Inter-City Express

GUEST COLUMNS

Military bases' new names sound like the old Confederate ones

Military bases previously renamed to remove Confederate associations have been renamed again to their original surnames, now honoring different individuals with the same last names who served in various American conflicts.

83(b) goes digital: Quirks founders should know before clicking 'submit'

The IRS has launched electronic filing for § 83(b) elections via Form 15620, allowing founders and service providers to submit online while keeping the 30-day deadline and employer-copy requirement, though filers should be mindful of technical quirks, save PDF confirmations, and coordinate with their companies to ensure accuracy.

Seeing is believing, unless you're looking at a deepfake

Meteoric rise of deepfake AI-generated content creates risks for attorneys.

Plaintiff legal fee deductions under 'beautiful' tax law

Most plaintiffs in contingent fee cases must report the entire settlement as income under Commissioner v. Banks, even though their lawyer is paid a share, but with careful tax planning -- such as using above-the-line deductions for qualifying claims -- they can usually avoid paying tax on the portion of the recovery that goes to their attorney.

The unequal equation: When math placement becomes discrimination

Despite equal ability, Black and Latino students are routinely denied early algebra access -- turning a curricular choice into a civil rights problem hiding in plain sight.

Landlords can't paint over danger: Hidden black mold is a legal, health crisis

California law requires landlords to remediate hidden black mold (Stachybotrys chartarum) and structural decay rather than merely covering it up.

SNAP shutdown showdown: USDA walks legal tightrope on funding

Just as USDA acted to sustain WIC, it could -- within statutory bounds -- lawfully consider similar tools to bolster SNAP's contingency funding and help ensure benefit continuity.

From public health crisis to legal battle for engineered stone victims

California is facing a dual crisis as the engineered stone silicosis epidemic among immigrant workers grows -- now over 435 confirmed cases -- and courts struggle to manage hundreds of complex, coordinated lawsuits, creating both a public health and legal emergency.

Oilfield reuse: What about the property owners?

Plans to convert Baldwin Hills from oil production to parks or housing overlook the constitutionally protected property rights of current owners, raising the prospect of regulatory overreach and the need for compensation under established law.

10 facts about client trust accounting

Mismanaging client funds -- through commingling, overdrafts, or poor recordkeeping--is the fastest route to serious State Bar discipline, making proper trust account management, including IOLTA compliance, essential for every lawyer.

IRS rules give lawyers leeway on qualified settlement fund setup

The QSF regulations give claimants and their counsel broad flexibility -- there's no requirement to use a trust, but rather the opportunity to do so when it suits the situation.

Bonding from the bench: How judges create chemistry in the courtroom

Judges can enhance fairness and public trust by using respectful, clear and compassionate communication to humanize courtroom proceedings and foster a sense of justice for all participants.

AI, ethics, and the lawyer's duty after Noland v. Land of the Free

Noland v. Land of the Free makes clear: AI can assist, but lawyers remain fully accountable for every word they file.

With friends like these: Who has standing in conservatorship law

In probate law, only those with a genuine, sustained relationship or legal stake can petition to override another's autonomy, and casual acquaintances or well-meaning strangers do not have standing.

Think twice before suing the other side's lawyer

*Ramirez v. McCormack* confirms that suing opposing counsel for actions taken while representing their client -- including post-settlement advice -- is barred under California's anti-SLAPP statute, and failing to address both prongs of the motion can forfeit any defense.

IRS issues new guidance for rural opportunity zones legislation

Under new federal guidance, more than 3,000 rural tracts now qualify as opportunity zones, opening the door for investment in overlooked areas -- from California's Central Valley to remote corners of the country.

Why minimal sidewalk safety compliance leaves pedestrians at risk

Broken or unstable utility vault covers and exposed wires on sidewalks across the U.S. create predictable, preventable hazards that current inspections and enforcement fail to address.

Fake cases, real consequences: The Noland warning

The Noland decision delivered a sharp warning to lawyers: use generative AI at your own risk, because only human judgment -- not predictive tools -- can ensure competent, ethical legal work.

Rebuilding Los Angeles: Lessons from California's wildfire recovery

California's post-wildfire recovery efforts in early 2025 revealed both the promise and the pitfalls of its disaster laws -- exposing a system in urgent need of modernization as climate threats grow.

