Legal News Archives - Riverside County Law Library

In Clients We Trust

Written on September 7, 2023.

America’s political sphere is characterized today by a unique combination of an all-time high in civic participation by the populace, and an all-time high in distrust for those same institutions. During the 2020 election, an unprecedented 66.9% of eligible voters participated in the election [1]. However, In 2022, it was reported that only 25% of the population have a great deal of confidence in the Supreme Court [2]. Perhaps, these trends mark a healthy direction in our democracy towards an awareness...

The State of Pride (by the numbers)

Written on June 28, 2023.

This year’s Pride month has faced an increased number of controversies and backlash including boycotts of Target and Anheuser-Bush, protesting pride celebrations in public schools, and the controversy involving the Los Angeles Dodgers and the LGBTQ+ charity organization, The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. There’s no doubt this year’s pride season has felt very different than past seasons. For the first time ever, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) issued a statement, “LGBTQ+ Americans under attack:...

New Year, New Climate Change Laws 2023

Written on January 20, 2023.

It is no secret that climate change, ecology, and the catastrophes they present are some of the most concerning issues facing Californians as we lurch towards an uncertain future. The popularity of a star-studded film such as Don’t Look Up and the frequent and sensational debates concerning the validity of the science behind climate change bear witness to this. In a speech delivered in July of 2022, even President Joe Biden declared that “Climate change is an existential threat.” At this time,...

New Year, New Laws: 2023 Edition!

Written on January 6, 2023.

With a new year comes many things including resolutions, goals, upcoming events, tax season, and of course, new laws. California is set to launch new laws in the areas of health care, labor, public safety, retail, housing, and gun control within this new year. What follows is a listing of some of those new California laws taking effect this year. Health Care Abortion Rights: several reproductive healthcare-related measures have taken effect or will take effect in 2023 in response to the U.S....

Riverside County Among the First to Implement New Program

Written on December 2, 2022.

On September 14, 2022, Governor Newsom signed into law the CARE (Community Assistance, Recover, and Empowerment) Act with the goal of aiding the mentally ill or those with a substance use disorder by providing a route out of the cycle of hospitalization, homelessness and incarceration faced by many on the streets. Families, clinicians, first responders and others would be able to refer an individual to a network of CARE Courts at the county level where a plan would be developed with an individual...

The Price of Health

Written on October 7, 2022.

Medical debt continues to weigh down the futures of Americans even as new laws are passed. With the recent announcement of President Joe Biden forgiving up to $20,000 of student debt for eligible people, I was reminded of another form of debt that weighs down on Americans: medical debt. TransUnion, Equifax, and Experian announced they began removing cleared medical debts beginning back on July 1, 2022. Dealing with medical bills being sent to collections and current medical bills lingering over...

a room full of people sitting at desks with computers

Inland Empire Businesses Are Starting To Hire Again; ICLS Offers Free Employment Law Guidance To Small Business Owners.

Written on July 1, 2022.

While COVID continues to take a toll on Southern California, with substantial amount of the economic impact on small businesses, recent studies suggest that businesses are starting to recover. And since nearly 85% of all businesses in the Inland Empire are considered small or very small,[1] this recovery has been critical to our local economy. How is the recovery going? According to a Spring 2022 Inland Empire Business Activity Index, the Inland Empire has outperformed many regions in California...

small dog with curly brown fur hangs out of a light gray sedan's window

California Good Samaritan Laws for pets and children

Written on June 17, 2022.

As temperatures increase this summer, it is important to know the state laws in effect that will allow people the ability to rescue a child or animal from a hot car. A Facebook post made by Riverside County Animal Services, describes a recent event where an animal was left in a hot car. As described in the Facebook post, an Animal Services officer responded to a call on June 1 regarding a small dog left inside a hot car at The Shops at Palm Desert. Bystanders were concerned about the dog since...

open sign in blue lettering on the glass door of a shop

Covid-19 policies and implications for Small Businesses

Written on March 4, 2022.

New Government Policies Around COVID-19 Could Result In Further Legal Implications For Small Businesses Over the past two years, we have seen a wide range of evolving compliance and regulatory policies relating to COVID-19, which have impacted the operations of small businesses in the Inland Empire (and throughout the country). And change is on the horizon again. A few weeks ago, Governor Newsom announced that California is transitioning to an “endemic phase” of COVID-19 management, reflecting...