newsposts Archive

May 15, 2020

As businesses begin planning to reopen, the question that every employer should be asking is not “can we?” but “should we?” As businesses face a multitude of judgment calls, this should be the question asked throughout the reopening process. If employers pause and ask “should we?,” they will be able to better navigate the personnel problems that are already surfacing.

Here are some examples of how this approach will help prevent missteps.

The Reluctant Returnee

Most, but not all, employees are going to be happy to be able to return to work. You are going to encounter a …

May 11, 2020

Phase 2 Reopening Requirements: What That Means for Agriculture

By Amber Simmons

Last week, Governor Newsom began modifying the stay at home order and released updated industry guidance for businesses to follow as we begin moving into Stage 2 of California’s Resilience Roadmap. As is true for most things related to agriculture in California, the agricultural industry is subject to its own specific rules. A complete copy of the guidance and checklist published for Agriculture and Livestock is available here.

Below is a brief summary of steps to comply with these requirements and safely re-open your California agricultural business. While …

April 1, 2020

By Elizabeth A. Culley

On March 27, 2020, President Donald Trump signed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”) into law. As part of the CARES Act, $349 billion will be allocated to the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”), to help small businesses retain employees and cover certain expenses through very favorable Small Business Administration (“SBA”) Loans.

The PPP Loans are available to small businesses having up to 500 employees. The PPP increased eligibility for SBA Loans to allow sole proprietors, independent contractors, self-employed individuals, and freelance and gig economy workers to apply for PPP Loans.

All of …

October 1, 2018

by Dennis Law

If one supposes that in today’s world almost all civil controversies will involve mediation, and that a Code of Civil Procedure Section 998 (“998”) offer may be at least considered in most civil controversies, then one would naturally expect that mediations and 998 offers will most likely cross paths in some fashion or another during the course of a typical lawsuit.[1] But how, if at all, do mediations and 998 offers relate to one another?

Mediations and 998 offers share the common goal of promoting settlements, but the similarity pretty much ends there.

Although the word …

July 11, 2018

The California Supreme Court has tightened definitions on what constitutes an independent contractor, calling it the A-B-C test. Trust us, there’s nothing easy about these A-B-C’s. Kathy Eppright explains.

If you have workers who you pay as independent contractors, you need to learn the new rules that apply in California. The new standard for determining whether a worker is properly classified as an independent contractor was adopted by the California Supreme Court on April 30, 2018, in Dynamex Operations West v. Superior Court.

The new standard is called the “ABC Test,” and in order for a worker to be …

July 5, 2018

The Chief HR Officer for Uber, an MBA-holding Olympic medalist, and a senior exec with one of the country’s largest nonprofits took to the stage to talk about the workplace and the workforce of the future at this year’s Central Coast Business Symposium, hosted by Andre, Morris & Buttery in June.

Local leaders gathered and explored new ideas for improving our businesses and the community at AMB’s 10th annual event.

This year, Liane Hornsey, Senior VP and Chief People Officer for Uber, discussed the realities of HR in a candid, “fireside chat”-style conversation with AMB’s Kathy Eppright. Lynda Gonzales-Chavez, Senior …

July 1, 2018

When is mediation appropriate and what are its considerations? AMB’s Dennis D. Law will present “Understanding Mediation” at the next Central Coast Paralegal Association meeting on August 8. Learn more and register here. …

May 31, 2018

The Chief HR Officer for Uber, an MBA-holding Olympic medalist, and a senior exec with one of the country’s largest nonprofits will take the stage to talk about the new world of business at this year’s Central Coast Business Symposium, hosted by Andre, Morris & Buttery, Thursday June 14.

The 10th annual event, taking place from 2:30-5:30 p.m. at the Clark Center in Arroyo Grande, allows local leaders to gather and explore new ideas for improving our businesses and the community.

This year, Liane Hornsby, Senior VP and Chief People Officer for Uber, will discuss the realities of HR in …

May 10, 2018

As most of us know, generally an arbitrator’s decision is final in contract arbitration cases meaning the decision cannot be overturned by a trial court or court of appeal even if it is wrong. This principle is commonly stated and generally accepted. It is frequently the basis upon which decisions are made to agree, or to not agree, to arbitrate a dispute.

