Recent Articles

Overview:  This weeks Law Review selects the Best Of the 2014 Bulwer-Lytton Fiction Contest of awkward first paragraphs of make believe novels, definitely worth reading, some creative amateur writers come up with some doozies. The Bulwer-Lytton contest challenges entrants to compose bad opening sentences to imaginary novels. It takes its name from Edward George Bulwer-Lytton, [...]

Overview:  One of the most popular Law Review columns every year is the Bulwer-Lytton Fiction Contest, where writers across the world submit their entries for the worst opening paragraph of a pretend novel.  The best of the lot, tortured English beyond belief, are republished in the Law Review; and there are some doozies. The Bulwer-Lytton [...]

Overview: 51 years ago local CHP Officer Glenn Carlson issued a ticket to the driver of a  Cadillac heading east near Truckee in a snow storm.  The three occupants were speeding as they had just held up a bank in Sacramento. Carlson, a five year veteran of the Department, quickly learned the car’s license plates [...]

Overview: California case law has developed a legal remedy known as Negligent Infliction of Emotional Distress, where someone witnesses a serious injury or the death of a related person, right before their eyes;  if they suffer severe emotional distress they may have a claim for Negligent Infliction of Emotional Distress.   The Law Review discusses a [...]

Overview:  If the police come looking for a felon and throw a tear gas canister into your home, rendering it uninhabitable, do you have any recourse?  The question was answered in Conway v County of Tuolumne where the Court of Appeal upheld the trial court, finding  the County and its deputies were immune from liability [...]

Overview:  Crime victims have a constitutional right to have their losses paid for by the defendant who committed the crime against them under the Penal Code and also have a right to restitution from the Restitution Fund established in the Government Code, all as explained in the Law Review discussing DUI criminal Rick Allen Walker. [...]

This is an interesting case involving an alcoholic drink mixed with caffeine that you college kids are familiar with – Four Loko. Oh, that’s right, college kids don’t read newspapers. Whatever. Four Loko Four Loko is an alcoholic drink mixed with caffeine served in 23.5-oz. cans. It is sometimes called “liquid cocaine,” “liquid crack,” and [...]

Back in the old days when I was practicing criminal defense law, about when electricity came to our area, I tried my hand at defending “persons accused of crimes” also known as criminals. Fortunately for said criminals, I have been relieved of duty and Ravn Whitington of our office handles criminal defense cases. How Can [...]

If you weren’t bored to death with last week’s “New Laws” column, try these. HAZARDOUS MATERIALS ON TRAINS In a bill potentially helpful for Truckee, railroads must provide more information about hazardous cargo including crude oil train shipments to the Office of Emergency Services -- includes a call center for the public to obtain information. [...]