---
title: 2017 March
url: https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2017-march
---

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

[![Advocate Mar17 cvr ezine](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/images/issues/2017/03-march/Advocate-Mar17-cvr-ezine.jpg)](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/ezines/2017/March2017/html5/Advocate-Mar17-issue.html)

Articles in this issue:

## [Comparative fault](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2017-march/comparative-fault "Comparative fault")

Keeping plaintiff’s irrelevant drug and alcohol use away from the jury

## [Anatomy of a scaffolding case](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2017-march/anatomy-of-a-scaffolding-case "Anatomy of a scaffolding case")

Liability often focuses on witnesses to prove why the scaffolding failed

[Jeremy Cloyd](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/jeremy-cloyd "Jeremy Cloyd")

## [California bicycle laws – A primer](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2017-march/california-bicycle-laws-a-primer "California bicycle laws – A primer")

A look at the issues a lawyer may be presented with upon being retained in a bicycle case

[Timothy A. Loranger](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/timothy-a-loranger "Timothy A. Loranger")

## [Voir dire in a bicycle case](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2017-march/voir-dire-in-a-bicycle-case "Voir dire in a bicycle case")

The quest for understanding and common ground is not easy; jurors may harbor strong feelings about bicycles sharing the road with cars

[Artemis Malekpour](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/artemis-malekpour "Artemis Malekpour")

## [Governmental immunities that preclude bicyclists from prevailing in their actions](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2017-march/governmental-immunities-that-preclude-bicyclists-from-prevailing-in-their-actions "Governmental immunities that preclude bicyclists from prevailing in their actions")

A finding of liability is not guaranteed — even when it seems obvious

[Molly M. McKibben](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/molly-m-mckibben "Molly M. McKibben")

## [The party-bus industry](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2017-march/the-party-bus-industry "The party-bus industry")

A new breed of common carrier with the need for enhanced regulation

[Christian Nickerson](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/christian-nickerson "Christian Nickerson")

## [A common carrier’s obligation to provide utmost care](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2017-march/a-common-carrier-s-obligation-to-provide-utmost-care "A common carrier’s obligation to provide utmost care")

The duty should include warning passengers about deep-vein thrombosis

[Joseph Persoff](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/joseph-persoff "Joseph Persoff")

## [Five tips on handling the adverse Traffic Collision Report in bicycle and pedestrian cases](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2017-march/five-tips-on-handling-the-adverse-traffic-collision-report-in-bicycle-and-pedestrian-cases "Five tips on handling the adverse Traffic Collision Report in bicycle and pedestrian cases")

The officer and the witness say in the TCR that your guy was at fault – but that doesn’t make it so

[Greg Schaffer](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/greg-schaffer "Greg Schaffer")

## [Pedestrians: Walking the line of dangerous-condition claims](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2017-march/pedestrians-walking-the-line-of-dangerous-condition-claims "Pedestrians: Walking the line of dangerous-condition claims")

Missing traffic signals, inadequate crosswalks, and improper signage

[Alan Van Gelder](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/alan-van-gelder "Alan Van Gelder")
[Alexis Djivre](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/alexis-djivre "Alexis Djivre")

## [Appellate Reports](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2017-march/appellate-reports-5 "Appellate Reports")

[[case]]Okafor v. United States of America[[/case]] – Holds that a lawyer’s reliance on FedEx to timely deliver a document constitutes “routine negligence”

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

## [An inspiring human story](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2017-march/an-inspiring-human-story "An inspiring human story")

CAALA member overcomes tremendous odds in the criminal justice system

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

## [Trial lawyers](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2017-march/trial-lawyers "Trial lawyers")

Changing public perception, one anecdote at a time

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

## [The Neptune incident](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2017-march/the-neptune-incident "The Neptune incident")

Changing the public’s perception of trial lawyers

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