Law – North San Francisco Bay Area, Sonoma, Marin, Napa counties

Tiny Novato winery wins trademark case against Trek Bicycle

March 2nd, 2010

NOVATO — A federal judge in Wisconsin today tossed out a trademark-infringement case against tiny Novato-based Trek Winery LLC brought by Trek Bicycle Corp., one of the largest bike manufacturers in North America.
Judge awards $30 million in Phelps case

February 17th, 2010

ST. HELENA — A San Francisco judge ruled in favor of nearly $30 million in damages and attorney’s fees regarding St. Helena-based Joseph Phelps Vineyards’ compensation of Tom Shelton, longtime chief executive officer who died in July 2008, and former winemaker Craig Williams, according to a statement from their attorney
Most Influential Leaders in the North Bay: Jim Adams, Rachel Dollar, Rob McMillan, Al Coppin, Daniel Duckhorn, Mark Ihde, Stan Mead, Dave Siembieda, Iver Skavdal

February 8th, 2010

Last August when we published our first group of Most Influential Leaders in the North Bay, we promised we would bring you more of their stories. We honor that pledge today and promise to bring you more of the inspiring stories of business people in future editions.
Risks lurk in social networking

November 30th, 2009

NORTH BAY — In addition to lost productivity, employers can add legal risk to the list of annoyances related to employee use of social networking at work, according to North Bay legal experts who sounded off on trends for 2010.
Genetic information rules hit wellness programs

November 30th, 2009

The chief science officer for one of the nation’s largest employer wellness program providers, Gordian Health Solutions Inc., described in an interview with the Business Journal last week the potential impacts of recently released regulations for the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008, or GINA.
Law: Napa considers pot dispensaries; COBRA subsidy may be extended

November 30th, 2009

The city of Napa will commence the next step in a nine-month process to design and implement pot sale regulations. … Three federal bills proposed in late October and early November could extend employer-fronted COBRA subsidies past the end of the year. … On Dec. 3, Vantreo Insurance Brokerage in Santa Rosa will offer a workshop on how recent legislation could protect employers against frivolous disability charges. … Early last month, the governor signed a piece of legislation meant to streamline efforts to prosecute certain mortgage brokers. … The Federal Trade Commission again delayed implementation of identity theft protections known as the “Red Flags Rule.”
Employers face range of state, federal legal rulings

November 30th, 2009

CALIFORNIA, U.S. — The following is a review of recently decided and pending cases related to employment law including: noncompetition agreements, disability discrimination, patents and wage and hour issues.
In Dowell v. BioSense Webster decided Nov. 19, state judicial officials further entrenched labor codes that forbid the use of non-competition and non-solicitation agreements, except in very [...]
Laws that impact business

November 30th, 2009

Listed by bill number, bill name, active date, description and impact.
Community Benefit Agreements a national campaign

November 9th, 2009

NORTH BAY – Community Benefit Agreements, contracts between developers and union, environmental and other groups, have become more common in the last decade.
Who is liable for green building performance?

November 2nd, 2009

NORTH BAY – Green building performance, or rather failure to perform, has long topped the list of legal risks related to sustainability-minded construction, but developers face even greater stakes this year as government-mandated LEED standards loom and achieving certification becomes more difficult.