CC&R’s cannot impose restrictions on the addition of ADU’s, including Junior ADU’s. Civil Code §4751 states that CC&R’s can impose “reasonable restrictions” so long as they do not interfere with Sections 65852.2 or 65852.22 of the Government Code. This probably means submitting plans for approval to their design approval board and paying a small fee
ADU’s Build Them While You Can SB 13 — Government Code §65852.2
The legislature has passed several bills promoting additional housing loosening up restrictions on building Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU’s). Until 2025, new for January 2020, Senate Bill 13 adds Government Code §65852.2, and removes Health and Safety Code 17980.12 restrictions as to land use. The new law now allows ADU’s up to 1,200 sq. feet to
Covid-19: Court is limiting all Evictions Unless the Public Safety is at risk
The current law is only staying evictions or unlawful detainer actions for non-payment of rent. Please read this memo: July 14, 2020 Updated Letter to Clients re COVID-19 – UD
Civil trials will probably be continued until after November 1, 2020 if it is a short matter, e.g. court trial. Jury trials will (may) be
What Are the Buyers and Seller’s Closing Costs in Los Angeles for Residential Property Sales
While most things are negotiable, there are a few items which by law are allocated to the seller or buyer. Even if allocated, so long as the legal obligation to perform is done, the parties can negotiate who pays for what. See this memo as to costs applicable in Los Angeles including retrofit. See this
$1,200 per hour attorney fee is reasonable per L.A. County Judge Fahey!
Trial courts have great discretion as to determining what is a reasonable attorney fee. Some judges look at what is a “market rate” and for high end clients they will pay $1,200 per hour. In an unpublished opinion, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge William Fahey awarded attorney’s fees in favor of Latham Watkins, Gibson Dunn
Attorneys must disclose if they do not have malpractice insurance or risk not being paid! (Rules of Professional Conduct, 1.4.2 (formerly Rule 3-410)
The plaintiffs’ attorneys in a class action were denied attorney’s fees because some of the attorneys failed to disclose their lack of professional liability insurance to the client at the time the client retained the attorney. The Court of Appeal concluded the agreement was unenforceable because of failure to comply with former rule 3-410 and
Mediation Fees May be Awarded as Costs after Trial (Berkeley Cement, Inc. v. Regents of the Univ. of California (2019) 30 Cal.App.5th 1153)
In Berkeley Cement, Inc. v. Regents of the Univ. of California (2019) 30 Cal.App.5th 1153, the court confirmed that a trial court may award mediation fees as costs, whether the mediation is court ordered or privately agreed to. In affirming the award of mediation fees as costs, Berkeley Cement noted that although mediation costs are
No waiver of jury trial even if willfully disobey Court’s Order re jury trial preparation (Guo Zhang Chen v. Lin (Cal. App. Dep’t Super. Ct., Nov. 14, 2019, No. BV 033055)
Waiver of the right to a jury trial cannot be imposed as a sanction. In a Los Angeles unlawful detainer action, the pro per tenant (who was also pro per on appeal) appeared on the trial date without complying with a Los Angeles County Superior Court Civil Division unlawful detainer standing order. The court found
Legal Writing Techniques: How to Emphasize or De-Emphasize for Affect
Attorneys primary tool is language. How you say something is critical. Attached here is a cheat sheet of how you can think about framing and focusing your argument. Click here:
Deadline to file copyright registration does not run if only published on a foreign website (Moberg v. 33T, LLC 666 F. Supp.2d 415)
I had a case where the issue was if the work had been previously published invalidating the US copyright. This case will be very useful for showing no publication occurred if the work was only posted on a foreign website. In Moberg v 33T LLC (D Del 2009) 666 F Supp 2d 415, the district