What is California Law on Eminent Domain about in general?
Article 7 of the Code of Civil Procedure provides for California's eminent domain rules. The hegemony is of great importance. As long as government payments just reimbursement, that national, state or federal governments take private property for public use. Private property can take over by eminent domain pursuant to California Code of Civil Procedure Section 1230.030.
What do we call a “Withdrawal of Deposit”?
Any defendant can apply to a court for the withdrawal of all or any portion of the deposit amount. The application must verify, the applicant's interest in the property shall determine, and a stated amount request of withdrawal. The claimant shall serve on the complainant a copy of the petition.
Subject to requirements of Article on Withdrawal of Deposit of CCP, the court will order payment to the applicant of the amount requested in the application or of the portion of that amount that the applicant is entitled to receive.
The Law on “Withdrawal of Deposit”?
No withdrawal could request on the claimant of a copy of the requestuntil 20 days after operation or until the time has elapsed for all complaints, whichever is later. When an objection is a lodge on the ground that the other parties know or suspect to have interest in the property, the plaintiff shall serve or offer to inform such other parties that they may appear within 10 days of the service and object to the withdrawal. The notice shall inform those parties that, to the degree of the amount withdrawn, their failure to object would result in the waiver of any rights against the complainant. Also, a plaintiff will file and serve on the applicant a document setting out ànames of the parties to whom the notice has been given and the dates of service, and ànames and last known addresses of the other parties known or suspected to have interest in the property but not served so. A plaintiff can represent parties not served by the plaintiff.
What are the grounds for filing objections to Withdrawal?
Within the 20-day period, the plaintiff can file withdrawal objections on one or more of the following grounds:
Other parties to the case have interest in the property or suspect to have interest in it.
The applicant must file an undertaking in compliance with Section 1255.240 and/ or 1255.250 of CCP.
The amount of the undertaking filed or the guarantees thereon by the applicant under this chapter are insufficient.
On the Amount of Withdrawal
If any part of the money deposits under the Chapter 6 of CCP (Deposit and Withdrawal of Probable Compensation; Possession Prior to Judgment) has been a withdrawal. The receipt of any of these money shall constitute a waiver of all claims and defenses in favor of the individuals receiving such payment by the operation of law, except a claim for greater compensation. Any withdrawal under this article by a party beyond the amount eventually decides the eminent domain proceeding, shall pay to the parties. The judgment will enter by the court accordingly. Contact KAASS LAW for any further assistance and or seek legal representation.
California's Supreme Court is the highest court in the state. Its primary function is to guide and harmonize state law development. After confirmation by the Judicial Appointments Commission, the court composes of a Chief Justice and six Associate Justices. These are who stand for 12-year retention election at the first post-appointment governor’s election. The court's chambers have been in San Francisco's Civic Center Plaza since 1923.
The Law on “Powers of Judges at Chambers”?
According to Code of Civil procedure of California (hereinafter: CCP) Section 165: The justices of the Supreme Court as well as the courts of appeal, or any of them, may issue in chambers all orders and writings that are normally issued in the first instance upon an ex parte petition, with the exception of mandamus, certiorari, and prohibition; and may hear, at their discretion, applications for discharge of such orders and writings.
In California law primary assumption of the risk doctrine was first set forth in Knight v. Jewett (1992). The doctrine of primary assumption of risk is applicable to sports or sports-related recreational. Activities where the conduct or conditions that otherwise can be a consideration of danger are usually the essential part. Primary assumption of risk arises where a plaintiff willingly engages in a sport or activity involving certain inherent risks. Primary assumption of risk usually absolves the defendant of a duty of care toward the plaintiff with regard to injury incurred in the course of a sporting or sports-related recreational activity covered by the doctrine. A person can be only guilty if he intentionally injures another one or engages in conduct that is so reckless as to be totally outside the range of the ordinary activity in the sport.
When Can a Plaintiff Bring a Claim?
When a person has an injury while playing sports or engaging in another recreational activity, he can seek financial compensation for the caused injuries against the responsible party through a California personal injury lawsuit. According to CACI 470 if the plaintiff claims that he has an injury while participating in sport or other recreational activity, and the defendant is responsible for that harm, he must be able to prove all of the following elements to establish the claim.
