On March 9th, Jack Ainsworth - previously the senior deputy director - was appointed Acting Executive Director by the California Coastal Commission. In an 11-1 vote, Ainsworth was elected and will serve for an interim term until December 8, 2016, or until a new...
As we've previously noted on this blog, a homeowners' association generally meets the requirements to qualify as a social welfare organization under Section 501(c)(4). As a result, homeowners' associations, and all other social welfare and community benefit...
The City of Carlsbad recently announced that it's launching a first-of-its-kind program to decrease the processing time for coastal development projects. In particular, the city will provide funding for additional staff resources at the California Coastal Commission...
Homeowners' Associations, as nonprofit corporations, generally meet the requirements to qualify as a tax-exempt Social Welfare Organization under Internal Revenue Code section 501(c)(4). Other types of activities may also qualify under Section 501(c)(4), such as...
Businesses face many challenges including the increasing threat from cyber invasion of files. Protecting businesses and people from the data breaches which creates financial and personal vunerability is an important concern for the State of California. In February...
Chris Neri, Assistant Commissioner - Subdivision Division of Bureau of Real Estate ("BRE") released on March 4, 2016 a memorandum regarding subdivision documents which require arbitration and prohibit class actions. The Chris Neri memorandum, in part, states...
As this Firm anticipated back in September, the Supreme Court recently declined to hear a challenge to the California Supreme Court's decision in California Building Industry Association v. City of San Jose, 61 Cal. 4th 435 (2015), cert. denied, 577 U.S. __ (2016). At...
Business owners have new financial accounting rules. As has been widely reported, the Financial Accounting Standards Board released new guidance on lease accounting. Under the new rule, all leases with terms in excess of 12 months must be included on the balance...
After a hard-fought campaign fraught with controversy, Los Angeles developer Rick Caruso has conceded defeat in the special election held in Carlsbad on February 23. The special election was regarding a Caruso Affiliated proposed real estate development adjacent to...
Arbitration Agreements in employee contracts are receiving close scrutiny by the California courts. While the state laws favor enforcement of valid arbitration agreements, the courts are reviewing the mandatory arbitration agreements in the employment arena to ensure...