Yet, a case decided this last year, Harshad & Nasir Corp v. Global Sign Systems, Inc.,[1] https://caselaw.findlaw.com/ca-court-of-appeal/1870918.html set aside an approximately 3 million dollar arbitrator’s award on the basis it was not supported by substantial evidence. This …

April 2, 2018

The legal right of California employees to take a meal break has kept many lawyers busy over the last few years. Unfortunately, most of the court cases addressing the meal break law focus on what employers did wrong; few offer clear guidance on how to get it right. The recent Court of Appeal decision in Serrano v. Aerotek, however, provides a primer for employers on how to get it right. Even though this case was brought by an employee who was placed by a staffing agency, the court’s conclusions regarding what the staffing agency did correctly would apply to …

March 30, 2018

30 MARCH 2018 – WMA REPORTER

By Lisa Toke

Lisa Toke is a principal at Andre, Morris & Buttery, a law firm that has been advising mobile home park owners on pre-litigation strategy, and representing them in litigation, for decades.

“I know the park only allows one pet, but I have a second dog that is an emotional support animal.” These words, or words like them, have been frustrating mobile home park owners and managers for years.

The main problem with service and emotional support animals is that the law governing them is far from clear. And although that law …

February 9, 2018

Andre, Morris & Buttery is seeking a highly qualified applicant with minimum 7 years experience in litigation to work in the litigation practice group of our Santa Maria office.

Requirements for this role include strong administrative and organizational skills, ability to prioritize and manage workloads, excellent attention to detail, maintaining high confidentiality, ability to work in a fast-paced litigation environment, excellent communication and grammar skills, strong work ethic, and excellent software skills in Microsoft Word and a Law Practice Management Software (Pro Law experience preferred). Paralegal certificate strongly preferred.

Salary commensurate with skills, experience and education.

We offer an excellent …

February 6, 2018

Mediation can take many forms. But what can be done to enhance your chances of success? While there may be no definitive recipe, this article will explore different possibilities.

Let’s first discuss the role of the mediator. We know from our own real-life experiences that the techniques and style of the mediator play a critical role in the mediation process. But is there a specific technique and/or style that is considered a best practice? A recent study published by the ABA Section of Dispute Resolution would suggest that there is no identifiable “best practice.” [1] Yet, in the study’s complex …

January 29, 2018

by Gordon E. Bosserman

Irrespective of your opinion regarding the actions of some professional football players during the playing of the Star-Spangled Banner before games, you might find it interesting to know that there are also employment law issues involved in the action. Many professional football players, beginning with Colin Kaepernick, then with the San Francisco Forty-Niners, have been taking a knee during the playing of the National Anthem as a political expression. Recently, Jerry Jones, the owner of the Dallas Cowboys, has said that he will not allow any player who does not stand for the playing of the …

January 25, 2018

The number of Americans with criminal convictions in their background has increased due to the increase in enforcement of drug laws. So when the Recession brought layoffs, the challenge to find employment when the applicant has a criminal record became the focus of many state and local lawmakers. Both Los Angeles and San Francisco adopted “Ban-the-Box” laws, requiring employers in those jurisdictions to eliminate the box from applications that require disclosure of criminal history information. Since Governor Jerry Brown signed AB 1008, it is now state law that employers of 5 or more people are not be permitted to inquire …

October 31, 2017

By Dennis D. Law

The most common means of enforcing a settlement agreement is to make a motion to enforce in the pending action under Code of Civil Procedure Section 664.6. A real life example of this is found in the litigation surrounding the storied wealth of the Hearst family.

Boilerplate language in most settlement agreements assumes that a means of enforcement is available, but one should not assume that Section 664.6 will apply.

First, Section 664.6 only applies if there is a pending action. Although this may seem like an obvious point, standard Section 664.6 clauses sometimes appear …

October 4, 2017

Along with her J.D., Kathy Eppright can now add AWI-CH after her name to highlight her expertise in conducting workplace investigations.

Kathy has been doing workplace investigations for about 15 years and over that time the need and standards for conducting investigations of workplace complaints has dramatically changed. In 2016, California added new regulations requiring employers to use “qualified personnel” to conduct an “impartial and timely investigation” of complaints of harassment and discrimination. Specific standards and best practices for conducting a workplace investigation have evolved over the years and being able to demonstrate that an employer’s investigation met those standards …

July 21, 2017

By Gordon E. Bosserman

The California Legislature is considering amending the Fair Pay Act to prohibit an employer from asking about what a job applicant made in compensation from his or her previous employers. (See AB 168) This is not yet the law in California; currently, an employer may ask about previous compensation. Do you know what current law in California requires regarding “equal pay”? If not, here is a brief summary.

In 2016, California enacted the Fair Pay Act. Under that law, an employer was prohibited from paying any of its employees wage rates that were less than the …

July 21, 2017

The 2017 Andre, Morris & Buttery Central Coast Business Symposium featured three very different speakers with a common theme: managing change.

