Best Best & Krieger News Feed

Environmental Consultant

28 Sep 2016 00:00:00 -0800

Best Best & Krieger has an immediate need for an in-house Environment and Natural Resources Consultant to provide technical assistance in the review and preparation of environmental documents related to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The ideal candidate should have significant technical experience in the following areas:

• Project design, scoping and procedural compliance
• Air quality, traffic, noise, and water quality analysis
• Biological and cultural resource assessments
• Preparation of documents related to CEQA, NEPA and ESA compliance, including joint documents with federal agencies
• Community outreach and comment analysis
• Other technical environmental planning services, as appropriate

In addition to technical expertise in the areas identified above, necessary skills include strong technical writing skills, attention to detail, ability to work in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment, ability and desire to work as part of a team, and strong client communication skills.

Qualified applicants are invited to apply online by clicking the link below. Applicants must attach a resume and cover letter to be considered for employment. This self-apply feature is compatible with Internet Explorer 6, 7, 8 & 9, Mozilla Firefox for Windows, or Safari for Macintosh. PLEASE NOTE, IF USING AN APPLE PRODUCT, YOU MUST TURN OFF POP UP BLOCKER.

lawcruit.micronapps.com/sup/lc_supp_jobpost.aspx

Please address cover letters to:

Debbie A. Prior
Director of Human Resources
Best Best & Krieger LLP

No phone calls please

Best Best & Krieger LLP is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

BB&K Attorneys Win $57 Million in Transportation Fee Dispute on Behalf of WRCOG

10 Jun 2014 00:00:00 -0800

*Updated

Best Best & Krieger attorneys Jeffrey V. Dunn and Thomas J. Eastmond won a $43 million trial award on behalf of the Western Riverside Council of Governments in a transportation fee dispute with the City of Beaumont.

An Orange County Superior Court judge found that Beaumont failed to comply with its municipal ordinance requiring Beaumont to collect and remit transportation impact fees to WRCOG. The impact fees are part of the Transportation Uniform Mitigation Fee (TUMF) Program administered by WRCOG. Under the TUMF Program impact fees collected from new development in western Riverside County are remitted to WRCOG and allocated to build new transportation infrastructure to mitigate the impact of development on the regional transportation system.

During the four-week trial, BB&K provided evidence that Beaumont failed to comply with its TUMF obligations and, instead, created both tax and traffic burdens on Beaumont’s own residents. The court found that“ the evidence shows poor local transportation planning and execution.” The court went on to conclude that “[t]he evidence and testimony reveals that city management and staff engaged in a pattern and practice of deception that transcends the typical give-and-take of dispute negotiation. Had this been a typical civil trial I would have found fraud by clear and convincing evidence as against the city.” (*In May 2016, seven former top city officials were charged for misappropriating the funds.)

In addition to the $43 million, WRCOG will be awarded pre-judgment interest of at least $20 million. BB&K attorney Steven DeBaun, who is general counsel to WRCOG, also assisted with the case.

AB 1825 Sexual Harassment Avoidance Training (April 28)

28 Apr 2014 00:00:00 -0800

California's Fair Employment and Housing Act, pursuant to AB 1825, requires that employers with fifty or more employees in California provide at least two hours of Sexual Harassment Avoidance Training every two years to any employee that has a supervisory role in operations. This presentation is designed to satisfy those requirements.

Joseph Ortiz presented the training from the Riverside office. All other BB&K offices participated in the training via state-of-the-art video conferencing. The video conference is interactive, allowing attendees to ask questions and participate in other ways.

What was covered:

What constitutes sexual harassment or discrimination in the workplace
How to recognize and avoid it
What procedures to follow if you witness harassment or are harassed yourself
The potential consequences - including personal liability - of sexual harassment

Audience:

Supervisors
Human Resources Professionals
Public Officials
Managers & Private Business Professionals with 50 or More Employees

When:

Monday, April 28
9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.

Registration:

The training was also held via video conference at the following BB&K offices throughout California.

Indian wells
Irvine
Los Angeles
Ontario
Riverside – Joseph Ortiz presented from the Riverside office
Sacramento
San Diego
Walnut Creek

BB&K Presenter:

Joseph Ortiz, Partner, Labor & Employment Practice Group in Riverside office

QUESTIONS:

Contact Katey Lamke if you have any questions about this event and/or about BB&K upcoming seminars/events.

If you are not currently receiving our Legal Alerts and would like to be added to our email distribution list, please visit our subscription page.

AB 1825 Sexual Harassment Avoidance Training (January 13)

13 Jan 2014 00:00:00 -0800

Joseph Ortiz presented the training from the Riverside office. All other BB&K offices participated in the training via state-of-the-art video conferencing. The video conference was interactive, allowing attendees to ask questions and participate in other ways.

