Tag: featured

Labor & Employment

Ninth Circuit Withdraws its Decision on California’s “AB 51” Arbitration Law

Written by Te’Aira Law and Gary McLaughlin California Assembly Bill 51 (“AB 51”), codified as California Labor Code section 432.6 and California Government Code section 12953, was signed by Governor Newsom in 2019 and went into effect January 1, 2020.  AB 51 prohibits California employers from requiring employees to agree to mandatory arbitration as a condition of employment. In early 2020, multiple business associations, including the … Continue reading Ninth Circuit Withdraws its Decision on California’s “AB 51” Arbitration Law

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Intellectual Property

MSK Obtains Win for Activision in Battle Over Use of the Title “Warzone”

Written by Lindsay R. Edelstein On August 15, 2022, in Activision Publishing, Inc. v. Warzone.com, LLC, Judge Fernando L. Aenlle-Rocha of the Central District of California granted Activision’s motion to dismiss Defendant Warzone.com, LLC’s counterclaim alleging trademark infringement, unfair competition, and false advertising under the Lanham Act and California law.  The Court also granted Activision’s motion for judgment on the pleadings, finding that Activision’s use of the … Continue reading MSK Obtains Win for Activision in Battle Over Use of the Title “Warzone”

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Labor & Employment

Measure to Repeal PAGA Qualifies for 2024 California General Election Ballot

Written by Jeremy Mittman On July 22, 2022, the California Secretary of State announced that a measure to repeal the Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA), which authorizes aggrieved employees to file lawsuits on behalf of themselves, other employees, and the State of California for Labor Code violations, is qualified for the statewide ballot in November 2024. The proposed initiative, titled the “Labor Code Fair Pay … Continue reading Measure to Repeal PAGA Qualifies for 2024 California General Election Ballot

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COVID-19, Labor & Employment

Hollywood Extends “Return to Work” COVID-19 Protocol Agreement Through September

Written by Jeremy Mittman Hollywood’s unions and producers extended their Return-to-Work agreement through September 30, 2022 amidst surging COVID-19 cases in Los Angeles.  The initial agreement between the AMPTP, DGA, IATSE, SAG-AFTRA, and Teamsters/Basic Crafts was signed in September 2020 and established COVID-19 safety protocols for guild productions. Since then, it has been extended eight times.  In May of 2022, the agreement was updated to … Continue reading Hollywood Extends “Return to Work” COVID-19 Protocol Agreement Through September

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Labor & Employment

West Hollywood Ordinance Significantly Expands Guaranteed Leave

Written by Gary McLaughlin As of July 1, 2022, West Hollywood employers are subject to a new ordinance that establishes significant changes to citywide guaranteed leave provisions. The new ordinance provides West Hollywood employees with up to 96 hours of compensated time off (CTO) per year (for vacation, sick leave, or “personnel necessity” time), and also up to 80 hours of uncompensated time off per … Continue reading West Hollywood Ordinance Significantly Expands Guaranteed Leave

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Labor & Employment

U.S. Supreme Court Rules Individual PAGA Claims May Be Compelled to Arbitration in Favorable Decision for California Employers

Written by Gary McLaughlin Last week, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a decision in Viking River Cruises, Inc. v. Moriana, ruling that California authority prohibiting mandatory arbitration of claims brought under the Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) is preempted by the Federal Arbitration Act (FAA) and that such claims can be compelled to arbitration – a welcome victory for California employers.  Background California’s Private Attorneys … Continue reading U.S. Supreme Court Rules Individual PAGA Claims May Be Compelled to Arbitration in Favorable Decision for California Employers

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Corporate, Labor & Employment

Corporate Board Diversity Mandates Under Fire in California

Written by Jeremy Mittman and Nimish Patel California’s groundbreaking laws mandating corporate board diversity are under fire as two California courts recently ruled them unconstitutional. The courts struck down two California statutes – SB 826 and AB 979 – which required corporations doing business in the Golden State to have a certain number of sitting directors who were female or who were identified as members … Continue reading Corporate Board Diversity Mandates Under Fire in California

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Labor & Employment

California Court Rules that Employers May Be On The Hook For Unreimbursed Remote Work Expenses

Written by Jeremy Mittman and Kyle DeCamp Last week, in a decision of interest to California employers, a California judge denied Amazon’s request to dismiss a lawsuit that claims the company had no policy in place to reimburse employees for expenses incurred while working from home, in violation of state law. Background A senior software development engineer sued Amazon for reimbursement of expenses he alleged … Continue reading California Court Rules that Employers May Be On The Hook For Unreimbursed Remote Work Expenses

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Intellectual Property

Industrial Strength Parody – Fair Use and Musicals

Written by Ian Logan On May 12, 2022, Judge Laura Taylor Swain of the Southern District of New York held that Vape—a parodic retelling of famous musical Grease through a feminist lens—constitutes fair use.  See Sketchworks Industrial Strength Comedy, Inc. v. James H. Jacobs, et al., No. 19-CV-7470-LTS-VF, 2022 WL 1501024 (S.D.N.Y May 12, 2022).  The case was initiated by Sketchworks, a Georgia-based sketch comedy … Continue reading Industrial Strength Parody – Fair Use and Musicals

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Labor & Employment

Walmart Dodges Claim for “Waiting Time Penalties” Under California Law In Helpful Independent Contractor Law Decision

Written by Jeremy Mittman In a case that may be helpful to California companies who engage models or actors for photoshoots, commercials, or advertisements, Walmart prevailed over a model’s California wage claims last week when the Ninth Circuit found in Hill v. Walmart, Inc. that the retailer had a “good faith belief”—and therefore a defense— that it appropriately classified her as an independent contractor. Background … Continue reading Walmart Dodges Claim for “Waiting Time Penalties” Under California Law In Helpful Independent Contractor Law Decision

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