the beginning of his career at DELTA |v|, Heath has demonstrated that he is a natural leader and valuable asset to the growth and success of the organization," says Brian Anders, CEO and Founder of DELTA |v| Forensic Engineering, Inc.™. "It is an honor to announce Heath as the new President of DELTA |v| and I am excited for him to lead this new chapter in DELTA |v|'s story."

This strategic milestone in DELTA |v|™'s history comes as they continue to expand their geographic and service offerings. Their recent launch of a Biomechanical service line, establishment of an Atlanta Regional Office, and continued expansion of event data recording services has demonstrated their respected influence within the forensic engineering field.

"I am extremely excited to embark upon this new journey as I shift from a practicing engineer in Nashville to a more executive role in Charlotte," says Heath Spivey, Incumbent President of DELTA |v| Forensic Engineering, Inc. Heath will be returning to his hometown of Charlotte in early 2022, with wife, Brooke and children, Beckett and Piper. "I envision this as a great opportunity to develop and empower both the company, and the professionals within it, to perform at their highest level. Based on the caliber of engineers and teams we already have in place, I'm confident we will be successful."

About DELTA |v| Forensic Engineering, Inc.

DELTA |v|™ is recognized as an accident reconstruction industry leader in its use of advanced technology to accurately document complex incident sites. The firm is also one of only two companies in the United States authorized to download proprietary data from Mack/Volvo black boxes. Headquartered in North Carolina, DELTA |v|™ has been privileged to work assignments domestically in more than 49 states, as well as Canada, the Bahamas, the United Kingdom, and Kuwait.

To learn more or to contact DELTA |v| Forensic Engineering, Inc.™, please visit https://www.deltavinc.com/.

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*Caption: Heath Spivey (left) and Brian Anders (right).

DELTA |v| Forensic Engineering, Inc.™ announced today that they have appointed Heath Spivey, Manager of the Nashville Regional Office, as the new President of DELTA |v| Forensic Engineering, Inc.™, effective January 1, 2022.

Related link: https://www.deltavinc.com/

Estes-Hightower PLLC offers monthly legal subscriptions to access Texas attorneys but with a twist

HOUSTON, Texas /ScoopCloud/ -- Estes-Hightower PLLC, a Houston law firm, has attorneys that are available through monthly retainers or as some call them, legal subscriptions. The law firm recruits attorneys across Texas with credentials broad enough to cover a variety of legal issues. Legal subscriptions are not a new concept, but are typically offered by pre-paid legal service companies.

The twist being that the legal subscriptions are offered by Estes-Hightower PLLC, which is not a pre-paid legal service company but an actual law firm.

Estes-Hightower PLLC believes there is a better way for clients to receive legal representation. And, legal subscriptions can assist. How it works. The legal subscriptions, which are monthly retainers, give clients access to Texas attorneys through an online portal. Legal services include legal blogs, consultations, legal documents, and litigations all for a refundable monthly fee.

If potential clients want a more traditional one-time legal service, for example a Last Will and Testament, then Estes-Hightower PLLC will continue to offer a la carte non-subscription based legal services.

Estes-Hightower PLLC was established originally as the Law Office of Teri Estes in 2000 and has been operating for 20 years.

The website's URL is https://pleadwrite.com/.

PleadWrite.com's Facebook page is www.facebook.com/ehpllcpleadwrite and Instagram page is @ehpllc_pleadwrite.

Estes-Hightower PLLC, a Houston law firm, has attorneys that are available through monthly retainers or as some call them, legal subscriptions. The law firm recruits attorneys across Texas with credentials broad enough to cover a variety of legal issues.

Related link: https://pleadwrite.com/

Los Angeles and Las Vegas Are the US Cities with The Most Searches for Court Records

WILMINGTON, Del. /ScoopCloud/ -- Los Angeles and Las Vegas are the cities where the most searches to a leading court records website originate from. Data taken from www.courtrecords.us.org shows that other areas which have seen the largest numbers of searches include Houston, New York, and Dallas.

CourtRecords.us.org, the leading court records and data site, has studied the site's data around searches and where they have come from to compile a list of the most searched cities in the US.

