Tag Archives: California lawyers
When Do California Courts Deny Applications For Pro Hac Vice Admission?
This post is part of our continuing series on pro hac vice admission in California* PRO HAC VICE ADMISSION IS NOT GUARANTEED Pro hac vice admission grants a licensed out-of-state attorney permission to appear as counsel in a California court in association with a given legal matter. Generally speaking, pro hac vice admission exists as… Read More »
How Does an Attorney Apply for Pro Hac Vice Admission in California?
WHAT IS THE PROCESS TO GAIN PRO HAC VICE ADMISSION IN CALIFORNIA? An attorney licensed in a U.S. state or territory other than California, who wishes to appear as counsel on a pro hac vice basis in a California superior court must file (a) a verified application and (b) proof of service by mail… Read More »
Do Written Releases of Liability Have Any Limitations?
Before engaging in sports or other recreational activities, people are often asked to sign a written release or waiver of liability. These releases generally contain language absolving the person or company running the activity from “all” liability (including liability resulting from the company’s own negligence) if the participant is injured during the course of… Read More »
When Can Heirs of an Estate Sue Lawyers for Malpractice?
“INTENDED BENEFICIARIES” OF A LAWYER’S SERVICES MAY HAVE STANDING TO BRING MALPRACTICE CLAIMS. In California, the existence of an attorney-client relationship is generally required in order to bring a malpractice claim against a lawyer. This means that in most cases, non-clients cannot sue a lawyer for malpractice. However, California recognizes an exception to this rule… Read More »
Proceedings That Do Not Support Malicious Prosecution Claims
NOT ALL LEGAL PROCEEDINGS SUPPORT MALICIOUS PROSECUTION CLAIMS Although many legal proceedings, civil and criminal, can support a claim for malicious prosecution when the elements of the claim are present, there are some types of proceedings which cannot form the basis of a malicious prosecution action. For various reasons, the law and California courts have placed… Read More »
Imposing Sanctions For Malicious or Frivolous Lawsuits
SANCTIONS ARE PENALTIES IMPOSED ON PEOPLE WHO ABUSE OR MISUSE THE LEGAL SYSTEM. In law and the legal system, “sanctions” refers to a variety of penalties that punish misuse of the law and/or the legal system. Sanctions, like punitive damages, exist to encourage compliance with the law (to discourage misuse of the system) and… Read More »
People Have a Duty to Maintain Property And Eliminate Hazards
People who own, possess, or control property have a legal duty to maintain the land (and buildings or other structures on it) in reasonably safe condition. Many times, the duty is described as a “landowner” duty, but in reality it applies to people other than landlords and property owners alone. Anyone who has possession or… Read More »
“Unclean Hands” as a Defense to Malicious Prosecution
What is the “Unclean Hands” Defense? “Unclean hands” belongs to the group of legal defenses known as “affirmative defenses.” Affirmative defenses are, as the name suggests, a type of defense in which the defendant claims that some other fact (or set of facts)–normally different from the facts at issue in the case itself–defeat or mitigate the… Read More »
What Kinds of Proceedings Can Trigger a Malicious Prosecution Claim?
Malicious prosecution requires “commencing and pursuing” a legal action without probable cause. Most people think a “legal action” means a lawsuit–and it often does–but lawsuits are not the only “actions” that support a claim of malicious prosecution. Let’s take a look at some of the different varieties of legal actions that may support a… Read More »
Probable Cause in Malicious Prosecution Actions
EVERY CLAIM IN A LAWSUIT MUST BE SUPPORTED BY PROBABLE CAUSE Lawsuits often contain many different “claims” or causes of action. Every cause of action must be supported by probable cause–a reasonable belief that the claim is valid and supported by law. A plaintiff (and, in proper cases, a lawyer) who files a claim without… Read More »
