If You Change Your Mind, Change Your Beneficiaries
- by Lynda I. Chung
It’s not surprising that, after a bitter divorce, one of the former spouses would want to exclude the other from a will or estate. But wanting something doesn’t make it so – especially when it comes to a life insurance policy.
What Happens If You Can’t Afford Arbitration?
- by M. Laurie Murphy
For many routine business disputes, arbitration can be a quicker and less expensive alternative to courtroom litigation. But what happens if, after you agree to have your dispute resolved by an arbitrator, your circumstances change and you can’t afford the arbitration fee?
Smile at the Monkey With the Camera
- by M. Laurie Murphy
In college statistics classes, professors often point out that, in theory, an infinite number of monkeys randomly tapping on keyboards would eventually produce a great work of literature. But could the prolific primates get a copyright on their work?
And The Oscar Goes To . . . The IRS?
- by Michael R. Morris
On December 22, 2017, President Donald Trump signed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (“TCJA”) into law. The TCJA is one of the most sweeping pieces of tax reform in recent history.
“Emperor of the Beach” Has No Clothes
- by M. Laurie Murphy
For some people who own property along California’s beautiful coast, living on the beach seems to trigger a desire to keep others off “their” beach. As a homeowners’ association learned in a recent appellate court ruling, that can violate the California Coastal Act.
Tigers Next Door – What Could Go Wrong?
- by M. Laurie Murphy
All jobs have their routine, sometimes boring, tasks. Even judges often have to decipher complex statutes and slog through tedious contract disputes. But every once in a while they get a distinctly out-of-the-ordinary case – such as the woman with five tigers.

