Latest News

Equal Pay: In an effort to address the issue of equal pay, Senate Bill 1162 requires all employers in California with at least 15 workers to include the hourly rate or salary range in every job listing. It also strengthens requirements that employers submit detailed pay data reports that include the number of employees by race, ethnicity and sex in specified job categories.

Minimum Wage: The minimum wage in California will expand to nearly all workers in 2023, including those at small businesses. The hourly increase will apply to employees in businesses with 25 or fewer workers, which is the final step in a 7-year process to hike the minimum pay for hourly workers. A 2016 law established a state minimum wage increase by $1 per year until 2022 up to $15/hour. In 2023, the minimum wage will increase by another 50 cents to $15.50 due to inflation.

Fast Food Workers: If you are a fast food worker in California, Assembly Bill 257 creates what advocates are calling a pseudo union. Called the FAST Recovery Act, AB 257, establishes a 10-member Fast Food Council within the Department of Industrial Relations that will set minimum standards for wages, working hours, and other conditions for fast food employees.

Disability and Paid Family Leave: For those on disability and paid family leave, Senate Bill 951 raises the cap on payments for people making under $57,000 per year. People earning below this threshold will be paid 90% of their regular wages (higher than the current 70%) beginning in 2025.

Workers’ Compensation: A contractor that doesn’t carry worker’s compensation insurance could lose their license as a result of Senate Bill 216. Worker’s compensation was already required, but starting July 1, 2023 this new penalty will be added.

Traffic Laws

Speeding: Speed limits on roads and state highways could be lowered by local governments as a result of Assembly Bill 43. The law is meant to address rising traffic deaths. Current state law mandates the “85th percentile rule,” which sets the speed limit on any road as the speed at which 85% of cars on that road travel. AB 43 allows cities and counties to bypass this rule and lower speed limits through “safety corridors” in roads throughout the state.

Street Racing: With street racing and street takeovers becoming more of a problem, the California legislature attempted to address the problem with the passage of two bills. Assembly Bill 2000 makes it a crime to race or exhibit a vehicle’s speed in an “offstreet parking facility.” Racing is already illegal on roads and highways. A different bill, AB 74, increases the punishment for street racing up to suspending the perpetrator’s license for up to 6 months, and restricting their ability to drive for their employer.

Catalytic Converters: As thefts of catalytic converters have increased, lawmakers set their sights this year on the illegal market. Senate Bill 1087 prohibits auto parts recyclers from buying a used catalytic converter from anyone other than specified sellers. These sellers include vehicle dismantlers, auto repair dealers, or people with written proof of ownership of the converter. This law is the first in a slew of laws addressing the uptick in catalytic converter thefts throughout the state.

Jaywalking: Crossing the street outside a crosswalk will no longer be against the law in California in 2023 due to AB 2147. The law prohibits police from citing anyone from jaywalking unless they are at risk of being hit by traffic. Violations would apply to someone walking aimlessly in traffic rather than someone just trying to cross the street.

The Legal System

Remote Court Appearances: The coronavirus pandemic spawned a new age of video conferencing. One of the biggest changes occurred in the court system, which for the first time opened video conferencing for important proceedings that otherwise were conducted in a courtroom. Senate Bill 241 allows court conferences, hearings, or proceedings to continue taking place remotely through July 1, 2023.

Rap Lyrics at Trial: Prosecutors who want to use rap lyrics as evidence to convict someone of a crime must hold a hearing before trial, away from the jury, to prove that the lyrics are relevant to the case. Assembly Bill 2799 was authored in light of revelations from the book Rap on Trial, which discusses racial biases related to rap lyrics used in court proceedings.

Criminal Justice

Record Relief: Excluding violent criminals and sex offenders, many of those convicted of a misdemeanor or felony in California more than five years ago can have their criminal records sealed under SB 731. The law allows criminal records to be sealed only if the person completed their terms of punishment and have not committed another crime since, these sealed records cannot be used to deny the former offender employment, but they must be disclosed to school districts. This record relief does not extend to most violent crimes, or any felony requiring the person to register as a sex offender.

Mental Health Crisis

People Experiencing Homelessness: A new program under SB 1338 creates the CARE Court program as a way to compel adults living on the streets with serious mental illness into state-mandated facilities. Family members, law enforcement, and health care professionals can now petition a court to create a care plan for people that meet specific criteria, including a diagnosis of schizophrenia or another psychotic disorder. Seven California counties—Glenn, Orange, Riverside, San Diego, Stanislaus, Tuolumne, and San Francisco—must comply by October 1, 2023, while the rest of the state has until December 1, 2024.

