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California Legal Guides
Comprehensive California legal guides to help you understand your rights before taking action. Focused on employment law and personal injury, with additional resources across other areas of California law, all grounded in real case patterns and current legal standards. If your situation meets the legal thresholds, you can request a free referral to a qualified attorney near you.
Fired for Jury Duty, Court Appearances, or Protected Time Off in California: Labor Code § 230 and Your Rights
California Labor Code § 230 prohibits firing employees for jury duty, court appearances, domestic violence leave, and crime victim time off. Learn your rights and remedies.
JC Serrano | Founder - LRIS # 0128
Jun 239 min read
Romano v. Rockwell and California's Wrongful Termination Accrual Rule: When Does the Clock Actually Start?
Romano v. Rockwell established California's wrongful termination accrual rule: the statute of limitations runs from actual termination, not notice. Learn how this protects your claim.
JC Serrano | Founder - LRIS # 0128
Jun 239 min read
How California Employers Must Handle Harassment Complaints: FEHA's Investigation Requirements and What to Do When HR Fails
California law requires employers to investigate harassment complaints immediately under FEHA § 12940(k). Learn what employers must do and what to do when HR fails.
JC Serrano | Founder - LRIS # 0128
Jun 199 min read
Military and Veteran Status Discrimination in California — FEHA and USERRA Protections
California FEHA prohibits military and veteran status discrimination for employers of 5+. USERRA adds federal reemployment rights for all employers. Free referral. LRIS #0128.
JC Serrano | Founder - LRIS # 0128
Jun 168 min read
Caregiver and Family Responsibilities Discrimination in California — What FEHA Actually Covers
AB 524 was vetoed, but caregiver discrimination is still actionable in California under FEHA sex stereotyping, marital status, and CFRA retaliation. Free referral. LRIS #0128.
JC Serrano | Founder - LRIS # 0128
Jun 168 min read
Termination on a PIP — When the Performance Improvement Plan Is the Pretext
How California employers use PIPs to disguise wrongful termination — the four pretext patterns, what the PIP document reveals, and what employees must do when a PIP arrives.
JC Serrano | Founder - LRIS # 0128
Jun 1010 min read
The California Regular Rate of Pay — How Overtime Must Actually Be Calculated
How California's regular rate of pay is calculated for overtime — what must be included, the Alvarado flat-sum bonus method, and what happens when employers get it wrong.
JC Serrano | Founder - LRIS # 0128
Jun 1010 min read
Sarbanes-Oxley and Dodd-Frank Whistleblower Protections for California Employees
How SOX and Dodd-Frank protect California employees at public companies — the 180-day filing deadline, double back pay, SEC financial awards, and how federal rights stack with § 1102.5.
JC Serrano | Founder - LRIS # 0128
Jun 1010 min read
AB 1041 and the CFRA Designated Person Expansion — Who Qualifies for California Family Leave
How AB 1041 expanded California CFRA leave to cover a designated person — who qualifies, how designation works, the FMLA gap it creates, and what employers cannot do.
JC Serrano | Founder - LRIS # 0128
Jun 109 min read
SB 497 and California's 90-Day Retaliation Presumption — What It Means for Your Case
How California's SB 497 90-day retaliation presumption works, which Labor Code sections it covers, how employers rebut it, and what the $10,000 penalty means for your case.
JC Serrano | Founder - LRIS # 0128
Jun 1010 min read
Reproductive Health Decision-Making Discrimination Under California FEHA — What SB 523 Actually Covers
How California's SB 523 protects employees from reproductive health discrimination under FEHA — what it covers, how claims are proven, and what damages are available.
JC Serrano | Founder - LRIS # 0128
Jun 99 min read
The After-Acquired Evidence Doctrine in California Wrongful Termination Cases
How the after-acquired evidence doctrine limits damages in California wrongful termination cases — what it covers, how courts apply McKennon, and how to challenge it.
JC Serrano | Founder - LRIS # 0128
Jun 98 min read
Walmart Discrimination Against Pregnant Employees in California
Walmart employees in California who have experienced hour reductions, accommodation denials, coaching escalation, or termination connected to pregnancy are dealing with violations that California's overlapping pregnancy protection framework addresses directly and comprehensively.
JC Serrano | Founder - LRIS # 0128
Jun 211 min read
Kaiser Permanente Disability Discrimination — What California Healthcare Workers Can Do
When a Kaiser Permanente employee develops a physical or mental health condition that affects their ability to perform some aspect of their job, California law does not permit Kaiser to simply terminate them or push them out.
JC Serrano | Founder - LRIS # 0128
May 3111 min read
UPS Package Handlers — Wage Theft and Overtime Violations in California
UPS package handlers and delivery employees in California, dealing with overtime underpayment, pre-shift loading time, and break violations, are dealing with an employer whose payroll systems consistently fall short of California's more protective wage standards.
JC Serrano | Founder - LRIS # 0128
May 2010 min read
Tesla Racial Discrimination at Fremont — What California Law Says and What Employees Can Do
Tesla employees in California who have experienced racial discrimination, hostile work environment conduct, or retaliation for reporting either are not navigating an untested legal landscape.
JC Serrano | Founder - LRIS # 0128
May 1611 min read
Was I Wrongfully Terminated in California? A 7-Question Self-Diagnostic
Was I wrongfully terminated in California? Seven-question self-diagnostic covering FEHA, retaliation, public policy, implied contract. State Bar LRIS #0128.
JC Serrano | Founder - LRIS # 0128
May 79 min read
California Employment Contract Review: 12 Clauses Every Executive Should Negotiate Before Signing
California employment contract review — 12 clauses every executive should negotiate, choice of law, equity, severance, indemnification. State Bar LRIS #0128.
JC Serrano | Founder - LRIS # 0128
May 79 min read
California Non-Solicitation Agreements: When Customer and Employee Restrictions Survive § 16600 — and When They Do Not
California non-solicitation agreements — § 16600, AMN Healthcare, customer vs. employee non-solicits, trade secret carve-out. State Bar LRIS #0128.
JC Serrano | Founder - LRIS # 0128
May 78 min read
California Equity, RSU, and Stock Option Disputes After Termination: What Vests, What Forfeits, What You Can Recover
California equity, RSU, and stock option disputes — vesting, forfeiture, claw-back, single vs. double trigger, § 16600 protections. State Bar LRIS #0128.
JC Serrano | Founder - LRIS # 0128
May 710 min read
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