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When someone experiences police brutality, the path toward justice can feel overwhelming. Filing a lawsuit against a government entity isn’t the same as suing a private citizen or business. There are extra steps. Tight deadlines. Special rules. And a lot of red tape along the way. But here’s the good news: victims of police misconduct…
When you’ve been hurt by the very people sworn to protect you, it’s hard to know what to do next. Your world feels shaken. Your trust, broken. And your voice? Sometimes, it feels lost. But know this: you do have a voice. You have rights. And with the right evidence and the right police brutality…
Sexual assault is one of the most traumatic experiences someone can go through. Not only does it affect you emotionally and physically, but it also brings an unexpected financial burden. Many survivors of sexual assault in California find themselves facing overwhelming medical bills, legal costs, and even job-related losses that can have long-term consequences. In…
Surviving a sexual assault changes everything. The emotional toll is heavy, and there’s another side to recovery people don’t always talk about – the financial costs. Hospital bills, therapy sessions, lost wages. Sometimes even moving expenses. It can feel like an impossible weight. But here’s something many survivors don’t realize: financial help exists. In California,…
Following a sexual assault, survivors sometimes feel overwhelmed—physically, emotionally, and legally as well. The trauma does not stop when the assault does. It hangs about influencing daily life, relationships, and employment. Some survivors struggle to sleep. Others feel unsafe in places that once felt familiar. Many don’t know where to turn. As sexual assault lawyers,…
Taylor & Ring partners John C. Taylor and Natalie Weatherford were named California Lawyers of the Year for Sex Abuse by the Daily Journal for their work securing a $35 million jury verdict in a case on behalf of a former Pomona High School student who was raped by her high school track coach during…
Taking the first step toward legal action after a sexual assault can feel overwhelming. Maybe you’re nervous. Maybe you don’t even know where to start. That’s completely normal. Meeting with a sexual assault attorney is a big step, and being prepared can help you feel more in control. What should you bring? What should you…
If you’re dealing with the aftermath of sexual assault, it’s hard enough just trying to move forward. But then there’s the legal side. If you’ve chosen to file a lawsuit, you’re faced with a big decision: Should you settle or take your case to trial? It’s not an easy choice. Maybe a settlement seems like…
Family members have the right to protect themselves and their children from sexual assault by another family member. Our experienced sexual assault lawyers understand the legal and practical challenges in protecting you and your loved ones when another family member violates you or someone in your family. Domestic violence protective orders In California, family members…
Minors rely on parents and the adults who educate and care for them to protect them from sexual abuse. California mandates that many of the adults that minors spend time with report any reasonable suspicion of sexual abuse. Minors and their parents and guardians can seek protective orders against the people who commit the abuse.…
Sexual abuse takes place in many different places away from the home, including: Sexual abuse in schools Sexual abuse by teachers Sexual abuse by coaches Sexual abuse by students Sexual abuse in youth organizations Sexual abuse in religious organizations When sexual abuse of your child does occur, you need an experienced sexual abuse lawyer on…
If you’re considering taking legal action after experiencing a sexual assault, you’re not alone, and you deserve to have your questions answered. The Los Angeles sexual assault lawyers at Taylor & Ring are here to answer some of the most common questions people have about filing a claim, so you’ll know what to expect every…
If someone you care about has experienced a sexual assault, the pain and confusion they face can be devastating. However, family members can make a significant difference in helping survivors work through their emotional, physical, and legal recovery. Understanding how you can assist your loved one with compassion and patience can provide much-needed stability during…
California law offers several protections to help survivors seek justice, hold perpetrators accountable, and move forward with dignity and support. Let’s look at what you need to know in order to take control of your situation. California law uses a broad definition of sexual assault, which includes any non-consensual sexual act. These acts can range…
Taylor & Ring is honored to announce that we made the U.S. News – Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms” list for 2025. We earned Metropolitan Tier 1 recognition in Los Angeles for two categories: Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs and Product Liability Litigation – Plaintiffs. This recognition is a great opportunity for our team to…
Taylor & Ring is proud to announce that partner Natalie Weatherford has been named to Daily Journal Top Plaintiff Lawyers 2024 list! This annual list honors the top plaintiff lawyers in California.
Taylor & Ring’s Dave Ring recently secured a $24 million settlement for three women who were sexually abused by their teacher at Langdon Avenue Elementary between 2006 and 2007. The $24 million will be divided between the three women for $8 million each, making the awards the largest settlements the LAUSD has ever paid out.…
The City of Los Angeles has agreed to pay $9.5 million to settle a lawsuit over the 2018 police shooting that resulted in the death of Trader Joe’s assistant manager Melyda Corado. The incident occurred when LAPD officers Sinlen Tse and Sarah Winans were pursuing suspect Gene Atkins, who fled into the store after a…
A former female inmate is suing Santa Barbara County, alleging that the county’s “policy of inaction” allowed for her sexual assault by a jail employee, Salvador Vargas, in 2018. Vargas, who was later convicted, had multiple previous complaints against him that the county allegedly ignored. The lawsuit, set for trial in September, argues that the…
Taylor & Ring in Los Angeles is proud to announce that seven of our attorneys have been named to LawDragon’s 500 Leading Civil Rights & Plaintiff Employment Lawyers! Congratulations to the team at Taylor & Ring for receiving this honor. About the LawDragon 500 Per LawDragon: This is our 7th edition of this guide, our…
The 2025 editions of The Best Lawyers in America® and the Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America™ are out, and Taylor & Ring is proud to have eight lawyers make these esteemed lists. Please join us as we congratulate our hard-working team! Each year, Best Lawyers compiles a list of leading attorneys in particular regions and practices. Spots on…
The family of a Santa Barbara student has filed a claim against a teacher accused of secretly recording students in a school bathroom. The teacher allegedly used a hidden camera to capture footage of students in the restroom, leading to legal action. The claim seeks damages for emotional distress and invasion of privacy. The school…
In a recent legal case involving the Church of Scientology, David Miscavige, its leader, had a judge removed from a lawsuit where a woman accused the organization of sexual abuse and coercing children into marriage. The Church attempted to leverage an arbitration contract against the case, but the judge’s efforts to block it resulted in…
The recent announcement of the closure of a woman’s prison in Dublin, California, due to ongoing reports of sexual abuse incidents, including rape, bought relief and joy to many. However, our focus now shifts to impending federal investigation, as we believe that justice must be served for those responsible for these heinous crimes. Facts behind…
Steven Schapansky, a teacher at Santa Barbara Charter School, has been arrested for allegedly placing secret recording devices around the school, including in areas where the children change their clothes. The devices were discovered following a report to the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office. Schapansky, who has been with the small K-6 school for seven…
Thousands of young individuals participate in school sports across Los Angeles. They are coached by various coaches and sports trainers who profess their love for the sport and desire to help athletes reach their full potential. Whether basketball, football, soccer, baseball, or any other sport, coaches are trusted to be there for young athletes. However,…
Police officers are mandated to uphold the rights of all individuals in the United States while executing their official duties. Any abuse or deprivation of these rights by law enforcement constitutes a color of law violation. Thus, if an individual is sexually assaulted by a law enforcement officer, it constitutes a breach of the color…
Taylor & Ring is proud to announce that partner Natalie Weatherford has been named to Daily Journal’s Top Women Lawyers list for 2024! This annual list honors the top performing woman attorneys in California. You can read more at the Daily Journal, or check out the profile below:
Taylor & Ring is proud to announce that Sara Pross is this year’s recipient of the Taylor & Ring Victim Advocate Scholarship. Sara is a 1L student at New England Law in Boston. Sara is an extraordinary young person who tackles challenges head on. A natural leader, she served as the President of Clemson Panhellenic…
Taylor & Ring recently filed a lawsuit against the Benicia Unified School District and a former teacher, alleging the district was negligent in its hiring and supervising of 42-year-old Matthew Shelton, who is accused of sexually assaulting a Jane Doe during the 2022-2023 school year. Per the Vallejo Sun, “Shelton was charged with five felony…
Sexual assaults are traumatic. They change lives forever. Victims of rape and sexual assault suffer severe psychological harm that lasts a lifetime. Victims may never feel safe again. The victims of sexual assault will need help from their loved ones, psychologists, psychiatrists, and other healthcare providers. While most healthcare providers treat the physical and mental…
According to Psych Central, revenge porn is the sharing of private sexual materials of someone without their consent and with the intent to embarrass that someone or cause that person distress. The materials include photos and videos and are often posted on the internet. The posting is more than just psychologically damaging. Victims often feel…
Sexual abuse and assaults of children should never happen. Children who are sexually abused or assaulted immediately lose their childhood innocence. They lose their trust in people. For many victims, the devasting trauma lasts for a lifetime. According to the National Health Service in the United Kingdom, sexual abuse includes: Forcing a child to masturbate…
Sexual assault victims deserve justice. Justice for sexual assault victims can be achieved in two ways. In all instances, if you have been raped or sexually assaulted, you have the right to file a personal injury claim against the person who assaulted you. You may also have a claim against employers and other people, organizations,…
California has eliminated the statute of limitations for people to file lawsuits over allegations of child sexual assault, under a new law Gov. Gavin Newsom signed in October 2023. The new law won’t apply to instances of sexual assault that occurred before the bill took effect, on January 1, 2024. However, it does eliminate an…
On February 26, Taylor & Ring secured a $13M verdict against the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), in a case involving a 9th-grade student (Jane Doe) and a 19-year-old special needs assistant named Daniel Garcia. The 14-year-old was a student at Daniel Pearl Magnet High School (DPMHS) in 2014 when Garcia groomed and sexually…
Taylor & Ring is proud to announce that the $61.7 million verdict for Esphorst vs. Hicks was features in Daily Journal’s Top Verdicts for 2023. Robert Clayton, Senior Partner at Taylor & Ring, represented the family in this case. We invite you to read the writeup here, or to access the story on Daily Journal’s…
The LA Times has reported that on December 14th, six long years after the death of a teen in a civilian car chase, Taylor and Ring secured a verdict in the amount of $61.7 million to the victim’s parents. In Inglewood, the L.A. County Superior Court jury granted $23.25 million in compensatory damages to Julie…
Taylor & Ring Secures $25 Million Sexual Abuse Verdict Against Santa Barbara Unified School District
On December 11th, Taylor and Ring secured a $25 million award verdict against Santa Barbara Unified School District for the sexual abuse committed against a victim referred to as John Doe #2. The convicted abuser was former security guard and assistant football coach Justin Sell at Dos Pueblos High School. John Doe #2 had testified…
California passed a law on January 1, 2023, that extends the statute of limitations (the time victims have to file a claim) for claims by adult survivors of sexual assault. The new legislation is in response to the impact of the #MeToo movement and advocates for victims of sexual assault and abuse nationwide. According to…
If you have been sexually assaulted in any way, it is crucial that you seek medical help as quickly as possible. This is not only important to gather evidence of the sexual assault, but it is also important to ensure that you get the medical attention that you need. While you may be feeling lost…
Many people are under the impression that they can hide behind their keyboard and computer screen and get away with anything. In recent years, reports of online sexual harassment, assault, and cyberbullying have increased. Victims can be adults or children of all backgrounds and incomes. According to a study released by the Pew Research Center…
Young people in Los Angeles and other small and large cities in the United States gear up every fall, preparing to go to college and earn an education. However, the unfortunate reality is that many students are being sexually assaulted each year because America has a huge problem when it comes to sexual assault on…
Sexual assault is one of the most traumatic and devastating experiences that a human being can go through. In fact, sexual assault is a terrible crime that physically, emotionally, and psychologically affects sexual assault survivors for the rest of their lives. To get through each week, month, or year, they may need to continuously visit…
The entire team at Taylor & Ring is proud to announce that we have been named to U.S. News – Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms” list for 2024. We’re happy to once again be recognized as a Tier 1 firm in the areas of personal injury litigation and product liability litigation for plaintiffs in the Los Angeles…
Unfortunately, sexual assault in the workplace happens more often than you might think. If you are a survivor of sexual assault in the workplace, it is important that you know that you have rights and that your employer has responsibilities. This behavior is not only against the law, but it is also traumatizing and devastating…
Taylor & Ring Secures $7.9 Million Settlement in Grover Cleveland Charter High School Sex Abuse Case
The Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) has agreed to a $7.9 million settlement with a woman who was sexually abused by a teacher at Grover Cleveland Charter High School during her time as a student. This is the fourth lawsuit LAUSD has settled this year because of sexual assault and abuse cases involving the…
On September 20, Riverside County sheriff’s deputy Christian Phillip Heidecker was charged with 18 felony counts, stemming from acts of sexual abuse and extortion against females held in custody. On September 26, it was revealed that Riverside County tried to cover up the scandal by paying at least two of the victims hush money. Dave…
On September 13, 2023, Taylor & Ring obtained a $27 million settlement against Moreno Valley Unified School District – the largest school bullying settlement in U.S. history – for the death of Diego Stoltz. The settlement was finalized almost exactly four years after Diego was killed by his bullies at Landmark Middle School. Since then,…
Taylor & Ring is proud to announce that partners John C. Taylor and Dave Ring have both been named to Daily Journal’s Top 100 Lawyers list! This annual list highlights the work of the top attorneys in California. We invite you to read their profiles: https://www.dailyjournal.com/special_reports About Dave Ring About John Taylor Congratulations to…
Taylor & Ring is proud to have eight lawyers listed in the 2024 editions of The Best Lawyers in America® and the Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America™. Please join us in congratulating our team! Every year, the Best Lawyers list recognizes leading attorneys in particular regions and practices, based on peer reviews. Since it was first published in…
When an individual is sexually assaulted in Los Angeles, they can file a civil lawsuit against the perpetrator and any other liable parties. A civil lawsuit seeks compensation (damages) for injuries, harms, and losses. When new clients meet with us, they often have a lot of questions about the process itself. So today, we want…
As many already know, the Catholic church has a history of sexual abuse. In fact, several different dioceses around the United States are facing sexual abuse lawsuits due to the survivors that are coming forward to let it be known that they were sexually abused by the clergy in Catholic churches. This is not an…
At Taylor & Ring, we support legislation that helps victims of rape and sexual assault get access to the resources they need. We supported changes in our laws that expanded or eliminated the statutes of limitations for civil sexual abuse claims. We supported federal legislation to do the same. We have fought tooth and nail…
Taylor & Ring is excited to announce that partner Natalie Weatherford has been named to the 2023 edition of Daily Journal’s Top Women Lawyers in California list! This annual list identifies the top 100 women attorneys barred and practicing n California. In her profile interview with Daily Journal, Natalie discusses her work as a plaintiff’s…
As attorneys who represent survivors of sexual abuse, some of the most complex cases we handle involve school districts. Parents expect that their children will be at least relatively safe from harm when they’re in school, so these cases – ones involving abusive teachers and schools engaged in coverups – can be particularly challenging for…
Taylor & Ring is pleased to report that after three long, painful years, justice is finally being served for the Reinhold family. Orange County supervisors have approved a $7.5 million settlement in a lawsuit regarding the wrongful death of Kurt Reinhold back in 2020. This is the largest settlement against the Orange County Sheriff’s Department…
An article came out recently which brought an issue to light that many people were not aware of: deep fake pornography. The NBC article highlights a recent case of deep fake pornography involving popular Twitch streamers, including Atrioc, QtCinderella, Maya Higa, and Pokimane. The deep fake images, which were distributed on a popular pornographic website,…
The International Churches of Christ (ICOC) is facing a series of lawsuits that allege child sexual abuse and cover-ups within the organization. The Guardian reported in mid-March that five women have filed lawsuits against the religious group in California, with accusations ranging from sexual assault to rape of minors, and claims of a conspiracy to…
The entertainment industry is one that has been riddled with cases of sexual assault and harassment for decades. Victims of sexual assault within the industry are often silenced or discouraged from speaking out in an effort to preserve the reputation of those involved or the project they’re working on. Recently, actress Sheryl Lee Ralph opened…
After decades of sexually abusing minors, Larry Nassar was officially sentenced to prison in 2017 for all that he had done. He started his career in the late 1970s as an Athletic Trainer and was later appointed as the National Medical Coordinator for the USA Gymnastics team. Larry Nassar held that position since 1996—and it’s…
Every April, we recognize National Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month. While it’s not quite a celebration, we observe this month to get more people talking about the topic so we can take action and find more ways to prevent it. While sexual assault can happen anywhere, many people forget how common it is in…
According to a Pentagon report released on March 10, sexual assault reports at three United States military service academies reached an all-time high in 2022. The report indicates that this represents the highest level since the Defense Department started tracking the matter in 2006. The research examines sexual assault and harassment incidents at the three…
On March 10, 18 individuals were arrested by the Sacramento Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, in collaboration with federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, for allegedly engaging in activities related to attempting to contact a minor for sex and other related crimes. The arrest announcement was made by California Attorney General Rob Bonta…
When the #MeToo movement became prominent in 2017, it shined a light onto workplace harassment. Thousands of people took the microphone and shouted out against sexual assault and harassment by their coworkers and employers; by politicians and celebrities. This began a greater shift in society, helping make it not only easier to speak up against…
