Featured Articles

Appeal Court Says, "Hold the Foam" on Starbucks Tipping Case

Aaron Morris
June 03, 2009 03:17

Some plaintiffs attorneys received a huge pay cut today, after the California Court of Appeal reversed an $105 million judgment against Starbucks. The case involved the ever-present tip jar that sits by the register at your favorite Starbucks. It is the procedure of Starbucks, like most every other...

Recent Articles

Even the Muckety-Mucks are At-Will Employees

Aaron Morris
February 13, 2012 20:46

When employees complain that they have no rights under California’s at-will employment presumption, I explain that it is something that can be negotiated like any contract provision. In other words, if you want a parking spot, negotiate for it. If you want the company only to be able to...

Internet Defamation Requires a Fast Investigation

Aaron Morris
February 08, 2012 23:26

We were just able to help a client dodge a bullet, and the fact pattern provides a cautionary tale for all. If you or your business is the victim of Internet defamation by an anonymous poster, and you decide to go after that person, you have many hoops to jump through to get the necessary...

Britain's ASA Announces that On-Line Reviews May Not be Trustworthy

Aaron Morris
February 07, 2012 05:57

  I found a news squib I came across today to be particularly interesting because it follows the precise example I often use to explain the difference between opinion and a statement of fact, and it shows how one country is dealing with reviews posted for extortionist purposes. First,...

Wrongful Termination Plaintiffs Permitted to Testify as Their Own Experts

Aaron Morris
January 17, 2012 06:04

How would you like to be the employer in this case? Two police officers at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) refused to arrest a patient, saying there was no probable cause and the arrest would therefore be illegal.  They were shown the door, and now are suing for wrongful...

Video Shows A New Way Terminations May Haunt Employers

Aaron Morris
January 15, 2012 07:06

"Pregnancy Discrimination" -- one of my firm's practice areas -- popped up in my Google Alerts, and the link took me the the YouTube video below. The video is of a visibly pregnant woman, complaining about how she suffered job discrimination at work due to her pregnancy. People using...

Most Hated Corporate Buzzwords

Aaron Morris
December 30, 2011 01:14

CareerBuilder.com did a poll to determine the most reviled corporate buzzwords.  Incredibly people are still uttering "outside the box", which is the most hated term by 31 percent of the respondents.  The rest of the list: Low-hanging fruit (24 percent) ...

Cell Phone Law Could Spell Trouble for Employers

Aaron Morris
December 15, 2011 21:22

My business partner Deanna Stone wrote an excellent article back in 2008 about how the (then) new hands free cell phone law could expose employers to liability if a worker, on company business, caused an accident while in violation of the law.  Now we get news that the National...

Morris & Stone Gets Triple Damages and Attorney Fees for Fraud

Aaron Morris
October 22, 2011 21:14

When is a breach of contract also fraud? When the party never intended to perform. When do you get triple damages and all of your attorney fees for fraud? When you hire Morris & Stone (although your results could differ). Breach of contract is easy to spot, but business owners are often...

Target Pays $160,000 Settlement for Failing to Accommodate

Aaron Morris
July 06, 2011 18:08

Target Corp. has agreed to pay $160,000 to settle federal allegations that it discriminated against an employee with cerebral palsy. The case was brought by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, which alleged that Target had cut the hours of Jeremy Schott, an employee of an Orange...