Yakov Wiegmann (Of Counsel-San Francisco) and Chris Maloney (Associate-San Francisco) secured a demurrer without leave to amend in a case pending in California’s Yolo County Superior Court. The client, an undocked scooter sharing company, was sued for negligence and permissive use liability by a pedestrian who was allegedly struck by someone who had rented an undocked scooter. Yakov and Chris’s demurrer argued that the rental company did not owe a duty to protect against unlawful acts by renters, and that the plaintiff’s state law claims were preempted by the federal Graves Amendment. The court agreed on all counts. Chris delivered an excellent brief, presenting out-of-state authorities that won the day, and using the judicial notice procedure to introduce key evidence that not only established the predicate for applying the Graves Amendment but also led the judge to conclude that “undocked scooters provide a valuable public service.” Yakov argued the motion, rebuffing the plaintiff’s attempt to circumvent federal preemption. Acknowledgments to Chicago partners Curt Schlom and Loren Cohen for their strategic guidance, and to legal secretary Tara Le and paralegal David Schwartz for their invaluable support.