According to CACI 3113 recklessness in California is something more than just the failure to use reasonable care. Recklessness is more than simple negligence, as it involves more than inadvertence, unskillfulness, incompetence, or a failure to take precautions. Recklessness is defined as a conscious choice of a course of action with knowledge of the high danger to other people involved in it. (Delaney v. Baker 1999)
Elements of Reckless Conduct
To establish the claim the plaintiff must be able to prove the following elements:
Defendant had intention to commit to a conduct knowing that it can create a potentially high risk of injury or harm
Defendant's conduct created an unreasonable risk
The risk, created by the defendant's conduct was significantly greater than ordinary negligence
Defendant knew or reasonably should have known that another person was present and expose to a high risk of injury or harm
Thus, to be found liable for reckless conduct the defendant must have knowledge of a high degree of probability that dangerous consequences will result from his actions. Moreover, the defendant should act with deliberate or conscious disregard of those probable consequences.
The California Unfair Practices Act , which is found at Section 17000 of the California Business and Professions Code, deals with certain pricing practices, such as charging different prices to competing customers below cost pricing. Generally, the California Unfair Practices Act prohibits the following types of pricing practices
Below cost pricing and loss leaders
Locality discrimination
Giving secret, unearned discounts or rebates to some purchasers but not others.
Below Cost Sale
According to the Business and Professions Code, it is prohibited to sell a product below its cost for the purpose of destroying competition or injuring competitors, hence the term below cost pricing.
Elements of Below Cost Sale
According to CACI 3301, in case the plaintiff claims that the defendant engaged in unlawful sales below cost he must be able to prove all of the following elements to establish this claim.
Defendant offered to sell or sold product or at a price that was below cost
Whistleblowing usually involves raising concerns about a company’s negligent, unethical, unlawful, fake, fraudulent or dangerous action. The behavior can vary from violating corporate policy and procedural requirements to unlawful transactions, or to a threat against public safety, health, including fraud and safety violations. Here are some informative tips in whistleblower protection.
Elements the Plaintiff Must Establish
According to CACI 4603 to establish the claim the plaintiff must be able to prove the following elements:
Defendant was the plaintiff’s employer
Defendant believed that the plaintiff might disclose or had disclosed to a law enforcement agency, government agency or any person with authority over the plaintiff or an employee with authority to discover, investigate, or correct the noncompliance or legal violations which specify information disclosed or
Plaintiff provided information to testify before a public body that was conducting an investigation, inquiry or hearing or
Comparative fault is a negligence rule according to which parties can share fault for one single accident, and the plaintiff can still receive compensation. According to California Civil Code Section 1714 every person is responsible for intentional acts he commit, and injuries that arise because of his acts. California is a pure comparative fault state, where a plaintiff has the entitlement for compensation regardless of his percentage of fault. Thus, in case the courts finds a plaintiff guilty for 85% in an accident he will still be gain some compensation. In a modified rule state, a plaintiff usually cannot exceed a certain degree of fault.
Public Policy of Comparative Fault
The rule of comparative fault is based on a public policy of holding people legally liable for their actions. In case a person was injured partly because of his own negligence and partly because of the negligence of other people, he should not be totally barred from bringing a claim.
The Amount of Plaintiff Negligence
According to CACI 405 in case the defendant claims that plaintiff's own negligence contributed to his harm he must be able prove the following elements:
Violation of Prisoner's Federal Civil Rights in California: A prisoner in California has a right to file a lawsuit for money damages against a prison official, whose conduct caused the prisoner to suffer harm, bodily injuries or psychological distress. A lawsuit can be based on violations of either federal, state law or both) and can be filed in either federal or state court.