Digital Privacy

California Privacy Rights Act: In 2020, California citizens voted to pass Prop 24, better known as the California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA). Though some provisions of the law began in 2021, most of the law takes full effect on January 1, 2023.

Under previous law (the California Consumer Privacy Act of 2018), consumers were given the following rights:

• The right to know what personal info was collected by a business, as well as from whom, why, and where it was sold
• The right to delete this personal info
• The right to opt out of sale of personal info
• The right to bring a cause of action against a business for any data breaches

The CPRA adds to these rights by giving consumers the right to correct any inaccurate personal information, and the right to limit a business’s disclosure of sensitive personal information, including their personal identification numbers, financial information, location, race, religion, mail or text messages, or genetic data.

Medical Malpractice

Recovery Amounts: Medical malpractice cases in California will receive long-awaited changes on Jan 1, 2023 due to Assembly Bill 35.

Since 1975, Californians seeking justice after suffering at the hands of a medical provider have faced obstacles towards obtaining a full recovery. The Medical Injury Compensation Reform Act—MICRA for short—capped a plaintiff’s ability to collect non-economic damages at $250,000.

In 1975, when MICRA was passed, $250,000 had the purchasing power of $1.3 million today. But as inflation has eroded the value of the dollar, the law has not changed and victims of medical malpractice throughout the state have remained unable to get the justice they deserve.

AB 35 helps address this issue. Beginning in 2023, the cap on damages for injuries not resulting in death increases to $350,000, and will increase $40,000 every year through 2033. For injuries resulting in wrongful death, the cap increases to $500,000 and increases $50,000 every year through 2033. After 2033, these amounts will increase by 2% every year.

PARRIS stands with the Consumer Attorneys of California and other victims’ rights advocacy organizations in support of this law. While AB 35 is a step in the right direction, the ultimate goal is to place the decision of what a victim’s recovery amount should be in the hands of a jury.

Gun Lawsuits: Private citizens can sue companies that make and sell firearms if they sell assault weapons or ghost gun products, which are already illegal in the state. SB 1327 creates a minimum bounty of $10,000 for violators. Most of the provisions take effect July 1, 2023.

PARRIS Law Firm: Here to Protect You and Inform You of the CA New Laws

If you have any questions about these new laws and how they may affect you, reach out to our team for a free case consultation. We’re dedicated to helping you get the legal help you need.

Here at PARRIS, we love Halloween. Our Antelope Valley community loves the rush of last-minute candy runs to the supermarket, the moments spent in front of the mirror perfecting that hilarious costume, and the delighted squeals of costumed kids as they take stock of their candy haul. However, as one would expect from a holiday where children roam around after the sun sets, Halloween can be a dangerous time. To help keep our community safe for trick-or-treaters, please review these Halloween safety tips to help everyone have a fun and safe Halloween.

For Parents Out With Children Trick-or-Treating

• Carry a flashlight so drivers can see you, and have your children carry glow sticks or wear reflective tape.
• Review and follow these pedestrian safety rules with your child.
• Select costumes that are the correct size to prevent trips and falls.
• Avoid masks that can obstruct a child’s vision. If possible, opt for face paint or makeup instead.
• If using makeup, ensure that you test it in a small area first to prevent skin irritation.
• Ensure all wigs, costumes, and accessories are fire-resistant.
• Keep all costumed or non-costumed pets on a leash.
• Wait until you get home to eat treats, and examine them first for choking hazards and signs of tampering.

For Those Driving

• Take particular care to follow all traffic safety laws to avoid unnecessary vehicle accidents.
• Watch out for trick-or-treaters who may dart out from behind parked cars or cross the street mid-block.
• Turn your headlights on earlier in the day for more visibility.
• Enter and exit alleys and driveways carefully and slowly.
• Slow down and remain alert by getting rid of any distractions, such as phones or food.
• Discourage new or inexperienced drivers from driving the evening of Halloween if possible.

For Those Passing Out Candy At Home

• Ensure walkways and stairs are well-lit and clear of objects that could cause falls.
• Keep jack-o-lanterns (or anything with an open flame) away from steps, walkways, curtains, landings, and out of reach of pets and small children.
• Pass out wrapped candy from the store, discarding anything with a partially open wrapper.
• Have an adult near the door if your child is passing out the candy, and if you see something unusual or odd, don’t be afraid to report the incident to the local police.

Safety on Halloween may not be the first subject on your mind, but it is nevertheless a crucially important one. From our PARRIS family to yours: have a spooktacular Halloween!

