Can Your Employer Call Your Firing "Just a Business Decision"? Yes, your employer can say your firing was "just a business decision," but that label alone may not protect it in court. California employment is generally presumed to be "at will," so employers can usually make staffing choices for any lawful reason. Under the California…

Wisconsin Wrongful Death Beneficiaries and the Pflaum Road Tragedy Key Takeaways: After the Pflaum Road fatal crash, Wisconsin law decides who can recover, not family custom. Under Wis. Stat. § 895.04, any recovery goes first to the surviving spouse or domestic partner. If there is none, it goes to lineal heirs such as children or…

When Bias Is One of Several Reasons for a Firing Key Takeaways: Yes, under California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA), you may be able to win a discrimination case even when bias was only one of several reasons you were fired. Under CACI 2507 and Harris v. City of Santa Monica, a protected trait…

Understanding Your Medical and Legal Options After a Sexual Assault Key Takeaways: During a sexual assault forensic exam in Madison, a specially trained nurse (SANE) generally provides medical care, may collect evidence if you agree, and documents injuries, asking for your consent at every step. You can generally pause, skip, or stop any part of…

When Employer Misconduct Goes Beyond an Ordinary Legal Wrong Key Takeaways: You may be able to get punitive damages from your employer in Redondo Beach, but generally only if you prove by clear and convincing evidence that the employer acted with oppression, fraud, or malice under California Civil Code § 3294. These damages punish the…

How Nebraska Limits the Seat Belt Defense in Injury Claims Key Takeaways: Not wearing a seat belt can reduce your injury settlement in Nebraska, but Neb. Rev. Stat. § 60-6,273 caps that reduction at five percent of the damages awarded. Seat belt evidence can be used only to mitigate damages. It cannot be used to…

Wisconsin Comparative Negligence Car Accident Rules After the Pflaum Road Tragedy Key Takeaways: Police say 65-year-old construction worker Peter Crook was killed on Pflaum Road on Madison’s east side on September 24, 2026, during what appears to have been a street race between two 17-year-old drivers, both of whom now face criminal charges. Under Wisconsin’s…

When a Single Demand Changes Everything at Work Key Takeaways: In many cases, yes: one incident can support a quid pro quo claim in California if a supervisor ties a job benefit, a threat, or an employment decision to sexual conduct. Workplace harassment claims are brought under FEHA, Government Code § 12940(j), and the jury…

When a Drunk Driving Crash Involves More Than Just the Driver Key Takeaways: Nebraska’s dram shop law, Neb. Rev. Stat. § 53-404 within the Minor Alcoholic Liquor Liability Act, creates civil liability for injuries caused by an intoxicated minor’s negligence, making it far narrower than dram shop acts in other states. Because the claim depends…