1. California Sexual Harassment Legislation Will Make it More Difficult for Employers to Resolve Claims One stray remark can now lead to a harassment lawsuit in California with the adoption of Senate Bill 1300, amending the Government Code. This new law now makes a simple incident of one stray remark potentially relevant in a sexual harassment […]

1. Liquidated Damages are Unenforceable If They Bear No Reasonable Relationship to the Range of Actual Damages the Parties Anticipated Would Flow from a Breach In the case of Graylee v Castro, 4DCA/3 number G057901, decided on August 4, 2020, the landlord leased a home to the defendant tenants. The landlord served a 3-day notice to […]

1. Foreclosure Sale Error by Purchaser Costs Hundreds of Thousands of Dollars In the case of Matson v S.B.S. Trust Deed Network (2020) 46 CA5th 33, the Court of Appeal affired the trial court’s decision that the trustee’s sale is complete when acceptance of the final bid. The successful bidder refused to record the trustee’s […]

1. Proposed New Law Will Allow Restaurants-Bars to Get Out Of Lease Under Senate Bill 939, California could allow businesses especially independent restaurants, bars and cafes to get out of their lease. Not only would this bill put in place a commercial eviction moratorium, for businesses and non profits it creates space for hospitality businesses to […]

1. 25% Automatic Rent Reduction There is a pending Assembly Bill 828 which will require all residential landlords to reduce rent by 25% for a year for renters with coronavirus hardships. Comment:  I hope everyone who is reading this fires off an email to their elected representatives in the Assembly and the Senate and object to […]

1. Senate Bill 329 and Senate Bill 222 Requires Landlords to Accept Section 8 and Vash Vouchers and Other Forms of Rental Assistance As of January 1, 2020, you can no longer inform a prospective tenant that you do not accept Section 8 or Vash Vouchers, or any other forms of rental assistance when considering their income. See […]

1. Does Doctrine of Commercial Frustration Allow a Commercial Tenant to Terminate its Lease or Suspend Lease Payments During Stay-At-Home Order The World Health Organization has declared a pandemic. President Trump has declared a public health emergency. Governor Newsom has issued a statewide stay-at-home order except for essential needs. These government-imposed restrictions have forced the closure of […]

1. Posting Requirements for Apartments For four units or more the following signs must be posted in a conspicuous place in your building: Federal Fair Housing Poster Toxic Substance Warning – Prop 65 Emergency Phone Numbers 2. Supreme Court Grants Daughter the Right to Challenge Trust Amendments that Disinherited Her from Her Mother’s Trust In […]

1. Homeowner’s Insurance Does Not Generally Cover Tenants Who Are Injured on the Property In the case of Terrell v. State Farm (2019) 40 Cal.App.5th 497. Homeowners of a house in San Francisco were sued by the tenants when their front porch collapsed causing serious injuries. The owners sought defense and indemnity from State Farm, […]

1. New Law Starting January 1, 2020 Requires Employers to Provide Accommodations in the Workplace for Mothers who are Nursing Senate Bill 142 was signed into law. Commencing January 1, 2020, if you are an employer, you must provide the following to nursing mothers in the workplace: 1. A clean room (not a bathroom), free of hazardous […]

1. Limitation on What a Debt Collector Can Do Regarding Mortgage Debt As of January 1, 2020, the Rosenthal Act (Fair Debt Collection Act) now defines mortgage debt as consumer credit. In addition, attorneys no longer enjoy an exemption from being defined as a debt collector when it comes to mortgage debt. In California, debt collection […]

1.  California Law Requires Landlords to Inspect and Maintain All Smoke Alarms Health & Safety Code § 13113.7(d)(2) requires all landlords, including multi-unit residential properties or single-family residences to install, maintain, and test smoke alarms on their properties. In the case of Golden Eagles Ins. Corp. v. Lemoore Real Estate & Property Management, Inc., the California Appellate […]

1.  New Rent Control Law KEY PROVISIONS Caps annual rent increases at 5% plus the change in cost of living, as measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), for all rent increases occurring on or after March 15, 2019 If a landlord increases rent by more than this cap between March 15, 2019 and January 1, 2020, the […]

1.  Mechanic’s Lien Void if Filed Before Contractor Has Ceased Work In the case of Precision Framing Systems Inc. v. Luzuriaga, the 4thDistrict Court of Appeal decided on August 29, 2019, that “a [mechanic’s lien] claimant other than a direct contractor may not enforce a lien unless the claimant records a claim of lien within the […]

1.  Landlord Found to be Unreasonable and Acted in Bad Faith In the case of Bawa v. Terhune(2019), 33 Cal.App.5thSupp. 1, the Court of Appeal determined that the landlord’s refusal to accept the rental payment from the tenant (which was one penny short) was evidence of an intent to manufacture a default, allowing it to evict […]

1.  CC&R/ Getting Around Super Majority Requirements In the case of Orchard Estate Homes, Inc. v. Orchard Homeowners Alliance, 32 Cal.App.5th471, the HOA attempted to enforce a rule prohibiting short-term rentals of units of durations of less than 30 days in the Association. This was a rule and not contained within the CC&Rs. The Superior […]

