Today, the California Supreme Court has issued its long-awaited ruling in the case of Sanchez v. Valencia Holding Company LLC with respect to the arbitration clause in the Form 553 CA ARB retail installment sale contract.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has again targeted automobile dealers for allegedly deceptive advertising. If you are familiar with the CNCDA’s 2015 Advertising Law Manual, authored by The Scali Law Firm, you already know that the FTC and other regulators are targeting dealers nationwide over advertising violations and your best bet is compliant advertising.

As anticipated, the California legislature has attempted to clean-up some loose ends left by the original paid sick leave law (AB 1522) which took effect on July 1^st. Although these changes may ultimately create some additional questions, it does provide clarity in some areas where employers were left guessing. Moreover, these changes provide some additional options and flexibility for certain elements of compliant policies.

This year has been busy for us. In addition to adding a San Diego presence, we moved our Los Angeles office, though not far.

In April, after retiring from his partnership, Robert D. Daniels joined The Scali Law Firm, Of Counsel, to continue to mentor young associates, assist Mr. Scali in handling the firm’s litigation and F&I compliance programs and advice and counsel.

The Scali Law Firm is pleased to announce that it’s own Dominique Nasr was selected by Super Lawyers Magazine as a 2015 Rising Star in the legal field of Employment and Labor.

Phishing techniques have become much more sophisticated, with hackers doing reconnaissance on their victims, targeting those in your organization that have access to confidential financial information or non-public, private information of customers. They cull data from the Internet and social media sites, such as LinkedIn, for tidbits of personal and professional information that can be used in making phishing emails look legitimate. They know where their victims work, whom they do business with, the names of their bosses, and email addresses. The tactic is called spear-phishing.  How do you protect against it?

A federal district court held that auto dealerships are not required to install hand controls in vehicles they offer for sale in their inventory to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act. This was the most recent in a series of victories of this type for auto dealers in California faced with these types of lawsuits. But this story isn’t over.  And we strongly urge you to discuss an appropriate course of action for your dealership with your automotive attorneys, because this issue will not be fully resolved for some time to come.

A sales manager is hauled away from the dealership in handcuffs with Department of Justice officials standing by. At his arraignment he is charged with several counts of fraud and grand theft auto. The local news media is all over this story and highlights the dealership in local coverage. Customers start complaining. Employees quit. Good times. What should you do if your employee is arrested/charged, but not convicted, of a serious crime, endangering your business' reputation?

The California Supreme Court says a prevailing employer in a discrimination, harassment or retaliation case under the Fair Employment and Housing Act cannot recover mere “costs” without a finding that the employee’s claim was frivolous.