Rizio and Nelson California Law Blog

Arson In California

Arson is very serious Arson is a very serious crime, and can even carry the death penalty in the state of California under certain circumstances. These include, but are not limited to: When the arson causes death to one or more individuals, including emergency personnel Under California’s Three Strikes Law, when there are mitigating factors such as malice aforethought In June of this year,...

Violent Crimes

There are three major types of violent crimes in California: Homicide, Robbery, and Assault. Homicide is, of course, murder of another human being. First or Second degree murder convictions result in life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. Robbery is theft combined with physical force. Assault is when one person threatens to harm or does physical harm to another person. Depending on the...

Grand Theft Shoplifting

In California, shoplifting is a frequent offense. Despite the fact that it’s a risky endeavor, people still try to get away with stealing if they can. Sometimes, young people are the victims of peer pressure and will steal something in order to fit in with their “friends.” Other times, people are desperate and feel that they need to steal in order to survive.  Shoplifting can also be a...

Extortion Laws in California

When the word “extortion” is mentioned, people may think of Italian men in dark suits carrying Gatlin guns and roaming neighborhoods, searching for business owners to fork over their cash for “protection”. Gone are the days when the mob could openly threaten anyone on the streets, including police, without fear. However, the crime of extortion is alive and well, only now the perpetrators may...

New FMLA regulations, effective January 16, 2009

There are many privileges we have as citizens of this country. One of the most basic of these privileges is the right to care for our loved ones. In these trying economic times, we realize that the most important thing is family. When one of our family members is threatened with illness or injury, our only focus should be their care and well-being. The Family Medical Leave Act, passed in 1995,...

Family Medical Leave Summary

In our struggling economy, we tend to spend less money and spend more time with our families. Our health and happiness become our top priorities, and we realize that our happiness does not depend on what we own, but how we live. It is easy now to remember what is most important in life – being with the people we love. But when our own health is threatened, or our loved ones become ill, the importance...

Juvenile Court Processes

In an ideal world, parents and children form a strong family bond. Parents bring their children up with love and understanding while setting limits in order to keep their children’s behavior under control. Children are loving and obedient, study and work hard, and become responsible adults in their own right. However, this is not an ideal world, and sometimes people choose to do the wrong thing....

Exempt Employee Law

When you work in California, it is wise to know the state’s labor laws. They differ from the Federal laws under the Fair Labor Standards Act. They can be both stricter and more specific. One of the laws that affects many employees is the Exempt Employee Law. Exempt employees are those people that receive a specified amount for forty hours’ work without overtime, commonly known as people...

Overtime

In general, “overtime” refers to hours worked beyond 40 hours per week by persons who are 18 years of age or older. This time is paid to the employee in an amount equal to one-and-one-half times their normal wage. There are many specific details in the law that cover exactly who can receive overtime, and how many hours have to be put in each day and each week. The website ca.gov lists all the...