Honoring Cesar Chavez’ Legacy 

 One Client At A Time

    SH Picture

Among his many celebrated legacies, Cesar Chavez showed a generation of farmworkers how to bring about positive change in their work lives and in their communities by uniting to overcome both their own fear and the power of their opposition. In the process, Cesar also taught thousands of supporters who joined the farmworkers’ cause the same lesson – among them, our firm’s own Ann M. Smith.

From our founding in 1983, until now 33 years later, we do our very best to put that lesson into practice with committed advocacy on behalf of each client we serve. Knowing the law is not enough to achieve justice; it takes the determination and tenacity to enforce it. This is our firm’s commitment to every client. Visit our website or call us to see how we can help.

 

SSVW Team Achieves 7-Figure Settlement – For Injured Utility Lineman

 

Our Workers’ Compensation and Civil Litigation teams went to work on behalf of a young utility lineman who spent 9 days in theAdvocacy light bulb hospital and 18 months in recovery after a negligent crane operator rolled his crane into him. Mike Wax got him every benefit available under the Worker’s Compensation statute, while Jon Vanderpool and Senior Associate Kathryn Schultz sued the crane company and battled their high-priced L.A. lawyers and insurers. Coordinating their efforts, these two teams maximized the result for this young man, achieving the best permanent disability rating available under the W/C law and a seven figure damage settlement covering his past and future wage/earning capacity losses and his pain and suffering – all while assuring that his work restrictions were accommodated with a promotion to a training position.

Check Your Car Insurance Policy

 

 The Amount of Your Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage Matters

 

California’s “financial responsibility” law requires a private passenger vehicle to carry minimum liability insurance of $15,000 for injury/death to one person and $30,000 for injury/death to more than one person. Typically, a vehicle owner who maintains only the minimum liability insurance does so because this is all the vehicle owner can afford. If you have the misfortune to get in an accident with an at-fault driver who carries no insurance or only the Car insurance concept - word cloudrequired minimum, the availability of full and fair compensation will depend on the amount of your own vehicle insurance coverage for an uninsured or underinsured motorist. Remember, when serious bodily injuries occur in a vehicle accident, the consequences can, and often do, include immediate and future medical expenses, lost income or earning capacity, pain and suffering, and permanent disability.

Check your vehicle policy “declarations page” and make sure you have enough coverage in this “uninsured/underinsured” category. Talk with your agent and get a quote to increase your coverage to a level that is both affordable for your budget and provides the peace of mind you need. The consequences of a vehicle accident can be devastating enough without risking the surprise and added burden of being underinsured yourself in this situation.

Gender Wage Equality 

 

California’s new Fair Pay Act prohibits employers from paying any of its employees less than employees of the opposite sex for “substantially similar work, when viewed as a composite of skill, effort and responsibility.” Notepad with words employee rights concept and glassesThe employer bears the burden to show that wage differentials, where they exist, are based entirely on reasonable and acceptable factors, such as seniority, merit systems, or other good faith factors, coupled with a showing of business necessity.  The Fair Pay Act prohibits employers from terminating, discriminating or retaliating against an employee who exercises rights under the Act or assists others in exercising rights.  Employers also can’t prohibit employees from disclosing their wages (but they are not obligated to do so), discussing the wages of others or asking about another employee’s wages.

Meet SSVW’S Dina Escobedo

 

When calling or visiting our busy office over the past 11 years, you have likely been greeted by Dina Escobedo at our IMG_1861reception desk. With a smile and a pleasant attitude, Dina gets you to the right person, gives you directions, answers your questions if she can, or keeps you company while you await your appointment. When not at work, Dina loves spending time with her 5 children and 6 grandchildren. In fact, don’t be surprised if you see her out paddle-boarding with several of them! She also enjoys biking, kayaking and embroidery. We thank Dina for all she does while serving at SSVW’s front desk – being our “face” and “voice.”

Translate »