The Top 10 list in full is:
1. Los Angeles
2. Las Vegas
3. Houston
4. New York
5. Dallas
6. Chicago
7. Phoenix
8. Denver
9. Atlanta
10. Philadelphia

The Top 10 states which court records searches originate from are:
1. California
2. Florida
3. Texas
4. Ohio
5. Illinois
6. Arizona
7. Georgia
8. North Carolina
9. Pennsylvania
10. Michigan

Using Court Records is a great way to find out information on a variety of subjects. You can use them to search yourself to make sure that the correct information is in the public domain, to reconnect with friends you may have lost touch with, and to look up your neighbors if you have concerns about them.

CourtRecords.us.org is your place to go when you want court records. Whether it's federal court records you want or just general public court records, they are the experts at doing a court records search.

Whether you are trying to screen dates you meet online, keep tabs on who your children are hanging out with, or just curious about the people in your neighborhood, CourtRecords.us.org is your central place. Their records are constantly updated with new information. You can trust them to let you know what's going on with the people who want to be a part of your life.

For more information, please visit http://www.courtrecords.us.org/ or call customer support on 1-855-701-4138

DISCLAIMER: CourtRecords.us.org is not a government agency, nor are we a consumer reporting agency. You may only use the information we provide you in for entertainment and research only.

Los Angeles and Las Vegas are the cities where the most searches to a leading court records website originate from. Data taken from courtrecords.us.org shows that other areas which have seen the largest numbers of searches include Houston, New York, and Dallas.

Related link: http://www.courtrecords.us.org/

MondoBrain Announces Settlement – Company severs all ties to Augustin Huret

NEW YORK, N.Y. /ScoopCloud/ -- The shareholders of MondoBrain have brought to a successful close a derivative lawsuit against its former CEO. As a result of a mutual settlement agreement, Augustin Huret is no longer affiliated with the company and has no ownership stake. With these changes, the board of directors has been reconstituted to now include the company's major shareholders and is led by Jean Paul Inchauspe (Chairman).

Additionally, the shareholders have injected new capital into MondoBrain to support company growth as a key provider of transparent augmented AI solutions.

About MondoBrain:

MondoBrain is a NYC based AI startup in the field of data analytics. MondoBrain has applications across a variety of industry verticals where its artificial intelligence data mining platform uses a unique approach to identify the optimal configuration of variables that predicts and explains a given outcome. MondoBrain provides the business decision maker as well as data scientists with access to a powerful machine learning algorithm through an easy-to-use interface.

Rather than creating a model to predict future outcomes, MondoBrain provides decision-makers with prescriptive recommendations on how to achieve optimal results in different situations. This interface ingests data and answers questions of the form, "What combination of conditions provides the strongest hypothesis as to why a given outcome occurs?" and, "What specific actions can we take to create a high probability for the outcome we want, and a lower probability to get the undesirable outcome?"

Learn more at: https://mondobrain.com/

Media Contact:
Noreen Harrington, President
MondoBrain, Inc.
info@mondobrain.com

The shareholders of MondoBrain have brought to a successful close a derivative lawsuit against its former CEO. As a result of a mutual settlement agreement, Augustin Huret is no longer affiliated with the company and has no ownership stake.

Related link: https://mondobrain.com/

Personal Injury Attorney Rachel Anthony Has Joined LeMaster & Ahmed PLLC Law Firm

THE WOODLANDS, Texas /ScoopCloud/ -- LeMaster & Ahmed PLLC has announced that Rachel Anthony, a personal injury attorney, has recently joined their Houston area office of LeMaster & Ahmed PLLC. The law firm focuses on personal injury cases and has offices in The Woodlands, Texas and Plano, Texas. Ms. Anthony's legal background includes catastrophic personal injury cases and commercial litigation. She is a 2007 magna cum laude graduate of the University of Texas Tech School of Law and a Briefing Attorney for the Honorable Jeffrey V. Brown during his tenure as a Justice at the 14th Court of Appeals in Houston, Texas.

"I am often asked 'What is a personal injury lawyer and how can one help me?' by people who have been injured but have no legal representation," states Ms. Anthony, "and that is a perfectly legitimate question. Our firm offers a free consultation to personal injury victims and I discuss their legal rights and their options for the future. Initially, many injured people are without legal counsel and are not happy with the personal injury settlement offer from an insurance company's attorney or adjuster. Many injured people don't know where to turn and are dismayed and overwhelmed by the insurance claims handling process. This is a critical point in time for the injured party - they need sound legal advice before signing any documents that would settle a personal injury lawsuit. They could easily make the mistake of agreeing to a compensation amount that is far less than what they deserve under the law."