Some Examples of Prisoner Abuse Include:
Unnecessary force by officers and guards
False imprisonment
Sexual assaults and rape by officers
Unnecessary use of weapons and restraints
Inhumane, cruel, and unsanitary living conditions
Failure to provide sufficient medical care to prisoners
Torture by the guards
42 U.S.C. § 1983 Violation of Prisoner’s Federal Civil Rights—Eighth Amendment—Substantial Risk of Serious Harm
According to CACI 3040, in case the plaintiff claims that the defendant subjected him to prison conditions that violated his constitutional rights he must be able to prove all of the following elements to establish the claim:
Supervisor Liability: Under the theory of Respondent Superior, there is no vicarious liability for the actions of a subordinate just because a person is a supervisor. Just knowledge about a violation is not enough to impose supervisory liability, thus for pursuing a supervisory liability claim, a plaintiff must be able to show the following:
Supervisors’ involvement in the wrongful conduct
Actual knowledge, a personal direction, or knowing acquiescence in the violation
Contemporary knowledge of the violation and proof of a pattern of approval, through knowing inaction or consent
Elements the Plaintiff Must Establish
According to CACI 3005 in case the plaintiff claims that the defendant is personally liable for his harm he must be able to prove the following elements to establish the claim:
Defendant knew, or in the exercise of reasonable diligence should have known, of his employee’s wrongful conduct
Defendant knew that the wrongful conduct created a substantial risk of harm to the plaintiff
California law imposes financial motor vehicle owner liability on the owner of a vehicle involved in an auto accident, even if the owner wasn’t driving or wasn’t in the vehicle at the time of the accident. According to California Vehicle Code Section 17150 vehicle owner is liable for damages to another people, which result from the negligence of another person operating the vehicle with the owner’s permission. The law limits a vehicle owner’s liability to $15,000 for injury or death to one person and $30,000 to several people. Property damage liability has a limit to $5,000.
Elements the Plaintiff Must Prove
According to CACI 720 to establish this claim, the plaintiff must be able to prove all of the following elements:
The driver was negligent in operating the vehicle
Defendant was the owner of the vehicle at the time of the injury to the plaintiff
Defendant by his words or conduct, gave permission to the driver to use the vehicle.
Award all orders and writings normally given in the first instance upon ex parte request and hear and dispose of such orders and writings, appoint referees, allow and obtain inventories and accounts to be registered, order the settlement of additional accounts, suspend the powers of personal representatives, guardians or conservatives in the cases permitted by law, appoint special accounts.
Hear and also determine all motions made in accordance with Section 657 of Code of Civil Procedure of California and/ or Section 663 Code of Civil Procedure of California.
Hear as well as determine all uncontested activities, proceedings, demurrers, motions, petitions, applications and certain other matters pending prior to the actual court apart from proceedings for the dissolution of marriage, legal separation or judgment of nullity of marriage, and other than requests for confirmation of a sale of real property in proceedings.
Hear and assess motions for assessment of decision enforcement costs.
Bond approval and undertaking approval.
Section 166 of Code
Also, according to Section 166 of Code of Civil Procedure of California part B: A judge shall exercise all the powers and perform all the roles and duties imposed on a judge as being contrary to the court, out of court, anywhere in the government, or that a judge may exercise or perform in chambers. What else to know?
A judge can imply a conviction that there is a question of law on which there are significant grounds for:
Difference of opinion, whose appeal resolution will significantly advance the end of the litigation.
Neither the denial of an application on such a comment in the interlocutory order, nor another party's or counsel's objection to it, may be grounds for a writ or appeal.
A judge of a court may carry out any act necessary or allow to perform by the clerk of a court.
For any further assistance and or seeking legal representation, contact KAASS LAW today!
Defendant either intentionally caused injury to the plaintiff or acted so recklessly that his conduct was entirely outside the range of ordinary activity
There was harm towards the Plaintiff
Defendant’s conduct was a substantial factor in causing harm to the plaintiff.
Conduct, Which Is Outside the Range of Ordinary Activity
Conduct is entirely outside the range of ordinary activity in case it:
Increased the risks to the plaintiff
Can prohibit without discouraging vigorous participation or otherwise essentially changing the sport or sports-related recreational activities.
A person can’t be responsible for injuries resulting from conduct that was merely careless, accidental, or negligent
Secondary Assumption of the Risk
Secondary assumption of the risk refers to cases when the defendant owes the plaintiff a legal duty to protect him from a particular injury or harm, but the plaintiff proceeds to encounter the risk imposed by the defendant’s breach of duty. Cases, which involve secondary assumption of the risk are comparative negligence, which is a legal standard dealing with conditions, where two parties to an action are partially at fault. According to CACI 404 plaintiff’s damages aren’t recoverable to the extent his own negligence contributed to the caused injuries. This will be proportionately reduced to reflect the percentage of his fault. Thus, in California law, plaintiff can still recover damages after his percentage of fault has been deducted, even in case his degree of negligence was more that the defendant’s. Though, it is important to mention, that comparative negligence doctrine only applies to cases where the plaintiff’s conduct wasn’t intentional. For any further legal assistance and or seeking attorney representation, contact KAASS LAW today!