Schools are where our children are supposed to be safe. There, they are meant to receive a well-rounded education from trained teachers who should have been vetted by those in charge to be safe to work with children. Too often, however, parents are left shocked and horrified when one or more of these teachers turn…
Nick Carter is making headlines again, but not for his musical career. Another sexual assault allegation has been filed against him, and the plaintiff is a woman with cerebral palsy and autism. Carter is not new to sexual assault allegations, but this new lawsuit brings to light a challenge that many people in the world…
Evgeniya Chernyshova landed her first modeling contract when she was 15, and her first movie role in 2009. The world was opening to the young model from Siberia. By 2013, she was married with young children, embarking on a new and exciting life. And then Harvey Weinstein raped her, and everything changed. You may think…
When women train to become truck drivers, an enormous percentage experience sexual assault by their fellow truck drivers and even the instructors who train them. This same danger doesn’t exist for their male counterparts, and it turns out that very few truck companies are doing much to combat this heinous problem, seemingly penalizing victims rather…
Taylor & Ring is proud to announce that the $102.5 million verdict for Jane Doe et al v. Union School District has been included in Daily Journal’s Top Verdicts. Taylor & Ring Partner Natalie Weatherford and attorney Lauren A. Cerri of Corsiglia, McMahon & Allard represented the two victims in their lawsuit. We invite you…
Natalie Weatherford of Taylor and Ring is representing several Jane Does in a lawsuit filed against the Pomona Unified School District (PUSD), Pomona High School (PHS), and several members of its coaching staff. No less than eight women are alleging sexual abuse, assault, and grooming during the late 1990s and early 2000s. The suit alleges…
It’s been more than four years – FOUR YEARS – since Mely Corado lost her life and the LAPD still refuses to release the tape. After the 2018 police shootout where Corado was caught in the crossfire, her family still awaits justice. Although the information that could give Mely’s family closure is available in an…
Like schools, hospitals are a place where we are meant to feel safe. We trust physicians with the most private aspects of ourselves. That is why, when that trust and safety are betrayed, the repercussions for such actions need to be justly and swiftly handled. Unfortunately, California has had its fair share of doctors who…
Taylor & Ring has filed a lawsuit against Methodist Hospital of Sacramento on behalf of “Jane Doe,” a woman who was repeatedly sexually assaulted by her nurse, Gregory Allen Harms, while she struggled to survive in the intensive care unit. The lawsuit names both Harms and the hospital as defendants. Not only did Methodist Hospital…
Taylor & Ring are proud to announce this year’s winner of the Taylor & Ring Annual Victim Advocate Scholarship – Dylan Marks! Dylan is entering his second year of law school at the University of California, Davis School of Law with high marks, and we were very taken with his story and community work. Dylan…
As a parent, how would you feel if the payment processing company you used were associated with child pornography? If your credit card company is Visa, you may need to give it some thought. A recent lawsuit regarding distribution of child sex abuse materials names the company as a defendant along with other websites like…
We can all agree that sexual assault committed by anyone is unacceptable. However, what we often do not consider is how certain institutions condone or allow sexual assault to continue. There are some institutions or people who choose to turn a blind eye while sexual assault is taking place. You do not have to travel…
If you’re into boxing or love to barbecue, you’re likely familiar with George Foreman. Foreman is known as one of the best boxers and creative entrepreneurs in American history. Unfortunately, recent allegations may be about to tarnish his legacy. The former boxer was recently accused by two different women of sexual abuse and rape. Both…
Taylor & Ring has filed a lawsuit against North Monterey County Unified School District (NMCUSD) for the sexual assault of one of its students (“Jane Doe”), who was groomed and abused by Sergio Marquez while she was a student in 2002-2003. Marquez has been accused of sexually assaulting students before. As of this writing, at…
Taylor & Ring is proud to announce that the firm has been named to U.S. News – Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms” list for 2023. We have once again been recognized as a Tier 1 firm in the areas of personal injury litigation and product liability litigation for plaintiffs in the Los Angeles area. “Best…
Former Athletic Trainer Charged with Sexually Assaulting 10 Students at Two LAUSD-Affiliated Schools
Richard Alexander Turner, a former athletic trainer at Birmingham Community High School (a charter school operating independently within LAUSD) and Van Nuys High School is facing 15 felony charges for sexually assaulting 10 students. All of the victims who have come forward so far were between 15 and 17 years old when Turner abused and…
Last month, a bill passed up to the California Senate Appropriations Committee that could change the manner in which the DNA samples of sexual assault survivors will be handled. The bill, known as Senate Bill 1228, Genetic Privacy for Sexual Assault Victims, would prevent police officers from obtaining the DNA profiles of sexual assault victims…
Judy Garland. Corey Haim. Shirley Temple. Todd Bridges. The entertainment industry has a history of sexually abusing minors. Although there are few statistics to accurately measure the number of sexually abused minors in the industry, many former child entertainers have come forward to shine a spotlight on the dark side of the industry. Jeffrey Cooper…
Taylor & Ring is proud to have nine lawyers listed in the 2023 editions of The Best Lawyers in America® and the Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America™. This is an exciting achievement for our entire team. Every year, the Best Lawyers list recognizes leading attorneys in particular regions and practices, based on peer reviews. Since it…
Over the past few years, law enforcement officials have taken sexual abuse allegations in schools much more seriously than before. One of the most recent sexual assault allegations concerning students involve a sexual assault that reportedly took place at Mater Dei High School. Last August, a Mater Dei football player was the victim of a…
This past May, Mario Batali was cleared of sexual misconduct charges. The famous TV chef and restaurateur was charged with indecent battery and assault after a situation that took place in a Boston bar with a woman. The woman accused Batali of forcibly kissing and groping her in 2017. Batali faced two and a half…
Taylor & Ring is proud to announce that partner Natalie Weatherford has been named to the 2022 edition of Daily Journal’s “Top 40 Under 40” list! This annual list highlights up-and-coming attorneys in California. In her profile interview with Daily Journal, Natalie discusses her work as a plaintiff’s attorney in sexual abuse cases. Read…
Attorneys for Taylor & Ring achieved a remarkable settlement for a 9-year-old girl with special needs and her family. The girl had been repeatedly sexually abused in 2017 by a former bus driver for Lucia Mar Unified School District in California (LMUSD). On May 20, 2022, the school district paid $10 million to settle a…
Taylor & Ring is proud to announce that partners John Taylor and Dave Ring were both named to the 2022 Top Plaintiff Lawyers list, presented by the Daily Journal! We invite you to read their profile and interview pieces here.
The violence of prison culture has long been celebrated in pop culture. Television, film, and music glorify acts of rape, murder, and assault in the name of entertainment. But there is nothing “entertaining” about real acts of violence perpetrated against real people. An Associated Press investigation into the federal correctional institution in Dublin, California revealed…
It seems too often these days that beloved movie and TV celebrities are discovered doing something underhanded and criminal behind the scenes. It seems the same has to be said of reality television’s “Cheer” star Jerry Harris, as he recently pleaded guilty to charges of sexual misconduct with a minor, while he also pleaded not…
When you have been assaulted by another person, you expect to be represented and fought for by the District Attorney (D.A.). However, while the D.A. will bring up charges against the alleged perpetrator, they will not always find enough evidence to support the accusation. However, victims can still file a civil claim against their assaulter,…
With his performance at the Super Bowl LVI making Snoop Dogg a big name in family homes again, it’s no wonder that new sexual assault allegations against him and his associate have recently come to light. This often happens when a celebrity finds their way into the spotlight because past victims are forcibly reminded of…
John Taylor and Robert Clayton, partners at Taylor & Ring, obtained a $7.83 million settlement on behalf of clients whose son died during a civilian car chase. Julie and Jesse Esphorst, Sr., filed wrongful death lawsuits against the city, county, and California Department of Transportation. John and Rob represented Julie in her claims. In 2017,…
In an incredible victory for sexual assault victims everywhere, a San Jose jury recently awarded a combined $102.5 million to two women sexually assaulted while students at Dartmouth Middle School, part of the Union School District. Taylor & Ring’s Natalie Weatherford represented one of the plaintiffs, known to the court as Jane Doe 2. As…
On March 4, 2017, a security guard working at the Desert Premium Outlets on Seminole Drive in Cabazon found a man looking through a garbage bin for food. He asked the man to leave, which the man did. However, he returned shortly after to continue looking for food. As a result, mall security called the…
Although sexual abuse is a form of abuse that often occurs with children, anyone can become a victim of sexual abuse at any age. Sexual abuse is any unwanted sexual activity from perpetrators using force, using threats, or taking advantage of the victim. Sexual abuse is a crime where the victim and the perpetrator may…
Sexual harassment is a form of harassment that involves the use of implicit and explicit sexual overtones. It is a collection of unwanted and unwelcome physical and verbal sexual attention. Although workplace harassment is the most common form of sexual harassment that most of us think about, sexual harassment happens across all parts of life.…
Sexual abuse can happen to anyone, regardless of gender, race, or sexual orientation. Still, there are significant issues that male victims of sexual abuse endure when deciding to publicly speak out about their abuse. Some victims experience guilt and shame, believing that they should have been “strong enough” to fight the perpetrator. Some men experience…
Imagine coming into contact with a trucker and being held captive for over eight months. While you are held against your will for all that time, you are beaten and raped repeatedly in the trucker’s own vehicle. This was the true reality for a woman who was kidnapped by a trucker named Robert Jeffrey Johnson,…
Taylor & Ring is pleased to announce that three partners from our firm have been recognized by Southern California Super Lawyers for 2022! Every year, Super Lawyers recognizes attorneys across the country, practicing more than 70 types of law, for their accomplishments and achievements. Selection to the annual list is not guaranteed, which means every…
Sexual violence has been an issue on many college campuses for quite some time. Anyone – any age, gender, race, or student status – is at risk for violence, harassment, or assault on their college or university campus. In fact, experts assert that 13 percent of all college students experience rape or sexual assault through…
Marilyn Manson is a musical star who rose to fame in the mid-1990s. Ever since Manson was introduced to the spotlight, he has been surrounded by controversy; and this year is no different. Currently, Manson is facing several assault and domestic violence allegations. The Los Angeles County Sheriff Department obtained a search warrant for Manson’s…
Even in this current day and age, there are occupations that are still male-dominated and difficult for female employees to navigate safely. When we think of police officers and firefighters, for example, we tend to see more police officers and firefighters who are men than women. One of the reasons why these types of occupations…
The last statement that any parent wants to hear from their child is that he or she was sexually assaulted at school. Sadly, that is the reality for a majority of children and teenagers. Statistics from the Education Department have shown that reports of sexual assault at schools rose from nearly 9,600 in the 2015…
Oliver O’Grady is one of the numerous priests that the Catholic Church allowed to sexually assault children. While he served as a priest at St. Anne’s Catholic Church in Lodi, California, he was responsible for raping, abusing, and molesting at least 25 children starting from 1973. Similar to many priests and members of the Catholic…
The fraternity Sigma Nu Fraternity has recently made headlines for all of the wrong reasons. The fraternity joins a long list of fraternities that have engaged in numerous incidents of sexual assault. The president of the Epsilon Omicron Chapter at the University of Southern California, Ryan Schiffilea, was recently suspended after reports of possible drug-facilitated…
Sexual assault is legally defined as the act of sexual contact or behavior without consent from the victim. As many people know, sexual assault can take many forms. Some examples of sexual assault can be attempted rape, forced unwanted touching, forcing a victim to perform sexual acts, and forced penetration of the victim’s body. In…
The team at Taylor & Ring is proud to announce the firm’s selection for inclusion in U.S. News & World Report’s Best Law Firms, 2022 Edition. Our practice was named a Tier 1 firm in Los Angeles for our work in personal injury litigation and product liability litigation for plaintiffs. We’re so honored to be…
A bill headed to the governor’s desk could add California to the over two dozen states that allow survivors of sexual assault to track and receive updates regarding the status of their rape kits online. The goal of this legislation is to provide survivors a private and secure way to monitor the status of their…
Under state law, all California companies with five or more employees must provide sexual harassment and abusive conduct prevention training to all employees, both supervisory and non-supervisory. Before 2019, training was only required for companies with 50 or more employees, so this is a welcome expansion. However, some people are asking, especially in the wake…
Legislation recently passed in the California Senate aims to protect employees who speak out about discrimination experienced at work, even if they’ve signed non-disclosure agreements (NDAs). This law would expand protections laid out in a previous act banning NDAs in cases of sexual harassment, assault, and discrimination, signed by Governor Jerry Brown in 2018. Both…
Ron Jeremy, 68-year-old porn star, was recently indicted by a grand jury on more than 30 counts of sexual assault. The charges included: 12 counts of forcible rape 7 counts of forcible oral copulation 6 counts of sexual battery by restraint 4 counts of sexual penetration by a foreign object 2 counts of sexual penetration…
State legislators sent a bill to Governor Newson’s desk on September 7 that would make the act of “stealthing” punishable under the law, setting the stage for California to be the first in the nation to pass such a law. Stealthing is the act of secretive and nonconsensual condom removal during the act of sexual…
Although federal and state law prohibit workplace discrimination based on things like age, race, ethnicity, gender, and sexual orientation, millions of Americans still experience harassment or loss of employment simply due to who they are. This type of discrimination is illegal for protected classes, and it is crucial as a transgender or non-binary employee that…
Tech giant Apple recently announced plans to begin testing a new system that would scan iPhone and iCloud accounts for photos that match a database of known child pornography and sexual abuse images. When found and verified, Apple would alert the necessary authorities. This announcement was part of a larger push on behalf of the…
A recent report from the RAND Corporation found that sexual assaults on non-heterosexual service members comprise nearly half of all military assaults. Because most research only focuses on the dangers and risks women face in the military, this study shines a light on another vulnerable population, as well as points to areas needing further examination…
For many students in the Los Angeles area and across the country, the fall semester is getting underway. Returning to student life, dorms, or off-campus housing marks a step toward independence and adulthood that allows young people to thrive. However, sexual assault on college and university campuses remains a serious risk for many students –…
Authorities report that a Rancho Cucamonga football coach was recently arrested after police allege he placed a hidden camera inside a girls’ bathroom at Los Osos High School. After a staff member at the school discovered the camera, they immediately notified police, and an investigation found that assistant coach David Riden was responsible for placing…
Taylor & Ring is proud to announce that several of our attorneys have been named to the 2022 list of Best Lawyers in America®! For close to 40 years, Best Lawyers has honored the top lawyers in America. All recognized lawyers are nominated and assessed based entirely on peer review. Best Lawyers methodology is designed to capture, as…
Back in December 2020, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) hit rideshare giant Uber with a $59 million fine over their refusal to provide data on sexual assaults. On July 15, Uber and CPUC announced a settlement where Uber will avoid nearly all of the hefty fine and provide the information to the regulatory authority.…
In September 2020, former Columbia University gynecologist Robert Hadden was indicted on six counts of sexual abuse. These alleged assaults, involving a minor and five adult patients, took place between 1993 and 2012, and involved enticing victims to travel to his medical practice in New York. Hadden entered a plea of not guilty. Now, Hadden…
On July 1, the Boy Scouts of America agreed to pay $850 million to tens of thousands of men to settle sexual abuse claims going back decades. This amount could be the largest settlement for child sexual abuse claims in United States history, if approved by a judge. Some legal experts are calling this a…
In a sexual assault case filed in Alameda County, a former Berkeley High School student alleges the Berkeley United School District (BUSD) employed a sexual predator for decades. Matthew Bissell, who is no longer employed at the school, is also named as a defendant in the suit. A previous Title IX investigation found a years-long…
Sexual abuse, sexual assault, sexual misconduct, and sexual battery, sexual harassment, and rape all have different meanings. Some of these terms are legal terms. Others are used as catchalls and not correctly. There’s also a difference between how these terms may be used in civil cases and criminal cases. If you are looking to file…
John Taylor and Dave Ring have been named to the Los Angeles Business Journal’s Leaders of Influence List: Litigators & Trial Lawyers. LABJ’s prestigious list is designed to honor trial lawyers “who go to the proverbial mat to fight for their clients before judges and jury have their own unique sets of skills,” and recognizes…
Another elite boarding school is facing allegations of sexual misconduct. The Cate School in Carpinteria, CA is currently being investigated for suspected sexual abuse by a former employee of the school. It is reported that several survivors – both current and former students – have come forward. Per the Los Angeles Times, a mandated reporter…
A former Roman Catholic priest from California was arrested at his home in Rhode Island by the Rhode Island Violent Fugitive Task Force on charges of sexual assault. Christopher Cunningham was arrested on a warrant that accuses of him sexually assaulting children in California. At the time of his arrest, Cunningham was working as a…
A “smuggling vessel” hit a reef off the coast of San Diego on Sunday, May 2, killing three people and injuring two dozen others. The incident occurred in Point Loma, which leads into San Diego Bay. A dive team couldn’t enter the waters because of severe weather. The boat was broken apart into hundreds of…
When you spend close to $65,000 per year to send your child to school, the very least you should expect is that your child is safe. A shocking disclosure by the Thacher School in Ojai admitted that this was not the case at all, and had not been for decades. Per the Los Angeles Times,…
Taylor & Ring is proud to announce that partners John Taylor and Dave Ring have once again been named to Daily Journal’s list of Top Plaintiffs’ Lawyers. Only 38 attorneys in total were named to this prestigious list. We invite you to read their profiles here.