Personal injury attorneys represent people who have been injured by the negligent, reckless, or careless acts of another individual or company. The injury can be physical, emotional, economic, and psychological. Pain and suffering is an important consideration that can increase compensation. There are other personal injury claim categories that are often compensated such as the cost of medical bills, the cost of physical therapy, and loss of income. The key is to obtain good legal advice from an attorney with experience in various personal injury cases. The attorneys and adjusters representing the negligent individual, the insurance company, or other liable company are seasoned experts and have considerable experience with personal injury negotiation tactics. Individuals who - without legal representation - attempt to negotiate with these experienced lawyers and adjusters often find themselves at a significant disadvantage.

"I joined the LeMaster & Ahmed PLLC law firm because of their experience in handling personal injury claims, whether they be through settlement or litigation, and the flexibility of working with a boutique legal team. Perhaps the most common mistake I have seen in this area of law is when an injured person agrees to a recorded conversation with an aggressive insurance company's attorney or adjuster. Yes, they are gathering information which is fine. But the attorney or adjuster is also very keen on seeing the injured person contradict himself or herself - a technique that could substantially reduce the final injury benefits and affect how the personal injury settlements are paid out. In such a scenario, the injured party should always be accompanied by his or her attorney," commented Ms. Anthony.

The lawyers of LeMaster & Ahmed PLLC, including Ms. Anthony, have extensive backgrounds negotiating both for and against insurance companies related to personal injury claims. All lawyers at the firm have spent nearly 40 years combined working directly for the insurers before joining LeMaster & Ahmed PLLC and focusing their practices on representing personal injury victims.

The law firm takes a team approach to each personal injury case in an effort to achieve maximum recovery for their clients. They treat their clients like family and they focus on making their clients whole after their injury.

LeMaster & Ahmed PLLC, Attorneys at Law, encourages anyone who has been injured to fight back. They deserve a fair and equitable settlement for their injuries, their pain and suffering, their physical rehabilitation, their loss of income, and the impact their injuries will have for the rest of their lives. Learn more at: https://www.lalawtx.com/

LeMaster & Ahmed PLLC has announced that Rachel Anthony, a personal injury attorney, has recently joined their Houston area office of LeMaster & Ahmed PLLC. The law firm focuses on personal injury cases and has offices in The Woodlands, Texas and Plano, Texas.

Related link: https://www.lalawtx.com/

The Expansion of The Law Offices of Victoria Broussard: Bringing Humanity and Unbiased Practices to Central Texas Courts

AUSTIN, Texas /ScoopCloud/ -- The Law Offices of Victoria Broussard, a Houston-based law firm, today announced their return to Austin, and plans for expanding their practice across central Texas. The company launched in Austin in 2006 and relocated its office to Houston in 2014. Victoria Broussard, founder and CEO, took to the media this week to announce their return to Austin and plans to expand the offices. Full legal services are now available to residents of Austin, Houston, and the surrounding cities.

The Law Offices of Victoria Broussard is a privately owned business that has been established for 15 years. It opened its doors in 2006 in Austin, TX and moved its offices to Houston in 2014. Since Ms. Broussard's arrival in 1988, Austin has been her home base, and main focus when it comes to eliminating bias practices in the judicial system.

With the new expansion of staffing and service area, in Austin, Houston and surrounding cities, The Law Offices of Victoria Broussard is working to popularize bringing a transformative approach to the judicial system, incorporating authenticity and fairness with clients from all walks of life.

To learn more about the practice visit: https://www.broussardlegal.com/

About CEO/Founder Victoria Broussard:

Victoria Broussard is a graduate from the University of Texas and Thurgood Marshall School of Law and is widely known as a prolific speaker, author, and advocate for survivors of childhood sexual trauma and domestic violence. Along with her efforts to transform our society's handling of the legal system by keeping our shared humanity as the focus, Ms. Broussard is in the process of re-releasing her previously published book "i-Comfortable Victim." This book covers the story of her life told through a fictional lens, bringing a unique awareness to challenging topics such as childhood sexual trauma, domestic violence, and the immeasurable psychological damage these events cause and how to integrate the experience to ultimately achieve healing and wholeness.

A statement from Victoria Broussard: "The Law Offices of Victoria Broussard is thankful to establish and build their client base in both Austin and Houston as they continue to expand the team and create a narrative of thought leadership that aims to arrest biases and unfair treatment in the judicial system at all levels, while simultaneously elevating our collective consciousness."