R. Rex Parris founded the Parris Law Firm in 1985 with the goal of building an innovative and highly successful trial firm. Thirty-five years later, that firm has become one of the premier personal injury and class action law firms in California, with over $1.4 billion dollars in verdicts and settlements for its clients.

“From the day we started we’ve known that injured victims desperately need great lawyers to represent them,” Parris says. “Without that, they can’t restore the balance in their family, which has been taken away from them by somebody else.”

Growing up, Parris’ father lost his leg in a motorcycle accident because of another person’s negligent driving. Rex experienced firsthand what happens to a family when a member is severely injured through no fault of their own.

“I understand from personal experience that when the breadwinner of a family is killed or injured it’s not something that ends—it affects the entire family forever,” Parris says. “And that’s why I have committed my life to helping people overcome the physical and financial burdens that result from an accident.”

Over the years, Parris and his team of attorneys and staff members, which has grown to more than 75 people, have obtained many impressive results for their clients: In 2009, Parris was lead counsel in securing a historic defamation jury verdict of $370 million against Georges Marciano, the founding designer of Guess Jeans.

“What differentiates us from other law firms, and allows us to achieve these record results, is the personal attention we bring to each and every case,” Parris explains. The firm’s clients all have a team working on their case. In addition to the attorneys representing them, the team includes a case manager, an investigator, as well as former insurance company adjusters who have been recruited from the nation’s largest insurance companies.

In addition to being a celebrated trial attorney, Parris is the mayor of Lancaster, California. As a result of his efforts, his city will be the first net-zero city in the world. He is an internationally sought-after speaker on climate change, alternative energy, and within the legal arena. Recently, he delivered keynote speeches throughout North America, Asia, and the Middle East.

PARRIS Law Firm has filed a class action against Apple Inc. on behalf of MacBook Pro owners in the United States who have experienced a MacBook Pro display defect occurring after normal use. This is due to a failure of the laptop’s display flex cable. If you have experienced this defect and would like updates regarding the status of this class action, or are interested in sharing your experience, please submit your information here.

Apple’s MacBook Pro Display Flex Cable

The Plaintiff alleges that in order to make the MacBook Pros thinner and sleeker, Apple used thin flexible ribbon cables to connect the display screen to the display controller board. The cables will function normally for year or two. However, over time, with the normal activity of simply opening and closing the laptop, the display cable wears down. It tears or becomes damaged since the cable is too short and rubs against the display board.

This issue, colloquially known as “flexgate,” causes the display screen to begin to have a “stage-lighting” effect, in which the screen will display alternating patches of light and darkness on the bottom of the display. Eventually, the screen will completely fail, causing the laptop to be entirely unusable. Unfortunately, this defect tends to become a problem outside of Apple’s standard one-year warranty period.

Defective Macbooks With The “Flexgate” Stage Lighting Effect Cost Hundreds Of Dollars To Repair.

APPLE COULD HAVE PREVENTED THE DEFECTIVE DISPLAY SCREENS

Plaintiff alleges that the defective MacBook Pro screens are caused by Apple’s poor design of the display flex cables; they are particularly thin and short in order to fit within the sleek MacBook Pro design. Apple could have designed a longer display flex cable. The company also could have designed the laptop so that the display flex cables aren’t connected to the display screen, which causes the entire expensive display screen to require replacement in the event of a cable failure.

Apple acknowledges that this problem occurs in some 13-inch 2016 MacBook Pros and has created a repair program just for those models. It will perform the display screen repair for free, or reimburse the cost of the repair for those select models. It refuses to repair or cover the cost of repair of other affected MacBook Pros, despite other models experiencing the exact same problem from the same defective design.

Do You OWN A DEFECTIVE MACBOOK PRO?

If you’ve experienced a failure of your MacBook Pro’s display screen and would like updates on the status of the class action or are interested in getting in touch with us, please submit your information here or call (310) 824-5600. PARRIS Law Firm and the Plaintiff want Apple to disclose the defective nature of the display cables, refund consumers’ MacBook Pro repair and replacement costs, and expand AppleCare and the display repair program service to other affected MacBook Pro models.

View the complaint filed against Apple Inc. here.

Perhaps two of California’s most notable new laws from 2021 address the state’s housing crisis. SB 9, the “duplex bill,” will allow homeowners to build duplexes, triplexes, or fourplexes on their single-family lots. SB 10 streamlines the rezoning process for those who wish to do so.

To comply, the following conditions must be met:

• The property cannot have been used as a rental property for the past three years
• The property cannot already have a second dwelling unit
• The new lot may not be less than 40% of the property and must be at least 1200 square feet
• Modifications to the existing home may not require demolition of more than 25% of an exterior wall
• Neither the new duplex nor the lot split can cause adverse impact on the physical environment

Both laws go into effect on January 1, 2022.

