Tsion Chudnovsky

Bar / Professional Activity

• State Bar of California, 2002
• U.S. District Court, Central District of California, 2016
• National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers

Educational Background

• University of California, Irvine, Bachelor's degree, Political Science and Government, 1996

White Papers

• Recreational and medical use of marijuana, CBD, and cannabis products is legal in many states across the US. However, there are issues that doctors, nurses, and other healthcare license holders should be aware of before they do smoke weed, pot, hash oil, or honey oil or use medical marijuana or other psychoactive THC products. Licensed healthcare workers are subject to more restrictive marijuana use standards than the general public, even with a medical card and even in legal states, such as California, Colorado, and Washington. This guide helps you avoid triggering license board or employer disciplinary actions that put your career at risk., Can Physicians or Nurses Smoke Marijuana? - Analysis of the laws governing cannabis use by healthcare professionals., Health Care, 2024
• Since California became the first state to legalize medical marijuana in 1996, 35 states now allow recreational or medical marijuana use. But there are legal issues that pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, dentists, dental hygienists, and all licensed healthcare professionals must keep in mind before they smoke weed, hash, pot, CBD oil, or other cannabis products containing THC. Marijuana remains illegal under federal law, even with a medical card in legal states, such as California, Colorado, and Washington. And employers in all states have the right to establish a drug-free workplace., Can Dentists and Pharmacists Smoke Marijuana? - Analysis of the laws governing cannabis use by healthcare professionals., Health Care, 2024
• Every case is unique, and the best criminal defense attorneys weigh all factors to develop a case theory and criminal defense strategy most likely to succeed. Criminal defense strategies are legal arguments and actions taken to get criminal charges dismissed and secure a defendant’s freedom. They involve exposing legal flaws and doubts about any crime elements the prosecutor must prove beyond a reasonable doubt in order to win a conviction. If you’re facing prison or harsh penalties, it is key to consult a top criminal lawyer. No matter how smart you are, it is nearly impossible to competently defend yourself., 17 Best Criminal Defense Attorney Strategies: How Lawyers Win a Criminal Case, Criminal Justice, 2024
• Assembly Bill 2138 became effective July 1, 2020. This groundbreaking new law reduces barriers to obtaining professional licenses, expanding opportunities for those with conviction records, reducing recidivism rates, and increasing the transparency and predictability of licensure behavior. Almost 30 percent of the jobs in California (in approximately 1,773 occupations) require certification, licensure, or clearance from a DCA oversight agency or board. AB-2138 restricts the discretion and licensure criteria of 37 licensing boards within the Department of Consumer Affairs for denying, suspending, or revoking licensure due to criminal convictions or alleged misconduct. Only 3 occupational boards are excluded from the reforms., Analysis of AB-2138: CA Professional license criminal record changes, Criminal Justice, Health Care, Construction, 2020
• Legal analysis published in Fierce Healthcare of California's groundbreaking new “Patient’s Right to Know Act” became effective July 1, 2019. This first-in-the-nation law has major consequences for all California physicians and medical license holders. Senate Bill 1448 introduced new requirements that doctors must notify their patients in writing if placed on probation for sexual misconduct, drug or alcohol abuse, inappropriate prescriptions, or criminal convictions that involve harm to a patient., New California law requires doctors to disclose misconduct to patients: 6 steps for physicians, Healthcare, Criminal Justice, Education, 2019
• Analysis published in Thrive Global explaining teen laws that parents and teens should be aware of. Reviews privacy, teen drinking, accident liability, teen sexting, and cyberbullying laws., 5 Laws You Need to Know if You Have Teens, Criminal Justice, Parenting, Education, 2019