Taylor & Ring has filed lawsuits against the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) on behalf of the victims of Louis Moreno, alleging that they were sexually abused by Moreno – and LAUSD did nothing. The lawsuits allege that LAUSD ignored calls from parents, and even that the District tried to remove children form the…
A former student at Hamilton High School has filed a lawsuit against the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) claiming that teacher Barry Smolin groomed and sexually abused her. The lawsuit was filed late in April against the LAUSD and Smolin. It claims that the student, identified as Jane Doe, was groomed and then eventually…
Dave Ring, partner at Taylor & Ring, is representing a victim of David Lamb in a lawsuit against Lucia Mar Unified School District (LMUSD). Lamb, who “was convicted in 2018 of two counts of committing lewd acts against a child and sentenced to 16 years in state prison,” had previously been arrested for peeping (a…
Taylor & Ring is proud to announce that partner Natalie Weatherford has been named to the Daily Journal’s Top Women Lawyers 2021 list. Every year, the Daily Journal recognizes the top 100 women lawyers in California for their work in their respective fields. The Daily Journal also interviews the honorees to highlight the most prominent…
Taylor & Ring Files Lawsuit Against PSUSD, CVUSD for Failing to Protect Students from Sexual Assault
Taylor & Ring is representing two women (“Jane Doe 1” and “Jane Doe 2”) in civil claims against Palm Springs (PSUSD) and Coachella Valley Unified School Districts (CVUSD), alleging a failure to protect students who were sexually abused by bus drive Jose Luis Moncada. Moncada, who was arrested and charged with eight counts of “committing…
CRST Expedited, Inc., a national long-haul trucking business, recently settled a sexual assault lawsuit brought against them by an ex-employee Jane Doe. Eric Horton, accused of raping Doe, was also a defendant in the case. Taylor & Ring is proud to have represented Ms. Doe, and are pleased to bring her closure and justice after…
A common form of workplace harassment is inappropriate touching. It is a traumatic experience that often leaves employees not wanting to return to work, not wanting to perform their duties, and causes them to suffer emotional stress. Inappropriate touching at work is unwelcome, nonconsensual physical contact that violates personal boundaries and creates a hostile work…
A new bill introduced in January in the California Legislature would allow sexual assault survivors the ability to track the results of their rape kit. The bill would only apply to rape kits collected after January 1, 2018. The bill, SB-215, was introduced by State Senator Connie Leyva. If the legislation is passed, it would…
A bill introduced in the California Legislature by Assemblywoman Cristina Garcia would classify the nonconsensual removal of a condom as sexual battery if it becomes law. Under the current civil code of California, sexual battery is defined as someone acting intentionally to cause harm or offensive contact with someone else’s intimate body parts and ultimately…
The efforts of police unions in New York City to block the release of disciplinary records of thousands of officers were defeated by a federal court ruling. The ruling by a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit will also impact corrections officers and firefighters employed by the city. The…
Former Santa Clara County juvenile court counselor Giorgio Raul Garcia has been extradited back to the Bay Area, where he is facing “multiple counts of sexual assault of a minor under 14,” CBS San Francisco reports. Garcia was arrested in March, after one of his victims “came forward to police in February to report an…
Registered nurse Gregory Allen Harms is facing felony charges and two lawsuits stemming from three sexual assaults on patients under his care. John Taylor and Natalie Weatherford, partners at Taylor & Ring, are representing one of Harms’ victims, who was assaulted by while she was in intensive care and immobile. Harms, whose license is now…
John C. Taylor and Neil Gehlawat are representing Katura Stokes in a lawsuit against Palmdale School District for racial discrimination. The Ms. Stoke’s son’s science teacher, who did not log out of a Zoom meeting, spent about 30 minutes making racist remarks about the student, the student’s family, and Black people in general. “It’s…
On March 5th, the Fresno Police Department released 22 minutes of edited body camera footage that showed the death of 41-year-old Joseph Perez. Both the police and paramedics tried to keep this video footage of what happened to Perez confidential; it was only because of John Taylor and Neil Gehlawat’s efforts to challenge that designation…
After last year’s unanimous Santa Monica City Council vote to pay out over $40 million to settle sex abuse claims from two dozen individuals, Taylor & Ring’s David Ring and Sonya Ostovar have filed claims on behalf of 18 additional victims. These claims allege that the plaintiffs were also sexually assaulted as a result of…
Most parents of teenagers likely feel as if they’re raising adults rather than children yet to reach adulthood. While kids have a more sophisticated and mature attitude today than when we were growing up, the fact is they are still children. The law doesn’t view them as adults in most circumstances, especially when it comes…
Uber has become a known name around the world for ride sharing and being at the top often comes with problems that need to be resolved. When they’re left somewhat ignored, regulators feel the pressure to step in and take action to protect the public from coming to harm. In this case, the public leans…
When most people think about adult movies being filmed, they assume that all the actors have given consent to engage in every sex act that goes on. That’s no more the case than if a company executive were to sexually assault a personal assistant. Adult film is big business and just like in any other…
The rich and powerful continue to include California as a destination spot for committing unforgivable sex crimes against trusting victims. The right amount of money appears to buy just enough confidentiality to allow perpetrators to get away with heinous acts for decades. Where does it end? One of these individuals just found that out. At…
Taylor & Ring is proud to announce that multiple members of our team have been recognized by Southern California Super Lawyers and Rising Stars for 2021. All attorneys have been selected for their work in Personal Injury – General: Plaintiff. Super Lawyers is an objective ratings service which honors attorneys across the country for their…
Taylor & Ring is proud to announce that partners John Taylor and Dave Ring have both been named to the 2021 Lawdragon 500 Leading Lawyers in America. This year’s list, which also honored the country’s Supreme Court Justices, sought to honor the litigators, judiciary, and advocates who fought the good fight over one of the…
All movements for social justice start out small. Back in 1990, women at Brown University began writing the names of their rapists on the walls of bathroom cubicles in the Rockefeller Library. Every time the names were erased, the women would simply write them again. This ever-growing list became known across the country as the…
After a difficult and challenging year, Taylor & Ring is excited to announce the very deserving winner of the 2020 Taylor & Ring Annual Victim Advocate Scholarship, Olivia Horton! Only in her first year of law school, Olivia has already had a profound effect on her community by taking significant and continuous action to raise…
A bombshell October 29 story from the New York Times revealing rampant sexual harassment in the prestigious sommelier industry has led to the suspension of seven members of the Court of Master Sommeliers. All seven men are accused of sexual misconduct involving women who were candidates for the title of master sommelier – 21 women…
California State Assembly member Rob Bonta recently proposed new legislation requiring prosecutors recuse themselves from investigations into police shootings and misconduct if they have received campaign donations from the union representing the officer(s) involved. Currently, California’s elected district attorneys (DAs) may accept contributions and funding from law enforcement unions and associations. Many have often questioned…
Back in July, an officer from the Los Angeles Police Department filed a lawsuit against the city, accusing Mayor Eric Garcetti’s close advisor Rick Jacobs of sexually harassing him over a period of several years. The officer, Matthew Garza, was assigned to Garcetti’s security detail in 2013 and, according to his complaint, became a target…
Dave Ring provides legal insight to The Boston Globe An explosive front-page article in the Boston Globe claims that, according to a recently-filed lawsuit, the prestigious Portsmouth Abbey boarding school in Rhode Island failed to protect a young woman from sexual abuse from a teacher. The suit also claims school leaders provided the victim with…
The past year has seen a spate of police officer-involved shootings and wide public allegations of nationwide police misconduct. Discussion around accountability for law enforcement tends to come back to the issue of reforming or eliminating qualified immunity, a legal doctrine that often shields police officers from liability in lawsuits. In some cases, however, victims…
Many companies have a non-fraternization policy among coworkers. Part of the policy is intended to keep employees focused on work. If you’re not wasting company time getting sidetracked with business hour flirtations and long lunches, more gets done and more money gets made. Another reason has to do with romantic relationships between employees that sour…
If you have been sexually assaulted by prison staff or officials, you have a right to pursue both a criminal case to punish your abusers and a civil claim for the damages inflicted on you. The harmful psychological effects of rape can take years to move past, even with proper treatment. How big of a…
Taylor & Ring is proud to announce that the firm has once again been selected for inclusion in the Best Law Firms list, for the 2021 edition. The firm has also been named Tier 1 in the Los Angeles Metropolitan area for its work in: Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs Product Liability Litigation – Plaintiffs…
Prior to the pandemic, your kids typically spent 8 hours a day with other children and adults. Even now, whether your kids have landed back in classrooms for face to face learning or they’re getting their education remotely, they’re generally not under your strict supervision while sitting in front of their online classes. Their teachers…
The last few years have forced a reckoning in Hollywood. Harvey Weinstein and Bill Cosby have stood trial, and countless others – Kevin Spacey, Louis C.K., Matt Lauer, etc. – have been exposed for their years of abuse and sexual assault. Danny Masterson’s time may finally be at an end, too. He has been charged…
About 16 months ago, Kurt Reinhold was shot to death by a deputy from the O.C. Sheriff’s Homeless Outreach Team. On February 2, 2022, the Office of the District Attorney for Orange County issued a 10 page letter explaining why they would not be bringing charges against him. In the letter, the DA states that…
Two female veterans of the military who suffered sexual harassment and assault during the time of their service have called upon leaders in the House of Representatives to pursue legislation that protects service members. Their efforts are in the aftermath of the tragic disappearance and killing of Army Specialist Vanessa Guillen at Fort Hood, TX.…
The common perception about sexual crimes and those who commit them are that they are committed by adult men mostly against women and sometimes against children. However, the perpetrators of sexual abuse are sometimes children committing offenses against other children. Almost 1 in 3 perpetrators of child sex abuse are below the age of 18.…
Combat veteran Gregory Lloyd Edwards died in 2018 after an altercation with corrections officers at the Brevard County Jail, Florida. At the time, the county medical examiner concluded Edwards’ cause of death was something called “excited delirium and complications,” due to a “hyperactive and violent state with subsequent restraint.” His death was ruled an accident.…
A recently published Vatican manual on how to handle sexual abuse allegations within the Catholic Church instructs bishops to report all of these allegations to law enforcement, even when there is no legal obligation to do so. The manual directs ecclesiastical authorities to produce a report and provide it to relevant civil authorities if it…
Dozens of past employees of The Ellen Show have claimed that they were the victims of sexual harassment and other types of sexual misconduct by certain top-tier producers of the show. In the aftermath of these allegations, the show’s parent company – WarnerMedia – carried out an investigation. Subsequently, on August 17 three of the…
Governor of New Hampshire Chris Sununu recently signed the nation’s first student-written campus sexual assault legislation into law. Passing the NH House with bipartisan support, proponents of the bill are not only calling it a victory for New Hampshire, but a victory for college students all over the country. Survivor and advocate groups are hoping…
An advocate for sex abuse victims who became the subject of a celebrated Netflix documentary died by suicide on August 4, 2020. Daisy Coleman starred in the 2016 Netflix film “Audrie & Daisy,” which followed her and her family as they dealt with the aftermath of her assault, and the hostile reaction of her town…
Taylor & Ring is proud to announce that several of our attorneys have been named to the 2021 list of Best Lawyers in America®! For almost 40 years, Best Lawyers has honored the top attorneys in the country. Attorneys cannot nominate themselves, and all nominees are peer-reviewed by other honorees. This year, Best Lawyers: One…
The respected legal media company Lawdragon recently interviewed partner Robert R. Clayton for their “Lawyer Limelight” series. This popular Q&A series highlights some of the nation’s top legal practitioners. We invite you to read the interview here.
One of the most important steps a survivor of sexual assault or rape can take is undergoing the forensic exam, so that evidence of the attack can be preserved. That evidence becomes part of the “rape kit,” a collection of DNA samples and documentation that outlines what happened during the attack. Medical professionals handle the…
On July 27, 2020, former NFL player Dana Stubblefield was convicted of multiple charges, including rape by force, oral copulation by force and false imprisonment. His victim (“Jane Doe”) was 31-year-olds old when Stubblefield raped her in 2015. According to her attorneys, Jane has developmental disabilities. The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) estimates…
The U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) recently established new guidelines for monitoring complaints involving sexual harassment responsible by scientists who financially support the agency. The guidelines, issued in June 2020, cover the actions the agency must take when it becomes aware of allegations of sexual misconduct. These include preventing the issuance of pending grants,…
The industry known as “e-sports” has grown exponentially over the last decade. This form of sports entertainment involves professional gamers who play a wide variety of video games on various platforms, all under the structure of organized competition. These competitive events and tournaments are highly publicized and heavily attended. Millions around the world watch these…
Several prominent men in the Los Angeles, CA area have recently been charged with sexual assault crimes against women. Adult film actor Ron Jeremy (Ronald Jeremy Hyatt), 67, is one of these men. The charges filed against him include the rape of three women and the sexual assault of a fourth. The alleged victims range…
Everyone is entitled to a harassment-free workplace. When a co-worker, business associate, or superior treats you in a way that qualifies as sexual harassment, your first instinct may be to simply keep quiet. Often, employees don’t want to make waves and hope the perpetrator will just stop. However, if you are subjected to harassment on…
A recent ruling upholding the constitutionality of New York state’s “look-back law” for sexual abuse lawsuits gives victims of abuse and their attorneys improved ability to bring a lawsuit. Attorneys and plaintiffs across the country praised the decision, saying it sets a precedent for more victims to come forward and prosecute their abusers, even if…
The passage of the Educational Amendments Act in 1972 also ushered in Title IX, which helped change the way sexual misconduct and harassment are handled in American higher education. Title IX prohibits sex and gender discrimination in educational programs that receive federal funding. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos recently announced some new rules to this…
The shelter in place orders resulting from the coronavirus outbreak drastically changed the daily lives of millions of Americans. Our local and national leaders implemented social distancing and lockdown orders designed to slow the spread of the virus and keep citizens safe. However, these safety measures actually put some of our more vulnerable citizens at…
Taylor & Ring is proud to announce that partners John Taylor and Dave Ring have both been named to Daily Journal’s list of Top Plaintiffs’ Lawyers . We invite you to read their profiles here.
