New 2016 California Laws: A Primer

Prepared by Pelayo A. Llamas, Jr. Pelayo Llamas is a senior deputy with the Oakland City Attorney’s office and an ACBA Board member. He is a 2015-2017 At Large Member of the Judiciary Council’s statewide Bench Bar Coalition (BBC) Executive Committee. The BBC is composed of judges and leaders of local and statewide bar associations […]

Trial Evidence, Part 11: Using Character Evidence for “Non-character” Purposes

California Evidence Code section 1101(b) and its federal counterpart, FRE 404(b), allow the attorney to offer into evidence similar behavior of a person or entity if “relevant to prove some fact (such as motive, opportunity….) other than his or her disposition to commit such an act.” In doing so, these rules provide both significant opportunity […]

I Just Bought a Bottle of Paul Newman Salad Dressing!

Many businesses promise their customers to devote some percentage of the business’s revenue or profits, or some fixed amount per purchase, to worthy or charitable causes. Sometimes, this is motivated by genuine humanitarian instincts. Sometimes, it is merely a marketing device. Often, the altruistic motivations blend together with the advertising angle.