--- title: 2026 August url: https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2026-august --- # [2026 August](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2026-august "2026 August") [![Advocate August26 cvr ezine](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/images/issues/2026/08-august/Advocate-Aug26-cvr-ezine.jpg)](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/ezines/2026/August2026/html5/Advocate-Aug26-issue.html) Articles in this issue: ## [Uber pulls its ballot measure](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2026-august/uber-pulls-its-ballot-measure "Uber pulls its ballot measure") A thanks to all those who helped secure this major victory for injured Californians [Elizabeth A. Hernandez](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/elizabeth-a-hernandez "Elizabeth A. Hernandez") ## [The Uber fight: OCTLA’s collective voice](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2026-august/the-uber-fight-octla-s-collective-voice "The Uber fight: OCTLA’s collective voice") And a word from War Council Member Greg Bentley [Clare Lucich](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/clare-lucich "Clare Lucich") [Greg Bentley](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/greg-bentley "Greg Bentley") ## [It’s time for some self-care](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2026-august/it-s-time-for-some-self-care "It’s time for some self-care") August is National Wellness Month and the Great Tryke Giveaway [Griselda S. Rodriguez](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/griselda-s-rodriguez "Griselda S. Rodriguez") [Michelle M. West](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/michelle-m-west "Michelle M. West") ## [SB 623: The new rules for rideshare accident litigation](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2026-august/sb-623-the-new-rules-for-rideshare-accident-litigation "SB 623: The new rules for rideshare accident litigation") New rules focus on past medical expenses and lien-based medical care [Saveena K. Takhar](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/saveena-k-takhar "Saveena K. Takhar") ## [Appellate Reports](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2026-august/appellate-reports-61 "Appellate Reports") The “two dismissal rule” is not a rule of claim preclusion; also, the Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assault/Harassment Act; and, self-represented plaintiffs can get mandatory sanction for defendant’s discovery abuse [Jeffrey I. Ehrlich](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/jeffrey-i-ehrlich "Jeffrey I. Ehrlich") ## [Sub rosa surveillance: The cheapest witness in the room](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2026-august/sub-rosa-surveillance-the-cheapest-witness-in-the-room "Sub rosa surveillance: The cheapest witness in the room") How defense surveillance gets bought, who actually produces it, and why plaintiffs must stop taking the package at face value [Richard J. Weston](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/richard-j-weston "Richard J. Weston") ## [The age of universal intelligence](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2026-august/the-age-of-universal-intelligence "The age of universal intelligence") Intelligence is about to be universal. Wisdom is not. Your workflows are your IP, your moat, and your legacy – build your agents now. [Robert T. Simon](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/robert-t-simon "Robert T. Simon") ## [You took the deposition, but can you use it at trial?](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2026-august/you-took-the-deposition-but-can-you-use-it-at-trial "You took the deposition, but can you use it at trial?") How to set up your depositions – from notice to questioning – so they work when it counts [Cassidy Wakeham](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/cassidy-wakeham "Cassidy Wakeham") [Clare Lucich](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/clare-lucich "Clare Lucich") ## [Junk science in the courtroom](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2026-august/junk-science-in-the-courtroom "Junk science in the courtroom") The *Kelly/Frye* standard and biomechanical and neuropsychological testimony in PI damages litigation [Mauro Fiore](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/mauro-fiore "Mauro Fiore") ## [How trial and appellate counsel work together for the common good](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2026-august/how-trial-and-appellate-counsel-work-together-for-the-common-good "How trial and appellate counsel work together for the common good") The best trial outcomes are built with an appeal already in mind [Reid Ehrlich](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/reid-ehrlich "Reid Ehrlich") ## [Getting “prior accidents” admitted in cases against public entities](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2026-august/getting-prior-accidents-admitted-in-cases-against-public-entities "Getting “prior accidents” admitted in cases against public entities") The substantial similarity rule, its limits, and how to counter the defense’s “absence of accidents” argument [Scott E. Boyer](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/scott-e-boyer "Scott E. Boyer") ## [Seeing the invisible injury](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2026-august/seeing-the-invisible-injury "Seeing the invisible injury") Using neuro-visual experts to prove mild traumatic brain injury [Courtney Rowley](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/courtney-rowley "Courtney Rowley") [Marianna Samuels](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/marianna-samuels "Marianna Samuels") ## [A new playbook for traumatic brain injury](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2026-august/a-new-playbook-for-traumatic-brain-injury "A new playbook for traumatic brain injury") The science has changed. Has your case strategy? [Dr. Topher Stephenson](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/dr-topher-stephenson "Dr. Topher Stephenson") [Taylor Ernst](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/taylor-ernst "Taylor Ernst") ## [Kaiser’s new lien grab for UIM dollars](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2026-august/kaiser-s-new-lien-grab-for-uim-dollars "Kaiser’s new lien grab for UIM dollars") Challenging Kaiser’s attempt to claim reimbursement rights against first-party UM/UIM recoveries [Donald de Camara](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/donald-de-camara "Donald de Camara") ## [A practical approach to Kaiser arbitrations](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2026-august/a-practical-approach-to-kaiser-arbitrations "A practical approach to Kaiser arbitrations") Recognizing that Kaiser views arbitration awards much differently than settlements [Bruce G. Fagel, M.D.](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/bruce-g-fagel-m-d "Bruce G. Fagel, M.D.") ## [On the deconstruction and reconstruction of the Kaiser arbitration system](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2026-august/on-the-deconstruction-and-reconstruction-of-the-kaiser-arbitration-system "On the deconstruction and reconstruction of the Kaiser arbitration system") Substantive unconscionability exists where the rules determining the outcome are stacked [Arlan Cohen](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/arlan-cohen "Arlan Cohen")