GUEST COLUMNS
Friday, August 1, 2025
Uber's latest RICO lawsuit -- framed as a fight against fraud but timed to push SB 371--shows that when most corporations lose in court they appeal, but when Uber loses it attacks the entire system to gain political leverage and immunity.
Seasonal jobs may be short-term, but California employers' obligations aren't -- compliance with state and federal law is required no matter how long the employee stays.
Wednesday, July 30, 2025
California courts have embraced a "harmless error" rule to uphold imperfect wills that clearly reflect a testator's intent, but as the recent Estate of Boyajian decision shows, that rule does not extend to revocations--leaving a gap in the law that can thwart clear efforts to cancel a prior will.
Judges must resist external and internal pressures to avoid becoming either a servant or king, which takes courage and humility -- the yin and the yang of judicial independence.
Monday, July 28, 2025
A cyclist who suffered fatal injuries after hitting a known road defect on a paved path leading to a trail has no case against the county, because under Government Code §831.4 and decades of precedent -- including Gibbons v. East Bay Regional District -- the government is immune from liability for injuries on both paved and unpaved recreational trails.
As Prop 65 lawsuits continue to grow, strategic approaches are required to structure settlements that cover the entire supply chain -- from upstream suppliers to downstream partners and licensors.
Friday, July 25, 2025
Given recent ICE workplace activity, California labor and employment attorneys are poised to face a wave of inquiries from both employers and employees about potential civil liabilities tied to employer responses.
The CARE Act arose from a historical need -- its policies, definitions and hearings warrant explanation as to illuminate its complex legal framework.
Wednesday, July 23, 2025
The lawsuit, alleging that California's animal welfare laws have led to increased egg prices, ignores the impact of external forces like bird flu, industry pricing dynamics and U.S. Supreme Court precedent.
In 100 days, Trump issued 142 executive orders -- many attacking DEI and transgender rights -- prompting court rulings that they likely violate the Constitution and federal law.
Monday, July 21, 2025
California's dairy industry consumes more water daily than the populations of San Diego and San Jose combined, spotlighting a critical choice: reform industrial agriculture or watch the wells run dry.
In reaffirming that nudity doesn't make a public business an "intimate association," the 9th Circuit delivers a powerful blow to privacy-based challenges against trans-inclusive access policies.
Friday, July 18, 2025
Mediating claims against public entities involves complex and often time-consuming procedures, but with patience and preparation, a negotiated settlement offers greater certainty and fewer risks than trial.
In Contour IP Holding LLC v. GoPro, Inc., the Federal Circuit clarified that patent claims must include specific, structured technological improvements -- not just abstract ideas -- to meet subject matter eligibility under Section 101.
Wednesday, July 16, 2025
California raised its minimum auto insurance
limits in January 2025 for the first time in over 50 years, with another
increase set for 2035 -- a shift that underscores the financial and legal risks
for uninsured drivers seeking noneconomic damages.
A single IRS Form 1099 can trigger a mess for plaintiffs--especially when the form is misapplied or duplicative--making it critical to address tax reporting explicitly in settlement agreements.
Monday, July 14, 2025
California employers are scrambling to balance
state requirements with new federal directives that impact everything from
immigration to gender issues. Here's what you need to know.
Court holds that Anthropic's training of AI using legally obtained books is fair use, but storage of pirated books is not.
Friday, July 11, 2025
With companies increasingly eyeing Nevada and Texas over Delaware, Texas's new Business Court offers a timely, if still untested, alternative to the Court of Chancery's seasoned dominance.
An unpublished appeals court ruling in a machete attack case clarifies the steep hurdles plaintiffs face when suing public entities over dangerous conditions involving third-party conduct.
Wednesday, July 9, 2025
A controversial excise tax on litigation funding proceeds -- once feared by funders and lawyers alike -- has been left out of the Senate's final tax bill for now, but with strong industry backing and future legislative interest, it may yet return in another form.
The 9th Circuit Court upheld that J-M Manufacturing violated federal and state False Claims Acts by falsely claiming its pipes met industry standards despite evidence of non-compliance, but ruled that penalties apply per project--not per pipe--due to lack of proof on specific defective units or exact damages.
Monday, July 7, 2025
The Senate narrowly passed the sweeping "One Big Beautiful Tax Bill," which includes major changes to small business stock rules, SALT deductions, school choice tax credits, and bonus depreciation -- policies with significant implications for California taxpayers.
As California fights to protect its century-old water rights while the Colorado River shrinks to dangerous lows, the nation's most populous state finds itself navigating between legal tradition and climate reality, with 40 million people's water supply hanging in the balance.
