All News Updates

Ban on Bare Hand Contact by Food-Service Workers Repealed

June 30, 2014

On June 30, 2014, Governor Brown signed AB 2130 effectively repealing California Retail Food Code Section 113961, which would have prohibited bare hand contact by food-service workers with ready-to-eat foods, has been repealed. The new section went into effect January 1, 2014, with a six-month soft… Read More

Leavitt Group Presents Free ADA Webinar

June 23, 2014

A free webinar on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) will be presented for HR professionals by Linda Railton, PHR, Leavitt Group HR Consultant, on Thursday, July 10, 2014, 10:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m. (PT). Read More

“Friends & Family” Team Raises over $12,000 for Gilroy Relay for Life

June 21, 2014

Berliner Cohen was pleased to again participate as a silver sponsor in the American Cancer Society’s 2014 Relay for Life of Gilroy, which was held on June 21 at Christmas Tree Ranch in Gilroy. Berliner Cohen partner Peggy Springgay’s “Friends and Family” team, including… Read More

Berliner Cohen Obtains Legal Victory for Plaintiff against East West Bank

June 11, 2014

Berliner Cohen obtained a legal victory against East West Bank when the Santa Clara County Superior Court allowed fraud causes of action against the bank to go before a jury.  The case is entitled Sorrento Pavilion, LLC, et al. v. East West Bank et al. The trial is set for June 30, 2014.… Read More

Andrew Faber Authors Article on CEQA Abuse and What Businesses Should Know

June 2, 2014

Andrew L. Faber, Berliner Cohen Partner, recently published an article, “CEQA abuse on the rise: What businesses should know if a project needs discretionary permits,” for Smart Business Online, discussing how CEQA can affect a business, CEQA misuse, and the approach to take when… Read More

Laura Palazzolo Authors Article on “ADA Compliance and Avoiding Lawsuits”

April 30, 2014

Laura Palazzolo, Berliner Cohen attorney, recently authored an article in Smart Business Online, focusing on "ADA Compliance: How to Meet Accessibility Requirements and Avoid Lawsuits.” Smart Business spoke with Palazzolo about what businesses can do to protect themselves from lawsuits and… Read More

Berliner Cohen’s Innovative Strategy Defeats Wage Claims

April 7, 2014

Berliner Cohen recently obtained dismissals of a trio of Labor Commissioner actions using an innovative strategy on behalf of its employer clients.  Merging the firm’s expertise in employment, business and bankruptcy law, Berliner Cohen attorneys Laura Palazzolo and Jennifer Leung successfully… Read More

Recognition & Prevention of Sexual Harassment Training Sign-ups for New Managers/Promotions

April 4, 2014

Have you recently hired new managers or supervisors and/or made recent employee promotions? AB 1825 requires that new managers and supervisors receive "Recognizing and Prevention of Sexual Harassment” training within six months after their hire or promotion.Berliner Cohen is currently taking… Read More

Bay Area Commuter Benefits Required by September 30

April 1, 2014

The Bay Area Commuter Benefits Program, as a result of California SB 1339 (effective March 26, 2014), requires employers with 50 or more full-time employees to offer a commuter benefit by September 30, 2014, to their employees who work 20+ hours per week. Click here for the Employer Guide, which… Read More

Berliner Cohen & Leavitt Group Present Webinar on “Managing Leaves of Absence”

March 24, 2014

Please join Berliner Cohen and Leavitt Group for a complimentary webinar on "Managing Leaves of Absence," Wednesday, April 23, 2014, 9:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. (PST).  HRCI credit is available.When an employee requests a leave of absence, the burden of sorting through the overlapping and occasionally… Read More

Tyler Shewey Authors Article on “Taxing Issues for 2014”

March 2, 2014

Tyler Shewey, Berliner Cohen attorney, recently authored an article in Smart Business Online, focusing on "Taxing Issues: How to Handle Three Hot Issues for 2014.”  Smart Business spoke with Shewey about three tax issues that are receiving more attention in 2014 from the IRS: sales and… Read More

Jim Cashman Authors Article on “Estate Planning and Protecting Assets”

February 2, 2014

James P. Cashman recently authored an article in Smart Business Online, focusing on estate planning: protection of assets and other trends for 2014: "While tax laws continue to affect estate plans, protection of assets has become an increasing priority as baby boomers age.  “There’s been a lot… Read More

Berliner Cohen Schedules January “Recognizing and Prevention of Sexual Harassment” Training

January 9, 2014

Berliner Cohen is currently filling a training session for "Recognizing and Prevention of Sexual Harassment" on Wednesday, January 29, 2014, to be held at the firm’s office in San Jose.  See link below for registration. The training is for those who need to make up the training for the compliance… Read More

Class Certification Denied in Favor of Berliner Cohen Tech Client

January 9, 2014

In a recent U.S. District Court ruling, Judge William Alsup, Northern District, found in favor of Berliner Cohen’s client Ma Labs by denying conditional and class certification to a broad class of Ma Labs workers under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and Rule 23.  Ma Labs is one of the… Read More

Berliner Cohen Successful for Auto Body Employer in Rejection of Wage and Hour Class Certification

January 8, 2014

The Superior Court County of Santa Clara recently ordered in favor of Berliner Cohen's client, an employer with multiple Bay Area body shop facilities, in rejecting the plaintiff's motion for class certification. Martin Juarez and Adrian Ramirez, on behalf of a class of similarly situated… Read More