Business Litigation Insights
13 articles
Page 1 of 2
Disputes that arise from how a business is owned, governed, and run: contracts and their breach, partnership and shareholder conflict, competition between businesses, and the employment and compliance questions that reach a company's operations. These articles examine California and federal decisions as they affect closely held companies and their owners.
When an Insurance Company Says Your Claim Is Covered, Can It Later Deny Coverage?
What the insurer says can matter, but the starting point remains the contract. Estoppel generally cannot create coverage the policy never provided.
Read the Article →When Competitors Use the Same Pricing Software, Can It Become Price Fixing?
Using the same software is not automatically price fixing. What matters is what the shared system receives from competitors, what it does with it, and how much discretion each business keeps.
Read the Article →When Will a California Court Refuse to Enforce an Illegal Contract?
Both parties signing does not make an unlawful agreement lawful. But a regulatory violation does not automatically erase every contractual and equitable remedy.
Read the Article →Can California Investigate Employment Claims by Out-of-State Workers? A New SpaceX Decision for Multistate Employers
The Court allowed CRD to investigate whether sufficient California connections existed. It did not hold that FEHA governs every out-of-state employee of a California employer.
Read the Article →When a Third Party Makes the Payment: A Business Litigation Lesson From the Recent NBA Clippers Investigation
Placing another company between two participants does not by itself determine the legal consequences.
Read the Article →Using AI to Hire Employees in California? What Business Owners Need to Know
Automated screening does not remove an employer’s obligations. California’s automated decision system regulations took effect October 1, 2025.
Read the Article →Can AI Fire an Employee in California? New Rules Business Owners Should Know
SB 947 would prohibit relying solely on an automated system to discipline or fire a worker, and require human oversight, verification, and notice.
Read the Article →Why California Trade Secret Claims Are Difficult to Litigate and Prove
A plaintiff must identify the secret precisely enough to litigate while still protecting it, then prove misappropriation as a separate element.
Read the Article →What Happens When a Business Partner or Joint Venturer Diverts Business Money?
Partners and joint venturers owe fiduciary duties under California law, including accounting for profits and refraining from appropriating business opportunities. Corp. Code section 16404, Weiner v. Fleischman, Pellegrini v. Weiss.
Read the Article →Can a California Business Owner Inspect the Company’s Books and Records?
California shareholders, directors, and LLC members have statutory inspection rights, but the scope depends on the entity and the person's status. Corp. Code sections 1600 through 1604 and 17704.10.
Read the Article →Speak with counsel about your matter.
Tell us what happened, what is at stake, and what you need to accomplish. A member of our legal team will respond promptly. Initial communications are treated as confidential, but no attorney‑client relationship is formed until confirmed in writing.
Contact Us