By JoLynn M. Scharrer This past year has been a difficult one to navigate, especially for employers in California. COVID-19 has added another complicated layer to an often burdensome environment in terms of regulation and compliance. The coming year does not seem to let up with the new laws impacting employers. While there are over […]
By: Kathlynn Smith This time of year often carries with it an air of reflection on the past and optimism for the year to come. In the legal industry that feeling is often enhanced by the roll-out of the new laws impacting our clients and our practices. And, as in other years, we enter 2021 […]
By Jennifer Tung In a big win for public agencies, and school districts in particular, the California Court of Appeal recently affirmed the validity of public work job order contracts as enforceable contracts. In the first published opinion on the subject, the Court of Appeal rejected the argument by the contractor in Los Angeles Unified […]
Energy efficiency and affordable housing are topics du jour, especially in Los Angeles. Seemingly unrelated at first glance, can progress be made in these two spaces together? Join Hunt Ortmann attorneys Kathlynn Smith and Jennifer Tung, and the Los Angeles chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council on November 5th, 2020 from 11:00 a.m. – […]
Shareholders Dale Ortmann and John Darling have been selected as Leaders Of Influence: Top Litigators & Trial Lawyers this year! With over 300 nominations submitted this year, we are proud to salute their selection in recognition of their work, dedication to their clients and of course to the success of Hunt Ortmann. They are recognized […]
Hunt Ortmann attorneys Kathlynn Smith and Jennifer Tung will be presenting the second episode of the LEEDing Ladies complementary webinar series with the U.S. Green Building Council, Los Angeles, on May 7, 2020, at 1:00 p.m. In Episode 2: May the Force (Majeure) Be With You, the LEEDing Ladies will discuss contractual provisions and legal doctrines […]
by Kathlynn Smith For over 20 years, California courts have clearly and consistently rejected so-called pay-if-paid provisions in construction contracts that condition a subcontractor’s right to payment on the owner’s payment to the contractor. The seminal case of Wm. R. Clarke Corp. v. Safeco Ins. Co., 15 Cal. 4th 882 (1997) squarely rejected pay-if-paid clauses […]
Today, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) released guidelines permitting employers to test for COVID- 19 at workplaces before employees enter without violating the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). These guidelines note that any medical test that businesses require workers to take must be “job related and consistent with business necessity” under the ADA, a […]
To: Hunt Ortmann Client and Friends, The health and prosperity of everyone in our communities is a priority for Hunt Ortmann. With COVID-19 upon us, we have instructed our employees to work from home and communicate with our clients and others in our business community electronically or by phone. During this temporary arrangement, client service […]
by: Paul Rogoff The Senate has voted (90-8) to pass, HR 6201, the coronavirus relief package approved by the House last week. The FFCRA is, among other things, a relief package which contains several provisions affecting employers. President Trump is expected to sign the bill in due haste. Indications are that the Senate approved the […]
