The Legal Blog
Welcome to the Legal Blog. I’m Nicholas J. Brooks, Esq., and here I provide clear, practical insights on a wide variety of legal topics to help you understand your rights, make informed decisions, and stay ahead of developments in the law. Whether you’re interested in civil litigation, personal injury, business, employment, contracts, or other areas, this blog is designed to keep you informed and empowered.
Putin’s August 2025 U.S. Visit: Legal Context, Humanitarian Implications, and Pathways for Policy
“A noteworthy event during the Alaska summit was First Lady Melania Trump’s hand-delivering of a personal letter to President Putin, expressly calling attention to the fate of abducted Ukrainian children….This gesture was significant, morally and historically, since it ensured the rights and welfare of affected children were included in summit discourse.”
Beyond the President’s Reach: Birthright Citizenship, the Fourteenth Amendment, and the Limits of Executive Power
Attempts like Executive Order 14160 to redefine citizenship by executive fiat are incompatible not just with the constitutional text, but with the allocation of authority within our constitutional structure.
Legal Defenses for AI Companies When Users Are Injured Following AI-Generated Advice: Navigating Online Information, Tradition, and Risk
This article provides a clear overview of legal defenses available to AI companies facing user-injury claims, while also outlining the need for heightened user awareness in an age of both information abundance and ambiguity.
The Spanos Family Trust, Private Equity, and the Future of the Los Angeles Chargers: Legal, Financial, and Relocation Issues
“… a billionaire owner with strategic vision and deep pockets—such as Jeff Bezos—could revive the possibility of the Chargers returning as a San Diego-based franchise, or alternatively, might move the team in a completely new direction, including international relocation.”
Redistricting at the Crossroads: Louisiana v. Callais and America’s Voting Rights Dilemma
The case asks a deceptively simple but deeply loaded question: What is a legislature to do when the Voting Rights Act (VRA) seems to demand racial considerations, yet the Constitution—by way of Supreme Court precedent—warns that using race as the central factor is itself illegal? Callais turns on the line between what is required, and what is forbidden, in the drawing of American electoral maps.
Do I Need My Monocle to Read World Law?Why the ICJ’s Climate Change Opinion Proves We Need a New Baseline for Global Judicial Communication
If global justice is truly for the world, the world’s court must choose to lead, not just in law, but in communication.
Who Should “Save” College Sports? Federal Power, congressional Authority, and the Limits of Executive Action
President Trump’s 2025 Executive Order is a policy signal, not a final word. Courts have repeatedly shown that real, durable solutions demand clear legislative authority. Until Congress builds that foundation, college sports governance will remain a battleground—ambitious but unsettled, historic yet unresolved.
Unconscionability and Delegation Clauses in California Arbitration Agreements: Doctrinal Overview
“Generally applicable contract defenses, such as fraud, duress, or unconscionability, may be applied to invalidate arbitration agreements,” so long as such rules do not uniquely burden arbitration. AT&T Mobility LLC v. Concepcion, 563 U.S. 333, 339–40 (2011).
How Out-of-State Subpoenas Work in California: What Litigants and Clients Need to Know
California’s well-defined process for out-of-state subpoenas provides a valuable tool for litigants and attorneys alike. By understanding the statutory framework and following the established procedures, anyone involved in a multistate lawsuit can efficiently obtain the evidence they need to support their case.
Direct vs. Derivative Actions in California: A Shareholder’s Guide to Business Lawsuits
The difference between direct and derivative actions is not merely academic. If you bring the wrong type of lawsuit or fail to follow the statutory procedures-especially the demand requirement-your case may be dismissed before it is ever heard.
Piercing the Corporate Veil in California: When and How Individuals Can Be Held Personally Liable
Piercing the corporate veil is not a routine remedy. California courts reserve this doctrine for cases where the business entity is being misused to the detriment of others.
Cross-Complaints, Counterclaims, and Impleader in California Civil Litigation
When you’re sued in California, your immediate concern may be defending yourself-but what if you have your own claims to assert? Whether you believe the plaintiff is actually at fault, a co-defendant owes you money, or a third party should share the blame, California law provides unique tools for making your voice heard in court.
Who Really Runs College Football? Coaches, Power, and the Price of Privilege
It’s time for local politicians, prosecutors, and university officials to recognize that coaches-no matter how many championships they win-are not above the law or basic standards of conduct. They must be held to the same scrutiny and accountability as any other public servant or powerful figure.
Discovery Sanctions in California: What You Need to Know and Why Experience Matters
Successfully obtaining discovery sanctions is not simply a matter of showing that the opposing party violated their obligations. California courts require strict compliance with procedural rules when requesting sanctions.