In cases of qualified immunity, the facts matter. In a civil rights lawsuit filed under 42 U.S.C. Section 1983 , an officer’s conduct in the course deploying force will be scrutinized from every potential angle. But the facts of the arrest itself are only half of the equation. The other half comes from case law,…

Websites, mobile applications, and other digital tools offer exciting opportunities for local government agencies to achieve unprecedented reach and access to services across communities. At the same time, these tools also present novel challenges.  Matters of accessibility are especially complex for agencies that incorporate digital technologies into their services. Tackling these questions with deliberation and…

Richard Jones grew up in a family committed to service. Giving back to the community, donating their time to important causes, and being part of a service-oriented church all were centerpieces of his early life. Today he credits that background with shaping the core values that have made Jones & Mayer into the firm it…

As a child, Kimberly Hall Barlow’s dream was to become a veterinarian. It was a natural ambition for the child of a championship collie breeder. Ms. Barlow helped her mother look after new litters of puppies, which gave her plenty of time to devour books. She’d grab whatever was close at hand, keeping one eye…

The long-anticipated arrival of vaccines has moved the COVID-19 pandemic into a new chapter. The phased rollout of vaccines is expected to take months. As adoption of the vaccine becomes widespread, society will hopefully return to normalcy, including returning to in-person work. Public sector employers in California are beginning to study their policy positions regarding…

California Assembly Bill 5, or AB-5, went into effect a year ago. Employers throughout the state and beyond are still grappling with how to lawfully engage independent contractors under the law. AB-5’s applicability to public agencies has been the subject of considerable debate among California lawyers. In September 2020 the California Legislature modified provisions of…

Regulating outdoor advertising has been a controversial topic for cities ever since billboards gained popularity in the 1870s. Balancing a property owner’s use rights, the free speech rights of individuals and organizations, and the public’s interest in maintaining their hometown’s appearance has created a patchwork of legal frameworks throughout the country. A recent case before…

California’s affordable housing crisis is among the most pressing governance challenges for state and local governments. Our state is not alone: major cities around the country are grappling with how to create policies that will ensure access to quality housing for all residents, not just those in the upper income brackets. Tackling the affordable housing…