The Coronavirus pandemic has hurt people around the world in more ways than one. From job loss to sickness to death, people across the country are dealing with adversity at every turn. There are groups of people who are having a particularly difficult time getting the help they need: sex trafficking victims, sexual abuse victims,…
Normandie Burgos, a well-known coach in the Bay Area, was convicted of 60 counts of child molestation in May 2019 and sentenced to 255 years in prison. Despite being arrested for the second time in 2014 for charges of abusing one of his players, Burgos was allowed to continue coaching until 2017. He was arrested…
Virtual meetings have become the go-to method of communicating for workplaces and schools throughout California and all across the country ever since the Coronavirus pandemic took over the United States. With schools moving to remote learning and many workplaces moving their employees to remote settings, virtual meetings have been how people are still completing their…
Millions of Americans have been told to shelter-in-place or stay-at-home since the pandemic reached the United States. Even though many Americans will be safe while staying home, millions are not safe in their own homes due to domestic violence. In fact, more than 10 million Americans experience some form of domestic violence every year. Removing…
Deciding on a course of action in the wake of a traumatic event like sexual assault is typically uncharted territory for victims, and can leave them feeling overwhelmed. In cases where non-disclosure agreements are involved, the path forward can seem even more daunting, adding confusion and fear to an already crushing emotional struggle. For survivors…
A decision in November of last year by the District Court of Massachusetts has helped clear up the issue of employer liability when illegal sex trafficking occurs on an employer’s property. The case – Ricchio v. Bijal – involves Lisa Ricchio, the victim, who was kidnapped by Clark McLean, the defendant. Ricchio was held against…
Have you experienced the situation in your workplace in which your boss or someone in authority over you, or even a coworker, persistently makes unwanted sexual advances? You may have told the perpetrator to stop numerous times, but he refuses. You may have even filed a complaint with your company’s human resources department according to…
The University of Southern California (USC) has agreed to make significant changes to the process it follows for reporting sexual misconduct allegations in light of the findings of a federal investigation. The school has agreed to these procedural changes after systematic failures were discovered in the school’s handling of abuse allegations against George Tyndall, former…
The Santa Monica City Council has agreed to settle with the victims of the late Eric Uller, a former volunteer with the city’s Police Activities League (PAL) and a Principal Technology Analyst with the Santa Monica’s Information Systems Department. All told, Santa Monica has agreed to pay $97.5 million to Uller’s victims. Dave Ring, partner…
The subject of sexual harassment virtually always conjures up thoughts of a man preying on a woman’s vulnerable position. It can happen at work, walking down the street, in an educational setting, at the gym, or even in a place of worship. When rumors start to fly, the perpetrator is almost always vilified, and rightfully…
You may be witnessing a tragedy with horrific and lasting consequences for the victim. Traffic accidents of a different variety go unnoticed by so many who are looking right at them but don’t even realize it. Over the 10 year period between 2007 and 2017, the National Human Trafficking Hotline received nearly 35,000 reports of…
Harvey Weinstein has become a household name over the past couple of years, and not for anything positive. The #MeToo movement is the result of the legendary movie producer’s reprehensible behavior. It has also led to numerous allegations of sexual assault, rape, and sexual harassment on a bi-coastal level. It all began unraveling for Weinstein…
Taylor & Ring is pleased to announce that all three partners from our firm have been selected to the 2020 Southern California Super Lawyers list. Each year, no more than five percent of the lawyers in the state are selected by the research team at Super Lawyers to receive this honor. About Super Lawyers Super…
Harvey Weinstein, the former movie mogul, has been charged with multiple felonies on two different coasts. In New York, he has been charged with four counts of predatory sexual assault, one count of criminal sexual act in the first degree, one count of first-degree rape, and one count of third-degree rape. In California, he is…
You’re speeding down the road after a night out with your friends. You’re in a good mood so the music and accelerator just got away from you. Then you see the blue lights in your rearview mirror. You’re being pulled over and you don’t have to guess why. Unfortunately, you got more than a speeding…
It feels like a lifetime of misery. Going to work every day and having to work side by side with a co-worker who deems it a personal game to see how much sexual harassment you can take. He knows he won’t be reprimanded. He’s done this for years with various co-workers who were previously in…
In a computer-age world, dating has become a bit tricky. Meeting someone through friends or employment can work sometimes. Finding love in a bar or other awkward social setting where you’re thrown into a sea of strangers can be challenging. Then there’s the world of online dating. Today there are so many dating sites to…
Type the term “rape kit backlog” into a Google search and be prepared to be overwhelmed. Victims of sexual assault have been told for years that allowing for the collection of DNA evidence is their best chance at catching their attacker. Already traumatized victims undergo a special rape exam where they are literally picked over…
It’s a sad truth that human trafficking used to be a term that conjured up thoughts of poor people in faraway countries working in fields or mines. We live in the United States where we don’t have the same widespread level of poverty or social issues as other countries, don’t we? That’s true to an…
Respected legal website Lawdragon recently chose Attorneys John Taylor and Dave Ring for their “Lawyer Limelight” series, an in-depth Q&A feature that spotlights a national selection of leading attorneys in their fields. These interviews touch on a variety of subjects, including recent achievements, career highlights, legal trends and interesting personal tidbits. John Taylor and Dave…
How would you like a lawsuit with those fries? McDonalds is no stranger to being sued. If you’ve seen the movie “The Founder” then you know that the company didn’t exactly start out lawsuit-free. Over the years, Micky Ds has fought battles over hot coffee injuries, overcharging customers, and of late, the sexual harassment of…
That sound you hear is dominoes falling from a high altitude. It began slowly and picked up the pace with the #MeToo campaign giving victims the confidence to finally come forward and publicly point their fingers at their abusers. The last couple of years haven’t been good for anyone in a high profile position in…
Do you think your child may be the victim of sexual abuse at the hands of someone you have trusted, such as a partner, family member, priest, neighbor, or even a teacher? While it is not always easy to get children to speak about things that are going on, especially if they are afraid of…
When you send your child to school, you expect them to learn in a comfortable, safe environment with teachers and support staff members who care about the success of each child. While this is true for the most part, some teachers or school staff members may use their power to gain control over others, including…
A company in Brooklyn has recently released a DIY rape kit, with the goal of enabling survivors to take and submit their own DNA samples. The MeToo Kits are supposedly designed to prevent victims from feeling like they are being victimized all over again. They are also a terrible idea. Rape is both physically and…
Bill Cosby, once a respected comedian, television actor, and public speaker, has since been sentenced to 3-10 years in prison for committing sexual offenses. In an era of Harvey Weinstein and Matt Lauer, or #MeToo and #WhyIDidntReport, it is easy to forget that Cosby’s crimes once dominated the headlines. Over and over again, we heard…
Taylor & Ring is honored to announce that our firm was named to Best Lawyers – U.S. News & World Report’s annual Best Law Firms 2020 edition, earning Tier 1 statutes for Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs in Metropolitan Los Angeles. Taylor & Ring has consistently received recognition for its successes by Best Law Firms,…
“Consent” is the agreement between two people to engage in whatever sexual behaviors they want. Theoretically and ethically, this is a simple thing. But the reality is that there are gray areas in the laws, and those shades of gray can make it incredibly difficult for victims of sexual assault to get the justice they…
The California Healthy Youth Act, which has been in place since 2016, provides “integrated, comprehensive, accurate, and unbiased sexual health and HIV prevention instruction” for public school students. Erin Prangley, associate director of government relations for the American Association of University Women, told EdSource that “Many school cultures trivialize harassment, tolerate language that degrades girls…
The essence of a punitive damage claims is to punish someone who’s wrongs are unconscionable, so they don’t harm anyone else. The payment of punitive damages is paid to the injured plaintiff. A punitive damage claim in any type of case requires more than a showing of carelessness or negligence. In California, the defendant must…
Larry Nassar, George Tyndall, James Heaps, Bayard Allmond and countless other physicians have faced the legal and professional consequences of sexual misconduct against patients most of whom were young and vulnerable. A story in the Los Angeles Times reports that since the fall of 2017, complaints against California physicians have increased by 62%. Those numbers…
In what seems to be the silver lining in the dark cloud that was the Harvey Weinstein sexual harassment claims and the rise of the #MeToo movement, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission reports that in 2018, sexual harassment claims increased by 13.6% over the previous year, while the total number of complaints of workplace…
Taylor & Ring is excited and proud to announce that attorney Natalie Weatherford has been named to Law360’s Rising Stars for 2019, their list of 175 Attorneys Under 40 whose legal accomplishments transcend their age. Natalie is one of only three personal injury attorneys named to this list, chosen from among 80 law firms and…
The Washington Post recently reported that a Boy Scout identified as S.D., was sexually assaulted hundreds of times by a scout leader. The incidents happened in the 1970s in Pennsylvania. A lawsuit has been filed on behalf of the plaintiff against the Boy Scouts, the Penn Mountains Council, and the alleged abuser. It is one…
Taylor & Ring is excited to announce that six attorneys, including all four of our partners, have been recognized by Best Lawyers in America®! Attorneys are recognized in the publication from Best Lawyers in America based on a peer review. The top lawyers in every practice area come to a consensus opinion about the best…
NBC News reported on July 3, 2019 that a New Jersey judge’s decision that a 16-year-old boy who was accused of the rape of an intoxicated girl was overturned by a higher state court. The accused, according to prosecutors, also filmed the sexual assault/rape and sent it to his friends. The government sought to have…
A recent law designed to protect child actors by providing sexual harassment prevention training is being delayed. Deadline reports that, according to the California Labor Commissioner’s office, the reason for the delay is that the two vendors contracted to provide the necessary training materials weren’t getting the job done. One vendor, according to Deadline, was…
Taylor & Ring is proud to announce that our firm has won the 2019 Elite Trial Lawyers award, presented by the National Law Journal. Taylor & Ring won in the “Other” category, because the plaintiffs’ work we do often defies specific classification. Instead, our work spans multiple categories: injury law, civil litigation, civil rights, and…
At the climax of the Me Too movement, governmental leaders in California were unable to answer the most basic questions about the pervasive sexual harassment complaints swirling through state government agencies. The reason is that in 2012, the state shut down its system for tracking harassment and discrimination allegations. (The justification for this involved the…
A bill in California that would have forced Catholic priests to infringe upon their religious obligation to keep confessions sealed has been removed by its sponsor one day before debate was scheduled on the legislation. California Senate Bill 360 was taken off the July 9th legislative agenda involving a meeting of the Public Safety Committee.…
The last few years have been filled with stories of powerful men finally getting their comeuppance for years of abuse, harassment, and sexual assault. Survivors have taken down some of Hollywood’s most outrageous repeat offenders, and changed the national conversation about consent, rape, and bodily autonomy. Jeffrey Epstein could be the latest to finally come…
A sexual assault forensic exam, commonly known as a rape kit, is an examination to collect any evidence left behind after a sexual assault. When a survivor chooses to report an assault to authorities, this exam can be extremely helpful in prosecuting the assailant, as well as allowing the victim to receive necessary medical care.…
George Tyndall, a former gynecologist for USC, was arrested and charged with 18 counts of sexual assault and 11 counts of sexual battery by fraud. He faces up to 53 years in prison if he is convicted on all charges. At this time, the charges stem from accusations posed by 16 different women. However, the…
A recently released report revealed some interesting statistics in the wake of the #MeToo and #TimesUp movement – that more Californians experience sexual harassment than anyone else in the country. The report states that sexual harassment and assault cases in our state are 5% higher for women, and 10% higher for men (especially gay or…
Taylor & Ring is proud to announce that partners John Taylor and Dave Ring have both been profiled in the Daily Journal’s Top Plaintiffs special report. We invite you to read their profiles here.
