Articles
Articles Archive
- 09.18.2023
Los Angeles Business Journal 2023 Leaders of Influence
Yoka | Smith selected as one of LA’s Most Admired Law Firms To Work For. Yoka | Smith will be...
- 05.19.2023
Lawdragon 500 Leading Litigators in America
Walter Yoka, Christopher Faenza, Alice Chen Smith and Lauren A.R. Lofton are among the all-star litigators selected for the the...
- 05.19.2022
Lauren A.R. Lofton Elected as District 7 Governor for California Women Lawyers
Yoka | Smith is pleased to announce that partner Lauren A.R. Lofton was elected as the District 7 Governor for...
- 04.18.2022
Alice Chen Smith: Women of Influence – Attorneys
Alice Chen Smith has just been included in the list of very impressive women determined to be Women of Influence: Attorneys...
- 05.20.2019
A Negligence Per Se Jury Instruction is Not Warranted Absent a Finding That the Violation Was the Proximate Cause of the Accident
Taulbee v. EJ Distribution Corp. (May 20, 2019, G054545) A California Court of Appeal in a published opinion circumscribed a plaintiff’s...
- 01.28.2019
The California Court of Appeals, Continuing a Trend, Strictly Applied the Rules of Evidence to Find an Expert’s Declaration Deficient For Opposing Defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgment
Fernandez v. Alexander, 2DCA/81, California Courts of Appeal No. B283949 The California Court of Appeals, in a decision published on...
- 01.14.2019
Court of Appeal Finds Defendant’s Reliance On its Expert’s Opinions, Based on the Sophistication of the Technical Issues, Supported the Reasonableness of its Belief That it Would Prevail at Trial
Orange County Water Dist. v. The Arnold Engineering Co. ., 4DCA/1 California Courts of Appeal, No. D070763, Jan. 10, 2019...
- 01.07.2019
Apple Has No Legal Duty to Implement Available Technology to Prevent Use of iPhone While Driving
In Modisette v. Apple Inc. (Cal. Ct. App., Dec. 14, 2018, No. H044811), the California Court of Appeal, Sixth District, held...
- 01.03.2019
Statutory Offer Not Made in Good Faith When Made Shortly After Defendant Appeared
Licudine v. Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 2 DCA 2, California Court of Appeal, No. B286350, Jan. 3, 2019 The California Court...
- 08.10.2018
The Pros and Cons of Forming a California Limited Liability Company
Reviewing the benefits and disadvantages of LLCs may help business owners decide if it is the right formation type for...
- 08.10.2018
Congress Fails to Make Decision About Hours of Service Rule
California truck drivers and trucking companies will need to keep waiting for a decision on the FMCSA’s Hours of Service...
- 08.10.2018
Sophisticated Intermediary Doctrine Adopted By California High Court
On behalf of Stephen Smith at Yoka | Smith. The court’s decision was highly anticipated. In May 2016, the Supreme...
- 08.10.2018
How Does Proposition 65 Affect Your California Business?
On behalf of Stephen Smith at Yoka | Smith. As a company doing business or selling products into California, you...
- 08.10.2018
The Shifting Landscape of Arbitration Law in California
Arbitration clauses can save a business significant time and expense if drafted correctly. The enforceability of arbitration provisions and awards...
- 06.01.2018
California Trial Judges’ Gatekeeping Changes for Expert Witnesses
In November 2012, the California Supreme Court in Sargon Enterprises, Inc. v. University of Southern California, 55 Cal. 4th 747 (2012), heightened...
- 06.01.2018
Federal Court Expert Disclosure Rules May Apply to In-House Witnesses
Although typically thought of as being limited to retained experts or employees who regularly give expert testimony, the expert report...
- 06.01.2018
Changes to the California Discovery Code
As of July 1, 2005, the code sections for the Discovery Act (CCP sections 2016 through 2036) will be renumbered....
- 06.01.2018
Director/Officer Liability and Corporate Alter Ego
The law concerning officer and director liability in tort, while expanding the bases upon which liability may be found requires,...
- 06.01.2018
“I Do Declare” — Declarations Under California Law
The California Court of Appeal has recently again clarified and emphasized that declarations executed out of state for use in...
- 06.01.2018
California Courts Move Closer to Federal Standard for Admissibility of Expert Testimony
California Evidence Code section 801 is of growing importance to defense counsel working to exclude junk science from trial. The...
- 06.01.2018
“Oh-Pioneer!” — Privacy Interests of Customers Are Not Violated by Disclosure of Their Contact Information to Class-Action Plaintiff
A product manufacturer must produce contact information in discovery for those customers who have lodged complaints with the company, the...
- 06.01.2018
Limitations on Negligent Infliction of Emotional Distress Claims
In California, negligent infliction of emotional distress damages are only available to plaintiffs who witness an event causing personal injury...
- 01.06.2017
Five Tips To Help GCs Navigate California’s Legal Waters Orange Country Lawyer Magazine
Orange County Lawyer Magazine
- 10.12.2006
Even Small Firms Represent America’s Biggest Companies
James Erik Abels Small Firm Business October 12, 2006 It’s not just a big-firm world, after all. For the fifth...
- 09.13.2006
Who Represents America’s Biggest Companies
Law Firm (location) Corporate Client Rank in Fortune 250 Client’s 2005 Revenue (millions) Practice Area Primary Outside Counsel Bales Weinstein...