The Law Offices of Victoria Broussard, a Houston-based law firm, today announced their return to Austin, and plans for expanding their practice across central Texas. The company launched in Austin in 2006 and relocated its office to Houston in 2014.

Related link: https://www.broussardlegal.com/

SECDEF Urged to Protect Troops from Sexual Assault Through Equity Boards

WASHINGTON, D.C. /ScoopCloud/ -- The Washington D.C., metropolitan-based law firm of Jordan Guydon, LLP, announced today a plan to reduce sexual assault and harassment in the military. "Our plan recommends that Secretary of Defense Austin update 75-year-old architecture," said managing partner Attorney Daryle A. Jordan, a former Army lawyer and veteran of the Gulf War.

Former Army lawyer Colonel Howard G. Cooley, USA (Ret.), recommends Secretary Austin empower Pentagon Boards for Correction of Military Records (BCMRs) to strongly prevent sexual assault and harassment before they occur; and promote fair adjudication of sexual harassment and assault claims by appointing an exponentially expanded pool of qualified civilian adjudicators.

Cooley and Jordan recommend Secretary Austin direct each Pentagon Service Secretary to establish a sub-BCMR entity designated as a BCMR Equity Panel (for Gender, Racial and Cultural Equity) - applying criteria to adjudicate sexual assault; sexual harassment; discrimination based on gender and sexual orientation; discrimination based on race, national origin, ethnicity, culture, and religion; and discrimination based on historical marginalization. Cooley and Jordan propose BCMR Equity Panels protect Servicemembers from sexually-based harassment, stalking, attempted attacks, offensive touching, or other harmful actions and consequences including depression, PTSD, fear, venereal disease, pregnancy, broken bones, retaliation and career damage.

Cooley notes, "Waiting for Servicemembers to be attacked before acting is not an option, as it would be unreasonable for the military to process 'red-tape' when 'vulnerable or marginalized' women and some other Servicemembers are under assault by lascivious superiors and co-workers in a culture of violence."

Cooley continues, "Thus, if a Servicemember is so pressured and the military's bureaucracy is unresponsive, the Service BCMR Equity Panel acts on behalf of the Secretary concerned as a 'safety valve,' upon contact by the victim; and prevents imminent harm such as by changing the records of Servicemembers to reflect reassignment and direct immediate compliance with that order, within 24-hours."

Cooley and Jordan recommend BCMR Equity Panels apply the standards and spirit of relevant laws and policies, including President Biden's Executive Order on Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government (January 20, 2021), and advance equity for all, including and especially the historically underserved and marginalized by or as follows:

* Designation by each Service of a BCMR Panel for Gender, Racial and Cultural Equity Issues (GRACE Panel), consisting of civilian legal, human relations, and other personnel appropriate for such duty, with the responsibility to ensure their decisions promote orderly personnel management.

* Elimination of preordained caps on the number of BCMR Board members, and appointment of globally based qualified members in accordance with the needs of Servicemembers, complexity of cases, and other considerations. The Equity Panel membership should be diverse and include members from the Senior Executive Service (SES). Appointments may be involuntary, temporary, extra-duty, part-time, full-time, voluntary or otherwise, at the direction or approval of the Secretary concerned.

* Designation in each Service of a highly trained BCMR Equity Panel, consisting of a standing civilian body of at least 600 members (200 panels) and reserve civilian body of at least 240 members (80 panels).

* Exercise broad authority to act on behalf of the Service Secretary, including transferring Applicants out of harm's way temporarily or permanently to prevent apparent, threshold, imminent or actual mental, physical or career injury, when it is determined DOD and Service protective procedures are inadequate. The Equity Panel's jurisdiction includes acts pertaining to an Applicant's superiors, colleagues, installation, or off-post sites reasonably related to the military.

* Report incidents to the Office of the Assistant Secretary (Manpower and Reserve Affairs) concerned for any appropriate disposition, consistent with existing laws.

* Consistent with the legislative history of the BCMR Statute, Board members shall personally review case materials, and decide each case through the exercise of independent and fair judgment based on a sound application of the legal, broadest equitable and remedial standards in a timely manner. Board members will not delegate decisional authority, in fact or appearance, to staff. Staff may conduct research, prepare administrative orders or draft Board decisions upon receiving explicit direction in writing from the chair of the panel or Board president or vice president. Staff, however, may not participate in the Board's adjudicational process regarding petitions.

