The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals blocked Assembly Bill 51 (AB 51), which would have banned mandatory arbitration agreements in the workplace. Key Points of the Ruling: 1. AB 51 has been blocked in its entirety: The 9th Circuit found that all of AB51’s provisions work together, and declined to sever certain parts and uphold…
Continue reading…OSHA Requirements – Effective 2/3/23
Effective: February 3, 2023, OSHA requires the following from ALL Employers for the next two years. Recordkeeping requirements will remain in effect for three years. Employers must provide face coverings and ensure they are worn by employees. HOWEVER, most counties and hotels in California have a low COVID-19 community level, which means employees wearing a mask is…
Continue reading…Importance of Registering a Fictitious Business Name / DBA
Do you operate your business under a different name than the company name that owns the business? Example: Ownership entity is Om Hospitality Inc., but the business is called Sleep Inn. If your answer is yes, then you must register your fictitious business name. DBA is always required in California when a sole proprietor, or any other…
Continue reading…California Minimum Wage 2023
Statewide Minimum Wage California’s minimum wage for all employers regardless of size will increase to $15.50 per hour. This is a change from the increase that was previously scheduled because of a provision in the law that is triggered when inflation is above 7%. Exempt Employee Minimum Salaries and Wages The minimum salary threshold for…
Continue reading…California Pay Scale Law – Effective 1/1/23
Effective January 1, 2023, Senate Bill 1162 requires California employers to include pay scale information on job postings and report certain pay data. Employers are still prohibited from asking applicants about their pay history including compensation and benefits. For All Employers: If an applicant requests the pay scale for a position, you must provide it….
Continue reading…New Lawsuit Wave – Tenant Class Actions
DPA Attorneys is seeing a wave of tenant class action lawsuits. Hotels are being sued for their check-in and check-out policies of avoiding guest tenancy status. Under California law, a person who occupies a motel or hotel room as his or her primary residence for 30 or more days becomes a tenant and has certain…
Continue reading…The Importance and Difference Between Wills and Trusts
Wills and Trusts are necessary planning tools to protect your family, legacy, and assets. Unfortunately, many people procrastinate creating their Will or Trust, forcing their spouse and family into expensive court costs and high estate taxes. Because of poor planning, all too often an estate can shrink to half of its original value. Here are…
Continue reading…Hotel City Code Violations
City officials are cracking down on building code violations. A number of hotels in the last year have been targeted by city inspectors for “dilapidated” conditions. These conditions include exposed electrical wiring, leaking plumbing, unpainted walls, trash debris in the parking lot, inoperable smoke detectors, etc. The city is deeming buildings unsafe and dangerous in…
Continue reading…Incorporation, LLC vs. Corporation
Regardless of whether you choose to incorporate as an LLC or an Inc., it is important to limit your liability by holding ownership interest through an entity as opposed to an individual. If you own any property in your name personally, we highly recommend you transfer your interest to an entity that you can own…
Continue reading…Loan Document Review
You’re at the closing line, escrow is about to wrap up, financing has been negotiated and approved, and then the bank sends you a stack of loan documents prepared by their attorney to review. These documents are full of provisions that limit your actions during the life of the loan, and do much more than…
Continue reading…