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A protective order in California can have two different meanings. It might refer to a restraining order to keep one individual away from another individual, and it also might refer to the process of discovery in civil litigation.

A corporate identity protects its shareholders and those operating the corporation from being personally liable for any debt obligations or other financial liabilities, provided that the business is operated as a corporation and follows all the legal requirements concerning proper operational behavior

Before any case goes to trial, there is a period for what is called “discovery.” Discovery is the phase when both sides collect and exchange information about the case, including relevant documents, witness statements, and more.

When the COVID-19 threat forced governments to order lockdowns, essentially crippling or halting altogether the operations of thousands of businesses in California and across the nation, owners turned to their commercial property insurance, or to their separate business interruption insurance, to see if they could recoup their losses from the pandemic.

Arbitration clauses are often slipped into employment agreements to provide employers with a means to avoid costly lawsuits filed by employees. The agreements force employees into mandatory arbitration when they have grievances at work.

If you operate a business, you may find yourself the victim of fraud by contractors or others with whom you do business. Conversely, you yourself may be accused of fraud for certain actions you undertook or failed to undertake. How do you know when actual fraud has taken place, and what are the legal remedies – or consequences – if it has?

You’re operating a profitable business, and a consumer comes in and asks if you’ve seen the latest Facebook post about your business. The customer then informs you that the post claims your products are a ripoff from someone else’s patent, and wants to know if that is true.

The COVID-19 pandemic has been devastating to businesses in a variety of ways. Shutdowns, supply chain disruptions, and shifting consumer demands have wreaked havoc on the way businesses operate. Many have not survived, while others are facing monumental change.

As if businesses weren’t subject to enough trouble from lawsuits — real and frivolous — before COVID-19 arrived, the pandemic only exacerbated the challenges of running a business. Employees, consumers, suppliers, competitors, and other parties all seem ready to rush to the courtroom to drain your pockets.

The California Corporations Code governs how individuals and entities can file articles of incorporation. The code also stipulates that, unless the articles specify the number of directors for the new corporation, the new entity must also create corporate bylaws.