Scholarly Lectures / Writings

• Articles Editor of The Loyola Law Review.
• The California Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) is the consumer protection agency that licenses and regulates more than 3.5 million licenses in over 280 license types. DCA is the parent agency under which almost every California professional licensing agency operates. The DCA has jurisdiction over 40 professional and occupational licensing boards, from the Board of Registered Nursing and the Medical Board of California to the Board of Accountancy and Board of Pharmacy., Author, Guide to California Department of Consumer Affairs Investigations, Chudnovsky Law, Healthcare, Medical Malpractice, Finance, Real Estate, 2026
• In many cases, physician disciplinary actions begin with something innocuous – perhaps a patient’s record request or letter in the mail requesting basic information. The letter or email may come from the Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) Division of Investigation, not the Medical Board of California. Many unsuspecting physicians or their office staff may be unaware this indicates a medical board investigation., Author, Guide to Medical Board Investigations and Disciplinary Actions, Chudnovsky Law, Healthcare, Medical Malpractice, 2026
• As a nurse, you have dedicated your life to being a healing caregiver in a rewarding but demanding career. Dealing with allegations of misconduct that put your ability to work at risk can be stressful. While anyone can make a mistake, as a nurse, a mistake or even an unjust complaint from an unhappy patient or coworker can trigger a California Board of Nursing investigation and dangerous disciplinary actions. If you are facing a nurse complaint, investigation, or disciplinary action, it is crucial that you understand the process and when to obtain expert legal counsel. Dealing with the California Board of Registered Nursing (BRN) and the California Board of Vocational Nurses and Psychiatric Technicians (BVNPT) involves risks you need to be aware of., Author, Guide to Board of Nursing Disciplinary Actions and Complaints, Chudnovsky Law, Healthcare, Medical Malpractice, 2026
• California enacted a new misconduct disclosure law for physicians on July 1, 2019. The “Patient’s Right to Know Act” Senate Bill 1448 was drafted by Senator Jerry Hill. This groundbreaking law requires that doctors facing a probationary discipline action obtain a signed disclosure form from all patients before their next appointment. This is in addition to a Medical Board of California iOS app announced in July 2018 for consumers that pushes out license alerts to consumers whenever their physician has received a license disciplinary action or change in license status., Author, Physician Guide to California Patient’s Right to Know Act SB1448, Chudnovsky Law, Criminal Justice, Health Care, 2024
• Criminal defense strategies are legal arguments and actions taken to get criminal charges dismissed and secure a defendant’s freedom. They involve exposing legal flaws and doubts about any crime elements the prosecutor must prove beyond a reasonable doubt in order to win a conviction., Author, Criminal Defense Strategies: How Lawyers Win a Criminal Case, Chudnovsky Law, Legal, 2023
• If you’ve been charged with DUI or DWI, you are innocent until prosecutors prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. That is a very high burden of proof for the DA. You can beat a DUI charge by identifying legal flaws or doubts about any key evidence required to convict under VC 23152. Inaccurate breathalyzer BAC tests, police errors, medical conditions, and dozens of DUI defenses can be used to fight a DUI and get DUI cases dismissed or charges reduced. Here we review how to beat a DUI case using the 20 best DUI defenses. And they’re all distilled from fighting thousands of DUI cases. You can also win a DUI case using legal motions, objections, and arguments that may have nothing to do with whether you were over the legal BAC limit., Author, DUI Defense Strategies: How Lawyers Win a DUI Case, Chudnovsky Law, Legal, 2021

Other Outstanding Achievements

• Martindale-Hubbell Platinum Client Champion, 2024
• AVVO 10.0 Superb Rating, 2024
• Martindale-Hubbell Gold Client Champion Award, 2021
• FindLaw 5 Star Review Rating, 2021
• Lawyers.com 5 Star Rating for Client Reviews, 2020

Honors

• Chudnovsky Law was recognized as one of the 20 best criminal defense lawyers in Los Angeles out of 2,784 law firms evaluated by Expertise. Expertise is a national research company that evaluates service professionals., Best Criminal Defense Lawyers in Los Angeles, Expertise, 2026
• Chudnovsky Law was recognized as one of the 20 best DUI lawyers in Long Beach out of 173 law firms evaluated by Expertise. Expertise is a national research company that evaluates service professionals., Best DUI Lawyers in Long Beach, Expertise.com, 2024
• Selected for inclusion in the Top 100 Trial Lawyers by the National Trial Lawyers Association., Top 100 Trial Lawyers, The National Trial Lawyers, 2023
• Rated 10.0 Superb by Avvo, 10.0 Superb Rating, Avvo, 2023
• 5 Star Peer Review, 5 Star Peer Reviewed, Martindale Hubbell, 2023
• 10.0 Lawyer Rating on Justia
• Chudnovsky Law was recognized as one of the 20 best DUI lawyers in Los Angeles out of 1,286 law firms evaluated by Expertise. Expertise is a national research company that evaluates service professionals., Best DUI Lawyers in Los Angeles, Expertise, 2023
• Rated 10.0 Superb by Avvo, 10.0 Superb Rating, Avvo, 2022
• Top 100 Trial Lawyers, The National Trial Lawyers, 2020
• Top 100 Trial Lawyers, The National Trial Lawyers, 2019

Awards

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Avvo Client's Choice Award: This award is granted to attorneys with at least 5 reviews with 4+ stars in a given year on Avvo.com

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Platinum: This award is granted to attorneys who have received at least 10 client reviews, and have an average review score of 4.5 or higher.

Industry Groups

• Accounting
• Architecture
• Construction
• Criminal Justice
• Education
• Engineering
• Finance
• Healthcare
• Insurance
• Mortgage
• Personal Care
• Real Estate