Rizio and Nelson California Law Blog

Drug-Related Homicides

According to the Office of the Attorney General of California, the incarceration rates for drug-related crimes have been steadily on the rise. The last year recorded was 2005, which saw 39 drug-related homicides out of every 100,000 people. Alarming as this is, the high was in 1997, with 53.2 drug-related homicides. The rate had gone down to 31.4 in 2002, but began increasing again in the following...

Wrongful Termination

It is common knowledge that these are very tough economic times. Not since the Great Depression have we seen so many layoffs and so many companies engaged in mass layoffs or simply closing their doors forever. For the people that have lost their jobs, this is heart wrenching news. Suddenly, everything they’ve worked for for many years is gone. It is natural to want to seek compensation for this...

Dog Bites Account For 33% of Claims…

Dogs cause insurance companies serious headaches. Dogs have long been called “man’s best friend,” and this is largely due to the dog’s loyalty and affection to man. This may not be as true as we once believed, as recent studies have proven that dog bites actually accounted for a full 1/3 of all homeowner’s insurance liability claims in 2008 alone. This number is astronomical,...

Workers’ Compensation

Workers’ compensation is the insurance benefit that employees receive if the employee is injured or becomes sick as a result of working for the employer. The employer has to pay this insurance. Employees have the right to receive prompt medical treatment for their injury or illness. They also have the right to temporary disability benefits for the time that they are unable to perform the duties...

When Do You Need A Worker’s Compensation Attorney?

In California, the laws regarding worker’s compensation have undergone dramatic changes over the past several years. While worker’s compensation remains an available service to many people, some may find they have a legal battle in their future in order to receive benefits. There are a number of reasons that a person may require an attorney who is specialized in worker’s compensation...

Vehicular Homicide

California is famous for images of palm trees, sunset beaches, majestic mountains, and vineyards. You would think that Californians would be the most relaxed people in the world! Ironically, California is also famous for L.A. and Hollywood, two places where “fast as lightning” would be a better description of the speed at which people live. We’ve become a “I-can-do-it-all” society where...

Child Death – Suffocation

The greatest fear for any parent is the death of a child. Most parents and caregivers watch their children diligently, but the reality is that we can’t watch over them constantly. Even sleep can bring tragedy under the right (wrong) circumstances. Suffocation is the fourth leading cause of death in children. According to the National MCH Center for Child Death Review, the four top causes of...

DUI Felony Classification

Felonies are crimes that are punishable up to state prison terms. The term length is variable, depending upon the severity of the crime and the criminal record of the offender, and can be low, mid, or high term. A DUI may be a misdemeanor or a felony depending the offender’s criminal background and other variables. The California court system guides DUI convictions and punishments based on applicable...

Possession of Marijuana

The State of California treats drug offenses very seriously, prosecuting offenders to the full extent of the law whenever it is possible. However, the laws surrounding the possession of marijuana can be confusing and it can be intimidating to face these charges if one does not harbour a thorough understanding of the state laws. This makes it ultimately important to seek the advice and counsel of a...