Profile: Madelyn Chaber
A decade after taking on Goliath in the form of Big Tobacco, this Bay Area litigation pioneer now strives to improve work-life balance – for everyone.
Stephen Ellison

The “trivial-defect doctrine:” Where it came from and how to beat it
Despite its questionable historical origins, the trivial-defect doctrine has become firmly ensconced in California law, and it is likely to remain a fixture in sidewalk trip-and-fall cases. The writer offers several strategies to defeat summary judgment in these cases.
Clinton E. Ehrlich

Deposition hell and what to do about it
Just how far can discovery of personal information go in a deposition? Do they have the right to know about the collection of Marilyn Monroe photos?
Andrew P.P. Dunk III

Toyota’s nightmare
Was it really sudden unintended acceleration because of a manufacturer’s defect, or did the driver step on the wrong pedal by accident? A look at the role of pedal errors in SUA accidents related to the Toyota litigation.
Lawrence R. Booth

Get out of the hole with “The Make Whole Rule”
The author explains how to minimize reimbursements by your client to insurers who paid claims under health insurance or auto policy medical benefits. He includes sample letters to insurers.
William Mitchell Margolin

Trial Practice and Procedure
Staffing-agency employees injured on the job: A double-edged sword
More companies today are choosing to employ their workforce indirectly, through a staffing agency. The authors suggest a two-part attack on the WC exclusive-remedy defense in a dual- or multiple-employer situation.
William Veen and Kimberly Wong

Managing your Office
Yeah, there’s a legal app for that!
The raging popularity of smartphones has spawned a whole new legal information highway. Local attorneys on the cutting edge of this new technology share what they have learned.
Anayat Durrani

Appellate Reports and Cases in Brief
Clarification of the standard for an amended pleading under rule 15(c), Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. And much more!
Jeffrey Isaac Ehrlich

Mediation Matters
Recovering from mistakes made in negotiations: The Franco Harris fiasco
Everyone makes mistakes in negotiation. Here are some valuable tips on how to change the playbook, and come out a winner.
Jeffrey Krivis

Legal Education
Free webinars by expert witnesses
Have case-specific questions answered at no charge.
Althea T. Kippes

A Winning Verdict
The male warrior/trial lawyer
Male trial lawyers are fighting issues of “hidden spirituality” and “false masculinity” that carry over into their professional relationships with women.
J. Gary Gwilliam