A recent NPR article shined a light on overlooked victims of sexual assault – adult survivors of sexual abuse by nuns. Awareness and acknowledgement of the abuse and molestation of girls and boys by priests and clergy is growing, and this validation is helping survivors of abuse by religious sisters come forward with their allegations.…
Taylor & Ring is proud to announce that we have secured two spots on the National Law Journal’s (NLJ) Top 100 Verdicts of 2018 list. Each year the NLJ lists the 100 largest verdicts in the country. Taylor & Ring’s verdicts included: $45.4 million – F.M. v. County of Los Angeles $25.3 million – Stephen…
The Catholic Church has been at the heart of multiple sexual abuse scandals for more than a decade now, with more and more victims. The survivors are generally males (though woman have come forward in record numbers, too) who attended all-boy grade schools and high schools throughout the United States. This type of systemic abuse…
Sexual assault is a crime that many people don’t like to think about, but should be in the back of your mind. Many refuse to think that it will happen to them until it does. The Rape, Abuse, & Incest National Network (RAINN) reports that one in every six women will be the victim of…
Aimee Palmitessa was charged with 12 felony counts for having sex with one of her students at Brentwood School; the student was a minor at the time. Last August, the student – “John Doe” – sued Brentwood School: “The 33-page complaint documented Palmitessa’s history of suggestive behavior toward students, even before Doe ended up in…
Researchers have come up with response protocols for sexual assault response teams that operate on campuses across the country. These sexual assault response teams are faced with multiple barriers when responding to reports of sexual assault that prevent their work from being effective to the same level as response teams operated by cities and counties.…
In an effort to promote understanding during Sexual Assault Awareness Month, officials at Fort Bragg launched a sexual assault escape room. The purpose of the room is to educate soldiers on sexual assault in the military, the prevention program in place, and the resources available to members of the military who have been assaulted. The…
Thousands of credible accusations have been leveled against the Catholic Church over the last few years alone, and the Archdiocese of Los Angeles is no exception. Having just secured the largest individual settlement for a sex abuse case ever offered by Archdiocese, we know firsthand how important it is that survivors come forward. That is…
If you have turned on the news or looked online in the last couple of days, you’ve seen the headlines: almost 8,000 Boy Scouts leaders have been accused of sexual abuse over the last 72 years. We knew it was bad. We just didn’t know it was this bad. The idea that the Boy Scouts…
Taylor & Ring has secured the largest individual settlement ever paid by the Archdiocese of Los Angeles to a victim of sexual abuse. Our client was 15-years-old when Juan Ivan Barajas, a health teacher and the athletic director at San Gabriel Mission High School, began sexually abusing her in 2016, and he eventually kidnapped her…
The Center for Justice & Democracy at New York Law School (CJ&D) has long been a champion for the country’s civil justice system. Part of their work involves raising public awareness of the insidious nature of “tort reform,” and the effects that it has on all of us. Their latest in-depth publication focuses on survivors…
Sexual assault survivors who report the attack to the police or discuss it with others often experience a lot of doubt on those with whom they speak. They are often asked questions related to fighting back, screaming, and finding a way to remove themselves from the situation. Facing this doubt from others can be just…
United States Education Secretary Betsy DeVos has proposed changes to campus sexual assault rules at the college and K-12 levels of the education system. These changes have been met with tough resistance from members of the academic world, the ACLU, and the public. This has become such a hot topic of discussion and debate that…
A.J. Calloway, the host of Extra, is facing allegations of sexual assault. Calloway was suspended earlier in February by Warner Bros. for the mounting accusations against him. So far, six women have accused Calloway of sexual assault or sexual harassment, according to a report in The Hollywood Reporter. Calloway’s suspension came right before a tell-all…
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is one of the more difficult and complex injuries to treat – and even to understand. Many medical professionals refer to TBI as “the invisible injury” because there are typically no signs of injury to the naked eye. On the outside, someone may look perfectly normal and healthy, but on the…
A recent article in the Washington Post discussed the public outrage that occurred after former Baylor University fraternity president Jacob Anderson received no jail time after taking a plea deal in a sexual assault case. Although initially charged with four counts of sexual assault after being accused of raping a 19-year-old woman at a party,…
Today’s construction sites are bigger and more complex than they were in the past. There are many different things going on at the same time, involving different parties and contractors. Large equipment or hazardous materials may all be in use at the same time, making safety precautions crucial to avoid accidents – both for workers…
Ride-sharing giant Uber has launched a new product that allows doctors and hospitals to schedule rides for their patients, like picking up patients for appointments or medical care, or taking them home afterward. Called Uber Health, doctors can use the application, which means patients don’t need to have the Uber app installed or even have…
Two new laws going into effect in 2019 intend to provide more transparency into police activity here in Los Angeles and throughout California. The first law, which went into effect on January 1, makes certain police incidents – including shootings and assaults – public record. The other law, going into effect in July, will provide…
A recent docu-series about R. Kelly airing on Lifetime television has resulted in renewed law enforcement interest in the 52-year-old singer. The three-part series features multiple women alleging they were part of the singer’s notorious sex cult, with some mentioning seeing other girls and women on Kelly’s property against their will. “Surviving R. Kelly” documents…
After rainfall caused mudslides and flash flooding in Southern California last month, rapper Soulja Boy took to social media to talk about a close call. “Was involved in a very bad car accident last night due to a flash flood and mud slide,” he tweeted on January 6. He later tweeted a news photo of…
Taylor & Ring has secured a $7.4 million settlement on behalf of our client, Samuel Chang, who was berated, threatened, and then violently assaulted by a group of five men, two of whom were off-duty firefighters. Attorneys Dave Ring and Brendan Gilbert represented Mr. Chang in a civil lawsuit alleging assault, battery, false imprisonment, negligence…
Taylor & Ring has filed a lawsuit in Kern County Superior Court on January 28, 2019 on behalf of their client, a former student of Highland High School, who claims that the Assistant Principal, Mark Weir, sexually abused him. A story in Bakersfield Now reports on the details of the lawsuit, which alleges that the…
In Southern California personal injury cases, the plaintiff is often entitled to recover economic and noneconomic damages, with the latter relating to pain and suffering, loss of companionship, etc. In addition to these damages, punitive damages are sometimes available to the plaintiff as well under a confined set of circumstances. Punitive damages are applied in…
When a car accident resulting from the negligent actions of another party leaves you injured, you expect to receive compensation for the losses you incur due to your injuries, pain, and suffering. Many times, this compensation will be provided through the at-fault driver’s insurance company. Often, however, receiving compensation through a personal injury claim involves…
If you are the victim of a hostile work environment, your employer may be in violation of both federal and California employment laws. These laws define and protect workers from illegal workplace harassment. However, it is important to understand that the type of harassment that produces a hostile work environment under the law must be…
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is taking steps to significantly alter its process for clearing most medical devices for marketing in the United States. As part of the change, the agency intends to reduce the emphasis it has previously placed on utilizing comparisons with older medical devices and products. The FDA’s dependence on these…
Even a relatively minor injury to the back or spine can induce significant discomfort, pain, and even disability. If the negligence or recklessness of another party in the Los Angeles area has led to the injury of your spine, you may have a solid case to recover damages in a personal injury lawsuit. The spine…
Schools in Los Angeles not only have the obligation to teach our children, but also provide them with a reasonable amount of protection from danger that pose risks for injury. However, when schools fail to act reasonably in this regard, the school district, school itself, or personnel working for the school may be legally liable…
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) is now the target of two independent lawsuits from two separate groups of plaintiffs, claiming they are victims of sexual abuse by members of the Catholic clergy. One of the filings is a class-action suit that names the Vatican as a defendant. The class-action lawsuit alleges that the…
In many cases, it’s relatively easy to figure out who caused a car accident. For example, if you are driving a car through a green light at an intersection and within the legal speed limit, and another driver runs the red light and crashes into side of your vehicle, all the liability will likely rest…
Backup accidents (also called back over accidents) occur when a commercial truck hits a person, or hits another vehicle or stationary object, while the truck is in reverse. Large commercial trucks have huge blind spots, which makes the task of backing up dangerous, unless the driver has the assistance of a spotter or a rear-view…
There are many different types of traumatic brain injuries (also known as a “TBI”). A TBI can range in severity from a concussion to an injury which leaves a person in a persistent vegetative state. If you suffered a traumatic brain injury in a car accident caused by someone else’s negligence, or in any other…
You may have had the experience of driving down the highway and seeing a large piece of debris, such as a tire or a piece of furniture, in the road. Car crashes caused by road debris can cause serious injuries and death, and the larger tragedy is that they are preventable. The AAA Foundation for…
Taylor & Ring has filed a lawsuit against the Boys & Girls Club of Sonoma Valley on behalf of victims of Paul “Dwayne” Kilgore, alleging that the Club covered up years of reports of sexual abuse. The lawsuit also names Kilgore, the Petaluma Boys & Girls Club, and the national Boys & Girls Club of…
Sexual harassment in the workplace can be frustrating and frightening. The idea that someone in a position of power and authority over you is making unwanted sexual advances can make you fearful about your future. You are sure that this behavior is illegal. You decide to file a complaint with Human Resources, but you then…
In California, there were 1,059 alcohol-impaired driving fatalities in 2016, which represented about 29.2% of total traffic fatalities that year. Most of the time, when we talk about drunk driving fatalities, we are talking about innocent people who are hit, and killed, by drunk drivers. Sometimes, however, it is the drunk driver who dies. If…
Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs) function as “black boxes” for commercial trucks. The ELD is connected to the truck’s engine, and it monitors when the truck is moving and when it has stopped. ELDs replace paper logs for those interstate truck drivers who are required to keep record of duty status (RODS) logs. The National Transportation…
Sexual abuse survivors can often be hesitant to come forward and report the abuse they have suffered, and there are countless reasons for this. The decision to report sexual abuse or assault is a personal one. When survivors do choose to come forward, though, they can affect great changes. As attorneys who work for survivors,…
You’ve likely heard the piercing “beep beep beep” and seen flashing lights as a semi-truck has shifted into reverse to back into a loading dock or parking lot. You may also have noticed how difficult and dangerous it looks when a truck driver performs this maneuver, with limited visibility and space. Sometimes, these trucks may…
In what’s being hailed as an important step forward in mitigating birth injuries, researchers at University College London have developed a device that uses light to detect brain damage in infants. The team is now planning a clinical trial of the device, called NIRS. NIRS – broadband near-infrared spectroscopy – is a spectroscopic method that…
Taylor & Ring is proud to announce that partner and firm co-founder Dave Ring has been named to The National Law Journal’s list of Elite Boutique Trailblazers. The Elite Boutique Trailblazers list was created in 2017 to honor those “who have made a remarkable difference in their specialized area of law,” and “have shown a…
We are proud to announce that Taylor & Ring has been selected for inclusion once again on the list of “Best Law Firms,” presented by Best Lawyers® and U.S. News & World Report. The Firm earned a Tier 1 ranking for their working in Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs, and a Tier 2 ranking for…
The California Highway Patrol (CHP) recently released its official guidelines on lane-splitting. Lane-splitting was legalized in California in 2017, but formal guidelines had not been issued until now. These safety tips are for both motorcyclists and other drivers on the road. What’s notable about these guidelines is that they clearly state that it is illegal…
A new study shows that victims of sexual assault and harassment deal with mental and physical effects long after the trauma occurred. Researchers found that middle-aged women with a history of harassment and assault in their younger years suffer from hypertension, anxiety, depression, and poor sleep. The study, “Association of Sexual Harassment and Sexual Assault…
Navistar, Inc. recently announced two separate recalls involving more than 28,000 International trucks. Additionally, Continental Tire announced a recall of approximately 2,000 commercial truck tires. These announcements are according to documents from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The trucking company is recalling 26,288 of their heavy-duty trucks with specific Cummins engines – ISX15…
In September of 2016, the California state legislature voted to eliminate the statute of limitations from criminal rape cases. The lifting of these restrictions means that charges can be brought regardless of the amount of time that has passed since the alleged rape. While this change is widely seen as a win for victim’s rights…
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You may have noticed lately that Los Angeles is awash in electric scooters. Companies like Bird, Lime, Jump, and Spin have made their way into our area with dockless e-scooters, a transit alternative that lets people use a phone app to find, unlock, and use scooters, then drop them off wherever they’re allowed – no…
A long-awaited report on sexual assaults in the military was finally been released on September 21, and its biggest takeaway is that women and men are more likely to be assaulted on a United States Navy ship than any other type of military installation. Further, the ship most likely to be involved is an aircraft…
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General Motors recently notified the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) of a recall on their 2014-2016 Cadillac CTS sedans due to a malfunctioning seat heater that could potentially cause a fire. An NHTSA release from September 7 stated that damaged seat heating elements can put out excessive heat. Seat heaters in the affected vehicles…
Nothing can compare to the devastation of losing a loved one unexpectedly. In addition, the pain and sorrow involved may be enhanced when you’re loved one is lost on account of another party’s negligent actions. Such negligence can be perpetrated by a single individual, medical professional, manufacturer, company, organization, or government entity. Regardless of the…
The California State Capitol was the focus of a flurry of bombshell allegations last fall even in the midst of national reports of sexual abuse scandals beginning to rock the popular culture, one by one. In October, nearly 150 women with unified voice signed a letter directing attention to and condemning pervasive “dehumanizing behavior by…
We’re quick to blame the tech of self-driving vehicles whenever there is a crash. As it turns out, the major hindrance to the proliferation of safe self-driving vehicles on the road may actually be us. A new report detailed in Axios indicates that of the 88 accidents involving autonomous vehicles (AVs) in California since 2014,…
A young woman in California is suing her alleged sexual assault perpetrator as well as two UCLA fraternities concerning policies she asserts are insufficient to protect future and alleged victims. The woman claims that a man perpetrated sexual assault against her at an August 2016 party. Identified as Jane Doe in the court filing, the…
The U.S. Centers for Disease Controlling and Prevention (CDC) recently issued a series of criteria for the effective diagnosis and treatment of children who’ve suffered concussions. Derived from a quarter of a century of research, the guidelines cover the management of child concussions and the types of procedures that are likely to produce the greatest…
The revelations recently revealed in a Pennsylvania Grand Jury Report detailing a pervasive pattern of child sex abuse within six of eight Catholic Church diocese in the Commonwealth has brought shock and sorrow to not only those affected but observers across the nation as well. The Report, consisting of more than 800 pages, details the…
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a warning that a number of commonly used diabetes medications following under the sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors category have been correlated with a rare yet very dangerous flesh eating genital infection. The FDA first approved SGLT2 inhibitors in 2013. They were developed to help reduce blood sugar…
Taylor & Ring is proud to announce that partner Dave Ring was recognized by the Los Angeles and San Francisco Daily Journal as a Top Plaintiff Lawyer for 2018. This list honors 30 top plaintiffs’ attorneys who devote 100 percent of their practice to that specialty. The Daily Journal included an article, which looked at…
Big rig rollovers can produce a range of consequences – from simply shutting down traffic hours, to serious injuries, to even death. Case in point: A recent crash in California involving a cement truck forced the closure of southbound 110 Freeway in Carson on July 20. The accident took place near the Carson Street exit…
An investigation conducted by WESH 2 News concerning vehicle fires has resulted in the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) revealing some 400 complaints of fires in vehicles manufactured by Kia and its sister company, Hyundai. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, it has hundreds of fire incident reports connected with multiple Kia vehicles…
NFL linebacker Joshua Perry, at only 24 years old, has announced his retirement before the start of the 2018-2019 NFL Season. The reason is his most recent diagnosis of a sixth concussion and the concerns it has generated regarding his continued mental health as a consequence. Perry issued a statement on his Twitter account: “Football…
The state of California has passed, and the Governor has signed into law, new legislation that protects the confidentiality communications between sexual assault victims and their counselors on college campuses in the state. California Assemblywoman Sabrina Cervantes introduced the bill – AB 1896 – back in January. Now law as of July 18, it provides…
The most recent fires in California are taking an increase toll on the state and its population. After a year and a half of significant losses due to ravaging wildfires in various parts of the state, California homeowners living in the vicinity of these blazes now face the prospect of losing their insurance. Throughout 2017,…
The dog days of summer are dangerous times of the year for drivers and passengers on the roadways. According to an Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) study evaluating data from 2012-2016, August 2 is the day in which more people die on the roadways, on average, than any other day of the year. This…
USC’s Annenberg School of Journalism has announced its temporary removal of the name of Julie Chen/Leslie Moonves and CBS Media Center as a result of a current investigation into allegations of sexual harassment against Mr. Moonves, which he denies. The allegations cover the time period of his tenure at the media giant. Concerning the situation,…
Taylor & Ring is proud to announce that partners Dave Ring and Louanne Masry have secured a $45.4 million jury verdict against the County of Los Angeles and its Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) on behalf of our client’s daughter, a minor who had been repeatedly subjected to sexual abuse for years. Despite…
Taylor & Ring is pleased to announce that all four partners from our firm have been recognized in the 25th edition of the Best Lawyers in America®. Attorneys are recognized in the Best Lawyers in America publication and online through a peer review process, which is based on the consensus opinion of the leading lawyers…
Any accident that causes injury is serious, but some are so serious that they cause permanent scars or disfigurement. This can include physical injury like amputations or burns, but can also include psychological or emotional scarring—like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Damage from physical scars or disfigurement can be treated, or at least minimized, with things…
Electrical shock injuries, whether they happen at home or at work, often cause extreme trauma or even death. The aftermath of these injuries can be overwhelming, both physically and emotionally, with staggering medical expenses. And when your accident was due to someone else’s negligence, the healing process can be even more difficult with the added…
The loss of a limb is an extremely traumatic injury, with a long recovery time, decreased functioning, a lifetime of complications, and emotional stress. When you suffer an accident that necessitates an amputation, your life may be altered forever in many ways. However, you’re not alone. According to the National Limb Loss Information Center, nearly…
Capital Brands, manufacturer of the high-speed blender the NutriBullet, is facing a lawsuit that alleges they failed to warn consumers that the appliance has the potential to explode without warning. The suit claims these explosions can cause severe injuries to NutriBullet users, including skin and facial injuries, severe burns, and even broken bones. The class…
National Public Radio (NPR) released an investigation early this year regarding people with intellectual disabilities and sexual assault. The numbers were, unfortunately, appalling. As the United States deals with an ugly period in history with the explosion of #MeToo, our most vulnerable population seems to be left behind. NPR, with assistance from the Justice Department,…
A former Royal Caribbean International employee who suffered a catastrophic injury while working on board the ship in 2008 has been awarded $20.3 million for her injuries. While working at her job as a marketing manager on the cruise line’s Voyager of the Seas, Lisa Spearman experienced severe injuries to her hand during a fire…
