Meet Our Lead Legal Secretary, Wendy Gardea
Jones Mayer’s lead legal secretary, Wendy Gardea, brings a runner’s mindset to her work. She draws on the disciplines built over the miles to bring the focus, drive, and commitment needed to keep the firm’s gears turning. In this article, we sit down with Wendy to learn a bit about how she does it. A […]
Local Government Relief Under the American Rescue Plan Act
On March 10, 2021, Congress passed the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (the “Act”), which created a fund to assist state and local governments that have suffered financially because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Act places certain restrictions on the uses to which eligible agencies can put their relief funds. This article provides a […]
San Juan Water District Engages Jones Mayer as General Counsel
Jones Mayer is pleased to announce that the San Juan Water District has engaged Partner Ryan Jones to serve as the District’s General Counsel. Serving approximately 160,000 wholesale and retail customers in the greater Sacramento area, the District traces its roots to the Gold Rush era. The engagement reflects the firm’s ongoing commitment to serving […]
Effective Use of Statistics in Fair Housing Act Litigation
The Fair Housing Act (FHA), 42 U.S.C. § 3604, broadly prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, familial status, or national origin in transactions related to residential properties. The statute’s scope captures not only rental and sale transactions, but also “the provision of services or facilities in connection therewith,” advertising, lending, and […]
Vol. 34 No. 6 COLLECTION OF DEFENDANT’S DNA SAMPLE WAS UNLAWFUL UNDER THE FOURTH AMENDMENT BECAUSE PROSECUTION FAILED TO PROVE THAT HIS DNA WAS COLLECTED AS PART OF A ROUTINE BOOKING PROCEDURE
In the case of People v. Marquez, 2019 Cal. App. LEXIS 48 (4th Dist. Jan. 15, 2019), the California Fourth District Court of Appeal held that the 2006 collection of Daniel Joseph Marquez’s DNA sample was unlawful under the Fourth Amendment, but also concluded that the trial court properly admitted 2008 DNA evidence from a […]
Vol. 33 No. 34 POLICE OFFICER BODY CAMERA VIDEO AND AUDIO RECORDINGS OF “CRITICAL INCIDENTS” ARE DISCLOSABLE UNDER THE PUBLIC RECORDS ACT
On September 30, 2018 Governor Brown signed into law Assembly Bill 748 (“AB 748”) which added language to the Public Records Act that relates to police investigation records. Beginning July 1, 2019, video or audio recordings of “critical incidents” may only be withheld from the public for a period of longer than 45 days if […]
Vol. 33 No. 33 RECORDS OF OFFICER INVOLVED SHOOTINGS, USES OF FORCE RESULTING IN GREAT BODILY INJURY OR DEATH, AND SUSTAINED INCIDENTS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT AND DISHONESTY ARE SUBJECT TO DISCLOSURE UNDER THE PUBLIC RECORDS ACT
Governor Brown recently signed into law Senate Bill 1421 (“SB 1421”) which changed the confidential status of certain records contained in peace officer personnel files. SB 1421 effects a significant change with respect to the disclosure of certain categories of peace officer personnel files by way of the California Public Records Act. Beginning January 1, […]
Vol. 33 No. 32 DISTRICT COURT ORDER IN IMMIGRATION CASE GRANTS CITY’S APPLICATION FOR PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION WHERE ATTORNEY GENERAL SEEKS TO IMPOSE IMMIGRATION CONDITIONS ON FEDERAL GRANTS FOR CITY
On September 13, 2018 in the case of City of Los Angeles v. Jefferson B. Sessions, 293 F. Supp. 3d 1087 (C.D. Cal. 2018), the United States District Court for the Central District of California granted the application by the City of Los Angeles (“City”) for a preliminary injunction to enjoin the imposition of new […]
Vol. 33 No. 31 CALIFORNIA SUPREME COURT DENIES REVIEW OF COURT OF APPEAL DECISION ON POBRA STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS
As reported to you in an earlier Client Alert (Vol. 33 No. 23; July 27, 2018) the First District Court Appeal had held in Daugherty v. City and County of San Francisco, 24 Cal. App. 5th 928 (1st Dist. 2018) that disciplinary charges were timely where a senior officer aware of officer misconduct was not […]
Vol. 33 No. 30 A REVIEW OF THE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS SAFETY ACT AND RECENT CASE DEVELOPMENTS
The Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act (“LEOSA”) is a federal law that was enacted in 2004 which is set forth in 18 U.S.C. Sections 926B and 926C. Generally, LEOSA provides that active and retired law enforcement officers who meet certain criteria may carry a concealed firearm, with certain restrictions. Since its enactment, LEOSA has subsequently […]