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.
If you are injured on the job in California and you need to travel to a doctor’s office, therapy office, a pharmacy to pick up medication, or to a law office to attend a deposition, the insurance carrier has to reimburse you for your mileage. The medical mileage rate for 2026 is 72.5 cents per …
Temporary disability is a workers’ compensation benefit that acts as a substitute for lost wages, replacing what the employee would have earned if the occupational injury had not occurred. These benefits are only paid if the insurance company agrees that the injury is work-related. If the injury is found to have occurred outside the scope …
Crime victims leave in California is time off from work granted to you if you or a family member is the victim of a crime. The purpose of this time off is to attend a judicial proceeding related to your case or any other proceeding where your rights are at issue, such as a sentencing …
California state and federal employment laws require employers to pay employees not less than minimum wage and pay overtime for work over a certain number of hours. Under federal law, employers who fail to properly compensate employees are liable to employees for double damages.1 Below, our California labor and employment law attorneys discuss the following …
In California, non-exempt employees must be paid on a wage and hourly basis because their job duties do not fall within an overtime exemption. It is not uncommon for some workers to get misclassified as exempt when they should be non-exempt. These workers may be able to sue their employer for unpaid wages, as well as interest, …
If you are employed in California, you have the legal right to compensation if your employer violates wage and hour laws. You can bring a labor board complaint, file a wage/hour lawsuit in California court, or join a wage/hour class action. Overview of California wage and hour laws for non-exempt employees Minimum Wage $16.90 for …
WARN Act — Protection from Mass Layoffs in CaliforniaWatch this video on YouTube The California WARN Act (short for Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act) is a regulation that requires covered employers to provide workers and local government officials with at least 60 days’ notice before one of the following three triggering events: WARN Act …
California Tip Laws — Can my employer take my gratuities?Watch this video on YouTube California law lets you keep any tips that you earn. Your employer may not offset your tips against your regular wages, and they must pay all credit card processing fees on tips. Tip pooling is lawful in California as long as …
Under California labor laws, you are entitled to reimbursement for travel expenses or losses directly related to your job. If your employer tries to shortchange you or fails to reimburse you for work-related travel expenses, you may be able to recover compensation by filing a claim or lawsuit. Below, our California labor and employment attorneys …
Regular rate of pay in California — 3 things workers need to knowWatch this video on YouTube In California, your regular rate of pay is generally your total earnings divided by the total number of hours worked in a workweek. It is used to calculate overtime pay for non-exempt workers, which is one-and-a-half times the regular …
Top 5 grounds for a "wage and hour" lawsuitWatch this video on YouTube If your employer has violated California wage and hour laws, you may find that your best option is to initiate a lawsuit. Bringing a claim against a current or former employer can be stressful and confusing. Our California employment lawyers are here …
Playlist: Penal Code 422 PC "Criminal Threats" in California — Elements of the Crime, Penalties if Convicted, and Legal DefensesWatch this playlist on YouTube California Penal Code § 422 PC forbids making criminal threats. These are threats of death or great bodily injury that place victims in reasonable and sustained fear for their safety or …
California Penal Code 647 PC: Disorderly ConductWatch this video on YouTube California Penal Code § 647 PC makes disorderly conduct a misdemeanor carrying up to six months in jail and/or $1,000. Disorderly conduct comprises such behaviors as lewd conduct in public, prostitution, panhandling, public intoxication, squatting, loitering, invasion of privacy, and revenge porn. Examples of …
If you have been arrested for theft, burglary, or trespassing in an area affected by a recent emergency, you are no longer facing standard charges. As of January 1, 2026, California has enacted a tougher version of Penal Code § 463. Prosecutors are under pressure to crack down on “looting,” and the new definition is …
Penal Code § 466 PC makes it a crime to possess burglary tools with the intent of breaking into a dwelling, structure, automobile, or watercraft. Burglary tools may include picklocks, crowbars, screwdrivers, and slide hammers. A conviction is a misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in the county jail and fines of up to …
Penal Code 646.9 PC – California Criminal "Stalking" LawsWatch this video on YouTube Under Penal Code § 646.9 PC, stalking becomes a criminal offense in California if you follow, harass, and threaten someone to the point that the person fears for their safety. Stalking can be charged as a misdemeanor or a felony. A conviction …
Penal Code 538d PC makes it a misdemeanor offense to impersonate (pretend to be) a police officer. This often includes wearing a police uniform or displaying a fake badge. A conviction is punishable by up to one year in jail and a fine of up to $2000. PC 538d states that “Any person other than one who …
Gross Vehicular Manslaughter While Intoxicated – Penal Code 191.5(a) PCWatch this video on YouTube In California, the crime of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated is causing a fatal accident by driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs and with gross negligence. A conviction is a felony punishable by four, six, or 10 years in prison …
The executive exemption refers to the California employment law that certain wage and hour rules do not apply to certain executive employees. These include the entitlement to a minimum wage, overtime pay, and rest and meal breaks. For example, an “executive” is not entitled to extra pay for working over 40 hours in a single …
As of January 1, 2026, California employers must compensate their computer professional employees with an annual salary of $122,573.13 or more to be exempt from overtime pay. If paid hourly, computer professionals must receive at least $58.85 an hour to be exempt. In addition, these professionals must perform specific work duties to qualify as exempt employees. …
"When does my boss owe me "back pay" in California?" — Top Labor Law Attorney ExplainsWatch this video on YouTube In California, back pay is unpaid wages for work you performed during a previous pay period. Back pay, also called “back wages,” is typically paid in a lump sum or added to your next regular …
Overtime Exemptions — Exempt vs. Non-Exempt EmployeesWatch this video on YouTube Under California law, exempt employees generally have a white-collar job, get paid a salary rather than an hourly wage, and are not entitled to wage and hour laws protections such as overtime pay or meal breaks and rest breaks. In California for 2026, exempt …
As of January 1, 2026, the current minimum wage in California is $16.90 per hour. It is illegal for California employers to pay workers less than the minimum wage. If your employer violates minimum wage laws, you can bring a labor board complaint or a wage and hour lawsuit. If the violation affects numerous employees, …
California overtime (OT) laws require non-exempt employees to earn one-and-a-half times their regular rate of pay when they work extra hours. In some cases, employees receive double-time pay for working overtime. This chart illustrates when you are entitled to overtime and double-time pay: OT pay Work that triggers OT pay for non-exempt employees in California …
How to File a Lawsuit for Unpaid WagesWatch this video on YouTube In California, workers can bring an unpaid wage claim to recover earnings that an employer owes them but has failed to pay. Unpaid wage claims can be brought through: the California Division of Labor Standards Enforcement, a federal agency, or a court via a …