Emord & Associates, P.C. is pleased to announce that effective December 2013 the firm expanded its state level practice to include direct representation of clients in the state courts of California and before California regulatory agencies. The firm now directly represents clients in matters concerning California Proposition 65, California unfair competition claims (UCL), claims under the California Consumer Legal Remedies Act (CLRA), the California false advertising law (FAL), issues concerning the California Sherman Laws (the state version of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act), and before the California State health, environmental, and licensing bodies.
California represents a major consumer market, and one most business can ill-afford to ignore, yet California has also enacted some of the nation’s harshest laws for businesses. Many of those laws include “bounty hunter” provisions rendering them enforceable directly by plaintiff’s counsel. Under California’s broad unfair competition law (UCL), a California consumer can maintain a private action for nearly any violation of law. Moreover, because California state law mirrors and incorporates the federal law, the California courts have held that actions typically reserved only for the Federal FDA can be maintained by private plaintiffs in state court. The laws and court decisions leave all businesses vulnerable, particularly those in the health, medical, or nutrition markets.
Even the prospect of litigation in California can result in substantial expense. The costs to settle a pre-litigation claim often includes a measure of plaintiff’s attorney fees and, therefore, simple allegations can expose businesses to unwarranted costs. For years Emord & Associates has been counseling its clients in all matters of overlapping federal regulation, and it has consulted and litigated California state matters while operating in close partnerships with California counsel. Given the substantial increase in government regulatory activity and private litigation, the firm is now pleased to announce that it will undertake direct representation of clients in California matters.
The firm’s California practice will be headed by firm Principal Peter A. Arhangelsky. Mr. Arhangelsky has achieved success with Emord & Associates in state and federal litigation. He has handled complex litigation matters concerning health and nutritional products, including significant experience with issues of California law. Working closely with founding Principal Jonathan Emord, Mr. Arhangelsky will continue contributing to the firm’s success by expanding his practice into California state matters. Please do not hesitate to contact Peter at parhangelsky@emord.com or 602-334-4416 with any questions, and check back with us for future Emord & Associates’ publications concerning legal news, highlights, and insights related to California laws and regulations.