* All commands shall cooperate with BCMR Equity Panels.

* This directive does not impact any Presidential, Congressional, judicial, DOD, Military Department or any other action that modifies/alters or declines to modify/alter case disposition under the UCMJ.

Jordan explains, "In 1945, as 16-million Servicemembers demobilized upon the end of WWII, a public angry over the military's mistreatment of many Servicemembers during the war demanded an immediate remedy from Congress, the sole body correcting military records since 1789." Jordan observes further, "In response, Congress materially changed the military records process to respond to public demands, and avoid potentially large numbers of post-WWII requests for correction of military records from clogging Congress' legislative focus on a possible WWIII with atomic implications and the restoration of the world economy." Thus, Cooley notes, "Congress delegated its authority to correct military records under the constitutional War Powers provision to Service Secretaries through newly established BCMRs, vesting in them more equitable power possessed by the U.S Supreme Court and federal courts, including the amazing ability to change facts in the record upon which to compel legal relief."

Commenting further, Jordan observes, "The touchstone of the BCMR process, however, is civilian employees appointed by their Service Secretaries exercise objective and independent review over personnel decisions by the military." Jordan observes, however, that, "By 1996, management consultant Booz Allen Hamilton's independent study advised DOD and Congress that the ABCMR functioned with a 'lack of independence' and an appearance as a mere 'rubber stamp' of the actual decisions by the staff."

Jordan states, "The ABCMR's failure of independent judgment was confirmed in 2016 by Attorney Sara Dareshori, then Human Rights Watch's Senior Counsel, who stamped the ABCMR with the momentous characterization as a nonresponsive 'graveyard' for marginalized female Servicemembers seeking vindication of their rights regarding sexual assault and retaliatory discharge through a process in which the ABCMR routinely and erroneously rejected their petitions in a mere 4 to 5-minute span without adequate review of the case materials."

Cooley further observes, "In 2018, the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Review Boards (DASA) informed the Military Personnel Subcommittee of Congress' House Armed Services Committee (HASC) the ABCMR had a history of adjudicating many cases by focusing on eliminating its high case backlog in the thousands [nearly 14,000 at the time] at the expense of doing justice for Servicemembers petitioning for relief." Additionally, the DASA represented the ABCMR would correct its course; however, Cooley and Jordan who "do not question the DASA's good-faith, but question the time it will take to reverse that extensive institutional damage tantamount to the loss of decisional integrity."

CONTACTS:

HOWARD G. COOLEY | Colonel, USA (Ret.) | Of Counsel | DARYLE A. JORDAN | Managing Partner |

JORDANGUYDON LLP | Attorneys at Law | 10560 Main Street (Mosby Tower), Suite 310, Fairfax, VA 22030 | Desk: 703.865.8699 | Fax: 703.865.8729 | Email: hcooley@jordanguydonlaw.com

Website: http://jordanguydonlaw.com/

The Washington D.C., metropolitan-based law firm of Jordan Guydon, LLP, announced today a plan to reduce sexual assault and harassment in the military. "Our plan recommends that Secretary of Defense Austin update 75-year-old architecture," said managing partner Attorney Daryle A. Jordan, a former Army lawyer and veteran of the Gulf War.

Related link: http://jordanguydonlaw.com/

Lincoln Law School of San Jose Launches New Website

SAN JOSE, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- Lincoln Law School of San Jose is proud to announce that its newly designed website launched on January 25, 2021, after several months of working on its development. Their old site was perfectly functional, but this much-needed refresh will help students, potential students, faculty, and supporters to gain more from Lincoln's online presence.

Dean Laura Palazzolo had this to say about the new, easier to use site: "Lincoln Law School is a hidden gem for those seeking a high quality, affordable legal education. It is our hope that this new website will make it easier for people to find and take advantage of the extraordinary opportunities Lincoln has to offer."

In addition to the sleek new design, the site has moved from the old URL to LincolnLawSchool.edu. This new domain removes the geographical limitations associated with the old URL. Ideally, removing the locational reference will help draw in students from beyond the local area, with Lincoln's law-related courses reaching across the country and in time even around the world. The new URL has the added benefit of being smoother, more descriptive, and more memorable.