What was covered:

What constitutes sexual harassment or discrimination in the workplace
How to recognize and avoid it
What procedures to follow if you witness harassment or are harassed yourself
The potential consequences - including personal liability - of sexual harassment

Audience:

Supervisors
Human Resources Professionals
Public Officials
Managers & Private Business Professionals with 50 or More Employees

The training was also held via video conference at the following BB&K offices throughout California:

Indian wells
Irvine
Los Angeles
Ontario
Riverside – Joseph Ortiz presented from the Riverside office
Sacramento
San Diego
Walnut Creek

BB&K Hires Former Prosecutor to Join Public Safety Practice

21 Nov 2013 00:00:00 -0800

For Immediate Release: Nov. 21, 2013
Media Contact: Jennifer Bowles • 951.826.8480 • jennifer.bowles@BBKlaw.com

IRVINE, Calif. _ Tamara Bogosian, a former deputy city attorney and county prosecutor, recently joined Best Best & Krieger LLP where she will defend cities and public safety officers in liability cases as part of the law firm’s public safety group. She also will oversee complex code enforcement cases across Southern California.

Prior to joining BB&K, Bogosian supervised the litigation unit at the Fresno City Attorney’s Office where she handled various public safety liability issues ranging from false arrest and excessive force to Fourth Amendment violations claims. In addition, she was a member of the critical incident response team, responding to officer-involved shootings and other critical incidents.

“Tamara has a depth of experience with public safety issues that make her a tremendous addition to our team,” said G. Ross Trindle, III, an Ontario-based attorney who heads the public safety group, part of BB&K’s municipal law practice.

An of counsel attorney at BB&K, Bogosian is based in the firm’s Irvine and Ontario offices. In addition to police liability and code enforcement, she will represent public agencies in cases involving the Public Records Act, premises liability and other public safety issues.

“BB&K has a great reputation for municipal law and a solid record of helping their clients with public safety issues, which I felt was a great fit for me given my background in providing legal advice to law enforcement officials,” she said.

Bogosian has been practicing public law in California for 14 years, beginning in 1999 when she became a deputy district attorney with the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office.

In 2005, Bogosian joined the Fresno County District Attorney’s Office, where she was assigned a grant position prosecuting driving-under-the-influence offenses, including vehicular manslaughter, through a grant provided by the California Department of Transportation’s Office of Traffic Safety.

In 2006, Bogosian joined the Fresno City Attorney’s Office where she was assigned to the civil litigation unit. There, she represented the city and its employees in both federal and state courts involving such matters as the Public Records Act, civil rights, police liability, Pitchess motions, code enforcement, dangerous condition of public property, and other law enforcement related constitutional claims. In 2013, she was promoted to supervising deputy city attorney in the litigation unit and worked directly with the mayor, city council, city manager and their staff on various high-level legal matters.

Bogosian received her law degree in 1998 from Western State University College of Law in Fullerton. She is fluent in Armenian.

BB&K Seminar: Statements of Economic Interests - Legal Requirements of Filing Officers & Officials

13 Nov 2013 00:00:00 -0800

This program addressed the statutory duties of public agency filing officers and officials regarding Form 700 Statements of Economic Interests (SEIs).

What was covered:

Legislative & Regulatory Changes
General Rules – What’s Your Role?
- Types of Public Officials – PRA vs. CIC
- Disclosure Requirements – Full vs. Limited
Guidelines – Notices, Fines & Waivers
SEI Reviews – Facial vs. Full
- What to Look For – Common Errors
SEI Records & Retention
Public Access – Two Days
Enforcement – Reporting Apparent Violations
What February 1 Deadline?

Audience:
City Clerks and Deputy City Clerks, Filing Officers and Filing Officials designated in agency conflict of interest codes; and assistant or backup personnel

Cost Per Person:
$75 for clients who participate in the Public Policy & Ethics program
$125 for non-participants in the Public Policy & Ethics program

BB&K Presenter:
Dianna Valdez, Senior Paralegal, Conflicts of Interest & Ethics Coordinator, Public Policy & Ethics Group

QUESTIONS:
Contact Katey Lamke if you have any questions about this event and/or about BB&K upcoming seminars/events.

If you are not currently receiving our Legal Alerts and would like to be added to our email distribution list, please visit our subscription page.

Four BB&K Attorneys Named by the Daily Journal Among Top 20 Municipal Lawyers In California

06 Nov 2013 00:00:00 -0800

For Immediate Release: Nov. 6, 2013
Media Contact: Jennifer Bowles • 951.826.8480 • jennifer.bowles@BBKlaw.com

LOS ANGELES _ The Daily Journal today named four attorneys at Best Best & Krieger LLP among California’s Top 20 municipal lawyers in 2013 for cases involving medical marijuana, water rights, redevelopment and corruption.

