California Criminal Defense
Being arrested for a crime does not necessarily mean you will be convicted. Often we can help you get charges reduced or dismissed, and avoid jail and a criminal record.
California DUI
DUI arrests don't always lead to convictions in court. Police officer mistakes, faulty breathalyzers and crime lab errors may get your charges reduced or dismissed. Visit our California DUI page to learn more.
Lawsuits for Dangerous Drugs & Medical Devices
Shouse Law Group represents victims throughout the U.S. who suffered serious complications and injuries from dangerous drugs and failed medical devices.
California Personal Injury
If you've been injured in an accident, our personal injury lawyers will fight to get you compensation for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and even punitive damages.
California Penal Code § 18.5 PC specifies that the maximum misdemeanor jail sentence is 364 days. When a statute for a misdemeanor crime claims that the maximum penalty is one year, the most the defendant can be jailed for is 364 days – not 365 days. The full text of the statute reads as follows: …
California Labor Code § 2751 LC requires employers to put commission-based employment contracts in writing. They must also spell out what services you will render, how you will be paid, and how the commission is calculated. Frequently-Asked-Questions Does LC 2751 still apply if I am also getting wages? Yes. Any commission-based employment contract must be …
Labor Code 226.8 — Misclassification of EmployeesWatch this video on YouTube California Labor Code § 226.8 LC prohibits employers from knowingly and voluntarily misclassifying you as an independent contractor if you are an employee. Each violation carries a civil penalty of $5,000 to $15,000 paid to the LWDA (Labor and Workforce Development Agency). Meanwhile, if …
If you get terminated from your job in California, Labor Code § 202 requires your employer to provide your final paycheck that very day. If you voluntarily resign, you must receive your final paycheck on your last day of work if you give at least 72 hours of notice; otherwise, your employer has 72 hours to …
Labor Code § 204 requires California employers to pay their workers no less frequently than twice per month, and on paydays designated in advance (with some exceptions). Overtime wages must be paid by the second regular payday after the overtime work occurred. The full text of the statute reads as follows: 204. (a) All wages, other …
California law requires that most companies pay their workers at least twice per calendar month. But Labor Code 204.1 LC creates an exception in which car dealerships may pay commission wages to their salespeople just once a month. This payday must be scheduled in advance. The full text of the statute reads as follows: 204.1. …
California Labor Code § 210 requires employers to pay workers on time and, if they don’t, subjects them to late fees. A first-time violation of paying late carries a $100 penalty. But if the lateness is intentional – or if the employer has been late at least once before – then the penalty is a …
California Labor Code § 4650 requires workers’ compensation insurance companies to increase your temporary disability or permanent disability payments by 10% whenever they are late. This way, the insurer is incentivized to always pay you on time for fear of having to fork out hefty financial penalties. Frequently-Asked-Questions When do I get paid, and how …
Evidence Code § 970 EC sets forth the marital privilege in California evidence law. Also called “spousal privilege”, the marital privilege allows spouses not to testify against one another in court or other legal proceedings. But the marital privilege cannot stop spouses from testifying against each other if they choose to do so. The full text …
California Evidence Code § 1103 permits the defendant in a criminal case to introduce evidence attacking the victim’s character to prove that the victim’s conduct aligns with their character. Though defendants in sex assault cases cannot introduce evidence of victims’ sexual past as proof that they consented to the sex acts. The full text of …
California Wage Order 16 spells out the wage and hour laws for employees working on-site in either construction, drilling, mining, or logging. In addition, employers must provide seats where practicable, maintain reasonably comfortable indoor temperatures, and provide elevators or escalators to workers 60 feet above or 48 feet below ground level. Legal Analysis California Wage …
Penal Code § 193 PC defines the California penalties for manslaughter. Voluntary manslaughter carries 3, 6, or 11 years in prison. Involuntary manslaughter carries 2, 3, or 4 years in prison. Vehicular manslaughter carries up to 10 years, depending on the case. The full text of the statute reads as follows: 193. (a) Voluntary manslaughter …
An Accuretic lawsuit is a claim against Pfizer and Greenstone for selling high blood pressure drug quinapril HCl/hydrochlorothiazide, which may cause cancer from nitrosamine contamination. In this article, our mass tort attorneys discuss: 1. Which Pfizer blood pressure medications have been recalled? 2. Why is Accuretic being recalled? 3. Why should I do if I …
California Penal Code 12022.55 PC imposes an additional prison term of five, six, or 10 years when a person 1) shoots a gun from a car in the commission of a felony, and 2) causes great bodily injury or death. But if the shooter had no intention to kill or severely injure, then the court …
California Business & Professions Code 7028 BP makes it a misdemeanor to contract without a valid contractor’s license. A first-time conviction is punishable by up to six months in jail and/or $5,000 in fines. And defendants are liable to their victims for any economic losses and restitution. The full text of the statute reads as …
California Vehicle Code 27360.5 VC requires automobile drivers to ensure that their child passengers ages eight to 15 have seat belts on. But if the child’s parents or guardians are passengers in the car, the responsibility falls on them – and not the driver – to ensure the children are strapped in. The full text …
California Penal Code § 17235 PC defines a switchblade as a knife that resembles a pocketknife with a blade of 2 inches or longer that releases automatically by a flick of a button, pressure on the handle, a flip of the wrist, weight of the blade, or any other mechanism. It is a misdemeanor to …
Penal Code § 12020 PC is a repealed California statute that made it a crime to possess, sell, import, or manufacture certain generally prohibited weapons such as short-barreled rifles, ballistic knives, metal knuckles, and nunchucks. Although PC 12020 has been repealed, its laws have been re-codified as PC sections 16000 through 34370.1 The full text of …
California’s Civil Code § 1431.2 states that if multiple people are responsible for causing harm (tortfeasors), they are responsible for paying economic damages together. However, they are only responsible for paying noneconomic damages in proportion to their share of the fault individually. The full text of the statute reads as follows: 1431.2. (a) In any action …
Civil Code § 3040 CCP is the California statute that limits how much health insurance carriers can take from an accident victim’s personal injury settlement. The insurance company can recover the lesser of: the cost of medical services, one-third of the total settlement if the victim had an attorney, or one-half of the total settlement …
California Civil Code § 3480 defines a public nuisance as an activity on private property that annoys or endangers a considerable number of other people in the community. Failing to remove a public nuisance after receiving written notice is a misdemeanor carrying up to six months in jail and/or up to $1,000 in fines. The full …
Business & Professions Code § 2052 BPC prohibits the practice of medicine without being properly licensed by the Medical Board of California. The unauthorized practice of medicine can be charged as a misdemeanor carrying up to 1 year in jail and/or $1,000 in fines. Or it can be charged as a felony carrying a jail sentence …
California Vehicle Code § 22352 CVC sets the default speeding limit as 15 mph on any alley or during the last 100 feet of approaching a railway crossing or intersection. This section also sets the default speeding limit at 25 mph on any road or while passing a school or senior center. But this law …
Penal Code § 490.2 PC is the California statute that defines petty theft as stealing up to $950 worth of money, property, or labor. As a misdemeanor, petty theft is punishable by up to one year in jail and/or up to $1,000 in fines. The full text of the statute reads as follows: 490.2. (a) Notwithstanding …
Are you the victim of police misconduct or excessive force at the hands of law enforcement personnel and police officers? Our police misconduct attorneys can help. Police misconduct can take a variety of different forms, including unlawful detention, false arrest, and racial profiling. If you are a misconduct victim, you and your family members deserve …