News & Publications

Interview with Kathy Eppright

Andre Morris & Buttery Principal Kathy Eppright interviewed for Pacific Coast Business Times article “Groundwater rules and mandatory sick leave in spotlight” by Stephen Nellis.   PDF article…

2014 Business Symposium Podcasts

San Luis Obispo — If you were not able to attend the event, the three presentations are available below as podcasts. The order of the speakers were: Bryan Davenport, Maureen Kasper, and Shama Kabani. Get Fat Thinking Lean: Streamline for Success Bryan Davenport, Zodiac Aerospace Podcast: MP3 Branding Your Business from the Inside-Out Maureen Kasper, Cisco Systems Podcast: MP3 Seven Digital Trends Every Leader Must Know Shama Kabani, Marketing Zen Group Podcast: MP3 …

2014 Business Symposium

Andre, Morris & Buttery hosted the 6th Annual Business Symposium on June 18, 2014 from 2-6 p.m. at the Clark Center in Arroyo Grande. Speakers and topics included Bryan Davenport with Zodiac Aerospace, “Get Fat Thinking Lean: Streamline for Success”; Maureen Kasper with Cisco Systems, “Branding Your Business from the Inside-Out”; and Shama Kabani with the Marketing Zen Group, “Seven Digital Trends Every Leader Must Know.” Speakers offered information on lean manufacturing for the workplace, thought leadership, and leveraging digital media to advance your business. Andre, Morris & Buttery created The Central Coast Business Symposium® in 2009 to give …

Labor Law Corner

The Protection of Employment Information (non-compete & similar provisions) Reprinted from Atascadero Chamber of Commerce Newsletter, May 2014 By Gordon Bosserman In California, non competition agreements that take effect after the termination of employment are generally not enforceable by an employer. There is an exception to this rule, but it is limited to the sale of the employee’s stock or a partnership interest in a business. Be aware, however, that an employer cannot issue a few shares of stock to an employee and buy it back at his or her termination and claim that a non compete agreement made with …

First Amendment Protection

Ninth Circuit Extends First Amendment Protection for Public Employees By Dennis Law and Kathryn Eppright Another front in the wage and hour wars in California opened several years ago when companies, like Home Depot and the 99 Cent Only stores, were named in class actions brought by employees alleging that the companies had failed to provide the “suitable seating” required under section 14 of CA Wage Order 7-2001 and CA Wage order 4-2001. While the issue in those state court cases focused on the standing of the plaintiffs to sue for non-compliance with the Wage Orders, the interpretation of the …

Karen Gjerdum Fothergill AMB Principal

SAN LUIS OBISPO, CALIF. – Attorney Karen Gjerdum Fothergill has been named a Principal at local law firm Andre, Morris & Buttery (AMB). Fothergill is a Santa Maria native who joined AMB as an associate in 2007. She works in the firm’s Environmental and Land Use, Business and Real Estate Transactions, Wine and Agribusiness, and Civil Litigation practice groups. “Over the last seven years, Karen has distinguished herself with her talents as an attorney and with her deep community knowledge in real estate and agriculture,” said AMB Managing Principal Kathryn M. Eppright. “We are delighted to welcome her as an …

AMB Adds New Attorneys

SAN LUIS OBISPO – Two attorneys have joined the extensive roster at Andre, Morris & Buttery. The law firm recently announced the addition of Amber Simmons and Matthew Boutté as associate attorneys to its San Luis Obispo office. Prior to earning a law degree from the University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law in 2012, Simmons worked as legislative intern for Central Valley Congressman Jeff Denham and as law clerk for the U.S. Department of Justice (Environment and Natural Resources Division) in Sacramento. She was also a California State University Senate Fellow under former Lieutenant Governor Abel Maldonado. Simmons …

1st Amendment Protection Extended

By Dennis Law and Kathryn Eppright The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit made it easier for a public employee to obtain whistleblower protection in Dahlia v. Rodriguez1 (‘‘Dahlia’’). Sitting en banc, the Ninth Circuit decided in a unanimous decision to overrule its previous decision in Huppert v. City of Pittsburg2 and convert the determination of whether a public employee is acting within the scope of his or her duties into a factual question rather than a legal one.3 The court also concluded that placement on administrative leave can constitute an adverse action for purposes of establishing …

Mobilehome Park Owner’s To-Do

By Lisa L. Toke Published in the WMA Reporter, December 2013 Download PDF…

Basics of Estate Planning

by Michael Morris, November 2013 Download Powerpoint File…