AMB has been hosting the symposium since the firm’s 60th anniversary in 2008. This year a crowd of 400 heard from best-selling author and employee retention expert Sharon Jordan-Evans, entrepreneur and media pioneer Stanley Fields and former Cal Poly baseball sensation Matt Imhof.

Jordan-Evans spoke about the challenge of retaining talent in an ever-changing workforce. Her primary message: Ask. Ask key employees who you do not want to lose what they need and want, and then

…

June 27, 2017

No more than five percent of attorneys statewide receive the peer-reviewed honor

SAN LUIS OBISPO – Elizabeth Culley, a senior litigation associate at Andre, Morris & Buttery, has been selected to the 2017 California Super Lawyers List, a prestigious honor that is bestowed upon no more than five percent of the lawyers in the state.

Super Lawyers is a rating service of attorneys from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. The annual selections are made using a patented multi-phase process that includes a statewide survey of lawyers, an independent research …

May 26, 2017

A best-selling author with advice for keeping good talent, a lifelong entrepreneur with a unique take on today’s journalism and a former Major League prospect who overcame adversity will all speak at this year’s Central Coast Business Symposium, hosted by Andre, Morris & Buttery, Thursday June 15.

The 9th annual invitation-only event, taking place from 2:30-5:30 p.m. at the Clark Center in Arroyo Grande, allows local leaders to gather and explore new ideas for improving our businesses and the community.

This year, Sharon Jordan Evans, an author and expert in employee retention and engagement, will discuss how to attract and …

January 26, 2017

AMB’s Kathy Eppright recently sat down with Jim Seybert, a guest host of the Dave Congalton Show, to discuss some HR and employment laws that took effect Jan. 1 in California.

Listen to the segment here.…

December 7, 2016

Longtime Andre, Morris & Buttery principal Dennis Law is transitioning to full-time mediation, offering expertise gained in 37 years’ of diverse trial work and supported by training through the Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution at Pepperdine University School of Law. He will remain with Andre, Morris & Buttery and is available to mediate most types of disputes. Read more.…

September 26, 2016

Get up to date on the latest in employment law, including a recent federal ruling over ADA violations, a California Court of Appeal ruling on break requirements, and transgender rights and obligations for employers and employees. Click here for more.…

July 12, 2016

In May 2016, the U.S. Department of Labor announced the highly anticipated Federal overtime rule changes under the Fair Labor Standards Act.

Many employers have asked whether there is anything they need to do to comply with the new Federal rules. Find out more here.…

June 26, 2016

Arroyo Grande — If you were not able to attend the 2016 Central Coast Business Symposium, the three presentations are available below as PDFs. The order of the speakers were:

Jeffrey Munks
Chairman & Managing Director, RTT Mobile Interpretation;
(former) Deputy Executive Learning Officer, United States Navy

Winning the Talent War: Attracting the Best and Inspiring the Rest

Jeff Munks Introduction

Paso Robles resident Jeffrey Munks, who has devoted his career to improving employee performance, offered insight on building – and keeping – a winning team.

John Bates
Leadership Communications
Expert CEO, Executive Speaking Success
Talk Is Cheap. Great Communication …

June 1, 2016

kathy Andre, Morris & Buttery will host the 8th Annual Central Coast Business Symposium Monday, June 20. The event will be held in the Clark Center in Arroyo Grande from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. This year’s speakers include a TED-talk pro, a billion dollar restaurant-chain exec, and a Navy leadership advisor who will offer insight on thought provoking, business relevant topics.

Dan Sheehy is a Cal Poly alum and controller of Panda Express Restaurant group, Inc., whose revenues top $2.7 billion. Dan will discuss how his organization is managing huge minimum wage issues and changing employment laws, avoiding staggering penalties and …

April 11, 2016

AMB attorney Scott Wall presents on Saturday April 23, 2016 at a seminar for the San Luis Obispo County Bar Association regarding estate planning updates and developments from 2015. A partner with Andre, Morris & Buttery, Wall is also chairman of the Estate Planning, Trusts and Probate Practice Group and a member of the Business and Real Estate Transactions Practice Group. He is certified by the State Bar of California as a specialist in estate planning, trust, and probate law. Before starting his law practice, he was a Certified Public Accountant, and brings both income and estate tax expertise to …

December 16, 2015

AMB attorney Amber Simmons was one of the finalists in a recent competition at the California Farm Bureau Federation Annual Meeting in Reno. The Young Farmers and Ranchers Discussion Meet was a competition where contestants throughout the state debated timely agricultural issues. Participants were evaluated on their ability to discuss their opinions and ideas, specifically including what the Farm Bureau as an organization and its individual members can do to solve the following problems facing today’s agriculture industry:

– Balancing agriculture’s water needs and historic water rights with maintaining vibrant communities and meeting growing urban water demands;
– Protecting, encouraging

…

December 1, 2015

Andre, Morris & Buttery is seeking an experienced Probate and Trust Administration Paralegal. This position requires someone who is a certified paralegal with experience handling trust administration and probate matters and preparing all required court documents, including transfer documents and accountings, with minimal supervision. Experience in estate planning a plus.