Difference Between Acting Recklessly and Acting Negligently
Acting Recklessly
A person who is acting recklessly does so with the knowledge that his actions involve a risk of causing harm to another people. Thus, a person is conscious of what his conduct, knows that his conduct can cause a harm or injury, but he still engages in the act.
Acting Negligently
A person who is acting negligently can be unaware that his conduct involves a risk of causing harm, even if he should have known about that. In California law, a person is acting negligently in case he is acting in a way that a reasonably careful person would not act in the same situation, or fails to act in a way that a reasonably careful person would act in the similar situation.
Examples of Reckless Conduct
Here are some examples of recklessness:
Evading a police car
Allowing a minor to handle a gun
Driving a vehicle at a high rate of speed
Purposely failing to yield to other vehicles
Intentionally running red traffic signal or a stop sign
Driving a vehicle with a blood alcohol level of at least 0.08%
Driving a vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs
Texting while driving a car
Damages That the Plaintiff Can Recover
In case the defendant is found guilty in performing reckless conduct and causing harm or injuries to the plaintiff, then the trier-of-fact may award damages to the plaintiff. Damages must be rationale and be causally related to the accident.
Damages Can Include:
Past and future medical expenses
Pain and suffering
Emotional trauma
Past and future income loss
Loss of earning capacity
Permanent disability or permanent disfigurement
Diminished quality of life
The plaintiff may also be entitled to punitive or exemplary damages, in case he proves by clear and convincing evidence that the defendant was acting with malice. For any further assistance or seeking legal representation, contact KAASS LAW today!
By acting unfairly defendant had the intention to injure competitors or destroy competition
There was harm towards the Plaintiff
Defendant’s conduct was a substantial factor in causing harm to the plaintiff
Loss Leaders Sale
Loss leaders are defined as selling below cost with the intention to induce the purchase of other merchandise, divert business from competitors, or mislead purchasers.
Elements of Loss Leaders Sale
According to CACI 3302 in case the plaintiff claims that the defendant offered to sell, sold, offered the use of product or service as an unlawful loss leader, he must be able to prove the following elements to establish this claim:
Defendant offered to sell, sold or offered the use of product or service at prices that were below its costs
Defendant had a purpose to promote, influence, or encourage the purchase of other merchandise from him
The offer or sale had a capacity or tendency to mislead or deceive purchasers or potential purchasers
The offer or sale took business away from or otherwise injured competitors
By acting unfairly defendant had intention to injure competitors or destroy competition
There was harm towards the Plaintiff
Defendant’s conduct was a substantial factor in harm to the plaintiff causing
Price
According to California Business and Professions Code Section 17049, the word “price” should be read sufficiently broadly to include collateral contracts, special rebates, or any device of any nature whereby such sale below cost is in fact or substance affected.
Cost
According to CACI 3303 “cost” means all costs of doing business, including variable costs that tend to change with sales, such as sales commissions, and also fixed costs that don’t tend to change with sales, such as light and heat. Costs of doing business can include:
Labor, including salaries of officers and executives and officers
Maintenance of equipment
Rent and utilities
Interest on loans
Licenses, taxes
Depreciation
Selling cost
Delivery costs
Insurance
Credit losses
Advertising costs
Remedies for Unfair Competition
Recovery of economic damages
Relief to prohibit the illegal and unfair practices.
In unfair competition cases, the plaintiff can’t recover punitive damages. https://youtu.be/u0ylwefv4WI
Plaintiff refused to specify activity in which he refused to participate
Plaintiff had reasonable cause to believe that the information disclosed a violation of a state or federal statute, or a violation of noncompliance with a local, state, or federal rule or regulation
Plaintiff’s disclosure of information or refusal to specify was a contributing factor in the defendant’s decision to discharge him
Defendant’s conduct caused harm to the plaintiff
The plaintiff must have a reasonable belief that the defendant’s policies violated federal, state, or local statutes, rules, or regulations. The disclosure of policies that an employee considers gross misconduct, wasteful, unwise is not protected. Disclosure of information is protected even though disclosing can be a part of the plaintiff’s work duties.
