News

Law360, New York (September 19, 2016, 11:57 AM EDT) – This past August, state legislators passed Senate Bill 1413, authorizing school districts to establish programs aimed at helping teachers and school district employees secure affordable housing. Authored by state Senator Mark Leno, whose district includes San Francisco, the purpose of SB 1413, known as the “Teacher Housing Act of 2016,” is to “facilitate the acquisition, construction, rehabilitation, and preservation of affordable rental housing for teachers and school district employees to allow teachers or school district employees to access and maintain housing stability.” SB 1413 does so by permitting school districts to build rental housing on district-owned property and restricting occupancy in these projects to teachers and school district employees. The bill, supported by teachers’ organizations, the California Apartment Association, and the Non-Profit Housing Association of Northern California, easily passed both the state Senate and Assembly and is now with Governor Jerry Brown for approval. read more.

California’s prevailing wage laws were established to “level the playing field” when bidding on a public works project. In general, public works means construction, installation, demolition, alteration or repair work performed under a contract partially or completely paid out of public funds. This includes pre and post-construction work pertaining to the public works project (See California Labor Code §1720). All bidders on a public works project must use the same wage rates (as determined by the California Department of Industrial Relations), creating certainty that a contractor will not be awarded a public works contract based on paying lower wage rates than a competitor. Moreover, California law requires that all workers employed on a public works project are paid no less than the general prevailing rate of per diem wages. read more.

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. – July 2016 – Miller, Morton, Caillat & Nevis, LLP is pleased to announce that litigation attorney Rosanna Moreno has been nominated by the Public Law Center (PLC) to receive the State Bar of California’s Wiley W. Manuel Certificate for Pro Bono Legal Services for her continued pro bono efforts on behalf of Orange County’s low-income residents in need. Moreno is a volunteer attorney with the Orange County PLC’s “Operation Veterans Re-Entry” program. read more.

Law360, New York (June 21, 2016, 11:59 AM ET) -- This month the California State Assembly approved Assembly Bill 1676, continuing efforts to close the wage gap between men and women. Introduced by Assemblywoman Nora Campos, this bill is essentially a redux of AB 1017 that would have prohibited asking job applicants about their salary histories. The bill passed through both the state House and the Senate last year before being vetoed by Gov. Jerry Brown. read more.

Law360, New York (June 16, 2016, 10:52 AM ET) -- David I. Kornbluh is the managing partner of Miller Morton Caillat & Nevis LLP, a firm founded in 1929 with offices in San Jose and Newport Beach, California. Kornbluh has more than 20 years of business litigation and trial experience with a primary emphasis on employment and business disputes. He regularly represents clients throughout California facing allegations of age, race, gender and disability discrimination; sexual harassment; wrongful termination; wage and hour violations; and unfair business practices. His practice also includes representing clients in business, partnership, landlord-tenant, real estate and Americans with Disabilities Act litigation. read more.