In Cheairs v. City of Seattle, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals recently ruled that an officer’s deployment of a blast ball during a chaotic protest, which injured a nearby bystander, did not violate the Fourth Amendment. This decision
California Public Safety Labor Blog
The California Public Safety Labor Blog, published by Mastagni Law, focuses on legal issues affecting public safety employees in California, including police officers, firefighters, and other peace officers. The blog covers topics such as labor relations, collective bargaining, employment rights under the Public Safety Officers Bill of Rights and Firefighters Bill of Rights, workers' compensation claims, pension and retirement law, and civil rights litigation involving public safety personnel. It also addresses legislative developments impacting public safety labor law, court decisions affecting employee protections, and practical guidance for unions and individual employees navigating complex labor and employment regulations in the public safety sector.
Latest from California Public Safety Labor Blog - Page 6
Appellate Ruling Severely Limits Public Employees’ Legal Recourse for Improperly Disclosed Personnel Records
By Mastagni Law
In the ever-evolving landscape of public safety labor law,
protecting the confidentiality of peace officer personnel records remains a
critical issue. A recent California Court of Appeal decision, Santa Ana
Police Officers Association et al. v. City of Santa Ana…
Sacramento Police Officers Association Wins Interest Arbitration Award: 5% Retroactive Raise, Enhanced Longevity, and 14 Month Term
By Mastagni Law
The Sacramento Police Officers Association (SPOA) obtained an Interest Arbitration Award from Arbitrator John LaRocco effective August 8, 2025, adopting SPOA’s last best offer on a 5% salary adjustment for all members retroactive to January 25, 2025. The Award runs…
Recent Appellate Decisions Erode Pitchess Protections for California Peace Officers
By Mastagni Law
Two new Court of Appeal decisions are chipping away at the confidentiality safeguards for peace officers’ personnel files under Pitchess v. Superior Court (1974) 11 Cal.3d 531. These rulings expand disclosure requirements and limit protective orders, potentially exposing officers to…
Ninth Circuit Vindicates Second Amendment Rights in Two Recent Rulings: Ammo Background Checks & One-Gun-A-Month Law
By Mastagni Law
Ninth Circuit Upholds Ruling Against California’s Ammo Background Check LawIn a closely watched decision today, a divided panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit affirmed a lower court’s ruling that California’s ammunition background check requirements,…
Navigating "Great Bodily Injury" Disclosures under PC 832.7: CA Supreme Court’s Cabrera Decision Raises the Bar
By Mastagni Law
In the evolving landscape of police transparency laws, California’s peace officers are facing a critical debate over what constitutes “great bodily injury” (GBI) under Penal Code Section 832.7. This provision, amended by Senate Bill 1421 in 2018, mandates the disclosure…
Watch David E. Mastagni Testifying for AB 340: PORAC Sponsored Legislation to Protect Confidential Union Communications
By Mastagni Law
On July 15, 2025, David E. Mastagni of Mastagni Holstedt, APC testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee in support of AB 340 (Ahrens), a vital bill sponsored by PORAC that codifies existing PERB precedent to protect confidential communications between…
Michigan Jury Acquits State Police Sergeant in Off-Duty Accidental Firearm Discharge Case
By Mastagni Law
In a notable victory for law enforcement, a Kalamazoo County jury acquitted Michigan State Police Sergeant Kellie Gillam-Shaffer of reckless firearm use charges stemming from an accidental discharge while she shopped off-duty at a Costco. The case highlights the challenges…
Ninth Circuit Denies Qualified Immunity to CHP officer Who Mistook Stroke for DUI: Must Officers Now Play Doctor? Implications for Officers’ Medical Response Duties
By Mastagni Law
In a significant ruling for California law enforcement, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals reversed a district court’s grant of qualified immunity to a CHP officer who delayed medical care for a motorist suffering a stroke, after mistaking symptoms for…
Major Victory for the Los Angeles City Attorneys Association: Court Upholds Right to Arbitrate
By Mastagni Law
On July 8, 2025, the Los Angeles City Attorneys Association
(LACAA) achieved a significant legal triumph in the Superior Court of
California, County of Los Angeles, in the case of Los Angeles City Attorneys
Association, et al. vs. City …