In late June, the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York announced that Cardinal Theodore E. McCarrick was accused of sexually abusing a teen 45 years ago while serving as a priest in New York. After a forensic investigation and review of those results by the Archdiocesan Review Board, the accusations were found credible. The Vatican…
A child recently suffered minor injuries after a surge of gusty winds blew a bouncy house from his Adelanto, California home onto a nearby highway. The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department reported that high winds blew the bounce house—with the 9-year-old boy inside—onto the roadway a few hundred feet away. According to the Los Angeles…
Five years after the accident, an injured woman and the family of a deceased woman recently came to a settlement with the City of Los Angeles, ending lawsuits accusing the city of failing to properly maintain parts of the Venice Beach Boulevard, allowing a driver to get around barriers and plow into pedestrians. The Los…
The University of Southern California is currently facing an increasing number of lawsuits over allegations that Dr. George Tyndall, a former campus gynecologist, sexually abused his patients over a period of nearly 30 years. Taylor & Ring is currently representing former patients of Tyndall’s in their cases against him and against USC. If you were…
Technology and traffic apps can be a lifesaver for those of us trying to find our way around unfamiliar areas, or when we want to find a shortcut if we’re stuck in traffic during our daily commute. We might find ourselves in neighborhoods we never knew about before, on side streets that help us escape…
Summertime in California is cause for celebration—holidays like Fourth of July, outdoor barbecues, community events, and more. You might plan your evening around watching or setting off fireworks. Fireworks can be exciting and fun to watch, but they also cause injuries. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), hundreds of people go to the…
Waymo has just announced a new partnership with Jaguar to build and outfit up to 20,000 I-PACE fully electric cars over the next two years for their self-driving ride-hail service. They plan to put the fleet into production by 2020 and have prototypes on the road in Arizona by the end of 2018. This will…
Sunroofs are a popular feature in consumer cars and trucks, especially here in Los Angeles, where the nice weather can be enjoyed just about year-round. However, a February report in the New York Times and some recent accidents have brought safety concerns to light—particularly in rollover crashes and when the sunroof is closed. Sunroofs are…
Taylor & Ring is proud to announce that associates Brendan P. Gilbert and Natalie Weatherford have both been named to the 2018 Southern California Super Lawyers Rising Stars list! Both Brendan and Natalie were selected for inclusion for their work in the area of Plaintiff Personal Injury. This is Brendan’s third consecutive year, and Natalie’s…
A group of farmworkers staged a five-day hunger strike in March to protest the fast food chain Wendy’s. The protesters claim the restaurant cut its ties to Florida farms in favor of Mexican labor in order to sidestep worker protections against sexual misconduct, and are calling upon Wendy’s to meet industry standards in the time…
Although previous research has already shown a link between traumatic brain injury (TBI) and short-term dementia, a recent study in the PLOS Medicine Journal reported that there is a strong association between serious brain injuries and long-term dementia—and that link can last for decades. More about the study For their study, researchers from Umeå University…
Taylor & Ring has always fought on behalf of sexual assault and abuse victims in California. That is why we are proud to announce that John Taylor and Natalie Weatherford recently secured a $25.3 million jury verdict on behalf of our client, Stephen W., against the Westerly School of Long Beach and Scott Durzo, who…
You’ve been waiting for this day for months, preparing and nesting. The big day is finally here—you’re going to have your baby. And, as the saying goes, you just want your baby to be healthy. For most of us, that’s exactly what happens. But for a small percentage of mothers, things don’t go as planned,…
Traumatic brain injuries, or TBIs, are certainly harmful in the short term, but they can also have significant long-term effects. A mild brain injury, like a concussion, might resolve within a few weeks, but symptoms from a serious TBI could last longer, or even a lifetime. Everyone is different, and their brains all react differently.…
Attorneys John C. Taylor and Louanne Masry of Taylor & Ring, a Los Angeles-based trial law firm, filed a lawsuit for the physical abuse, battery and neglect of a minor male (D.P.) with developmental disabilities while he was a resident at Serenity Home, a children’s residential group home in Garden Grove, California. Over the course…
A water polo coach in Orange County is facing dozens of charges after authorities allege he sexually abused underage female players. Bahram Hojreh, 42, reportedly abused the athletes during one-on-one coaching sessions at the International Water Polo Club in Los Alamitos, California, between September 2014 and January 2018. At an arraignment hearing on April 4,…
As of right now, at least 27 women have filed lawsuits against the University of Southern California and former gynecologist George Tyndall, for sexual misconduct, abuse and harassment. Taylor & Ring is proud to represent one of these brave women, whom we’ll call “J.C.,” in her quest for justice. We believe this is the just…
There could be dozens of lawsuits filed against USC, alleging the sexual abuse of former doctor George Tyndall. Dave Ring, partner at Taylor & Ring, filed the second lawsuit on behalf of his client “J.C.” You can read more about the case here. Click Here To Read Full Article
The number of women suing USC is growing. The lawsuits allege that former doctor George Tyndall sexually abused and harassed them while they were under his care. Dave Ring, partner at Taylor & Ring, told the LA Times that his client decided to come forward because “She realizes now some of the things he did…
As of now, six women have filed lawsuits against USC, alleging that the school’s former doctor, George Tyndall, sexually abused them. Louanne Masry, partner at Taylor & Ring, told the New York Times “There will be other women coming forward. We’re getting lots of calls in. This is only going to grow.” The firm is…
Many of us have been snapped at or even bitten by a dog at some point in our lives. Even a minor nip can be painful and traumatic. But when an attack involves a large, powerful dog and the victim is a small child, the aftermath is tragic and life-changing. Young victims of dog attacks…
In 1989, the University of Southern California hired a doctor named George Tyndall for their Engemann Student Health Center. Over the years, rumors and stories started to swirl about Tyndall’s behavior – a suggestive or lewd comment here, an inappropriate touch there. In the 1990s, his coworkers even alleged that he was taking photographs of…
Schools are supposed to be safe. Teachers are supposed to protect kids from harm. For many students throughout California, however, it is some teachers who are doing the most harm. Voice of San Diego’s recent piece on predatory teachers takes an in-depth look at how school districts throughout California continue to put the safety and…
Protecting Young Victims from Sexual Abuse and Safe Sport Authorization Act, also called the Safe Sport Act, was made law on February 14, 2018. The bill was introduced in the Senate in March 2017 by sponsor Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), and makes members of amateur sports organizations—including Olympic sports—legally responsible to report sexual abuse and…
John Taylor and Dave Ring have both been named to the 2018 Lawdragon 500 Leading Lawyers list! The Lawdragon 500 Leading Lawyers in America is “the most elite guide in the legal profession. The Lawdragon 500 leading lawyers are selected from a combination of editorial research by Lawdragon staff; submissions from law firms; and an…
CNN Says a Client Represented by Dave Ring of Taylor & Ring Will Be Weinstein’s “Toughest Fight” Yet
To date, more than 80 women have accused former movie mogul Harvey Weinstein of sexual misconduct. Those accusations run the gamut, from inappropriate comments to sexual assault and rape. One of the accusers, “Jenny,” is represented by our firm’s partner Dave Ring. She has not told her story to media outlets for the last six…
Calling for a change to court rules on public records, California Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye said on April 10, 2018 that she wants state courts to disclose the names of all judges who enter into settlement agreements that resolve sexual harassment or sexual discrimination complaints. According to a statement, Justice Cantil-Sakauye has created a five-member…
A recent expose by Jalopnik has called the Goodyear G159 RV tire “the worst tire made in history,” and tied it to hundreds of crashes and several deaths. Evidence disclosed for the first time in an Arizona court on April 4, 2018 that the tire is linked to more than 700 complaints—including nine deaths, hundreds…
In January of last year, a woman got into what she believed was an Uber outside a Hollywood nightclub. Instead, her evening turned into a nightmare as she had unwittingly entered the vehicle of a rapist posing as an Uber driver, who took her to a secluded area and assaulted her. Nicolas Morales, 44, was…
The Harvard Business School Association of Orange County (HBSAOC) plans to hold a forum on fighting sexual predators on Thursday, May 10, 2018, entitled “Stop Sexual Predators—Force Change, Right Now.” The forum, focused on practical solutions and actionable change, will feature a multi-speaker panel with all proceeds going toward rape crisis centers and support for…
We’re dedicating today’s blog to our former client—and super mom—turned victim advocate Christy Heiskala. Words can’t express how proud we are of her for all the work she’s doing to prevent child abuse and molestation. But we’ll try. After an incident in 2007 when Christy’s daughter came home from elementary school and told her mother…
No matter how well you take care of your vehicle, you can’t predict when car trouble might happen. Breakdowns or flat tires can happen at any time, as can car accidents. And, here in California, there’s always the possibility of Mother Nature throwing us a curveball with the threat of wildfires, mudslides, or earthquakes. Our…
The lawyers for a family that is suing the Lucia Mar Unified School District (LMUSD) over the alleged abuse of their special needs child released new details and video related to the case on Tuesday. The 10-year-old girl’s guardians say a school bus driver molested her several times over a four-month period while driving her…
Video released Tuesday appears to show a Lucia Mar Unified School District bus driver molesting a 9-year-old girl while on his route, lawyers for the girl’s family says. The security camera footage was shown during a press conference introducing a lawsuit being brought by the girl’s guardians against the school district and the County Department of Education.…
According to a lawsuit filed on April 6, 2018, a 9-year-old girl was molested by her bus driver for months, even after her guardians alerted the Lucia Mar school system to investigate—which they did and allowed the driver to continue working. The girl’s family is suing the Lucia Mar Unified School District (LMUSD), the San…
Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos made headlines after some controversial comments on a March 11 appearance on CBS’s “60 Minutes.” During a discussion about her department’s changes on how colleges should report sexual assaults, she appeared to suggest that the number of false accusations was equal to the number of actual, real assaults. When host…
Last year, 16-year-old Jesse Esphorts was a rising star on his high-school baseball team. On March 7th, he hit the game-winning home run for his team. A few hours after that run, he was killed in a three-car collision in Torrance. His father, Jesse Esphorts Sr. 47, was driving them home after dinner at his…
Burns are among the most painful and disfiguring injuries a person can suffer. They are also difficult and expensive to treat. A victim of a serious burn injury should unfortunately anticipate a long and tough road to recovery. Fortunately, however, with current medical advances, there is more hope than there used to be. New methods…
With more than 10,000 rape kits sitting untested in California, lawmakers have introduced a bill that will address the backlog and ensure future kits will be tested in a timely manner. Senator Connie M. Leyva (D-Chino) introduced legislation in late February that would require law enforcement and forensic labs to more promptly test rape kit…
Recent attention and media coverage relating to the #MeToo movement has lawmakers drafting new legislation to protect victims against sexual harassments in the workplace. A bipartisan bill aims to end forced arbitration used to resolve workplace disputes regarding sexual harassment. The “Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Harassment Act of 2017,” although introduced last December, is…
Excluding issues involving employer harassment, discrimination, retaliation, or other unlawful conduct, California operates as an “at will” state. This means that under California law, unless you have a contract with your employer, the employer can terminate you at any time, without warning, and for any reason. This also gives you the right to leave your…
Taylor & Ring is proud to announce that both John Taylor and Dave Ring, founding partners of Taylor & Ring, have been become Fellows of the American College of Trial Lawyers. The ACTL was founded in 1950, and is comprised of experienced litigators from the U.S. and Canada. Membership in the ACTL is limited only…
Those who love to ride motorcycles will tell you about the thrill and exhilaration they feel when hitting the open road, especially when the weather is beautiful. Motorcycle owners are among the most enthusiastic motorists on the road in terms of the passion they have for their vehicles. However, motorcycle accidents are something that riders…
Louanne Masry, partner at Taylor & Ring, will be speaking at the Association of Southern California Defense Counsel (ASCDC) on March 22, 2018. The program, entitled “Power Women – Lessons Learned and How to Get There in the Legal Profession,” will discuss the challenges that female lawyers face in today’s ever-changing world. Ms. Masry will…
Michigan State University has recently had the eyes of many in the nation focused upon the trial and sentencing of Larry Nassar, team doctor at the University and also with USA gymnastics. On Feb. 5 Nassar was sentenced to 40 to 175 years in prison after more than 160 girls and women gave victim impact…
Most drivers understand the concept that speeding-while-driving has the potential to reap disastrous results. Although speeding and reckless driving may only result in receiving a traffic violation ticket, it can also end much more tragically, with life-changing injuries and even death as the consequence. The recent tragedy of a famous couple In the early morning…
Children, from the moment they are born, require loads of attention, preparation, and often special equipment to keep them healthy and safe. This is especially true when they are small, in the baby and toddler stages. Unfortunately, defective and dangerous products make their debut onto the market on a routine basis and often pose serious…
There have been four Amtrak crashes in the last three months. Pressure continues to mount on lawmakers to accelerate the implementation of a GPS technology-based railroad safety system referred to as positive train control (PTC). In each one of the crashes, installing and utilizing the software could have limited the impact and injuries, or eliminated…
The parents of 13 brothers and sisters with ages ranging from 2 to 29 have been arrested and charged with abuse, torture, and other criminal offenses against their children. Conviction on the charges will likely keep them in prison for the rest of their lives. The children were found malnourished in their California, four-bedroom, Spanish-style…
In a story that might make you say, “Only in California,” police were recently called to the scene of a car accident where a sedan had driven into the side of a building. On the second floor. The car was actually embedded into the side of the building, like something out of an action movie.…
With the death of Cardinal Bernard Law on December 20 in Rome at age 86, many survivors of the clergy sex abuse scandal dealt with newly opened wounds and fresh memories of their emotional trauma. As head of the Archdiocese of Boston for 19 years, Cardinal Law was forced to resign in 2002 after it…
Car accidents can be very nerve-racking events. You do everything you can to avoid them, but sometimes they still occur. But the more prepared you are, the less hectic the entire experience can be. Because accidents happen so quickly, it’s easy to forget the right steps to take. However, it’s important to be prepared—for your…
One of the most reprehensible and horrific crimes is the sexual exploitation of children. Sexual assault is any kind of non-consensual sexual activity, and it can range from subtle to violent. Types of sexual crimes against children can include rape, sexual threats and intimidation, incest, assault by partners, human trafficking, harassment, street harassment and other…
In early January, an 18-wheeler seemingly fell from the sky onto the northbound 5 freeway. Well, it wasn’t exactly the sky, but an overpass. Around 10:00am on January 9, a truck fell off the overpass at the 118 and 5 interchange in Mission Hills. The driver was taken to a hospital with serious injuries, but…
Taylor & Ring is proud to announce that a number of our attorneys have been named to the Southern California Super Lawyers List of 2018. Partners John C. Taylor, David M. Ring, and Robert R. Clayton, as well as associates Louanne Masry and James W. Lewis, have all been selected for inclusion. John Taylor and…
The USA gymnastics team won medals and our hearts during the 2012 and 2016 Summer Olympics, with big personalities like Aly Raisman, McKayla Maroney, and Gabby Douglas. Unfortunately, they—among dozens and dozens of others—are back in the news with the sentencing of team doctor Larry Nassar during his sentencing hearing January 16. Nassar, a 54-year-old…
As the largest school district in California, the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) consists of hundreds of thousands of students, as well as numerous education professionals who are dedicated to serving the educational needs of children and young people. However, despite these credentials, the last several years have left the LAUSD reeling from multiple…
California’s congested highways unfortunately are not only the scene of long traffic backups and delays, but also multiple vehicle collisions. A specific example recently involved a multi vehicle car accident on the southbound 405 Freeway near Westminster. The accident forced the closure of all lanes on the freeway. More sobering was the overturning of a…
Conversations about the pervasiveness of sexual harassment and abuse are taking place everywhere. The ongoing saga of well-known individuals encountering the shame of accusations of sexual misconduct continues to lead the headlines. The recent increase in allegations of sexual harassment and assault has led some confessed offenders to seek help to address their despicable behavior.…
Lawdragon is a renowned legal media company, which published in-depth reports on legal issues affecting the country. It also releases the annual 500 Leading Lawyers in America magazine, “the most elite distinction in the profession, covering the best of the best in all practice areas.” We are proud to announce that partner David M. Ring…
The high-speed Amtrak train that recently suffered derailment near DuPont resulted in the death of three people and sent dozens injured the hospital. The train was moving at a speed 50 mph faster than the design speed around a curve at the point of its derailment. Although excessive speed appears to have precipitated the accident,…
The Thomas Fire is on course to become the largest wildfire in California’s history. As of right now, it’s burned through 272,000 acres, destroyed more than 1000 structures, and killed two people, including a fire fighter. It just one of 250 different wildfires that have burned up 8900 structures and killed 43 people in total…
The media attention of the #MeToo movement has largely been focused on people with a platform: film stars, CEOs, musicians, politicians, and so forth. But the increased visibility has helped employees and workers in less prominent positions, too. A recent New York Times article shed light on a history of harassment and assault at the…
Due to their design, motorcycles are inherently more dangerous than cars. Motorcycle drivers are more exposed to the road and other vehicles, are more likely to be thrown from their vehicle, and are generally less visible than cars and trucks. Of course, every vehicle should obey all traffic laws, and understand the proper way to…
Someone in America is sexually assaulted every 98 seconds. Sexual assault is any kind of non-mutual sexual activity, from subtle to violent. This can include rape, sexual threats and intimidation, incest, sexual assault by partners, child sexual abuse, sexual trafficking, sexual harassment, street harassment and other forms of unwelcome, coerced or non-consensual activity [CALCASA]. Assault…
Earlier this month, a woman was killed and at least one person was injured when a truck rear-ended a car, pushing it into a city bus. According to witnesses, the woman was stopped at a red light and the truck came up behind her but failed to stop, pushing her car into the intersection, where…
On November 14, two anonymous plaintiffs filed a class-action lawsuit against Uber in the Northern District of California. The suit, filed on behalf of all women who have suffered sexual assault at the hands of Uber drivers, alleges the company’s lax driver screening endangers women on a daily basis. According to the lawsuit, “Since Uber…
Amusement park enthusiasts are always looking for more and more excitement, and parks are happy to oblige. Every year another park has a new ride promising more thrills, more height, more drops, more scares, and more adventure than the last. They call these rides “thrill rides,” and for good reason—these rides give a sense of…
In the wake of a flood of allegations against current and former lawmakers in the California state Senate, sexual harassment complaints will now go to an outside legal team, instead of being handled internally. This means that senators can no longer review grievances against themselves or their co-workers, and all investigations will go outside the…
At one point, self-driving cars seemed like something out of a futuristic movie. But it is time to put on your seat belt, because the future is here. Self-driving cars hold much promise in reducing accidents and traffic fatalities—autonomous cars do not drive under the influence, recklessly, or get distracted. They can help keep drunk…
California state Senator Connie Leyva is trying to put an end to secret sexual assault and harassment settlements. Currently, if a lawsuit is settled out of court, the terms can include signing a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) that effectively silences the victim from ever discussing the case. Senator Leyva wants to put an end to this…
Often, it is not clear how an accident happened. Since the accident victim has the burden to prove someone is liable, an experienced Los Angeles car accident lawyer will occasionally use traffic reconstruction professionals to help analyze how the accident occurred, and who should be held responsible. Accident reconstruction advice may be needed if local…
Doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals hold a position of trust with their patients. Patients who need medical help are already in distress. Patients have the right to expect that all medical professionals will treat them with the highest degree of respect, and that they will not do or say anything to take sexual advantage…