Protections, That Are Available to Whistleblowers
The employer is not allowed to adopt, make, or enforce any regulation, rule, or policy preventing his employee from being a whistleblower.
The employer cannot retaliate against a whistleblower employee
The employer cannot retaliate against an employee, who refuses to participate in an activity that can result in a violation of a federal or state statute or a non-compliance or violation of a federal or state regulation or rule
The employer cannot retaliate against an employee, who has exercised his rights as a whistleblower in any previous employment.
In case the employer fires the employee for whistleblowing illegal information, his action would be considered wrongful termination, and he will be penalized for workplace retaliation against whistleblowers. Whistleblowers have a right to remain anonymous, employers can try to discover who made the complaint or file a False Claim Act case.
Some General Situations, Including Law Violations at Workplace:
Misleading business practices
Violations of health and safety regulations
Racial discrimination
Sexual harassment
False invoices
Fraudulent financial document
Lying loan documents
Tax fraud
False claims
Do Whistleblowers Get Rewards in California?
Whistleblowing laws in California can provide monetary rewards to whistleblowers who managed to successfully recover funds for the government. In case the whistleblowing was related to fraud against the government, the person can receive a monetary reward through a qui tam lawsuit. According to the False Claims Act, a person who supports stopping fraud can receive up to thirty percent of what the government recovers from the guilty party. In some cases, whistleblowers can also receive compensation for the emotional distress they suffered as a result of retaliation by the company or individual they reported. For any further assistance or legal consultation, contact KAASS LAW today! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AhaH4mEDj7k
Plaintiff's negligence was a substantial factor in causing his harm
In case the defendant proves all the above mentioned elements, the plaintiff’s damages will be reduced by the jury's determination of the percentage of his responsibility. According to CACI 406 the percentages must be total 100 percent when dividing up fault among the plaintiffs, defendants, and any non-parties.
The Way Comparative Fault Works
The Court or jury will assign a percentage of fault to each party involved in the accident. Once the percentages of fault are assigned. Each party will be responsible for a percentage of his medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other financial damages. Which are equal to the percentage assigned to that party.
Joint and Several Liability
In case when two or more defendants are responsible for the plaintiff’s injuries, he can recover damages from either or both of the defendants; in other term: joint and several liability. Joint and several liability is applicable to economic damages, including medical expenses, loss of income, property damage and loss of earning capacity. The plaintiff can also recover pain and suffering.
Contributory Negligence and Comparative Fault
As stated above, California is a comparative fault state. This allows the plaintiff to recover damages even if he shares the fault for accident. Contributory negligence is a harsher rule. This usually provides that in case the plaintiff is negligent in causing his own injury, he cannot get any compensation. The majority of states use some version of comparative fault, either modified comparative negligence or pure comparative fault. Some states follow a combination of both types of negligence laws.
Examples of Personal Injury Claims Involving Comparative Fault
While imprisoned, the plaintiff was placed in a cell block with rival gang members
Defendant’s conduct or failure to act created a substantial risk of serious harm to the plaintiff’s health or safety
Defendant knew that his conduct or failure to act created a substantial risk of serious harm to the plaintiff’s health or safety
Defendant disregarded the risk by failing to take reasonable measures to address it
There was no reasonable justification for the defendant’s actions
Defendant was performing his official duties when he acted, purported to act or failed to act
Plaintiff was harmed
Defendant’s conduct or failure to act was a substantial factor in causing harm to the plaintiff
42 U.S.C. § 1983 Violation of Prisoner’s Federal Civil Rights—Eighth Amendment—Medical Care
According to CACI 3041, in case the prisoner claims that the defendant provided him with inadequate medical care in violation of his constitutional rights he must be able to establish the following elements to prove the claim.
Plaintiff had a serious medical need
Defendant knew that the plaintiff faced a substantial risk of serious harm if his medical need went untreated
Defendant consciously disregarded that risk by not taking reasonable steps to treat the plaintiff’s medical need
Defendant was acting or purporting to act in the performance of his official duties
Plaintiff was harmed
Defendant’s conduct was a substantial factor in causing harm to the plaintiff.
