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.
The Bard 3DMax and 3DMax Light Mesh are implantable hernia mesh products that are made by C.R. Bard. They are frequently used to treat inguinal hernias. Unique aspects about these devices, though, have made them especially dangerous to patients who have had them implanted. Men who have had the 3DMax or the 3DMax Light mesh …
Ventral hernia repair surgery is often conducted with the use of mesh implants, but these implants can cause injuries. If you have suffered an injury from a mesh implant, you may be eligible to file a hernia mesh lawsuit. Here, we discuss what a ventral hernia is. We also answer some of the more common …
"Sarbanes-Oxley" Whistleblower Protections for Employees in California — "Can I sue my boss?"Watch this video on YouTube The federal Sarbanes-Oxley Act, section 806, allows California employees to sue their employers in federal court if the employer wrongfully terminates or otherwise retaliates against them for reporting potential unlawful conduct.1 Unlike more general California whistleblower protection laws, Sarbanes-Oxley (often …
Reinstated After Wrongful Termination — Can I Get My Old Job Back?Watch this video on YouTube When a person is wrongfully terminated in violation of the California Labor Code, a remedy can sometimes include reinstatement. This is the restoration of your position after a wrongful termination. It can be granted as a result of a …
Updated March 7, 2022 Under California sexual harassment law, Civil Code 51.9, you have the right to sue if you are the victim of sexual harassment in the context of a business, service or professional relationship, including relationships such as Doctor-patient, Therapist-patient, Lawyer-client, Landlord-tenant, and Teacher-student.1 Most people are more familiar with sexual harassment (and non-sexual …
Under California labor laws, employees are eligible for paid sick leave. However, independent contractors are generally not given sick leave. Some employers illegally misclassify workers as independent contractors to avoid having to provide sick leave, overtime, and rest breaks. Below, our California wage and hour lawyers discuss the following frequently asked questions about lawsuits for …
It is against the law for your employer to discriminate against you based on your religious beliefs or practices. If you are discriminated against based on your religious creed, you can file a lawsuit against your employer for damages. Below, our California labor and employment law lawyers discuss the following frequently asked questions about lawsuits …
Under the California Fair Employment and Housing Act, it is illegal for an employer (or prospective employer) to fire you, fail to promote you, disqualify you, or otherwise discriminate against you because of your perceived or actual sexual orientation. If you suffered workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation, you can file a lawsuit against your …
Vacation Pay in California — 3 Things to Know About the LawWatch this video on YouTube California law does not mandate that employers provide any set amount of paid time off (PTO) or paid vacation days. However, if an employer provides vacation time as a matter of company policy, then you have a right to the …
If I am fired, does the company have to pay my final paycheck immediately?Watch this video on YouTube In California, employers are required to pay wages immediately if you get terminated or resign with 72 hours notice. Otherwise, employers are liable to pay a waiting time penalty equal to your daily rate of pay for …
In California, you can bring a claim for intentional infliction of emotional distress if someone’s outrageous conduct causes you to suffer emotional distress and it was done intentionally, or with a reckless disregard for its effect. A successful lawsuit can allow you to recover: compensatory damages and punitive damages. To help you better understand the …
Updated December 20, 2021 California workers’ compensation insurance companies send an employee certain form notifications when he/she suffers a work-related injury. These notifications inform injury victims of important events in a workers’ comp claim that affect benefits. Notices can relate to: injured worker rights, the filing of a workers’ comp claim, medical appointments and treatment, …
DUI Causing Injury — 4 Factors that Could Lead to a Longer Prison SentenceWatch this video on YouTube Vehicle Code § 23153 VC sets forth the California crime of DUI causing injury. You commit this offense if you drive a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, and while doing so, cause …
Health and Safety Code 11379.6 HS is the main statute that makes it illegal to operate a meth lab in the State of California. The law says that it is a criminal offense for you to manufacture methamphetamines or other narcotics. The crime is a serious felony that could lead to a state prison term …
California Penal Code 245(a)(4) PC makes it a crime to assault someone using such force that it is likely to cause the victim to suffer a “great bodily injury.” Under California law, an assault is an unlawful attempt to commit a violent injury on someone. No bodily harm has to occur for an assault to take …
Failure to appear for a traffic ticket? 5 legal consequences in CaliforniaWatch this video on YouTube The now-repealed statute Vehicle Code § 40509.5 VC allowed the State to put a hold on your driver’s license. Officers sometimes wrote this section as “405095 VC.” Under this statute, the DMV will put a hold on your driver’s …
California Penal Code § 247(b) PC makes it a crime to shoot a firearm at an unoccupied motor vehicle, an uninhabited building, or an uninhabited dwelling. The offense is a felony punishable by up to 3 years in jail or prison. The language of the code section states that: (b) Any person who discharges a …
The phrase “securities fraud” may bring to mind overpaid bankers who come up with complicated illegal schemes, make a huge amount of money, and then get sent to comfortable prisons for white-collar criminals after they get caught. But in fact, the reality for most people accused of California securities fraud crimes is very different. You …
Penal Code § 20170 PC states that “no person may openly display or expose any imitation firearm in a public place.” A first-offense violation is treated as an infraction punishable by a $100.00 fine. A second offense carries a $300.00 fine. A third or subsequent violation is punishable as a misdemeanor. An “imitation firearm” includes objects …
In California, a commutation is a type of executive clemency that reduces or eliminates a prisoner’s sentence. Inmates serving a jail or prison sentence can petition the California governor to commute their sentence. A governor’s commutation can also make a prisoner immediately eligible for parole. California’s Board of Parole Hearings will then determine whether the …
Penal Code 399.5 is the California statute that makes it a crime for a person to own a dog that is trained to fight, attack or kill, provided that he knows the dog is dangerous and: the dog bites a person, on two separate occasions or more, or the dog bites a person once and causes …
Possession of codeine in California without a valid prescription – or outside the prescription’s scope – is generally a misdemeanor that the court can dismiss if you do drug diversion. Though it is always a felony to transport, sell, or possess with the intent to sell codeine, and you cannot avoid incarceration through diversion. California …
"Overweight Vehicle" – Can you go to jail? (Vehicle Code 35551 VC)Watch this video on YouTube Vehicle Code § 35551a VC is the California statute that provides the weight limits for commercial vehicles. Operating a vehicle in excess of these limits is a misdemeanor offense punishable by up to six months in county jail, $1,000, …
Penal Code § 464 PC prohibits the burglary of a safe or vault. This occurs when someone enters a building with the intent to commit a crime inside and then uses a torch or explosives to blow open a vault, safe, or other secure place. A conviction is a felony that carries up to 7 years in …
Penal Code 262 PC – Can you be charged for raping a spouse in California?Watch this video on YouTube Penal Code § 262 PC is the former statute that made spousal rape a criminal offense in California. The law was repealed on October 8, 2021, by Assembly Bill 1171. Rape between spouses is now prosecuted …