What Is California Evidence Code 1106 in a Sexual Harassment Case?

How California’s Civil Rape Shield Law Safeguards Harassment Plaintiffs Key Takeaways: California Evidence Code 1106 is a civil "rape shield" law that prevents a defendant in a sexual harassment, sexual assault, or sexual battery lawsuit from using opinion, reputation, or specific-instance evidence of your sexual conduct to prove consent or absence of injury. A 2025 […]

What Is the $4,000 Cap on Labor Code 226 Wage Statement Penalties?

A Worker’s Guide to California Wage Statement Penalties and Recovery Limits Key Takeaways: The $4,000 cap on Labor Code 226 wage statement penalties limits accumulated per-pay-period penalties for defective pay stubs, not total recovery. Penalties follow a tiered formula: $50 for the first violation and $100 for each subsequent pay period, up to $4,000 aggregate […]

What Labor Code 6310 Protects When You Report Unsafe Work in California

Understanding Your Right to Report Unsafe Working Conditions in California Key Takeaways: California Labor Code § 6310 protects employees from retaliation when they report unsafe working conditions, whether through internal complaints to a supervisor or reports to Cal/OSHA. Protected activity is broad and requires only a reasonable, good-faith belief that a hazard exists, you do […]

What Is Labor Code 221 and How Does It Stop Illegal Paycheck Deductions?

Understanding California Labor Code 221 and Your Rights Against Illegal Paycheck Deductions Key Takeaways: California Labor Code 221 makes it illegal for employers to take back wages already paid, meaning your earned compensation is generally yours to keep. Employers may lawfully deduct from your pay in only three narrow circumstances: when required by law, when […]

How SB 1137 Lets You Combine Protected Traits in a FEHA Claim

Combining Overlapping Protected Traits in California Workplace Claims Key Takeaways: SB 1137 lets California workers combine two or more protected traits into a single FEHA claim, addressing the problem where forcing workers into one protected class obscured the full harm of overlapping bias. It expressly recognizes intersectionality across FEHA, the Unruh Civil Rights Act, and […]

How Rest Break Pay Is Calculated for Piece-Rate Employees in California

Piece-Rate Rest Break Pay Rules Every California Worker Should Know Key Takeaways: In California, piece-rate pay compensates workers for completing tasks or producing items rather than for hours worked, and rest break pay must be calculated separately at the higher of an average hourly rate or applicable minimum wage. Under Labor Code section 226.2, added […]

Is Social Media Addiction the Public Health Crisis of This Generation?

By Camron Dowlatshahi, MSD Lawyers For years, concerns about social media were largely framed as a matter of personal responsibility: Parents could limit screen time, teenagers could put down their phones, and users could simply log off. That framing is changing as research, litigation and government action increasingly examine whether platform design itself can contribute […]

Filing a Lawsuit for Sexual Harassment Retaliation Quickly

Employees in California who report sexual harassment are legally protected from retaliation. Yet when employers respond with punishment or adverse treatment, fast and informed action is crucial. This guide from MSD Lawyers explains what retaliation looks like, how to preserve your rights, and the specific steps and deadlines involved in filing a lawsuit. Acting promptly, […]

What to Do If You Were Fired for Being Gay in California

Losing your job is difficult enough, but being fired because of who you are adds a deeper layer of pain and confusion. In California, it’s illegal to terminate someone for being gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, or otherwise LGBTQ+. Both state and federal law protect you from this form of discrimination, and you have the right […]