Personal injury victims who suffer burns, scarring, or disfigurement often need reconstructive surgery so they can look and feel better. Some reconstructive surgeries are functional – they’re needed to allow the victim to eat, see, feel, walk and perform everyday daily tasks. Other reconstructive surgeries are cosmetic. They’re needed so the victim can feel better…
Sexual abuse of children is extremely hard to manage. Children often don’t understand what happened, have less ability to communicate their anger and explain what happened than adults, and often have long-term adverse effects from any type of sexual abuse. According to the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 2004, early detection of sexual…
Many truck companies push their drivers to meet unrealistic schedules. Often, drivers think they will be rewarded if they get to a truck delivery site ahead of time. Unfortunately, to achieve these hurried timeframes, many drivers fail to get the necessary sleep they need. Tired drivers are dangerous drivers. Drivers who are fatigued don’t have…
Many employees and aspiring employees are sexually harassed. Sexual harassment includes requests for sexual favors, sexual advances that are unwelcome, and physical and verbal harassment that is sexually related. Offensive remarks can be sexual harassment. Generally, sexual harassment is illegal when the victim fails to get a job, is fired, or a hostile work environment…
On October 11, 2017, KTLA 5 reported that a 37-year old woman traveling on Bloomfield Street crossed into the opposite lane, striking four pedestrians who were crossing an intersection. The accident happened near Ball Road in the middle of the afternoon. The police do not suspect that alcohol or drugs were involved in the incident.…
#MeToo is a social media hashtag that emerged to help victims of sexual harassment and abuse to know that they are not alone. It was also started to let both women and men know the seriousness and the scope of the problem which has dominated many recent news cycles because celebrities and people in power…
While it can be challenging to find recent, reliable statistics about the number of drug-assisted sexual assaults, the prevalence of social awareness, the proliferation of new club drugs that double as date-rape drugs, and the lack of widely available drug detection devices have all contributed to a recent rise in date rapes facilitated by chemicals.…
Being in a car crash can create an unreliable sense of time passing – either slowing down or speeding up – particularly if you have sustained an injury of any kind or seen someone else be injured. Witness statements can help clarify not only to the police, but also to those involved in an accident,…
A case that hit the news in June of 2017 – the arrest of Uber independently-contracted driver Alaric Spence– expanded as the LAPD put out a request in late September for additional alleged victims to come forward. The case moving forward involves a passenger falling asleep in Spence’s vehicle, only to awaken hours later in…
Dave Ring of Taylor & Ring is representing the victim who was raped by Harvey Weinstein in Los Angeles in 2013. LAPD has taken a criminal report. The investigation is ongoing. This will be a developing story. The victim and Mr. Ring are fully cooperating with the LAPD. The LA Times story follows: Click Here for the…
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says that in 2014, “Motorcyclist deaths occurred 27 times more frequently than fatalities in other vehicles.” The injury rate was 6 times any other roadway motorist. In over 40 years of data tracking and monitoring, the results have not changed significantly: motorcyclists are at risk no matter how experienced…
Despite swelling numbers from an active ministry abroad, child sex abuse scandals within the US, UK, and Australia have tarnished the religious institutions’ reputations. Allegations about priests abusing children have become a main staple of comedy, but the real results are more horrific: destruction of lives, desecration of bright futures, and a significant decrease in…
Hollywood makes it seem like being trapped in a burning car is a regular occurrence, with even the most superficial auto accident leading to a roaring inferno. A recent police chase in South Los Angeles resulted in a car exploding while the suspect fled into the comparative safety of police custody. The car fire closed…
For modern children, who have a myriad of afterschool activities and likely two working parents, the adult they spend the most time in a day with is probably a teacher. It is reprehensible when any adult betrays the responsibility owed to protect a child, but particularly so when the infringement is abuse of a sexual…
More than 60,000 children live in foster care throughout the state of California. According to the Alliance for Children’s Rights, about 38% of these children reside in Los Angeles County. While most foster parents provide supporting and loving households for children in need, there are still far too many instances of sexual abuse within the…
Despite decades of warnings and prohibitions, road rage continues to be a serious problem on the roadways of Southern California. It only takes one individual’s temper tantrum to set off a chain of events that can end in serious injury, and even death. When road rage occurs, innocent victims may have grounds for a monetary…
It has been quite a few years since the media was filled with daily stories of childhood sexual abuse allegations against priests within the Catholic Church. However, a recent article in USA Today demonstrates that this is an ongoing issue that continues to impact the church and the alleged victims. USA Today reporters recently uncovered…
Every day, garbage trucks drive our roadways and neighborhood streets to provide a valuable service to the community. However, when these large and heavy vehicles are not operated in a safe manner, they can cause serious accidents that leave innocent victims with severe injuries. Recent Los Angeles garbage truck crashes demonstrate the dangers of these…
In response to numerous allegations about a culture of sexual harassment within Silicon Valley, a California senator has introduced a state bill that will offer female entrepreneurs some protections from the unwanted advancements of venture capitalists. Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson from Santa Barbara recently introduced a bill that would explicitly prohibit sexual harassment by venture capitalists as an amendment…
As reported by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in 2015 alone, more than 3,400 people died in distracted driver-related traffic crashes, while more than 390,000 were injured. The agency estimates that approximately 660,000 drivers use their cell phone while traveling the roadways during any given daylight hour. Though it is no secret that…
The effects of childhood sexual abuse go far beyond the physical pain. These young victims are also forced to deal with years of psychological and emotional distress as they work to process the trauma and move forward in their lives. Recognizing these challenges, California State Senator Henry Stern has introduced a bill that will make…
California lawmakers are reportedly seeking to expand the state’s legal definition of sexual assault by changing the felony sexual battery statute to include the act of “stealthing.” Most people have never heard of this behavior, but it a serious concern, leaving men and women in fear of unwanted pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Stealthing…
Every weekend, thousands of people across Southern California put on their nicest outfits and go out to popular hotspots, such as Create and The Conga Room. Unfortunately, as recent events demonstrate, an innocent night at the club can quickly turn dangerous and deadly. Nightclub owners and operators have a duty to maintain their businesses in…
Allegations of sexual harassment in Silicon Valley have made headlines in the news lately. However, a report by Bloomberg Technology asserts that accusations of a sexual harassment problem goes back decades. Speaking about a culture that is now being referred to as the “open secret” of Silicon Valley, numerous women have come forward with stories…
It is that time of year when college students head back to campus for a brand new semester of studying, socializing, and partying. Sadly, many of these college students will also experience the physical and psychological pain of being sexually assaulted. Even more disturbing is the fact that large numbers of these incidents will go…
Los Angeles County is notorious for its high-speed police chases. These dangerous pursuits even draw nationally televised audiences, as people across the country tune in to watch the action unfold. But these chases are not scenes from some action movie. They are real-life events that put people and property in serious danger. The LA Times…
Plagued with allegations and findings of sexual assault in their classrooms, the public school districts of California are gearing up to provide students with education about sexual harassment and assault. New additions to the state’s sexual health education statute require schools to provide the educational course to 7th- through 12th-grade students. Though the program was…
Taylor & Ring always fights for justice for our clients. That is why we are proud to announce that the Desert Sands Unified School District has agreed to settle a lawsuit against them, on behalf of a former student who was molested while she attended school there, for $1.5 million. The Desert Sun quoted her…
The entire country was shocked recently as video surfaced of a common carnival amusement ride crashing to the ground, killing one victim and injuring seven more. When this type of tragedy happens, it begs the question about the safety of carnival rides and accountability when they malfunction and cause injury. The incident occurred at the…
The United States Department of Justice estimates that hundreds of thousands of rape kits sit untested in law enforcement laboratories across the nation. Finances contribute heavily to this backlog, with each kit costing about $1000 to test. Though California lawmakers have made several attempts to jumpstart the testing process, efforts have thus far proved inadequate…
When gathering information about an automobile accident claim, insurance agents ask numerous questions, including inquiries about the claimant’s medical history. They do this to determine whether any medical conditions were present prior to the accident. Insurance companies often use preexisting conditions as a defense to accident injury claims, which can be a serious point of…
Everyone should have the right to a peaceful, supportive workplace. Unfortunately, that is not always the case. In the hectic hustle and bustle of Los Angeles, thousands of employees suffer through unpleasant work environments. You may have an abusive boss or suffer the sexual harassment of a co-worker. But how do you know if your…
Taylor & Ring would like to congratulate Natalie Weatherford and Brendan P. Gilbert for being named to the 2017 Southern California Rising Stars list. This is Natalie’s fourth consecutive year making the list, and Brendan’s first year. In order to be considered for Rising Stars, an attorney must be no older than 40, or have…
Facing billions of dollars in debt, automobile airbag manufacturer Takata has filed bankruptcy, asserting their financial inability to pay their creditors. This latest development comes after years of litigation and will have far-reaching implications for the automobile industry, as well as individual victims impacted by horrific accidents involving the company’s defective airbags. Takata filed for…
Samuel Chang was handing out candy on Halloween when an off-duty LA firefighter, Eric Carpenter, and three other men followed him, threatened him, berated him and chased him down a block. Eventually, Carpenter put Chang in a chokehold while two other men held his legs down – for six-and-a-half minutes. How do we know? There…
Bedsores are a common problem in nursing homes across the country. Elderly residents develop these wounds, sometimes called pressure sores or pressure ulcers, from laying in the same place, in the same position for long periods of time. Patients in wheelchairs or who are bedridden are at the highest risk of developing bedsores. While sometimes…
Taylor & Ring has filed a lawsuit against the Diocese of Orange County, Father Alex Kim, and St. John Neumann Church of Irvine, for sexual abuse and harassment. The lawsuit claims that the Diocese and the Church had been hearing accusations and complaints against Father Kim for years, yet they turned a blind eye to…
Police reportedly arrested a Menlo Park pastor recently on accusations of sexual assault against adults and children. As reported by the San Francisco Chronicle, police began investigating these incidents after several of the alleged victims reported the 46-year-old pastor to authorities. His list of charges ranges from misdemeanors to felonies, including: Sexual penetration with a…
In the middle of the BBQs, vacations, and outdoor activities, safety might be the last thing on your mind. Yet, thousands of people are injured in the greater Los Angeles area during the summer months, often due to preventable injuries. Being mindful of common injuries helps prevent a fun outing from turning into a tragic…
The Los Angeles Unified School District has agreed to an $88 million settlement for damages stemming from sexual misconduct cases on two school campuses. The second largest settlement in the district’s history includes numerous claims involving 30 innocent children and their heartbroken families. The LA Times reports that these incidents came to light just as…
The end of the school year is here, and thousands of kids across Southern California will head off to camp for a summer full of memories. Unfortunately, negligence by camp owners and counselors can leave children severely or fatally injured. Causes of summer camp injuries When families entrust summer camps with the safety of their…
Sexual harassment in the workplace is often characterized as a female problem, where women are subjected to inappropriate behaviors by men. While this is the case for a vast majority of harassment claims, statistics show that men are also dealing with the disturbing effects of sexual harassment within the workplace. As reported by the Equal…
Thousands of commercial trucks carry freight over the roadways of California every single day. As one of the largest metropolitan areas in the country, the Los Angeles metro region contains an extensive market for the transport of freight. While all of this commercial activity may be good for the economy, the high risk of truck…
There are far too many allegations and incidents of sexual abuse at the hands of employees within the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD). This school system has an extensive legal duty to protect students and provide them with the highest level of care. A large aspect of that responsibility involves adequate hiring and supervisory…
Helicopter tours offer picturesque and unique views of Southern California. From short 15-minute rides to hour-long VIP tours, these aerial attractions are popular among tourists and residents alike. While most of these common carrier outings result in enjoyable adventures, negligence can lead to severe and often fatal crashes. Causes of helicopter tour accidents Helicopters are…
When sexual harassment occurs at the hands of a government official, victims may have the option to file a suit against the state for damages. But the process is not as easy as it may sound. The California Government Claims Act has requirements in place for people who want to sue a government agency on…
A hit-and-run accident can be extremely stressful. Not only are you left to deal with the damage and injuries of the incident, you have no idea who is ultimately responsible for these financial burdens. If you were injured in a hit-and-run accident, you may be questioning how you will be compensated for your injuries. Under…
If your child discloses that he or she was sexually abused by a school official, it can be an extremely challenging situation to handle. School officials have a duty to provide your child with the highest level of care. When they breach this duty, it is especially infuriating. The following are steps you should take…
Your hotel room is supposed to be a safe and secure place to lay your head when away from home. Whether you are traveling for fun or work, you don’t expect to check out of your room with injuries you didn’t have when you checked in. Yet, for many hotel guests, their stays leave them…
Sexual assault is a serious issue within our society. Every day, innocent victims are subjected to violent and senseless sex crimes at the hands of perpetrators—some they know and some they don’t know. Though it receives much less attention, sexual assault of males is a common occurrence. Unfortunately, these male victims are often stigmatized upon…
Uber and similar ride-share applications have become a major mode of transportation among consumers across the country. Every day, residents of Southern California rely on Uber drivers to safely get them from one place to another. But what happens when your driver gets into an accident while you are riding in the car? What if…
The effects of sexual abuse are difficult and life changing. Not only do victims have to deal with the physical pain of these crimes, but they may also be left to deal with years of mental and emotional turmoil. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), victims of sexual abuse face substantial short- and…
Summer is upon us, and families across Southern California will head to water parks for fun and recreation. While these popular summertime destinations are filled with enjoyable rides, some water park attractions can prove extremely dangerous. The water slide and wave pool are favorites among water park attendees of all ages. But, when accidents occur,…
Throughout the last 20 years, the justice system has made great strides in the area of sexual assault. Rape shield laws, increased penalties, and wrap-around services have all led to improved reporting of these horrific incidents. Yet, there is still a long way to go before all victims of sexual violence feel comfortable enough to…
Every day, people across Southern California go to work and complete their employment duties. Most do not realize the dangers that await them inside the offices where they spend so much of their time each day. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, California experienced 385 workplace injuries in 2013. These injuries resulted from numerous…
Rideshare companies have exploded on the scene in California, and are an especially large part of the transportation landscape in cities like Los Angeles, San Diego, and in the Uber and Lyft corporations’ home city of San Francisco. In Los Angeles alone, 8.4 million UberX and Lyft customers hailed rides in 2012. With so many…
On March 3, 2017, several U.S. senators proudly introduced legislation detailing requirements of amateur athletic organizations to report any suspicion or evidence of sexual abuse to local and/or federal authorities. This bill, called the Protecting Young Victims from Sexual Abuse Act of 2017, is expressly a response to recent allegations of sexual abuse on the…
California ranks 13th in the United States for uninsured motorists, with a 14.7 percent rate of drivers without insurance. Unfortunately, many of these drivers are involved in collisions each year, whether they are at fault or not. In California, all insured drivers are urged to carry uninsured motorist coverage. If you are in an accident…
Motorcycle accidents are among the most sinister of vehicular collisions and, oftentimes, motorists are horribly injured. Enduring the trauma and fallout from one of these crashes can result in lost wages and impaired earning capacity, pain and suffering, property damage, and a host of other ills. If you are planning on filing a personal injury…
Sexual abuse and sexual assault in the clergy has been an ongoing problem for well over a century in the United States. Most notably found in the Catholic Church, no religious organization is exempt from sexual abuse controversies. California alone has been the subject of several scandals involving clergy sexual abuse. Although there has been…
April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, which means you will see lots of teal ribbons adorning backpacks, clothing, and other spaces. This month is intended to raise awareness of the prevalence of sexual assault as well as to acknowledge and support the resiliency of assault survivors. Victims of sexual assault and abuse have to grapple…
Lawyers are the first to tell you that you don’t always need to go to trial; for every valid claim that makes it to trial, there are dozens that never see the light of day. Just as there are provisions, edicts, and even laws that prevent frivolous lawsuits from going to trial, there are provisions…
Following a car accident where there were injuries, the responding law enforcement officer will typically write up a police report. While a police report for a car accident is generally not admissible in court, it is an important piece of evidence when it comes to assigning fault and capturing the facts of what happened in…
Taylor & Ring partner, David Ring, was featured on ABC’s Nightline on Tuesday, April 11, 2017 with victim, Chelsea Burkett, in the now notorious Marlborough sex abuse scandal. The focus of the Nightline special was the reckless response by two L.A. private schools, Viewpoint and Marlborough, to English teacher Joseph Koetters’ repeated misconduct towards students.…
In California, “Rape is an act of sexual intercourse accomplished with a person not the spouse of the perpetrator, under any of the following circumstances: Where a person is incapable, because of a mental disorder or developmental or physical disability, of giving legal consent…. Where it is accomplished against a person s will by means…
Gilberto Santillan is a beloved figure in Manhattan Beach, where he has dedicated more than 30 years of his life to hauling garbage away for USA Waste of California Inc. When he, along with a handful of other older, Spanish-speaking employees were fired or suspended under USA Waste’s new management, he turned to John C.…
Taylor & Ring partner, David Ring, will be featured on ABC’s Nightline tonight (12:35 a.m. PST) with victim, Chelsea Burkett, in the now notorious Marlborough sex abuse scandal. Tonight, for the first time, Chelsea will be speaking out and revealing her identity. “Remaining in the shadows implies I should be ashamed of what happened to…
The wheels of justice may turn slowly, but turn they do. In this case, they turned in the right direction for the family of Christian Eaddy, a young man gunned down in his own driveway by LA police, while his family watched on, helpless. John Taylor, of Taylor & Ring, obtained a $2 million settlement…
Maybe this seems like a no-brainer: any teacher who is reported to have behaved inappropriately should immediately be suspended, pending an investigation. And if that investigation yields results that corroborate the student’s testimony, you might assume that teacher would immediately be fired, if not hauled off to jail. Unless your child attends Desert Sands Unified,…
According to Safe4athletes.org — a nonprofit dedicated to helping abused students and sports organizations draft effective policies to prevent, stop, and report abuse — sexual abuse and harassment of athletes of any gender by coaches is a major problem. Students and young athletes place their trust in coaches to help the students achieve better athletic…
Today, most businesses, organizations, and nonprofits have Internet service at work and on mobile devices. While the Internet makes communication across the globe and throughout companies easier, it is also a new source for sexual harassment. People can now use a variety of technologies to make workers of both sexes feel frightened to open their…
Individual cases of sexual abuse by teachers receive a great deal of attention, but how widespread is the problem? Why we still know, and are doing, so little. We invite you to read the full story, and see what David M. Ring, partner at Taylor & Ring, has to say.