Salary commensurate with skills, education and experience. Competitive benefits. The successful candidate would be resident in the San Luis Obispo office. Please e-mail Mike Gibson your resume and references at mgibson@amblaw.com.…

September 8, 2015

Andre Morris & Buttery Attorney Kathy Eppright presented her Employment Law seminar “The Uber Effect” to the Human Resources Association of the Central Coast (HRCC) for its monthly professional development meeting September 8 at the Madonna Inn.

In the last six years, there were two million more independent contractors working in California. In “The Uber Effect,” Kathy discussed the issues that arise with the increase in companies using and abusing the classification of independent contractors. As some employers have intentionally misclassified employees as independent contractors as a means to cut costs and avoid compliance with labor laws, …

June 26, 2015

San Luis Obispo — If you were not able to attend the 2015 Central Coast Business Symposium, the three presentations are available below as podcasts. The order of the speakers were: Conan Nolan, KNBC-TV; former City Managers Tim Ness (Santa Maria) & Ken Hampian (San Luis Obispo), and Blake Irving, GoDaddy.

“And That’s The Way It Was…”: Does Traditional News Reporting Still Matter?
Conan Nolan, KNBC-TV

Local Economic Development: Two Former City Managers Reveal All
Ken Hampian, City of San Luis Obispo and Tim Ness, City of Santa Maria

Turning Crisis Into Opportunity
Blake Irving, GoDaddy

…

June 16, 2015

Andre, Morris & Buttery hosted the 7^th Annual Central Coast Business Symposium Monday, June 15. More than 400 business people from across the Central Coast attended the event held in the Clark Center in Arroyo Grande. This year’s speakers included GoDaddy’s CEO, a political journalist, and two former Central Coast city managers who offered insight on thought provoking, business relevant topics.

Conan Nolan, San Luis Obispo High School alum, now longtime chief anchor and host of KNBC-TV “News Conference,” discussed the role of traditional media in today’s ever-blurring-lines 24/7 news cycle. Starting his career in the local newsrooms of …

June 3, 2015

Andre, Morris & Buttery will host the 7^th Annual Central Coast Business Symposium Monday, June 15. The event will be held in the Clark Center in Arroyo Grande from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. This year’s speakers include a tech CEO, a political journalist, and two former Central Coast city managers. They’ll offer insight on thought provoking, business relevant topics.

San Luis Obispo resident and GoDaddy, Inc. CEO Blake Irving is back by popular demand. Blake will talk about how GoDaddy turned the potential crisis of a Super Bowl commercial into an opportunity and a PR success.

Conan Nolan, San …

June 2, 2015

Andre, Morris & Buttery attorney, Scott Wall, received the J. Vard Loomis Award for Distinguished Board Service from the Cuesta College Foundation on May 29, 2015. Scott has served on the Cuesta College Foundation board for 14 years. He played a pivotal role as the treasurer of the Measure L campaign, the $275 Million education bond that passed in November of 2014 with 61.73% of the vote. Scott assumed responsibility for all reporting requirements during the campaign and worked to help achieve the broad-based support for the measure. Cuesta President Gil Stork remarked that Scott’s service was “invaluable in …

April 15, 2015

AMB’s HR expert Kathy Eppright spoke in late April on the change in sexual harassment laws over the last 20 years. Eppright cautioned because of changes in the law, “no tolerance” harassment policies can create problems for employers. Such policies may in fact address issues such as personality conflicts, which are no longer defined as unlawful. Eppright said companies need to be informed on changes in the law and take care to balance the rights of the complaining employee with the rights of the accused employee. She noted the difficulty of managing change, citing a Harvard University example. In 2014, …

March 26, 2015

Paso Robles – Winery succession plans, a look into the complexities of inheritance rules and how to sell a wine business were just some of the many topics presented at this year’s Central Coast Insights. The annual event was organized by the Wine Industry Symposium Group.

