---
title: 2017 February
url: https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2017-february
---

# [2017 February](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2017-february "2017 February")

[![Advocate Feb17 cvr ezine](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/images/issues/2017/02-february/Advocate-Feb17-cvr-ezine.jpg)](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/ezines/2017/February2017/html5/index.html)

Articles in this issue:

## [Identifying elder-abuse cases](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2017-february/identifying-elder-abuse-cases "Identifying elder-abuse cases")

Understanding the elder-abuse statute is the first step in identifying likely cases in both health-care abuse and financial abuse

[Todd J. Bloomfield](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/todd-j-bloomfield "Todd J. Bloomfield")

## [12 Concepts crucial to successful voir dire](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2017-february/12-concepts-crucial-to-successful-voir-dire "12 Concepts crucial to successful voir dire")

The jury is the canvas upon which your case will be painted. Take special care in painting the minor impact, soft-tissue case

[Christopher Dolan](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/christopher-dolan "Christopher Dolan")

## [Porter Ranch litigation: Lessons learned](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2017-february/porter-ranch-litigation-lessons-learned "Porter Ranch litigation: Lessons learned")

Ten lessons learned from representing clients in mass torts and other mass actions

[Brian S. Kabateck](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/brian-s-kabateck "Brian S. Kabateck")
[Lina Melidonian](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/lina-melidonian "Lina Melidonian")

## [Toxic-tort litigation](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2017-february/toxic-tort-litigation "Toxic-tort litigation")

A ruling on the “intermediary defense” highlights a good year for toxic-tort plaintiffs at the California Supreme Court

[Raphael Metzger](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/raphael-metzger "Raphael Metzger")

## [The “sophisticated-intermediary” defense](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2017-february/the-sophisticated-intermediary-defense "The “sophisticated-intermediary” defense")

Understanding and litigating this products liability defense, including the recent Kesner holding by the California Supreme Court

[Rajeev Mittal](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/rajeev-mittal "Rajeev Mittal")

## [Watch your language](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2017-february/watch-your-language "Watch your language")

How examining federal preemption in complex toxic-tort cases and taking great care with your pleading can save your litigation

[Larry Peluso](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/larry-peluso "Larry Peluso")

## [Handling retainers, referral fees and managing client trust accounts](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2017-february/handling-retainers-referral-fees-and-managing-client-trust-accounts "Handling retainers, referral fees and managing client trust accounts")

It all starts with your retainer agreement – get it right!

[Thomas C. Zaret](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/thomas-c-zaret "Thomas C. Zaret")

## [Demystifying complex-case coordination](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2017-february/demystifying-complex-case-coordination "Demystifying complex-case coordination")

How to have your case designated as “complex” or form a Judicial Council Coordinated Proceeding

[Helen E. Zukin](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/helen-e-zukin "Helen E. Zukin")
[Melanie Meneses Palmer](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/melanie-meneses-palmer "Melanie Meneses Palmer")

## [Appellate Reports](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2017-february/appellate-reports-4 "Appellate Reports")

Cal Supreme Court rules in [[case]]Augustus v. ABM[[/case]] that the [[case]]Brinker[[/case]] standard applies to rest breaks and that “on call” rest breaks are not compliant with the law

[Jeffrey I. Ehrlich](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/jeffrey-i-ehrlich "Jeffrey I. Ehrlich")

## [Individually, we are one drop...](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2017-february/individually-we-are-one-drop "Individually, we are one drop...")

Together, we are an ocean

[Shaina Colover](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/shaina-colover "Shaina Colover")

## [One simple and powerful sentence](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2017-february/one-simple-and-powerful-sentence "One simple and powerful sentence")

The jury system is the purest form of democracy

[Ricardo Echeverria](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/ricardo-echeverria "Ricardo Echeverria")

## [Cybersecurity hacks and attacks](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2017-february/cybersecurity-hacks-and-attacks "Cybersecurity hacks and attacks")

Protect yourself with these seven simple tips

[Stuart Zanville](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/stuart-zanville "Stuart Zanville")