1. Homeowner Who Sues  His Broker for Negligence Does Not Need Expert Witness Regarding  the Negligence In the case of Ryan v. Real Estate of the Pacific, the seller’s broker held an open house in La Jolla. At the open house the next-door neighbor came by to let the broker know that he intended to […]

1. Loan Prepared by Real Estate Broker is no Exempt from Usury A $15,000 loan was made by Burger to Gibbo, which was memorialized by a promissory note and secured by a deed of trust on Gibbo’s residence. The note was for 15% simple interest. Myrna Bravender, a licensed real estate broker, was asked to […]

1. Landlord’s Property Rights Upheld in San Francisco In the case of Levin v. City and County of San Francisco, 9thCir., Court of Appeal, Case No. 14‑03352 CRB, the 9thCircuit which is notoriously liberal, has upheld the judgment in the District Court restraining the City and County of San Francisco from wrongfully taking a landlord’s property rights […]

1. One Stray Remark Can Lead to Harassment Lawsuit Senate Bill 1300, effective January 1, 2019, has amended the Government Code in California to make a single incident of a stray remark potentially relevant to a harassment lawsuit. It defines “impermissible conduct” as disrupting emotional tranquility in the workplace or otherwise interfering with a victim’s work. […]

1. Contract Will Be Enforced if it is Sufficiently Definite for the Court to Determine Each Parties’ Obligation. Yuri and Tony are Russians who are involved in a number of companies in the business of oil exploration in Russia. Yuri talks Elliot Broidy into investing in one of his companies. Elliot gives Yuri $750,000 with […]

1. Huge Victory for Mobile Home Park Owner The Fourth District Court of Appeal recently overturned a $58 Million Dollar verdict in favor of the mobile home tenants in the case of David Bevis v Terrace View Partners LP, Case D071849-Feb. 28, 2019. In this case, 69 current and former residents of Terrace View Mobile Home […]

1. Lender Induced to Make a Loan Under False Pretenses May Recover Triple the Amount Lent Even If the Borrower Is Never Criminally Convicted In the case of Bell v Feibush, the California Court of Appeal, Fourth Appellate District, Case No. G046166 awarded triple damages to a defrauded lender based upon Penal Code § 496(a) even though […]

1. Supreme Court Considers Changing Balance of Power Between Borrowers and Lenders in an Important Foreclosure Case In the case of Black Sky Capital LLC v. Cobb, S243294, the California Supreme Court is considering the ruling of the 4th District Court of Appeal that held that the owner of both the senior and junior loan on […]

1. New Real Property Disclosure Requirements Existing law provides that transferor must deliver to the respective transferee a real estate disclosure form and the transferee has certain time in which to terminate the deal. Assembly Bill 1289 now says that the specified time [within three days of delivery in person, or five days after delivery by […]

1. There is a Presumption That a Right of First Refusal in a Written Lease Expires When the Initial Leasehold Term Expires, Even Though the Tenant Holds Over on a Month-to-Month Basis. In the case of Smyth v. Berman, the California Court of Appeal has denied Smyth a right of first refusal to purchase the […]

Tree Law Trees with trunks standing entirely on the property of one owner belong exclusively to that owner even though the roots may grow into the adjoining owner’s property. See Civil Code Section 833. This means that the tree and its branches are owned by the person upon whose property the trunk is located even […]

If You Pay Extra Money For A View Is It Protectable? I have received many phone calls over the years from homeowners who want to sue their neighbors or the City or their HOA because they have “lost their view” due to construction on a neighboring lot or the neighbor’s trees have grown like weeds. […]

Reverse Veil Piecing Relief Granted, Creditor May Add LLC As An Additional Judgment Debtor In the case of Curci Investments, LLC vs. James P. Baldwin (two well known Orange County real estate builders and investors). Curci loaned Baldwin, individually, $5.5M. Baldwin failed to make any payments on the Note and Curci sued. After a half […]

California Supreme Court Affirms Appellate Court Ruling That A Real Estate Agent Who Represented The Seller Owes Fiduciary Duties to The Buyer, Not Just Seller, In A Case Where The Brokerage Represented Both Sides of The Deal. In the case of Horiike vs. Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage Co. 2016 DJDAR 11503, the California Supreme Court […]

Important New Laws Enacted In 2017 Civil Code § 4528 Effective January 1, 2018, Civil Code § 4528 now provides a statutory disclosure form for a homeowners association to complete and give to a seller of a unit, at no cost to the seller, to include copies of relevant association information to a buyer such […]

Sellers Not Liable for Failing to Disclose Deficiencies in Residence Converted Into Wine Tasting Room Where Sellers Lacked Actual Knowledge of Alleged Deficiencies. In the case of RSB Vineyard, LLC vs. Bernard A. Orsi, the issue before the trial court was whether knowledge could be imputed of defects to the defendants based upon presumed knowledge […]

Simultaneously Recorded Trust Deeds Order of Recording Do Not Determine Their Priority. In the case of MTC Fin., Inc. vs. Nationstar Mortage, [2018] 19 Cal App 5th 811. The appellate court determined that the order in which two simultaneously recorded Deeds of Trust are indexed by the recorders office does not determine their priority. The […]

