On July 1, 2024, Governor Gavin Newsom signed two pieces of legislation that greatly transformed the Private Attorneys General Act of 2004 (PAGA). The legislation reform was a result of an agreement reached between Governor Newsom, California labor, and business...
Employment Law
FTC’s Nationwide Ban on Noncompetes: Employees Gain Valuable Career Freedom
FTC's Nationwide Ban is currently over-ruled and is being litigated up to the supreme court. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recently issued a final ruling in favor of a substantial ban on non-compete agreements, ushering in a new era for employees nationwide....
Huerta V CSI Electrical – Synopsis
A groundbreaking ruling by the California Supreme Court in the case of Huerta v. CSI Electrical Contractors has recently put the spotlight on California’s Wage and Hour Laws. This pivotal case interpreted key wage order provisions under Industrial Welfare Commission...
Understanding and Confronting Workplace Sexual Harassment in Utah
Navigating workplace sexual harassment can be overwhelming. In Utah, it is a significantly prevalent yet underreported issue. As expert sexual harassment lawyers in Utah, Shimoda & Rodriguez Law, PC, is committed to helping victims end the cycle of harassment and...
California Labor Code Section 1102.5: Empowering Whistleblowers Against Retaliation
Contemporary workplaces often require navigation through complex employment laws. However, the landscape has recently become a bit friendlier for those reporting on illegal activities. Now, California Labor Code Section 1102.5 reinforces whistleblower protection...
What is a Qui Tam Relator? An Insight into Whistleblowing and Protecting Government Interests
The term "Qui Tam Relator" might sound arcane, but its implications in safeguarding government programs are vast. A qui tam “relator” is the legal term for the private individual or entity who serves as a whistleblower, acting as the government's informant in cases...
UPDATE: Everlasting Gifts, Inc. v. Eckhardt, Case No. SCV0041292 (Placer)
As reported in March of 2023, Shimoda & Rodriguez Law, PC and the trial team of Brittany Berzin and Renald Konini successfully defended their client, Michelle Eckhardt, against false claims made by Ms. Eckhardt’s former employer, Everlasting Gifts, Inc....
How California Supreme Court Ruling Affects PAGA Claims
The California Supreme Court handed down its ruling in the Adolph v. Uber Technologies, Inc. case in July 2023. The state high court ruled that individual Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) claims are still subject to arbitration agreements, per the U.S. Supreme...
Non-Compete Agreements & Utah Employment Law
For Shimoda & Rodriguez Law, PC, we have a simple answer when someone calls our California office asking about non-compete clauses or agreements, and it's that the California Legislature banned them. But where we see non-compete agreements affect employees is at...
How Can Arbitration Help My Employment Law Case?
Arbitration is a form of alternative dispute resolution that can help resolve employment law cases. It involves submitting the dispute to a neutral third party, known as an arbitrator, who listens to both sides of the case and makes a binding decision. The attorneys...