Serious medical need exists when the failure to treat a prisoner’s condition can bring to further substantial injury or infliction of pain. The defendant can’t be found responsible for services that he couldn’t provide or cause to be provided because the necessary personnel, financial, and other resources could not be reasonably obtained or weren’t available.
Deliberate Indifference
In prison-conditions cases, the prisoner must show that the defendant was deliberately indifferent to his safety or health. Deliberate indifference includes a two-part inquiry. First, the prisoner must be able to show that the prison official was aware of a substantial risk of serious harm but failed to act to address the danger. Second, the prisoner must be able show that the prison official had no reasonable justification for his conduct, despite that risk. For any further legal assistance and or consultation, contact KAASS LAW right away!
Defendant disregarded that risk by expressly approving, impliedly approving or failing to take adequate action to prevent his employee’s wrongful conduct
There was harm towards Plaintiff
Defendant’s conduct was a substantial factor in causing harm to the plaintiff.
Deliberate Indifference
When the supervisor is found responsible for causing harm to the plaintiff based on deliberate indifference, then he is being held liable for his own wrongful action or inaction, but not held vicariously liable for the wrongful actions or inactions of his subordinates
Agency Immunity Rule
According to California Civil Code Section, 2351a sub-agent, legally appointed, represents the principal in like manner with the original agent; and the original agent cannot be liable to third persons for the acts of the sub-agent. Thus, the general rule is that an agent is not responsible for the unlawful act of an employee when the agent is acting on behalf or in an official capacity of the principal; hence the term, “agency immunity rule.” There are substantive exceptions to hold supervisory authority liable for the actions of their employees.
Negligent hiring or appointment
A supervisor can be liable for the actions of the employee if he is guilty of negligence in the appointment of such sub-agent. The negligence can include a decision to hire an employee despite knowledge of wrongful conduct of the employee.
Cooperate or authorize the unlawful conduct
According to California Civil Code Section 2343, a supervisor can be responsible for the torts of an employee within the scope of authority, rather than in an individual capacity. In case the supervisor authorizes or directs an unlawful act of the subagent, or improperly cooperates in the subagent’s acts, then he can be held liable for his illegal conduct.
Expansive Authority
A supervisor with expansive authority over the hiring, management or firing his employee can be liable for the illegal conduct of the employee, in case he had prior knowledge of the tendencies of its employees to commit such conduct. For any further legal assistance, please contact KAASS LAW today!
Permission cannot be conjecture, nor have an assumption; it must be affirmative.
Explicit and Implied Permission
When the direct evidence of permission (also known as “explicit permission”) is in dispute, one can consider the relationship between the owner and the driver. It is more likely that the owner granted permission if the owner and driver were married, had an employer-employee relationship, or were close friends. A fact-finder can reasonably conclude that the owner gave permission, even if the owner denies it and there is no direct evidence of prior permission. This is called “implied permission.”
The Driver Exceeded the Scope of the Permission Given by the Defendant
According to CACI 721 in case the defendant claims that he is not responsible the plaintiff’s harm he must be able to prove the following elements:
Defendant by words or conduct, gave permission to the driver to use the vehicle for a limited time, place, or purpose
The driver’s use of the vehicle substantially violated the time, place, or purpose specified.
Thus, if the defendant gives permission for a limited time, and the driver uses the vehicle beyond that time without consent, the owner cannot be liable for any resulting injuries, unless the circumstances suggest that the owner impliedly consented to further use.
Driver Was Acting on Behalf of the Owner
In case the driver was acting on behalf of the owner, (for example, they were in employment relationship), then the limitations of damages under Vehicle Code Section 17515(a) doesn’t apply. The owner of the vehicle can be responsible for all the damages and injuries caused by the negligent conduct of the driver.
The Owner Acted with Independent Negligence
According to California Vehicle Code Section 14604(a) before lending a vehicle to another one the owner needs to make a reasonable effort to determine if the driver has a valid driver’s license. Thus, in case the owner of the vehicle acted with independent negligence by lending his car to another person, the damage limitation isn’t applicable.