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On December 22, 2017, President Donald Trump signed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (“TCJA”) into law. The TCJA is one of the most sweeping pieces of tax reform in recent history.

For some people who own property along California’s beautiful coast, living on the beach seems to trigger a desire to keep others off “their” beach. As a homeowners’ association learned in a recent appellate court ruling, that can violate the California Coastal Act.

All jobs have their routine, sometimes boring, tasks. Even judges often have to decipher complex statutes and slog through tedious contract disputes. But every once in a while they get a distinctly out-of-the-ordinary case – such as the woman with five tigers.

California was a pioneer in safeguarding members of the public against lawsuits aimed solely at intimidating them from speaking out on public issues, and its “Anti-SLAPP” law is still regarded as providing the broadest protection among the 28 states with similar statutes.

A squabble between neighbors over an easement for a driveway has been in and out of Napa County courts for a quarter of a century and, thanks to a recent decision by the California Court of Appeal, is headed back for yet another hearing.

You shouldn't have to have a law degree to understand that, if you are going to file a lawsuit, you need to sue the right person – especially if you are seeking $300 million and punitive damages.