The new website design falls in line with Lincoln's mission to make legal education more accessible. It is faster and easier to navigate. The upgrades will help site visitors find the information they need more quickly and offer ample opportunity to get in touch with admissions staff in case other questions arise.

With all that's going on in the world leading to a heavier reliance on online resources, it was a perfect time to ensure that Lincoln's website visitors have the best possible user experience. Associate Dean Nick F. Forooghi had this to say about the new site: "Our new website and URL offer not only a great new look and feel but superior functionality and technology to provide forward-looking remote services to all our constituents; including our students, faculty, alumni and new visitors and applicants."

The new site was designed by Lincoln's marketing department, answering to Associate Dean Nick F. Forooghi, in collaboration with consulting firm Solid Vision Consulting, LLC and marketing firm Solutionarian.

The new website and URL simply provides a better, more modern web presence to support Lincoln Law School of San Jose's continued commitment to providing an affordable, accessible law education that emphasizes real-world applications.

About Lincoln Law School of San Jose:

Lincoln Law School of San Jose's mission is to make legal education affordable, and accessible to adults whose personal commitments or full-time careers might otherwise preclude them from pursuing a graduate-level degree. Lincoln's professors are working lawyers and judges who provide Lincoln students with hands-on, real-world experience. Learn more: https://www.lincolnlawschool.edu/

Lincoln graduates go on to become valuable contributors to the San Jose community as members of the judiciary, lawyers, and public servants. Lincoln welcomes students of all ages from all walks of life who are ready to use their Lincoln education to make the world a better place. Last fall, Lincoln Law celebrated its 100-year anniversary.

Lincoln Law School of San Jose is proud to announce that its newly designed website launched on January 25, 2021, after several months of working on its development. Their old site was perfectly functional, but this much-needed refresh will help students, potential students, faculty, and supporters to gain more from Lincoln's online presence.

Related link: https://www.lincolnlawsj.edu/

NJWeedman Responds to New Jersey Governor’s Request for Dismissal in Ed Forchion vs. Phil Murphy Cannabis Case

TRENTON, N.J. /ScoopCloud/ -- Veteran marijuana activist Ed "NJWeedman" Forchion put New Jersey under the cannabis microscope late last year when he challenged the state's newly passed marijuana legalization laws with a lawsuit directed at Governor Phil Murphy (Case 3:20-cv-16582-PGS-TJB FORCHION v. MURPHY at: http://njweedman.com/Federal_Cannabis_lawsuit.pdf ).

In response to the governor's recently filed request for the lawsuit's dismissal (http://www.njweedman.com/Federal_Cannabis_Lawsuit_Murphy_REPLY.pdf) , Forchion's attorney, John Vincent Saykanic, Esq. has filed a 78-page complaint for declaratory and injunctive relief (http://www.njweedman.com/Federal_Cannabis_Lawsuit_Njweedman_Response.pdf). Governor Murphy, represented by the Attorney General of New Jersey Gurbir S. Grewal, requested the dismissal claiming in defense that he has not officially signed the state's pending Regulated Cannabis Act. Peter G. Sheridan, United States District Judge for the District of New Jersey has elected to hear oral arguments on February 17, 2021.

Forchion has accused the state of baiting New Jersey citizens into voting for the legalization of a corporate, Caucasian run cannabis industry, under the guise of legalizing marijuana. Forchion notes that under the current developing legislation, marijuana would still be illegal and in fact, criminalized, in underserved communities. Boldly fighting for inclusion and equality for marginalized vendors who are being excluded in the legalization marketplace, Forchion's arguments champion what he defines as the "existing underground marketeers that currently provide 90% of the marijuana consumed in the state."

"I'm demanding small businesses like myself, which ironically are the backs the current industry is built upon, be granted concessions that are due to us based on the well documented history of our marijuana related prosecution across this country. Now, corporations and state politicians are attempting to write us out of this multibillion-dollar industry, and my lawsuit documents and challenges the complicity of these efforts," expresses Forchion. "Considering that Governor Murphy has not yet signed the Regulated Cannabis Act that I am contesting, will he further delay signing it while this case proceeds? And if so, where does that leave the thousands of citizens who voted for legalization?"

Forchion, a cannabis cult figure, has rallied for fair representation and legalization for over three decades now. In 2016, his lawyer, Attorney Saykanic, filed Forchion's case challenging the state of New Jersey before the United States Supreme Court regarding pertinent issues pertaining to reefer, racial discrimination and religion.

