California Employment News
In California Employment News, attorneys in Weintraub Tobin’s Labor & Employment practice group present a series of short, informational episodes designed to keep California employers up-to-date on legal developments in employment law.
The Briefing
On The Briefing, IP and Entertainment attorney Scott Hervey and his guests discuss current legal and business issues related to media, entertainment, and intellectual property.
Browse through our latest episodes here:
In this episode of The Briefing, Weintraub Tobin partners Scott Hervey and Tara J. Sattler break down Cesari S.R.L. v. Peju Province Winery L.P., a long-running dispute involving the LIANO and LIANA wine marks. The Second Circuit vacated a judgment against Peju after finding that the earlier Trademark Trial and Appeal Board decision did…
(Originally aired on Mar 14, 2023) Employee personnel files are an important aspect of any employer’s records. Meagan Bainbridge and Nikki Mahmoudi review the basics of employee personnel files, including what should and should not be included and handling inspection requests, in this episode of California Employment News. Watch this episode on the Weintraub YouTube channel or…
In this episode of The Briefing, Weintraub Tobin partners Scott Hervey and Tara J. Sattler break down the Supreme Court’s decision in Cox Communications v. Sony Music Entertainment, which reversed a $1 billion judgment against the internet service provider. They discuss: – Why knowledge that customers are infringing copyrights is not enough to establish…
In this episode of The Briefing, Weintraub Tobin partners Scott Hervey and Tara Sattler discuss what the law requires, which advertisements may be exempt, and how brands and agencies should approach compliance. They cover: When advertisers must conspicuously disclose the use of a synthetic performer How exemptions for expressive works, audio-only ads, and language…
In this archived episode, originally aired April 25, 2023, we revisit state law that requires that employers take steps to prevent and correct wrongful behaviors in the workplace, such as discrimination, harassment, and retaliation. Lizbeth (Beth) West explains what employers should know about mandatory harassment prevention training for non-supervisors and supervisors on…
In this episode of The Briefing, Weintraub Tobin Partners Scott Hervey and Matt Sugarman discuss SAG-AFTRA’s new 2026 TV/Theatrical Agreement and the updated AI provisions shaping the future of entertainment production. In this episode, they cover: What the new agreement says about digital replicas and synthetic performers How consent, compensation, and notice requirements may…
In this episode of The Briefing, Weintraub Tobin partners Scott Hervey and Matt Sugarman revisit Lil’ Joe Records, Inc. v. Ross after the Eleventh Circuit reversed the district court’s ruling in favor of 2 Live Crew. The decision turns on a key bankruptcy issue: whether a copyright termination interest that was never scheduled in a Chapter…
Wage and hour compliance remains a major source of risk for California employers. In this episode of California Employment News, Weintraub Tobin Associate Nikki Mahmoudi and Shareholder Ryan Abernethy discuss common issues involving meal and rest breaks, rounding, regular rate calculations, and employee attestations. Listen for a clear breakdown of common wage and hour…
In this episode of The Briefing, Weintraub Tobin partners Scott Hervey and Richard D. Buckley, Jr. break down Patagonia’s trademark lawsuit against drag performer and environmental activist Pattie Gonia. They discuss the trademark claims, the First Amendment defenses, and the broader question of whether filing the lawsuit was the right strategic move. They cover: …
In this episode of The Briefing, Weintraub Tobin partners Scott Hervey and Tara Sattler discuss the court’s ruling, where Brandy Melville’s trademark claims fell short, and whether a different trademark argument could have changed the outcome. They cover: Why the court treated the copied photos as a copyright issue, not a trademark issue What…