Multifamily Developments

For any residential structure with five or more dwelling units which include both affordable housing units and market rate housing units, AB 491 requires the affordable housing units must have the same access to building entrances, common areas, and amenities as the market rate housing units. This law may be applied retroactively.

Digital Privacy

California Privacy Rights Act

In 2020, California citizens voted yes on Prop 24, better known as the California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA). The law expands on the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) and establishes new rights for the state’s consumers:

• Right to access the personal information a business has collected about you
• Right to limit or opt out of the sharing/selling of personal information
• Right to sue businesses for negligently exposing usernames, passwords, or personal information in a data breach

The law also further regulates “high risk data processors” and enables special protections for minors browsing the internet.

The full provisions of the law for consumers don’t go into effect until 2023, but businesses are expected to comply on January 1, 2022.

Personal Health Care Information

AB 825 expands the definition of personal information as it relates to health care data. Now including genetic data, the law requires businesses to put in place reasonable safeguards and alert consumers of any data breach of their personal information.

Genetic Information Privacy Act

SB 41 requires genetic testing companies to provide consumers with a notice about their data collection practices. The new law also requires companies to get a consumer’s express written consent to collect, use, or disclose an individual’s genetic data. It also requires companies to destroy a consumer’s biological data within 30 days of receiving revocation of consent.

Multifamily Developments

For any residential structure with five or more dwelling units which include both affordable housing units and market rate housing units, AB 491 requires the affordable housing units must have the same access to building entrances, common areas, and amenities as the market rate housing units. This law may be applied retroactively.

Law Enforcement

Peace Officer Decertification

SB 2 gives a new division within the Peace Officer Standards and Training commission the power to investigate and/or decertify police officers accused of misconduct. The bill also prohibits officers stripped of their licenses from applying for jobs in another California police jurisdiction.

Police Age & Education

AB 89 raises the age at which you can become a police officer from 18 to 21. The law also requires that California community colleges develop a modern policing degree program for prospective officers in the state, to be implemented in 2025.

Hate Crime Education

AB 57 calls for increased training for law enforcement regarding hate crimes. Police officers must be educated on hate crimes (including religion-bias hate crimes) by subject matter experts.

Healthcare and COVID-19

COVID-19 Exposure Notification

AB 654 requires employers to provide notice to the local public health agency of COVID-19 positive tests within 48 hours or one business day, whichever is later. It also requires employers to notify employees, customers, and anyone else onsite who may have been exposed.

Hepatitis B and C Screening

Adult patients receiving primary care services in California must be offered a screening test for hepatitis B and hepatitis C to the extent these services are covered under a patient’s health insurance. (AB 789)

Affordable Medical Care

Another new law makes medical care more affordable for those without insurance or those under 400% of the federal poverty level. (AB 1020)

Healthcare Bias Training

Beginning January 1, 2023, nurses will be required to take implicit bias training. For every two years on the job, nurses must take a one hour course. (AB 1407)

Education

Mental Health Education

Each public school district in California is now required to offer mental health coursework for middle or high school students. The State Department of Education must develop a plan to implement mental health coursework in schools by January 1, 2024. (SB 224)

Free College Tuition for COVID-19 Survivors

AB 1113 allows the children or spouse of a nurse or physician who died of COVID-19 during California’s state of emergency to receive free tuition from any public postsecondary school in California (the UC system, Cal State schools, or community colleges).

CalFresh in College

California public colleges are now required by AB 543 to educate incoming students about the eligibility requirements for CalFresh, California’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

Food and Beverage

Takeout Alcoholic Beverages

SB 389 allows customers to order alcoholic drinks to go with their takeout food through 2026.

Restaurant Delivery Apps

Under AB 286, food delivery apps, such as Grubhub or Postmates, are not allowed to retain tips. If the food is for pickup, then the tip goes to the restaurant. If it is delivered, then the delivery driver keeps the tip.

Miscellaneous

Enforcement Liens on Real Property

SB 572 allows the Labor Commissioner to create a lien on an individual’s real property to secure amounts due under a citation, finding, or judgment.

Environmental Marketing Claims

SB 343 sets out to restrict environmental marketing claims made to California consumers. When a company claims a product is recyclable, biodegradable, or compostable, it must now be able to back those claims up with evidence. Previously, any company could put those logos on their products and there was no requirement that the products actually comply. This new law expands to all consumer products sold in California and enacts penalties of up to $2500 per violation.