For the first time in the event’s 21 years, it was held in Paso Robles. Andre, Morris & Buttery attorneys Michael Morris and Bill Douglass spoke to the nearly 200 attendees who came from various sectors of the wine industry.

Morris spoke on succession plans and estate and inheritance taxes. Douglass’ presentation focused on …

February 23, 2015

Michael Morris is more than a senior principal with Andre, Morris & Buttery. According to Pacific Coast Business Times, Morris, longtime chairman of the Board of Heritage Oaks Bank is a “Dealmaker of the Year” for the tri county region that includes SLO, Santa Barbara and Ventura counties. Morris shares the title with Heritage Oaks’ president and CEO Simone Lagomarsino. Together the two led Heritage Oaks Bancorp’s successful $56 Million acquisition of Mission Community Bank. Now the largest bank in the tri-county area, Heritage Oaks has $1.6 Billion in assets, 12 branches, two administrative offices, a loan production office and …

February 5, 2015

Andre, Morris & Buttery attorneys Dennis Law, Collette Hillier, Matt Boutté, Gordon Bosserman, Scott Wall, and Lisa Toke recently stepped up to volunteer with the SLO County Mock Trial competition. This program allows middle school and high school students to try their hand at being lawyers, helping students learn about the judicial system and improve analytical and communication abilities. AMB lawyers joined other members of the local legal community in coaching teams, and judging and scoring the trials.

The SLO County competition concluded on February 11 in an enthusiastic final round between Templeton High School and Arroyo Grande High School, …

January 12, 2015

January brought with it a brand new website for Andre, Morris & Buttery. The comprehensive new site highlights client success stories and the AMB expertise that helped create them. It gives visitors an in-depth view of AMB’s seven practice groups and up-close and personal introductions to each attorney.

The AMB LawBlog feature is prominent on the site, offering readers insight and information from the Central Coast’s most experienced legal team.…

October 10, 2014

Andre Morris & Buttery Principal Kathy Eppright interviewed for Pacific Coast Business Times article “Groundwater rules and mandatory sick leave in spotlight” by Stephen Nellis.

PDF article…

June 19, 2014

San Luis Obispo — If you were not able to attend the event, the three presentations are available below as podcasts. The order of the speakers were: Bryan Davenport, Maureen Kasper, and Shama Kabani.

Get Fat Thinking Lean: Streamline for Success
Bryan Davenport, Zodiac Aerospace

Podcast:

MP3

Branding Your Business from the Inside-Out
Maureen Kasper, Cisco Systems

Podcast:

MP3

Seven Digital Trends Every Leader Must Know
Shama Kabani, Marketing Zen Group

Podcast:

MP3

…

June 18, 2014

Andre, Morris & Buttery hosted the 6^th Annual Business Symposium on June 18, 2014 from 2-6 p.m. at the Clark Center in Arroyo Grande. Speakers and topics included Bryan Davenport with Zodiac Aerospace, “Get Fat Thinking Lean: Streamline for Success”; Maureen Kasper with Cisco Systems, “Branding Your Business from the Inside-Out”; and Shama Kabani with the Marketing Zen Group, “Seven Digital Trends Every Leader Must Know.”

Speakers offered information on lean manufacturing for the workplace, thought leadership, and leveraging digital media to advance your business. Andre, Morris & Buttery created The Central Coast Business Symposium® in 2009 to give …

May 1, 2014

The Protection of Employment Information (non-compete & similar provisions)

Reprinted from Atascadero Chamber of Commerce Newsletter, May 2014

By Gordon Bosserman

In California, non competition agreements that take effect after the termination of employment are generally not enforceable by an employer. There is an exception to this rule, but it is limited to the sale of the employee’s stock or a partnership interest in a business. Be aware, however, that an employer cannot issue a few shares of stock to an employee and buy it back at his or her termination and claim that a non compete agreement made with …

March 1, 2014

Ninth Circuit Extends First Amendment Protection for Public Employees

By Dennis Law and Kathryn Eppright

Another front in the wage and hour wars in California opened several years ago when companies, like Home Depot and the 99 Cent Only stores, were named in class actions brought by employees alleging that the companies had failed to provide the “suitable seating” required under section 14 of CA Wage Order 7-2001 and CA Wage order 4-2001. While the issue in those state court cases focused on the standing of the plaintiffs to sue for non-compliance with the Wage Orders, the interpretation of the …

February 1, 2014

SAN LUIS OBISPO, CALIF. – Attorney Karen Gjerdum Fothergill has been named a Principal at local law firm Andre, Morris & Buttery (AMB). Fothergill is a Santa Maria native who joined AMB as an associate in 2007. She works in the firm’s Environmental and Land Use, Business and Real Estate Transactions, Wine and Agribusiness, and Civil Litigation practice groups.

