Housing Trends in California

An attorney at Zurich Staff Legal in Sacramento, California, Matthew “Matt” Zumstein studied law at the McGeorge School of Law, University of the Pacific. He is a U.S. Supreme Court Bar member and was admitted to the State Bar of California in 1999. Matthew Zumstein is interested in construction and real estate law as it impacts the state of California.

COVID-19, drought, heatwaves, and forest fires may have dampened the California housing market, but year-over-year increases still show a high upward trend. July 2021 home sales stats show that after recording four-straight months of record sales, overall home prices in California moderated slightly, yet in the southern part of the state, they hit an all-time high.

On a month-to-month basis, the median home price in California slipped one percent to $811,170 in July 2021, a decline from $819,630 recorded in June. That is 21.7 percent, up from the $666,320 figure recorded in July 2020. For the fourth-straight month, the median home price remained above the national $800,000 benchmark.

Gig Worker Initiative Unconstitutional

A member of the U.S. Supreme Court Bar, Matthew Zumstein is a seasoned litigation attorney with Zurich Staff Legal in Sacramento, California. With a JD from the University of the Pacific, he represents both commercial and personal clients. A resident of Redwood City, California, Matthew “Matt” Zumstein is interested in worker-employer benefits and compensation issues related to California.

A 2020 ballot measure in California has been ruled unconstitutional. It had exempted food delivery and rideshare drivers from a state labor law. The judge said the measure infringes on the power of the legislature to streamline workplace standards. Voted on in November 2020, the initiative exempts drivers for companies like Doordash, Lyft, and Uber from the 2019 Assembly Bill 5, a labor law that requires companies to extend benefits to more workers.

The affected companies have spent about $200 million to push Proposition 22. Their proposal obligates them to provide workers with a health care subsidy in place of having to comply with Assembly Bill 5. The coalition of gig companies behind Proposition 22 is appealing the court decision to declare the gig worker initiative as unconstitutional.

A Few Popular Hiking Locations Near Sacramento

A graduate of the University of the Pacific, Matthew Zumstein is a seasoned litigation attorney specializing in areas of property and casualty insurance defense. He currently works for Zurich Staff Legal in Sacramento, California. When he is not establishing strong relationships with clients and partners, Matthew “Matt” Zumstein enjoys leading an active lifestyle. His interests include cycling and hiking.

Hiking enthusiasts living in or visiting Sacramento have a wide range of options to choose from. The Jedediah Smith Memorial Trail is perfect for those in search of a multi-day trek, stretching 32 miles northeast from the city to Folsom Lake and the Sierra Nevada foothills. Hikers can also access the trail from locations such as Auburn State Recreation Area or Cronan Ranch Regional Trails Park and take on a shorter section of the trail.

The Folsom Lake State Recreation Area is home to a multitude of well-traveled hiking trails and mixed-used paths, including the popular Darrington Trail. Other hiking hot spots north of the Sacramento region include the Tahoe and Eldorado National Forests. Further south, individuals can head to the Stone Lakes National Wildlife Refuge or Cosumnes River Preserve. Those in search of a more strenuous challenge can take on Mount Diablo, which rewards hikers with a remarkable coastal panorama.

Some Ways to Avoid Litigation

With extensive experience in insurance and construction law, Matthew “Matt” Zumstein serves Zurich North America as a litigation attorney. Over his 20-year career, Matt Zumstein has solved numerous matters without going to arbitration or court. He also has a successful history of advising clients on reducing litigation risks.

Litigation is costly and time-consuming for employers and employees, often lasting for months and even years once the lawsuit is submitted. Because of this every company should have a strategy to deal with litigation in order to prevent the waste of both time and money.

The first thing a company can do to avoid litigation is to identify the risky areas, which are most likely to occasion disputes. Different industries are subjected to various risks – healthcare workers, for instance, should be better trained in data privacy while financial institutions should focus on cybersecurity training.

Another way to avoid litigation is to create appropriate documentation for every transaction. Some businesses think they will cut costs by providing clients with inadequate documents, but these are much more likely to lead to litigation. A tip is always to have an attorney responsible for drafting or reviewing contracts and other related documents.