Rizio and Nelson California Law Blog

Enforcing California’s Labor Laws

In today’s economy, people can become desperate to find a job, any job, in order to survive and feed their families. A job that doesn’t withhold taxes can seem like a dream come true. Money that changes hands “under the table” can be easier to come by than money earned from working for a legitimate business. However, beware of underground businesses and their labor practices. Remember...

Emancipation of a Minor Child

Our teenage years can be the most difficult and emotional times of our lives. At some point, most of us wish that we didn’t have to live with our parents, or we feel like we hate them. We feel reckless and rebellious, and we just want to move out and be on our own so that we don’t have to follow their rules any more. This is all completely normal, but most of the time, these are not valid...

Legal Guardianship

There are many reasons for becoming a legal guardian of a child. Perhaps the child was neglected, or the parents have been arrested or hospitalized for a long term stay. Whatever the reason, a social worker has advised the courts of the problem, and a judge has decided that it is no longer safe or appropriate for the child to live with the parents. Often, the new legal guardian is a relative of...

Immigration Laws

These days, America truly is a melting pot for individuals from every nation in the world. However, not all “citizens” of the United States are legal, and immigration laws have come into question on many local, state, and federal fronts in the last few years to combat illegal immigration, especially from Mexico and Cuba. Those who enter the country illegally do so for a variety of reasons....

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,...