Parents trust that the time children spend with religious leaders will uplift the children morally and spiritually, and provide a path for the values needed to be good members of their communities. Sadly, it is too clear from media coverage and court proceedings that some religious leaders are abusing this most sacred trust. Religious leaders…
David Ring, partner at Taylor & Ring, was published in the Huffington Post on Monday, 2/20. His piece, titled “Betsy DeVos: Please Bring Down The Hammer On Campus Sexual Assault,” is an open letter to the new Secretary of the Department of Education, imploring her to “take a hard look at the school districts and…
The Daily Journal recently interviewed partner David Ring about the effect that multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements have on institutions whose negligence or malfeasance led to the serious injury of innocent people. Taylor & Ring is widely acknowledged as a leader in the fight against sexual abuse of children by teachers, counselors, religious leaders and…
Paso Robles teacher sex case prompts $5 million settlement
http://www.uniondemocrat.com/localnews/5029240-151/attorney-touts-5m-settlement-in-case-involving-former?referrer=bullet4
ESPN is a global conglomerate worth $16.9 billion dollars. Throughout most of America, those four letters are synonymous with sports. Wanna check the scores? Turn on ESPN. Planning on watching the draft? ESPN’s got it. Throwing a big party to watch the semi-finals? ESPN has you covered. But just because you’re a media tycoon doesn’t…
A school district’s top priorities are to protect their students, while providing the best educational environment possible. The Big Oak Flat-Groveland Unified School District and Paso Robles Joint Unified School Districts both lost sight of their role in protecting students’ safety when Jeremy Monn, a high school teacher, was transferred from one district to another…
Attorneys from the Taylor & Ring Law Firm are representing child molestation victims of Robert Keith Bryan, a long-time teacher with Desert Sands Unified School District. Bryan taught mostly fourth grade from the mid-1980s until he was arrested in 2011. Dave Ring is representing several students who are alleged victims of Bryan’s. The litigation has…
We expect our schools to protect our children, and that expectation is reasonable. Students with special needs, however, may be afforded additional protections as well at the state or federal level; that, too, is reasonable. What we don’t expect is that teachers will not only ignore those protections, but act in a way that is…
Let’s say things got a little rowdy at the office holiday party this year: too many people had too many drinks, and everyone’s inhibitions seemed to fly right out the window. While you were standing in line for a glass of champagne, or chatting with a friend, a coworker you barely know comes up and…
Michael Jackson, Kobe Bryant, Ben Roethlisberger, Bill Cosby and David Boreanaz all have a couple of things in common with O.J. Simpson: every single one of them was accused of criminal behavior, and not one of them went to jail. However, in every single instance, the accusers opted to bring a civil lawsuit against these…
The first allegation came in 2001, but it took another 15 years before the Los Angeles Police Department could charge Dr. Michael Howard Popkin with a crime. According to NBC News, the 67-year-old GP is facing “one count of Sexual Exploitation of a Patient and three counts of Sexual Battery, said Los Angeles Police Department’s…
— Santa Barbara property manager knew of structural issues, but failed to prevent the accident — Los Angeles, CA – Taylor & Ring , a Los Angeles-based trial law firm, obtained a $1,650,000 settlement against Ronald L. Wolfe & Associates, property manager of a beachfront house in Isla Vista, where five students were injured when…
It takes two. And therein lies the rub for an allegedly large number of sexual abuse victims who are members of the Jehovah’s Witness church. They say — and, in cases where the abuse victims are children, the advocates speaking on their behalf say — that they are stymied in their attempts to properly identify,…
– Court’s published decision in sexual assault case sets precedent — Los Angeles, Calif.- Taylor & Ring , a Los Angeles-based trial law firm, secured a published decision from the California Court of Appeal in Janice H. vs. 696 North Robertson dba Here Lounge and Victor Cruz, which clarifies the responsibility of public venues to…
U.S. News – Best Lawyers® ranked Taylor & Ring on the 2017 “Best Law Firms” list in the Metropolitan Tier 1 Ranking in Los Angeles for their work in personal injury litigation. The U.S. News – Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms” rankings are based on a rigorous evaluation process that involves the collection of client…
As published in the Daily Nexus, in April 2013, five UC Santa Barbara students were injured following a balcony collapse. The incident occurred during Deltopia festival weekend when about 20 partygoers were clustered on an Isla Vista fraternity’s balcony when the 100-square-foot deck suddenly collapsed. Five students were sent to the hospital for medical attention,…
Partners John Taylor and Dave Ring were selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© 2017. Taylor has been listed for 25 consecutive years and Ring has been listed for 13 consecutive years for their plaintiffs’ work in personal injury litigation. For more than three decades, Best Lawyers® has become regarded…
In the sad realm of child sexual abuse in the United States, is there anything more tragic and disheartening than the sordid tale of persistent abuse inflicted on children by clergy members of the Roman Catholic Church? Pedophilism is of course unlawful and egregious criminal conduct that targets and can forever haunt thereafter victims who…
— LAPD officers unjustifiably shot and killed suicidal man — As published by LA Times, KTLA, NY Times and ABC, Taylor & Ring , a Los Angeles-based trial law firm, obtained a $2,200,000 verdict against the City of Los Angeles on behalf of the father of a 26-year-old African-American male who was shot and killed…
Recent news coming in from the United Kingdom underscores both a staggering “local” problem relating to child sexual abuse and its trans-border dimensions that embrace the entire globe. The FBI and supporting investigatory task forces across America appreciate well the uphill battle they fight against pornographers and pedophiles focused upon obscene and illegal child imagery…
— Largest verdict in California for a single victim sex abuse case — Taylor & Ring, a Los Angeles-based trial law firm, obtained an $8 million dollar verdict against Pomona Unified School District on behalf of the then 14-year-old student who was sexually abused by her 8th grade teacher. Lorbeer Middle School teacher Steven Andrews…
Until last week, the largest fine ever issued by the federal government in a so-called Clery Act case was $350,000. That levy was assessed against Eastern Michigan University in 2008 for the failure of officials there to timely warn students of campus-posed dangers following the murder of a student. That exaction was eclipsed in a…
Unless you’ve been on a weeks’-long hiatus to some remote corner of the earth or simply sworn off all media for a month, you are acutely aware that sexual assault allegations and stories have been front-and-center news items of late. We won’t get into the details of what’s been a focal point of public discourse…
What is the antidote to the “sharp uptick in roadway deaths” that a recent national news piece notes have been occurring in the United States over the past couple years? Likely, there is no such thing, at least not in any absolute sense. As long as human beings sit behind the wheel and navigate vehicles…
Partner Dave Ring discusses how his practice has evolved since the 90’s, balancing law with family life and why he admires his clients in Lawdragon’s: Lawyer Limelight series. “My former law partner and I, Patrick McNicholas, decided to take this particular abuse case to trial because the settlement offer was low. The jury returned a…
Virtually any caring and empathetic personal injury attorney can readily speak to the stark upside involved in helping injury victims and their families obtain closure and meaningful recoveries in personal injury and wrongful death cases. Bringing legal acumen and experience to bear on behalf of individuals who sorely need assistance is often a profoundly and…
The sad saga now being recounted in some national media outlets regarding the sexual abuse of young children is typical for its sketching of details that all too commonly feature in such cases There was an adult authority figure, namely, a school bus helper. That individual — a 38-year-old male — had ready access to…
We have noted the sad reality regarding sexual assault of women generally and the particularly high level of sex-based crimes against females that occur on American campuses across the country in prior select blog posts. We noted in a recent post entry, for example, the rather astounding report that “about 20 percent of female college…
We noted in our immediately preceding blog post that “responsibility in a sex crimes matter can indeed be dispersed and broadly shared.” It is certainly important that the Southern California readers of our personal injury victims’ advocacy website at the Los Angeles law firm of Taylor & Ring understand and appreciate that point, because it…
Issues regarding culpability and legal liability routinely emerge in all areas of the law, which can make a timely consultation with a proven attorney a critically important first step for an injured victim to take. And that can be especially true in the realm of sex crimes, for several very important reasons. For starters, prosecutors…
He apologized, but hey, well … whatever. That has undoubtedly got to be the reaction of legions of people who heard in media reports across the country last week what can only be termed as the outrageous comments of one man regarding rape. Unfortunately, that man is a judge. And from the statements he uttered…
We continue in today’s blog post with a topic we initially broached last week that has been termed “a hot topic in higher education.” Unfortunately, and as noted in our September 11 entry, that subject has nothing to do with anything salutary that is occurring on college campuses in California or elsewhere across the country.…
You know that we’ve literally got a deadly serious problem with texting while driving when stories like this emerge: Cops see motorist “wrist driving” while holding a phone in each hand Cars driven by texting drivers end up in trees People are locked in on YouTube videos when behind the wheel The practice of bowing…
The Los Angeles Unified School District is no stranger to claims made by parents and other caregivers that school officials, teachers, coaches and other staff members either committed sexual assault acts against children or abetted them through laxity. A material update regarding one such claim was recently reported via a local media report describing an…
Public indignation regarding perceived laxity in criminal sentencing outcomes for sexual-assault defendants is hardly a geographically confined concern. Indeed, it’s coast to coast. Many readers of our sexual victims’ advocacy blog at the long-tenured Los Angeles personal injury law firm of Taylor & Ring will readily note that after considering today’s post in conjunction with…
California judge Aaron Persky got a recent dose of public attention so adverse that it has rendered him a virtual pariah in the minds of many state residents. Here’s ample proof of that, supplied courtesy of a recent profile of Persky appearing in the Los Angeles Times: reportedly, about 1.3 million people have signed a…
In baseball parlance, the California Assembly just threw a shutout last Thursday, overwhelmingly passing a bill addressing time limits related to sex crime prosecutions. Now that legislation moves to the Senate, which in all likelihood will endorse the bill with the same enthusiasm that House members did. Actually, it was the Senate that moved first,…
Operation “Baby Face” might ostensibly and at first glance sound like something totally innocuous and even uplifting. A photo contest for cute infants, for instance. Maybe an online zoo fundraiser betting that adorable animal shots will bring in viewer contributions. A statement uttered by one commentator in an article on Baby Face quickly belies any…
Not yet. That is the answer to the above-posed headline question — at least as of today. As noted in a recent media piece discussing twin 33-foot trailer trucks, these true behemoths of the road are not currently approved for nationwide use on the country’s freeways and interstates. That could be changing, though, with a…
Smoking is a known health risk, of course, with a well-established nexus to cancer and other adverse outcomes. As such, warnings regarding the practice have become progressively more dire and explicit over time. Here’s one that could not have been remotely imagined even a year or so ago: Be careful with a certain type of…
“It’s horrible, but it’s not the worst.” As far as endorsements go, that is, what, rather … tepid? Depending on the context, the comment might not be much of a big deal, but the context is this: sexual predators having close access to millions of young American gymnasts in clubs and training facilities from California…
U.S. Vice President Joe Biden has long taken a strong advocacy stance on behalf of sexual assault victims, and he will reportedly promote his involvement in that realm by rendering a cameo performance in an upcoming television episode on a long-running and popular series. That show is Law & Order: SVU (special victims unit), which…
Readers of our child advocacy legal blog at the Los Angeles law firm of Taylor & Ring know that, unfortunately, child sex abuse is not a narrowly confined and limited issue (and even if it were, of course, that would hardly make it any less tragic). Sadly, and as we have necessarily noted in prior…
It’s really not hard to understand, say school officials, advocates promoting harassment-free school environments, many parents and other interested parties. Here’s the deal, in a nutshell: Much harmful and unlawful sexual conduct hat manifests itself in adulthood owes centrally to a perpetrator’s wrongful behaviors learned — and, importantly, not discouraged — years earlier. As in…
Dismal. That is the clear and unadorned assessment of U.S. safety regulators who have culled and closely examined 2015 data relating to motor vehicle accidents across the country that resulted in fatalities. And here’s what is especially troubling to transportation and highway safety officials: Fatal accident-related numbers are up for virtually every type of crash.…
Viewpoint School, a K-12 grade school in Calabasas, California, will potentially face a civil suit after several accusations were made against the school for helping a former employee, Joseph Koetters, land another job after he demonstrated inappropriate behavior as one of the school’s teachers. Joseph Koetters, who was employed by Viewpoint from 1998-1999, later transferred…
Do not wait to seek legal help. That is the firm admonition we stress for parents and other caregivers in Southern California or elsewhere across the state who reasonably know or suspect that a child under their charge is being sexually abused by one or more students at school. We note on our website at…
As published by KMIR, former Gerald Ford Elementary School teacher Robert Keith Bryan was sentenced to nine years in prison for committing lewd acts against several female students. “Our clients are relieved that he’s not going to be on the streets any longer. Some of our clients had to move out of the area because…