Owner Not Liable To Window Washer For Injuries Sustained In Fall. In the case of Delgadillo vs. Television CTR. Inc., [2018] 20 Cal App. 5th 1078, the Court of Appeal determined that when a property owner hires a licensed, independent contractor for window washing the property owner is not liable for injuries sustained by the […]

Homeowners Association Given Deference By Appellate Court In Establishing and Enforcing Its Own Rules. In the case of Watts vs. Oak Shores Community Association, 235 Cal App 4th 466, the Appellate Court affirmed the Superior Court decision applying judicial deference to the HOA decisions. In this case, a group of property owners (“Owners”) filed a […]

Airbnb Rental Determined as Illegal Use of Property. In the case of Chen vs. Kraft, [2016] 243 Cal App Supp. 13, Chen, the landlord, filed an Unlawful Detainer against Kraft who was using his rental to sublet on Airbnb. The property was zoned R-1 and was subject to Los Angeles Rent Stabilization Ordinance. Los Angeles […]

Long Beach Jury Awards 30.5 Million Dollars In a Foreclosure Abuse Case Against Lender. In the case of Behm vs. Cervenka, Ms. Behm purchased a 7,400 sqft Victorian era home in Los Angeles for $400,000.00 in 2010. After acquiring the home she did extensive remodels and renovations to the property. She sought a loan to […]

It’s Becoming More Dangerous to be a Residential Landlord. In the case of Oliver vs. World Wide Corporate Housing, L.P. (Case#BC516791), a Los Angeles County Superior Court jury has delivered a $3M verdict to a mother of a tenant who died in a furnished apartment rented from the Landlord after a television supplied by the […]

Important New Laws Enacted In 2017 Cannabis Regulation: Business and Professions Code §26000-26231.2 is the California Combined Medical and Recreational Cannabis Laws which are one comprehensive piece of legislation. These laws are effective January 1, 2018. California Adopts New Policy to Encourage Use of Solar Energy Systems Involving HOAs. Existing law, Civil Code §714-714.1, declares […]

Sellers Not Liable for Failing to Disclose Deficiencies in Residence Converted Into Wine Tasting Room Where Sellers Lacked Actual Knowledge of Alleged Deficiencies. In the case of RSB Vineyard, LLC vs. Bernard A. Orsi, the issue before the trial court was whether knowledge could be imputed of defects to the defendants based upon presumed knowledge […]

New Case Expands The Scope of Equitable Easements in California. In the case of Hinrichs v. Melton, 2017 DJDAR 4168 (May 3, 2017). The Court of Appeal fashioned an equitable easement despite no preexisting use of the servient owner’s property. This is the first time a preexisting use of the servient owner’s property has been […]

Pre-dispute Jury Trial Waiver In Loan Documents Is Unenforceable Per CCP 631(f). In the case of Rincon EV Realty vs. CP III Rincon Towers the 1st District Court of Appeal held that a jury trial waiver in the loan documents was unenforceable hence a judgment against the borrower is reversed. The case was remanded for […]

New Real Estate Laws Passed In 2016 Advertising Requirements Using “Team Names”. Business and Professions Code Sections 10159.5 through 10159.7 governs the use of a “team name” and a fictitious business name in real estate sales advertising. Those provisions require a responsible broker’s name to be displayed as prominently and conspicuously as a team name […]

California Supreme Court Affirms Appellate Court Ruling That A Real Estate Agent Who Represented The Seller Owes Fiduciary Duties to The Buyer, Not Just Seller, In A Case Where The Brokerage Represented Both Sides of The Deal. In the case of Horiike vs. Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage Co. 2016 DJDAR 11503, the California Supreme Court […]

Arbitration Denied When Arbitration Provision Deemed Unconscionable, Both Procedurally and Substantively. In the case of Penilla vs. Westmont Corporation, 2016 DJDAR 9442, the Appellate Court agreed with the Trial Court deeming the arbitration provision in a mobile home lease both procedurally unconscionable as well as substantively unconscionable and therefore denied arbitration. Procedural unconscionability focuses on […]

Owner Who Intentionally Erects Fence and Trims Neighbor’s Trees Without Consent Cannot Use Homeowners Insurance to Protect Him/Her From Liability. In the case of Albert vs. Mid Century Insurance, 236 Cal App 4th 1281, Albert (Owner) bought a homeowners insurance policy from Mid Century.  Albert decides to build an encroaching fence, without first having the […]

Homeowner Not Liable For Injuries to Worker of an Unlicensed Contractor. The law is unsettled as to whether unlicensed contractor’s workers must be deemed employees of the homeowner who hires the unlicensed contractor. Remember the case of an employee who fell from a palm tree in Glendora and was severely injured. That employee was working […]

Premises Liability Expanded For Employees Drinking After Work. In the case of Kai-Yen Cheng vs. OTB Mission Valley Restaurant, et al., the San Diego Superior Court found a San Diego restaurant chain (On The Boarder Mexican Grill and Cantina) liable last Friday for an employees allegedly drunken car collision though both the drinking and the […]