“Over the last seven years, Karen has distinguished herself with her talents as an attorney and with her deep community knowledge in real estate and agriculture,” said AMB Managing Principal Kathryn M. Eppright. “We are delighted to welcome her as an …

January 1, 2014

SAN LUIS OBISPO – Two attorneys have joined the extensive roster at Andre, Morris & Buttery. The law firm recently announced the addition of Amber Simmons and Matthew Boutté as associate attorneys to its San Luis Obispo office.

Prior to earning a law degree from the University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law in 2012, Simmons worked as legislative intern for Central Valley Congressman Jeff Denham and as law clerk for the U.S. Department of Justice (Environment and Natural Resources Division) in Sacramento. She was also a California State University Senate Fellow under former Lieutenant Governor Abel Maldonado.

Simmons …

December 1, 2013

By Dennis Law and Kathryn Eppright

The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit made it easier for a public employee to obtain whistleblower protection in Dahlia v. Rodriguez1 (‘‘Dahlia’’). Sitting en banc, the Ninth Circuit decided in a unanimous decision to overrule its previous decision in Huppert v. City of Pittsburg2 and convert the determination of whether a public employee is acting within the scope of his or her duties into a factual question rather than a legal one.3 The court also concluded that placement on administrative leave can constitute an adverse action for purposes of establishing …

By Lisa L. Toke
Published in the WMA Reporter, December 2013

Download PDF…

November 1, 2013

by Michael Morris, November 2013
Download Powerpoint File…

October 24, 2013

Michael Morris to Present The Basics of Estate Planning at November 1 Workshop

Pismo Beach – Michael Morris, senior principal with the Andre, Morris & Buttery law firm of San Luis Obispo, will be a speaker at an estate planning workshop on Friday, Nov. 1, 2013, sponsored by Joe Brittingham, Certified Financial PlannerTM and owner of Brittingham Financial Group. Morris will present a program titled “The Basics of Estate Planning.”

The no-charge luncheon event will take place from noon to 2:30 p.m. at the Dolphin Bay Resort with food provided by Lido Restaurant located at 2727 Shell Beach Road in …

April 3, 2013

The 2013 Business Symposium Podcasts

San Luis Obispo — If you were not able to attend the event, the three presentations are available below as podcasts and as PowerPoint presentations. The order of the speakers were: Simon Anderson, Don Vilfer, and Jeff Thompson.

Transform your business today.
Simon Anderson, Futur1st.com

Podcast:

MP3
Presentation: PPTX (This requires Microsoft PowerPoint)

Security from the inside out in a digital age.
Don Vilfer, Califorensics

Podcast:

MP3
Presentation: PPTX (This requires Microsoft PowerPoint)

Success begins with resiliency.
Jeff Thompson, PEAK Learning, Inc.

Podcast (part 1):

MP3
Podcast (part 2):

MP3
Presentation: PPTX (This requires Microsoft

…

February 1, 2013

The Mobilehome Park Owners’ Spectrum

By Lisa L. Toke

Published in the WMA Reporter, February 2013

Lisa L. Toke of Andre, Morris & Buttery has been representing mobilehome park owners in all capacities since 2004, when she joined the firm’s mobilehome park practice group. The services Lisa provides include consultation, revision of park documents, and representation in court and administrative proceedings. While Lisa loves to take cases to court, she also loves to save her clients time and money by resolving disputes outside of court.

In the years I have been representing mobilehome park owners, I have developed a theory

…

January 8, 2013

Andre, Morris & Buttery Named “Top Ranked Law Firm” by Fortune Magazine

SAN LUIS OBISPO – Longtime local law firm Andre, Morris & Buttery (AMB) has been named a “Top Ranked Law Firm” by Fortune Magazine. Fortune Magazine is a preeminent business publication renowned for its “Fortune 500” annual ranking and other business specialties.

The honor is extended to U.S. law firms whose attorneys have achieved the highest rating available from the LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell Peer view RatingsTM. All of AM&B’s rated attorneys have been recognized with the top score of “AV Preeminent,” by Martindale-Hubbell, the industry-recognized attorney ratings service. Attorneys …

December 7, 2012

“Super Lawyer” Gordon Bosserman Joins Andre, Morris & Buttery

Accomplished litigator brings talents to Central Coast firm

SAN LUIS OBISPO – Well-known Southern California trial attorney Gordon Bosserman has joined Andre, Morris & Buttery in an “of counsel” role. The opportunity to work with a leading law firm and live on the Central Coast drew Bosserman, an accomplished litigator, and his wife, Jennifer to relocate to San Luis Obispo County. He began his association with the firm on Dec. 1.

