--- title: 2025 February url: https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2025-february --- # [2025 February](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2025-february "2025 February") [![Advo Feb25 cvr EZINE](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/images/issues/2025/02-february/Advo-Feb25-cvr-EZINE.jpg)](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/ezines/2025/February2025/html5/Advocate-Feb25-issue.html) Articles in this issue: ## [Litigating wildfire claims](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2025-february/litigating-wildfire-claims "Litigating wildfire claims") A look at the complexity of fire claims and why insurance coverage and bad-faith expertise matters [Alexander Cohen](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/alexander-cohen "Alexander Cohen") ## [A primer on fire-insurance coverage in California](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2025-february/a-primer-on-fire-insurance-coverage-in-california "A primer on fire-insurance coverage in California") The issues consumers will face as they try to rebuild their homes and lives [Jeffrey I. Ehrlich](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/jeffrey-i-ehrlich "Jeffrey I. Ehrlich") ## [Jabs and SLAPPs](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2025-february/jabs-and-slapps "Jabs and SLAPPs") The viability of defamation actions in California today [Jack Bollier](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/jack-bollier "Jack Bollier") ## [The best and worst employment cases of 2024](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2025-february/the-best-and-worst-employment-cases-of-2024 "The best and worst employment cases of 2024") A brief overview of the cases that shaped the year in employment law (with a bit of color commentary) [Andrew H. Friedman](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/andrew-h-friedman "Andrew H. Friedman") [Erin M. Kelly](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/erin-m-kelly "Erin M. Kelly") ## [Presiding Judge Sergio C. Tapia II](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2025-february/presiding-judge-sergio-c-tapia-ii "Presiding Judge Sergio C. Tapia II") The new presiding judge’s vision for LA County’s civil and criminal courts [Lawrence P. Riff](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/lawrence-p-riff "Lawrence P. Riff") [Yvette Verastegui](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/yvette-verastegui "Yvette Verastegui") ## [Important developments in mass torts](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2025-february/important-developments-in-mass-torts "Important developments in mass torts") Guidance for MDLs, cautions on Rule 702 and expert preparation, and an update on the Texas Two-Step [Michelle M. West](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/michelle-m-west "Michelle M. West") [Tracy Hughes](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/tracy-hughes "Tracy Hughes") ## [Premises-liability cases involving third-party criminal conduct](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2025-february/premises-liability-cases-involving-third-party-criminal-conduct "Premises-liability cases involving third-party criminal conduct") Successfully challenging the defense motion for summary judgment [Nadine Ninva Khedry](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/nadine-ninva-khedry "Nadine Ninva Khedry") [Robert Glassman](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/robert-glassman "Robert Glassman") ## [When life gives you lemon…law reform](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2025-february/when-life-gives-you-lemon-law-reform "When life gives you lemon…law reform") The practitioner and vehicle owner’s guide to the 2025 changes in the lemon law [Michelle Fonseca-Kamana](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/michelle-fonseca-kamana "Michelle Fonseca-Kamana") ## [Employers may be held liable for single-incident harassment claims – racial epithets made by non-supervisors](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2025-february/employers-may-be-held-liable-for-single-incident-harassment-claims-racial-epithets-made-by-non-supervisors "Employers may be held liable for single-incident harassment claims – racial epithets made by non-supervisors") Examining [[case]]Bailey[[/case]] in the broader context of employment-discrimination law [Hayley Solarz](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/hayley-solarz "Hayley Solarz") [J. Bernard Alexander](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/bernard-alexander "J. Bernard Alexander") ## [Appellate Reports](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2025-february/appellate-reports-53 "Appellate Reports") [[case]]Privette[[/case]] and its applicability to indirect owner of hirer. Also, sports and assumption of the risk; “headless” PAGA claims; dangers alongside high-speed roadways [Jeffrey I. Ehrlich](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/jeffrey-i-ehrlich "Jeffrey I. Ehrlich") ## [Attorney-referral lien treatment in the wake of [[case]]Qaadir[[/case]]](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2025-february/attorney-referral-lien-treatment-in-the-wake-of-case-qaadir-case "Attorney-referral lien treatment in the wake of [[case]]Qaadir[[/case]]") The attorney-client privilege vs. defense’s argument on attorney-referral treatment [Jonathan Bakhsheshian](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/jonathan-bakhsheshian "Jonathan Bakhsheshian") [Sarin Goncuian](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/sarin-goncuian "Sarin Goncuian") ## [Another look at the [[case]]Quach[[/case]] decision](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2025-february/another-look-at-the-case-quach-case-decision "Another look at the [[case]]Quach[[/case]] decision") Arbitration, like any contractual right, can be waived [JJ Johnston](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/jj-johnston "JJ Johnston") ## [Navigating the way forward while keeping our values](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2025-february/navigating-the-way-forward-while-keeping-our-values "Navigating the way forward while keeping our values") A look back at Prop 51 to better understand the challenges we face this year [Geoff Wells](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/geoff-wells "Geoff Wells") ## [2025 legislation again threatens tort system](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2025-february/2025-legislation-again-threatens-tort-system "2025 legislation again threatens tort system") Proposed immunities for public entities pose a danger to plaintiffs [Nancy Peverini](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/nancy-peverini "Nancy Peverini") ## [Our community needed us, and we responded](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2025-february/our-community-needed-us-and-we-responded "Our community needed us, and we responded") Please give today to support fire victims and our first responders — https://LATLCFIRE.givesmart.com [Megan E. Klein](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/megan-e-klein-2 "Megan E. Klein") [Michelle M. West](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/michelle-m-west "Michelle M. West") ## [Nashville in Newport](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2025-february/nashville-in-newport "Nashville in Newport") A look at the annual installation celebration and a taste of what lies ahead [Aaron Hicks](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/aaron-hicks "Aaron Hicks") ## [We will recover](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2025-february/we-will-recover "We will recover") …And we will rise again [Martin I. Aarons](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/martin-i-aarons "Martin I. Aarons")