"I have always believed in Forchion's legal battles. Since his first arrest in 1997 to his current Citizen Dispensary located across the street for Trenton City Hall, Forchion has never backed down from the systemic racial discrepancies inherit in the structuring of the cannabis legalization industry. This lawsuit may redefine how legalization will ultimately play out in New Jersey. Forchion is controversial yes, but his insight, arguments, and academic understanding of the languaging of law are proving to stand the test of time. Many of us are just now beginning to fully realize the impact of concerns he has espoused for decades now," notes Attorney Saykanic.

In his lawsuit, filed in November 2020, Forchion sought to have the "Court declare unconstitutional and invalid the application and implementation of the 'Constitutional Amendment to Legalize Marijuana.'" Forchion asserted that the Regulated Cannabis Act, as the amendment is referred to in the lawsuit, "deprives him of equal protection and due process under the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution as it subjects him to selective prosecution."

Forchion also noted that the state unfairly allows Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act (CUMMA) dispensaries to possess large amounts of marijuana in violation of federal law while prosecuting individuals such as himself. Forchion has had numerous marijuana related prosecutions brought against him by the State of New Jersey, including a pending matter.

Forchion further proposed that voters were duped into believing that they were voting to legalize marijuana, while unwittingly sanctioning a cannabis industry which only grants legalization to a majority of Caucasian owned corporate entities while criminalizing many individuals of color, who in effect will not be granted similar access to grow, sale and distribute. Comparing the pending legislation to the 1990's cocaine vs. crack dilemma, Forchion cites how the State is subtly creating a distinction between illegal "marijuana" supplied by vendors like him, versus state 'regulated cannabis' sold by majority Caucasian owned and operated corporations.

New Jersey's cannabis legislature has come under increasingly mounting criticism with the state publicly criticized for attempting to push through a corporatized cannabis culture with not enough regard for the constituents that voted it through. The state seemingly hangs in yet further limbo as the Governor may now delay full legislative passage per Forchion's unprecedented filing. News of longtime New Jersey resident, Rohan Marley, and son of reggae legend Bob Marley, entering the market with his Lightshade retail site offers inspiring signs of hope, however.

In the past, Forchion has been vehemently retaliated against by the State of New Jersey. In 2002, he was jailed for advocating the legalization of marijuana. Forchion was held at the Burlington County Jail for over five months when United States District Court Federal Judge Joseph E. Irenas, U.S.D.J., hearing his civil rights suit, agreed that the state had violated Forchion's First Amendment right to advocate marijuana's legalization and ordered him to be released.

In 2016, Forchion and his partner, Debi Madaio, had their restaurant, NJWeedman's Joint, raided by Mercer County law enforcement authorities on marijuana dealing charges. Forchion was held without bail for 447 days due to the retaliatory charge of witness tampering. He was acquitted by a jury and all charges were dismissed with no convictions.

Media, legislature, politicians and cannabis activists and supporters worldwide are taking close heed of this case as it maneuvers the smoky realms of legalization. Find out more about Ed "NJWeedman" Forchion at https://linktr.ee/NJWeedman .

MEDIA CONTACT
Makeda Smith
Jazzmyne Public Relations
makeda@jazzmynepr.com
323-380-8819

PHOTO LINK for media: https://www.Send2Press.com/300dpi/21-0203s2p-nj-weedman-300dpi.jpg

CAPTION: Ed "NJWeedman" Forchion (first image) is fighting for inclusion and equality for marginalized vendors who are being excluded in the cannabis legalization marketplace. Forchion champions for the existing underground suppliers that currently provide 90% of the marijuana consumed in his state. Second image, left to right: Governor Phil Murphy; Senator Nicholas P. Scutari; Ed "NJWeedman" Forchion, the 'elephant in the room'; Scott Rudder, former Republican state legislator; and Senator Stephen M. Sweeney. Graphic art by Clemente "Sketch" Aused Jr./ @pleaseb_thechange

Veteran marijuana activist Ed "NJWeedman" Forchion put New Jersey under the cannabis microscope late last year when he challenged the state's newly passed marijuana legalization laws with a lawsuit directed at Governor Phil Murphy (Case 3:20-cv-16582-PGS-TJB FORCHION v. MURPHY).

Related link: https://www.facebook.com/NJWEEDMAN