Bosserman was most recently a partner at Spolin Cohen Mainzer and Bosserman LLP of Los Angeles, specializing in trial practice …

June 10, 2012

Peer Review Index Gives Andre, Morris & Buttery Attorneys High Marks

Their clients already know it. Now, so does the rest of the world.

Andre, Morris & Buttery attorneys Lisa Toke, Kathy Eppright and Bill Douglass have all earned “AV Preeminent” ratings for excellence from the prestigious Martindale Hubbell legal index service.

The peer review ratings, according to Martindale Hubbell, are “objective indicators of a lawyer’s high ethical standards and professional ability, generated from evaluations of lawyers by other members of the bar and the judiciary in the United States and Canada.”AV Preeminent is the highest level of professional excellence.…

April 17, 2012

The 2012 Business Symposium Podcasts

San Luis Obispo — We hope you enjoy this podcast of the 2012 Central Coast Business Symposium. The order of speakers was Kathy Eppright, Tim Bennett and Clark Hoyt. Note that due to some technical difficulty at the beginning of Ms. Eppright’s presentation, the recording did not pick up the first few minutes of her presentation.

HR Challenges: What Businesses Can Learn from Each Other
Kathy Eppright, Managing Principal, Andre, Morris & Buttery
Lessons I Learned Working in the Oprah Empire
Tim Bennett, President, Harpo Productions, 1994-2010

Podcast:

MP3

Election 2012: It’s All About the

…

April 16, 2012

Bloomberg Editor: Republican Discord a Boost for Obama

San Luis Obispo — President Barack Obama should be the underdog in his campaign for re-election, but disunity among Republicans could hand him a victory in November — and a stronger hand in dealing with Congress.

That was the analysis handed down by Bloomberg News Editor Clark Hoyt at the fourth annual Central Coast Economic Symposium on April 4.

Speaking to about 300 business and community leaders in Arroyo Grande, Hoyt, a Pulitzer Prize winner and former public editor at The New York Times, said that although no president has been re-elected …

April 6, 2012

Economic Impacts of Presidential Election Discussed at Central Coast Business Symposium

San Luis Obispo — The economic impacts of the presidential election were a focus of the fourth-annual Central Coast Business Symposium. More than 300 area business leaders attended the event Wednesday, which was sponsored by San Luis Obispo law firm Andre, Morris & Buttery and held at the Clark Center for the Performing Arts. It was designed to give business leaders a way to collaborate and share information about how to improve the region’s economy.

Featured speakers included Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Clark Hoyt, former public editor for The New …

March 27, 2012

Business Symposium Shines Spotlight on Employees, Election & the Oprah Empire — Andre, Morris & Buttery Hosts April 4 Event

San Luis Obispo — A Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, the business executive who directed the Oprah Winfrey empire and a leading expert in employment law will anchor The Central Coast Business Symposium® on Apr. 4, 2012. The 4th annual event is hosted by Andre, Morris & Buttery and scheduled for 3-7 p.m. at the Clark Center in Arroyo Grande.

Clark Hoyt, former public editor for the New York Times and current editor-at-large for Bloomberg News, was honored with a Pulitzer Prize …

Business Symposium Scheduled for April 4

Clark Hoyt, former public editor for The New York Times and current editor-at-large for Bloomberg News, was honored with a Pulitzer Prize for his work reporting on presidential politics. Hoyt’s presentation at the symposium will focus …

Business Symposium Coming to Clark Center

March 27, 2012

San Luis Obispo — A panel of guests is slated to speak at the fourth annual Central Coast Business Symposium at the Clark Center in Arroyo Grande next week. The event, scheduled for April 4, will host Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Clark Hoyt, former public editor for The New York Times, Washington bureau chief for Knight Ridder and current editor-at-large for Bloomberg News; Tim Bennett, former president of Harpo Productions, Oprah Winfrey’s family of businesses; and Kathy Eppright, managing principal for San Luis Obispo-based law firm and event host Andre, Morris & …

October 26, 2011

Michael Morris to Address Estate Planning in Times of Change at October 28th Workshop

Pismo Beach — Michael Morris, senior principal with the Andre, Morris & Buttery law firm of San Luis Obispo, will be a speaker at an estate planning workshop on Friday, Oct. 28, 2011, sponsored by Joe Brittingham, CFP® of Edward Jones Investments. Morris will be joined by CPA Eric Schwefler of Caliber Accounting Group to present a program titled “Estate Planning in Times of Change.”