Remote Marriages

In light of COVID-19, county clerks are now able to issue marriage licenses and solemnize marriage ceremonies using remote technology. Notably, the couple wishing to get married must be in the same physical location within California. (AB 583)

PARRIS Is Here to Help

We hope that this roundup of new laws in California has been helpful. With the sheer amount of regulations in California, understanding the implications of new additions can be quite overwhelming.

Remember—if at any point your rights as a California resident have been violated, call PARRIS Law Firm. We are here to fight for you.

Why does it matter to PARRIS? Well, if we add up all of our attorneys and team members, PARRIS is over 50% female! In honor of this, we’re recognizing the trailblazers here at PARRIS.

Women at PARRIS

56.3% of our staff, 50% of our case managers, and 31.3% of our attorneys are female. Let’s not dwell on the numbers, though: we want to focus on the achievements of our trailblazers, highlight their successes, and inspire the next generation of leading women. After all, one of the biggest ways to inspire the next generation is to show them it’s possible and to talk about how they can achieve even more success.

Role Model Effect

There is a classic study called “See Jane Run” that explains how seeing and talking about female role models inspires the next generation to achieve their dreams.

To summarize the study, if you see “someone like you” achieving something, you become more likely to picture yourself achieving that same thing.

Importantly, the author’s note: it’s not simply the image of women but the increased amount of discussion, “particularly within families,” that creates the Role Model Effect.

Amazing Women Powering PARRIS from Behind the Scenes

On that note, we’d like to recognize a few of the hardworking women at PARRIS.

First up is attorney Patricia K. Oliver, who has recovered millions for her clients. In addition to her amazing work inside the courtroom, Patricia is also the co-founder of the Christian Legal Aid of Los Angeles (CLA-LA). CLA-LA provides legal services to those who can’t afford or don’t have access to legal help. She’s truly a role model to young women across the legal industry.

Leading our complex litigation unit is Kitty K. Szeto. Kitty is a master cross-examiner and has also delivered multi-million dollar results for her clients. She’s currently putting those skills to work protecting clients from greedy corporations in numerous class-action suits.

Not only do we have outstanding women attorneys, but we also have amazing women powering PARRIS from behind the scenes. Every day, they work tirelessly to deliver a great experience for our clients. We’re honored to recognize their hard work during Women’s History Month. None of our results would be possible without their compassion and tenacity.

The photo below features the women behind our Pre-Litigation, Litigation, Settlement, and Management teams. They pour their hearts and souls into each and every case. Thank you for all of your hard work!

Those who know PARRIS will notice we didn’t capture every woman that powers us. That’s because they were busy protecting our clients in court alongside PARRIS attorneys.

Now, let’s take a quick look at our featured trailblazer, Carrol Parris.

Featured Trailblazer at PARRIS: Carrol Parris

Since our humble beginnings in 1985, Firm Administrator and wife of R. Rex Parris, Carrol Parris has been integral to the firm’s growth and sustained success. It’s well known that PARRIS began as a small “mom and pop” firm and has grown to one of the premier law firms in Southern California. R. Rex Parris recently joked during the recent launch of our new brand, “is there any doubt who’s in charge of this place” as he gestured to Carrol.

With Carrol overseeing the firm, we’ve recovered over $1.4 billion in verdicts and settlements for our clients. When asked why she’s so passionate about helping others she said:

“Both Rex and I were severely affected by other people’s negligence, earlier in life. For that reason, I believe we bring a more genuine approach to each of our clients, we truly understand the hardship they are facing, and we will do everything we can to make sure their lives return to normal. Honestly, I believe that’s what made us so successful; find something that you really care about, find a way to affect change in that space, then… GO FOR IT!”

That go-getter attitude is the reason she oversees thousands of client files. In addition to that, PARRIS’s client intake process can also be attributed to Carrol. Throughout all of this, Carrol raised 4 stellar children, and two of them work at PARRIS! One is taking on a major trucking company right now.

Besides being the Firm Administrator and overseeing the day-to-day operations of PARRIS, Carrol is also a generous philanthropist. She and R. Rex Parris’ contributions recently established the PARRIS Institute for Professional Formation at the Pepperdine University School of Law. Even more recently, she helped make possible the efforts of the Jacob Hefter Foundation. Her contributions helped create their “Last Text” program that was highly regarded by the students and faculty at Palmdale High School.

With a leader like Carrol, it’s no wonder that we have so many powerful women, succeeding in each of their departments and bringing justice to those who need it the most. Saying she’s a role model understates her impact. We’re proud to honor Carrol Parris as PARRIS’ Featured Trailblazer!