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.
It is against the law for an employer to discriminate against you based on sex or gender. It is also against the law for an employer to pay you and a co-worker of the opposite sex different wages for equal work. If you are discriminated against based on gender, you can file a lawsuit against …
A conditional offer of employment is a job offer contingent on you first meeting certain conditions or requirements before starting the job. The conditions often include successfully passing certain aptitude tests, background checks, drug screenings, or a physical exam. Conditional job offers may also have time limits for meeting the qualifications. If an employer makes …
Crime victims leave in California is time off from work granted to you if you are 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 hearing. You can use …
Under the California Fair Employment and Housing Act, it is against the law for employers to discriminate against a protected class of employees or job applicants. Common protected categories include race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, and age. Common types of discrimination include firing, demoting, or denying promotions to employees. Here are five key …
The California Fair Employment and Housing Act prohibits both sexual harassment and non-sexual harassment in the workplace.1 Non-sexual workplace harassment means a hostile work environment in which an employee is harassed on the basis of categories such as: Race, Religion, National origin or ancestry, Disability, Immigration status, Sexual orientation or gender identity, and/or Age.2 California …
Promotion Discrimination — "How Do I Prove It?"Watch this video on YouTube Promotion discrimination is a type of workplace discrimination whereby an employee is passed over for promotion for an unlawful reason, such as the person’s race, religion, sexual orientation, disability or age. Below, our California labor and employment law attorneys address frequently asked questions about …
The California False Claims Act (CFCA) protects California workers with: the right to file a “qui tam” lawsuit against an employer who is committing fraud, theft or embezzlement with respect to government funds,1 and whistleblower protection if an employee reports or tries to stop the theft of government funds by their employer.2 Qui tam suits A “qui tam” …
Bereavement Leave in California — 3 Things to KnowWatch this video on YouTube The California Family Rights Act (CFRA) guarantees you (if eligible) five days of unpaid bereavement leave from work after the death of your: Spouse or domestic partner, Child, Parent, Sibling, Grandparent, Grandchild, and/or Parent-in-law. Your employer must also permit you to use …
Workplace bullying in California — "When can I sue?"Watch this video on YouTube Workplace bullying is defined as repeated, degrading mistreatment at work. Examples of bullying include: use of verbal abuse and epithets, intimidating or humiliating behavior, including offensive jokes, interference with the victim’s work that is unrelated to the employer’s legitimate business interests, or …
California law forbids employers from retaliating against non-citizen employees just because they raise legitimate concerns about illegal employment practices or unsafe workplaces. Employers are not allowed to contact ICE to get back at you for reporting these kinds of wage and hour violations. It is illegal for an employer to do so, and as a …
California law does not require employers to offer paid time off for jury service. That said, if a company has a stated policy of allowing a certain number of paid days off for jury service, then it has an obligation to act in accordance with its policy. Moreover, workers are entitled to use accrued vacation …
Labor Code § 512 requires California employers to give unpaid lunch breaks to non-exempt employees. Lunch breaks must be uninterrupted. Employers cannot require employees to do any work while on their lunch breaks. They also cannot discourage employees from taking one. However, the employer and employee can agree to waive the meal break if the worker’s …
Literacy education leave is time off work granted to an adult employee who reveals that he or she has a problem with illiteracy. Illiteracy is: the condition of being unable to, or have great difficulty with, reading and writing. Employee Literacy Education Assistance Act Time off from work as a result of illiteracy is granted …
5 situations when you CANNOT be fired without a good reasonWatch this video on YouTube California is an “at-will” state in terms of employment law, which means that most jobs can be terminated by the employer (as well as the employee) at any time. It is not necessary that there be a reason given for …
Under California employment law, quid pro quo workplace sexual harassment occurs when a supervisor implicitly or explicitly requests a sexual favor in exchange for a job-related benefit such as a promotion, increased pay, or a favorable performance evaluation. Quid pro quo is one of the two major forms of harassment included in the legal definition …
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 …
Maternity Leave in California — "When is it required?"Watch this video on YouTube California maternity leave laws require companies with at least five employees to provide 12 weeks of unpaid family leave to new parents and up to four months of unpaid pregnancy disability leave if you are unable to work due to pregnancy-related conditions …
Back pay is defined as unpaid wages for work performed during a previous pay period. This can occur due to various reasons, such as: Retroactive pay increases: If your pay rate is increased, and the effective date is set in the past, the difference between the old and new rates for the time worked during …
Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) in California Labor Law — "When does it apply?"Watch this video on YouTube The Family and Medical Leave (FMLA) law allows you (if your employer has at least 50 employees) to take up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave in a 12-month period in order to: be a caregiver …
California has a “ban the box” law that prohibits employers with five or more employees from inquiring into your criminal history before making a conditional offer of employment. Even after making an offer of employment, an employer cannot deny you because of a conviction without making an individualized assessment. California law still prohibits employers from …
TOP 5 grounds to sue for wrongful terminationWatch this video on YouTube California is an at-will state, which means your boss can fire you at any time for no reason at all. However, there are exceptions: You can sue your employer for wrongful termination if you are let go due to either: breach of contract, …
Under California law, a hostile work environment is defined as offensive or harassing behavior that prevents you from comfortably carrying out your job duties. Some common examples include sexual harassment, bullying, threats, physical altercations or racial slurs. Hostile work environments share similarities with workplace discrimination and quid pro quo sexual harassment, though there are differences: …
It is against the law for an employer to discriminate against you based on your race or ethnicity. If you are discriminated against or harassed based on race or ethnicity, you can file a lawsuit against your employer for damages. Below, our California labor and employment law attorneys discuss the following frequently asked questions about …
Arbitration Agreements for California Workers — "Are they enforceable?"Watch this video on YouTube California law permits employers not to hire you if you refuse to sign an arbitration agreement. An arbitration agreement is where you waive your right to sue in the event of a dispute. Here are five key things to know: Arbitration is …
California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) requires your workplace to be free of both sexual harassment and non-sexual harassment. Common examples of workplace harassment example include: A colleague making sexually-charged jokes about your body or showing you vulgar pictures Your supervisor asking to trade sexual acts for work benefits Your co-workers bullying you over …