Courting discrimination: Trans Americans left unprotected

The Supreme Court has repeatedly ruled against transgender individuals this year, allowing bans on military service, healthcare and identity recognition. With key cases on transgender athletes approaching, the Court shows little inclination to protect them from discrimination.

California data breach law tightens with 30-day deadline, raises stakes for companies

A recent amendment to California's data breach law imposes a firm 30-day notice deadline, limiting companies' discretion to postpone alerting residents to threats.

AI in mediation: The modern Prometheus?

AI tools are transforming mediation practice, from document analysis to settlement predictions, but the distinctly human elements of trust-building, empathy and reading the room remain irreplaceable in resolving disputes.AI in mediation: The modern Prometheus?

That masked man was not the Lone Ranger

Unlike the masked Lone Ranger who upheld justice, today's masked ICE agents raise serious legal concerns as they operate more like villains than heroes.

Are false imprisonment settlements taxable?

If you're falsely imprisoned but not exonerated, your legal recovery may be taxable --highlighting a peculiar gap in how the tax code treats lost freedom.

When negligence is not an occurrence: The intersection of intentional conduct and negligence

In State Farm Fire & Casualty Co. v. Diblin, the California Court of Appeal reaffirmed that intentional conduct cannot constitute an "occurrence" under a liability policy, holding that even when a jury finds negligence, coverage is precluded if the injury stems from intentional acts.

CEMA expands liability for text-based referral marketing in Washington

Plaintiffs' attorneys are increasingly turning to Washington's CEMA to challenge text-based refer-a-friend programs, drawn by its broad liability standards, statutory damages, and fee-shifting provisions.

Why the Supreme Court should revisit SEC disgorgement remedy

Five years after Liu v. SEC, courts remain split on how to apply its limits on disgorgement, leaving the SEC's most potent remedy in need of Supreme Court clarification.

The National Guard isn't a political tool: Why Illinois should resist

Trump calls up the National Guard in Illinois, citing "rebellion" and insufficient forces; courts and critics say there's no threat, raising 10th Amendment, federal-overreach and domestic-military concerns.

Prop 50 lawsuit tests limits of race-conscious mapping

A GOP lawsuit over California's new district maps tests whether the state's largest ethnic group -- Latinos -- can still qualify for voting protections despite their numbers but persistent political underrepresentation.

Before the ash settles California must learn from Katrina

California's wildfire litigation is echoing the post-Katrina struggle over causation, with courts now facing the pivotal question of whether smoke damage counts as "direct physical loss" -- a decision that will shape recovery for years to come.

From Normandy to the bench: Justice Buck Compton's life of service

On Veterans Day, we honor Justice Buck Compton -- a Silver Star-winning D-Day hero, Band of Brothers paratrooper and longtime California Court of Appeal justice -- whose extraordinary life blended courage in war, dedication to public service and a commitment to the law.

Too sick to practice? Ethics rules still apply to attorneys

As flu season sets in, even the most tireless lawyer must recognize when illness demands a pause -- because ethical duties don't take sick days.

Are fertility lawsuit settlements taxable?

Some fertility plaintiffs may endure painful follow-up procedures--yet still face taxes on settlements, depending on how claims are characterized and how the IRS views the loss.

NIL drives college sports into legal entropy

Betting, branding and foreign financing were once unthinkable in college sports -- now they're on the table. Without a federal NIL framework, it's time for lawyers to step in.

Expert testimony in patent cases now harder to admit

A recent en banc decision by the Federal Circuit in EcoFactor, Inc. v. Google LLC (2025) -- left standing by the U.S. Supreme Court's denial of review -- has sparked widespread debate in the legal community for significantly heightening the scrutiny of expert testimony under Daubert and Federal Rule of Evidence 702, and for potentially shifting decision-making power over patent damages from juries to judges.

The dot-com boom ignored women: The AI era can be different

Unlike the dot-com era, when women were largely sidelined, the AI boom offers a historic opportunity for women to lead by leveraging their judgment, communication, empathy and collaborative skills across industries.

California falls into the gerrymander trap

California joins other states where partisan gerrymandering skews representation, disenfranchises voters and fuels political polarization and gridlock.

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