1. Animal Injuries
Dog bites, as most people know, make up the majority of injuries caused by animals. In fact, the U.S. Center for Disease Control (CDC) has estimated that more than 4 million people are bitten by dogs in a year.[1] And of these cases, more than 350,000 require medical attention each year.[2] Children are the most common victims of dog bites, according to the CDC.[3]
Other kinds of animals, however, injure and kill thousands of people ever year in the United States. Injuries caused by horses and cattle are the top of the list of animals that most commonly injure and kill ...
The California Court of Appeal once explained:
Keeping a pet dog is undoubtedly one of the most cherished forms in which the constitutionally protected right to own personal property is exercised. To most people it is more than ownership of mere personal property. More than once courts have recognized that the keeping of such pets is such an important part of our way of life, and have recognized the perhaps sentimental but nonetheless universally strong affection of [hu]mankind for the dog.[1]
With that sentiment in mind, it is no surprise there are dogs in more than 48 million ...
1. What is FEMA?
The federal government has a long history of providing disaster relief to Americans. This history dates back to at least 1803, when a devastating fire in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, threatened commerce in the newly founded United States.[1]
Today, FEMA–which stands for the “Federal Emergency Management Agency”–leads the federal government’s response to disasters. President Carter established FEMA by executive order in 1979.
In 1988, Congress refined FEMA’s role with the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act ...
1. What is a dangerous condition on public property?
When most people consider “dangerous conditions on public property,” they typically think of outdoor hazards. From uneven sidewalks to potholes in the road, hazardous situations on public property frequently cause injuries to pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorists.
Hazards indoors, however, can also give rise to dangerous conditions. Faulty flooring or broken railings can also create hazards that injure members of the public who are using public buildings and facilities.
Practically, any condition on public property ...
1. Does California have motorcycle helmet laws?
Yes, California has laws that apply to riders and passengers of motorcycles, motor-driven cycles, and motorized bicycles.
California’s motorcycle helmet laws are some of the most stringent in the nation, applying to all motorcycle riders and passengers regardless of age. Such helmet laws are known as “universal” helmet laws.
Other states, like Michigan and Florida, require helmets for motorcycle riders and passengers under 21 years old. Still others, like Arizona and Hawaii, require helmets for motorcycle riders and ...
1. What is lane splitting?
California drivers often see motorcyclists whiz by on the freeway, squeaking by, either in the same lane or between the two far left lanes. This practice is called “lane splitting.” And it is generally legal in California.
The California Vehicle Code defines lane splitting as “driving a motorcycle . . . between rows of stopped or moving vehicles in the same lane . . . .”[1]
This lane-splitting law, which went into effect in 2017, also tasked the California Highway Patrol with developing “educational guidelines relating to lane splitting in a manner ...
What is a statute of limitations?
A “statute of limitations” is a law that sets a time limit on when a particular claim must be filed in court.
Defendants frequently assert the statute of limitations as a defense to lawsuits. And subject to a few exceptions, outlined below, a person who attempts to file a lawsuit after the statute of limitations has expired, would likely have their case dismissed. This means the person might not receive any compensation for an injury caused by someone else.
Why are there statutes of limitations?
The primary purpose of statutes of limitations is to ...
Today we honor the birthday of the late great civil rights leader, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. King was born on January 15, 1929 (so he would have been 93 today). The holiday of MLK Day is observed on the third Monday of January. His leadership was fundamental to that movement’s success in ending the legal segregation in the South and other parts of the United States. He promoted nonviolent tactics, such as the massive March on Washington (1963), to achieve civil rights. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964.
I have a Dream – Speech
“I say to you today, my friends, so even though we ...
The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (“CAL FIRE”) has determined that power lines owned and operated by Pacific Gas & Electric Company (“PG&E”) caused the 2021 Dixie Fire. CAL FIRE’s investigation found that the Dixie Fire started when a tree made contact with one of PG&E’s electrical distribution lines on July 13, 2021. CAL FIRE sent its investigative report to the Butte County District Attorney’s office to determine whether criminal charges against PG&E are warranted.
Numerous suits filed by several hundred plaintiffs have been coordinated ...
Happy New Year!
As of January 1, 2022, we are operating as Singleton Schreiber, LLP. Scott Trial Lawyers is returning to its previous structure as a stand-alone criminal defense, civil rights, and trial firm, renamed McKenzie Scott PC. While we will continue to collaborate on a variety of cases with the McKenzie Scott team, we believe the overall structure works better if McKenzie Scott is a separate entity and we work together on specific cases. This change will not have any effect on our overall operations or on the team members who are handling your case.
While our name and our look may ...