About Judy Malmon, J.D.
Judy Malmon has blended law and writing throughout her career. She got her J.D. from University of California, Davis and practiced elder and disability law in California and Minnesota. She honed her writing by drafting appellate decisions in a nationwide class action, writing blogs for law firms, and writing for Westlaw. She loves digging into everyday legal questions, deciphering the complexities of law, and telling personal stories.
Articles written by Judy Malmon, J.D.
Marijuana DUI: Driving Under the Influence of Drugs
Most states have legalized medical marijuana for qualifying patients. About half of states have also legalized marijuana for adult recreational use. Marijuana legalization does not make it acceptable or safe to operate a motor vehicle while impaired. Drugged driving is more dangerous when combined with alcohol or other drugs. Marijuana impaired driving is a challenge to assess accurately, efficiently, or equally. The drug's effects can vary depending on the individual marijuana user. …
To Victims of Sexual Assault: Please Seek Legal Help
Sidney Royer, a Seattle-based victim’s rights and personal injury attorney, sees high-profile sexual assault convictions such as the one against Bill Cosby in 2018 as “another wakeup call for women and men who were victims of sexual crime. If someone could come forward against Bill Cosby, I think it makes it easier for people to discuss their own situation... If it could happen with him, other people less wonderful could be just as terrible.” Royer represents victims of violent crimes in …
What Is Fee-Shifting?
Common perception holds that lawyers are money-sucking predators, charging exorbitant rates to fuel extravagant lifestyles. The reality is that most attorneys get into the profession as a means to help others. Yes, they like to keep the lights on and feed their kids, but getting rich is not necessarily the driving force. Lawyers get that legal services can be expensive for regular folks. In an effort to advance the public interest, legal theories have arisen on the idea of fee-shifting …
Can a Business Provide Your Private Information to ICE?
According to a lawsuit brought by the Washington Attorney General’s Office, six Seattle area Motel 6 locations gave ICE agents guests’ full names, driver’s license numbers, phone numbers, license plate numbers, and the room number in which they stayed from 2015 to 2017. The data of more than 9,000 guests was then allegedly used by the agents to target individuals for detention, singling out those with Latino-sounding surnames. If the allegations are true, this was without guests’ …
How a Lawyer Can Help Launch Your Small Business
Launching and operating a small business can expose you to a variety of types of legal liability, making it often difficult to have a good grasp on what exactly your legal needs are. Particularly with a limited startup budget, it’s important to have guidance on what to do and when. Enter Boston transactional business attorney Sofia Lingos. “Most of my clients come at the business formation stage when they’re trying to understand exposure and liability,” she says. “I like to start with …
Attorney-Client Privilege in New Jersey: What You Need to Know
Our legal system is designed to maximize the furtherance of justice and truth. Toward that end, the law recognizes a right in those accused or sued to representation by an attorney who can advocate and strategize on their behalf. This right wouldn’t mean much if what you say to your lawyer could then be available for a court to review, and so the attorney-client privilege was created. The privilege was established as a means to promote candor between an attorney and their client. As such, the …
New Jersey Family Business: Succession Planning Strategies
Family-owned companies continue to be a major component of the American economy. They comprise roughly half of the U.S. gross domestic product, including 35% of Fortune 500 companies. Of course, with a family business, there’s often unique significance in sustaining a legacy. However, only 23% of family-owned businesses have a documented business succession plan, and scarcely one-third successfully survive a generational transfer. And while part of what makes joining with other family …
What To Do When Employees Claim Stress
Stress. It’s everywhere in our fast-paced modern lives. We know that chronic stress can affect our overall health and well-being, and for many of us, practices like exercise and learning to meditate can help restore balance. It’s a given that work will be a primary source of stress, typically related to time management, the weight of responsibility, and managing relationships. But there may be circumstances when work becomes more than an ordinary source of stress, and actually causes a kind …
What Are Gig Workers?
The American labor market has undergone significant restructuring in the last decade or so. Modern employment incorporates concepts like remote work, flex-time, and side hustles. These innovations challenge our traditional understanding of what it means to be an employee. Gig workers are often understood to be independent contractors. However, whether gig workers are employees or independent contractors is an important distinction. Worker classification has a major impact on employee benefits, …
When To Consult a Birth Injury Attorney: Key Considerations
Awaiting the birth of a baby is an exciting time that brings with it countless things to think about, including planning for labor and delivery. In an ideal world, the worst thing that happens at your baby’s birth is that your carefully organized playlist doesn’t make it to the delivery room. In some cases, however, much more serious problems occur. If your child was injured during the delivery process and you suspect medical negligence was involved, the best advice is to speak with a …
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