For the fourth year, the California Civil Rights Department (“CRD”, formerly the Department of Fair Employment and Housing) is requiring employers with 100 or more employees to report pay, demographic, and other workforce data for employees assigned to California establishments and/or working within California.

Congress enacted the whistleblower protections of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (“Act”) to prohibit publicly traded companies from retaliating against employees who report what they reasonably believe to be instances of criminal fraud or securities law violations. Title 18 U. S. C. section 1514A(a) specifically provides that employers may not “discharge, demote, suspend, threaten, harass, or in any other manner discriminate against an employee in the terms and conditions of employment because of” protected whistleblowing activity.

In Estrada v. Royalty Carpet Mills, the California Supreme Court published its long-awaited decision regarding the trial court’s ability to dismiss or strike Private Attorneys General Act (“PAGA”) claims based on their “unmanageability.” Before discussing the opinion, it is important to first define some key terms.

In recognition of its continuing commitment to promoting diversity and inclusion within the firm and the broader community, Scali Rasmussen has been recognized by the Los Angeles Business Journal as a nominee for its Diversity, Equity + Inclusion Awards. The awards honor diversity, inclusion, and equity champions in the Los Angeles region for their ongoing efforts to advance diversity and inclusion in the workplace and business leadership while simultaneously creating an inclusive environment that enables diversity and equity to thrive. "It is truly an honor to shine the spotlight on these terrific leaders and organizations within the Los Angeles Business community," says the publisher.

Dalton Motors continued its U.S. expansion with the acquisition of a Hyundai franchise in National City in Southern California on January 31.

Buyers of ultra-luxury cars have high expectations, not just of the car and the customer experience, but also the dealership. From the interior materials used to including storage space for clients’ cars, ultra-luxury dealership facilities must create the right environment for their wealthy clientele.

Customer experience is important to all dealerships, but with ultra-luxury brands that takes on a unique dimension. Ultra-luxury brands rely on exceptional events that create and maintain a sense of community among clients and bond them to the dealership. Such bonds are crucial to a dealership’s success.

Ultra-luxury franchises don’t come on the market often, and valuing one involves special considerations that often don’t apply to other auto franchises, say Willie Beck and Todd Berko, managing partners at Bel Air Partners. That’s because ultra-luxury automotive brands are in a league of their own.

In 2023, the California and Federal courts of appeal published opinions on several cases impacting consumers and manufacturers/distributors of consumer products. Of note, the Ninth Circuit held in two cases that a consumer’s false and misleading label claims were preempted by the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, a victory of sorts for manufacturers. In addition, a California Court of Appeal published an opinion giving manufacturers of consumer products a potential defense to Proposition 65 claims.

If a defendant’s anti-SLAPP motion is granted, plaintiff will be required to pay defendant’s attorney’s fees incurred in bringing the motion. Thus, the anti-SLAPP motion is an effective tool to thwart improper lawsuits challenging a party’s First Amendment rights. In 2023, the courts of appeal published numerous opinions relating to the anti-SLAPP motions in a variety of contexts.