The state’s top legal newspaper recognized Jeffrey Dunn in Irvine for, among other things, successfully arguing before the California Supreme Court in a case involving Riverside that state law does not prevent cities and counties from regulating medical marijuana dispensaries; Eric Garner, BB&K managing partner based in Los Angeles and Riverside, for an appellate court victory involving Santa Maria and a large portion of California’s Central Coast that strengthened the right of cities and public agencies to use groundwater for people; T. Brent Hawkins in Sacramento for handling lawsuits for cities and counties challenging the state’s handling of post-redevelopment issues, including a case that resulted in a judge agreeing that Riverside should get nearly $19 million in loans originally taken out by the city’s redevelopment agency, and Kendall MacVey in Riverside for his role in a case that saved the San Bernardino Associated Governments from having to reimburse San Bernardino County for a $102 million settlement that is the target of a corruption probe.

Lawyers at BB&K, with nine offices in California and Washington, D.C., serve as city attorney to more than 30 cities across California and provide special counsel work to dozens more.

“The recognition by The Daily Journal of four BB&K attorneys is incredibly gratifying and an enormous honor for them and the firm. We are very proud of these attorneys for doing such great work for our clients,” said Jeff Ballinger, an Ontario-based attorney who leads the firm’s municipal law practice group.

The Daily Journal Corp., publisher of the Los Angeles and San Francisco Daily Journals, issued its annual list of the state’s Top 20 municipal lawyers in a special supplement to today’s editions. According to The State Bar of California, there are more than 244,000 attorneys statewide.

BB&K Attorney Mal Richardson Talks about Ethics Laws and the Importance of Transparency for Public Officials

10 Oct 2013 00:00:00 -0800

Matthew "Mal" Richardson, who serves as city attorney of Stanton and assistant city attorney of Lake Forest, talks about the Brown Act, ethics training for public officials and other important laws and regulations that ensure cities maintain transparency to their residents.

He is interviewed for Cox OC Civic Connection, which is a partnership between the Association of California Cities - Orange County and Cox Communications to create a dialogue around the policies, principles and people that help shape the region's local communities. Richardson serves as general counsel to the association.

Based in BB&K's Irvine office, Richardson is a member of the firm's municipal law practice.

BB&K Litigator Named a Top 100 Attorney In California

11 Sep 2013 00:00:00 -0800

For Immediate Release: Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2013
Media Contact: Jennifer Bowles • 951.826.8480 • jennifer.bowles@BBKlaw.com

LOS ANGELES _ The Daily Journal today named Jeffrey V. Dunn, a Best Best & Krieger litigator known for handling complex cases for public agencies, as one of the Top 100 attorneys in California for 2013.

The newspaper recognized Dunn for successfully arguing before the state Supreme Court in February on behalf of the city of Riverside that state law does not prevent cities and counties from regulating medical marijuana dispensaries.

In one of the most anticipated decisions of the year, the court concluded on May 6 in City of Riverside v. Inland Empire Patients Health and Wellness Center that the voter-approved 1996 Compassionate Use Act and the 2003 Medical Marijuana Program passed by the California Legislature do not preempt local government bans on facilities that distribute medical marijuana.

“I appreciate the recognition by the Daily Journal of this important decision that assures local governments that they have the power to make public safety decisions that suit them best,” Dunn said.

The Daily Journal Corp., publisher of the Los Angeles and San Francisco Daily Journals, issued its annual list of the state’s top 100 attorneys in a special supplement to today’s editions. According to The State Bar of California, there are more than 244,000 attorneys statewide.

Dunn, who is based in BB&K’s Irvine office, has been with the law firm since 1987.

A key litigator for public agencies across California, he often handles complex cases involving water rights, transportation issues and other important issues. He was previously recognized by the Daily Journal in 2011 as one of California’s top 25 municipal attorneys. He received another recognition in 2012 from the Daily Journal for securing one of California’s “top verdicts” in 2011 for a complicated groundwater rights case involving more than 70,000 parties in the Antelope Valley north of Los Angeles.

In court cases involving medical marijuana regulation leading up to the state Supreme Court’s decision, Dunn was the lead trial and appellate counsel in several decisions affirming local government’s authority to protect public safety and local land use authority. The appellate cases included City of Corona v Naulls in 2008, City of Claremont v. Kruse in 2009 and City of Riverside v. Inland Empire Patients’ Health and Wellness Center in 2011, the case that eventually went to the state Supreme Court.

AB 1825 Sexual Harassment Avoidance Training (August 27)

27 Aug 2013 00:00:00 -0800

Joseph Ortiz presented the training from the Riverside office. All other BB&K offices participated in the training via state-of-the-art video conferencing. The video conference was interactive, allowing attendees to ask questions and participate in other ways.

What was covered:

What constitutes sexual harassment or discrimination in the workplace
How to recognize and avoid it
What procedures to follow if you witness harassment or are harassed yourself
The potential consequences - including personal liability - of sexual harassment

Audience:

Supervisors
Human Resources Professionals
Public Officials
Managers & Private Business Professionals with 50 or More Employees

The training was also held via video conference at the following BB&K offices throughout California:

Indian Wells
Irvine
Los Angeles
Ontario
Riverside – Joseph Ortiz presented from the Riverside office
Sacramento
San Diego
Walnut Creek