The no-charge event will take place at 8 a.m.–noon at the Dolphin Bay Resort located at 2727 Shell Beach Road in …

September 21, 2011

Andre, Morris & Buttery Closes Third Winery Sale Contract

Firm executes more than $100 million in sale contracts

San Luis Obispo, CA — Central Coast law firm Andre, Morris & Buttery has concluded its third recent wine industry transaction, logging a total of more than $100 million in sale contracts. Andre, Morris & Buttery principal and leader of the winery merger team, Michael Morris, represented Sonoma Valley winery Overlook Vineyards in the recent sale of Landmark Winery. The sale price was not disclosed.

Landmark is located in Kenwood in the heart of Sonoma County wine country, and includes production of …

June 28, 2011

Yamaha Corporation USA Punished With $2.1 Million Jury Award

Jury finds motorsports giant intentionally damaged Paso Robles franchisee

PASO ROBLES — A local jury has found Yamaha Corporation U.S.A. liable for fraudulent and malicious treatment of Powerhouse Motorsports, a former Paso Robles business. The trial in the California Superior Court for the County of San Luis Obispo resulted in an August 9th judgment against Yamaha. The jury found that Yamaha acted in violation of state law by interfering with Powerhouse’s attempt to sell its dealership, and that it did so maliciously, fraudulently and oppressively, entitling Powerhouse to an award of …

April 7, 2011

The 2011 Business Symposium Knocks it out of the Park

SAN LUIS OBISPO — The Central Coast Business Symposium held on Apr. 7, 2011 at the Clark Center featured a star lineup of speakers who discussed strategies for succcess in today’s economy.

A podcast presentation of the program is available by clicking on icons below. Slower internet connections may require several minutes for the audio to download. Please be patient.

	Welcome Michael Morris, Andre, Morris & Buttery Podcast: MP3
	Special Introduction Dr. Jeffrey Armstrong, President, Cal Poly State University Podcast: MP3
	Yes, Everything Has Changed: Growing a Business in Today’s

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December 20, 2010

Andre, Morris & Buttery Tapped for JUSTIN Winery Sale

Complex transaction required team of legal experts

PASO ROBLES, CA — Central Coast law firm Andre, Morris & Buttery was retained by Justin and Deborah Baldwin to represent them in the merger of their privately held JUSTIN Vineyards and Winery of Paso Robles into a new company owned by Los Angeles businessman Stewart Resnick. The prestigious JUSTIN label sold for an undisclosed amount to the owner of Fiji Water, Teleflora, POM Wonderful and Paramount Citrus among and other companies. The sale included vineyards, an on-site bed and breakfast inn and winery …

November 18, 2010

Todd Mirolla to Speak at Health Care Reform Seminar

Attorney will review details of proposed changes at Nov. 18 event

SAN LUIS OBISPO — Todd Mirolla, attorney and partner with the Andre, Morris & Buttery law firm of San Luis Obispo will be a featured speaker at a seminar on health care reform Thursday, Nov. 18. Mirolla will join Eric Schwefler, CPA and partner for Caliber Accounting and Dave Morgan, broker and Principal for Morris & Garritano to review two aspects of health care reform: how the reform plan will affect groups or companies with common owners, and changes to …

June 7, 2010

Andre, Morris & Buttery and Morris & Garritano Offer Employment Seminar

San Luis Obispo – Andre, Morris & Buttery attorneys and employment law specialists Collette Hiller and Kathy Eppright were featured speakers at a recent Central Coast business leaders’ seminar. The daylong event focused on HR management for companies and organizations of all sizes and was hosted by AMB and Morris & Garritano Insurance. The PowerPoint presentations used by Ms. Hillier and Ms. Eppright are available in PDF format via the attachments below. Further information is available by contacting Kathy Eppright at keprright@amblaw.com or Collette Hillier at chillier@amblaw.com; For …

March 17, 2010

Michael Morris Offers Presentation on Estate Tax Repeal

San Luis Obispo – Michael Morris, principal with Andre, Morris & Buttery, was invited by financial advisor Joe Brittingham to speak at a recent seminar on financial planning. Mr. Morris’ PowerPoint presentation, “Estate Tax Repeal and its Effect on Basic Estate Planning” is offered in PDF format via the link below. Additional information is available by contacting Mr. Morris via mmorris@amblaw.com.