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NEWS
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General News
Friday, August 1, 2025 |
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| U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli dismissed indictments against Fatburger founder Andrew Wiederhorn and a former L.A. deputy just hours before his interim term was set to expire, as the Justice Department invoked the Federal Vacancies Reform Act to keep him in office without Senate confirmation--prompting criticism from California's Democratic senators. | |
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General News
Friday, August 1, 2025 |
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| A Los Angeles judge is weighing whether Limp Bizkit's lawsuit over unpaid royalties against Universal Music Group should stay in California or be transferred to New York, based on a decades-old contract clause. The band accuses the label of hiding payments for years. | |
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General News
Friday, August 1, 2025 |
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| Imagine that an airline notices you've booked a five-star hotel, so it charges you more for your ticket than it would have if you had booked a four- or three-star hotel. That's the vision of personalized pricing, a concept that has for years intrigued companies and enraged consumer advocates. | |
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General News
Wednesday, July 30, 2025 |
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| Ford accused the firms of inflating fees by $100 million. Attorneys for several prominent California lemon law firms called Ford's claims a retaliatory attempt to punish consumer advocates over billing practices that courts have already reviewed and approved. | |
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General News
Wednesday, July 30, 2025 |
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| Operating in a little-known corner of the nearly $5 trillion health care system, Truemed helps supply people with letters attesting to their medical need for products like red-light masks, Peloton bikes and $9,000 saunas. | |
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General News
Wednesday, July 30, 2025 |
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| Bank of America is challenging class certification in a lawsuit over frozen unemployment debit cards during the pandemic, citing mass fraud; plaintiffs argue BofA's actions harmed thousands unjustly. | |
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General News
Wednesday, July 30, 2025 |
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| Starting in January, California will ban all single-use and thicker plastic bags. | |
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General News
Monday, July 28, 2025 |
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| Plenty of Angelenos these days complain about what they see as the city's lack of leadership, a critique that often is directed at the city's mayor and council. | |
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General News
Monday, July 28, 2025 |
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| The divided appellate panel found that state plaintiffs had standing to sue under the 14th Amendment--even as it dismissed individual claims pending in a related class action. The ruling drew sharp dissent from Judge Patrick J. Bumatay. | |
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General News
Monday, July 28, 2025 |
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| The ruling affirms a permanent injunction issued by a San Diego judge known for repeatedly finding California gun laws unconstitutional, and has already prompted online retailers to resume direct ammunition sales to Californians. | |
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General News
Friday, July 25, 2025 |
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| The fever in financial markets over "meme stocks" is back and stranger than ever. | |
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General News
Friday, July 25, 2025 |
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| In the high-profile Bored Ape case, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals found the creator failed to prove consumer confusion and overturned an $8 million award. | |
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General News
Friday, July 25, 2025 |
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| Clorox sued Cognizant for $380 million, alleging the IT firm negligently gave cybercriminals access to company systems, leading to massive operational disruptions, product shortages and tens of millions in damages. | |
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General News
Wednesday, July 23, 2025 |
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| Blocked for now by a federal court order from sending warrantless roving immigration patrols through Los Angeles and six other Southern California counties, U.S. agents on Thursday moved their sweeps north to Sacramento. | |
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General News
Wednesday, July 23, 2025 |
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| A Los Angeles judge ruled that LAUSD's policy blocking charter schools from sharing campuses violates Proposition 39, ensuring equitable access to facilities for all public school students. | |
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General News
Wednesday, July 23, 2025 |
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| Robbins Geller seeks final approval of a $150 million Zoom settlement and about $28 million in fees after litigating claims the company misled investors about its video call encryption security. | |
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General News
Monday, July 21, 2025 |
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| Developers sue San Fernando, alleging the city council illegally rejected a low-income housing project, ignoring the city attorney's advice and violating the Housing Accountability Act. | |
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General News
Monday, July 21, 2025 |
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| What sort of protection does homeowners' insurance provide? | |
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General News
Monday, July 21, 2025 |
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| A judge ruled AT&T may have violated the Federal Communications Act, allowing a jury to decide if the company's failure to protect investor Michael Terpin's data led to a $24 million cryptocurrency loss. | |
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General News
Friday, July 18, 2025 |
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| A federal judge dismissed a lawyer's RICO claim against Bee The Buzz, finding no racketeering pattern in alleged fake mass tort leads, giving plaintiff until Aug. 1 to amend. | |
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General News
Friday, July 18, 2025 |
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| A federal judge denied class certification for iPhone users suing Apple, citing "fading memories" and lack of device settings data in a case alleging unauthorized cellular data use. | |
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General News
Friday, July 18, 2025 |
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| How do I figure out what the building codes are in my area (and what they were when a property was constructed)? | |
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General News
Wednesday, July 16, 2025 |
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| Where does the water from my home come from? | |
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General News
Wednesday, July 16, 2025 |
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| A fourth trial is set in MGA's trade dress dispute with OMG Girlz after a judge reduced a $71.5M award to $18M, citing insufficient evidence of willfulness by the toymaker. | |
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General News
Wednesday, July 16, 2025 |
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| One Los Angeles County judge is likely to oversee coordinated silicosis lawsuits from four California counties, following the asbestos model, despite defense objections, as plaintiffs allege lung disease from countertop dust. | |
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General News
Monday, July 14, 2025 |
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| The former officer and her stepfather, an attorney, are accused of illegally collecting more than $600,000 in disability benefits while attending Disneyland and the Stagecoach Music Festival. | |
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General News
Monday, July 14, 2025 |
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| NSO Group seeks sanctions against Meta, WhatsApp for undisclosed witnesses in Pegasus spyware case. Both sides accuse each other of gamesmanship after $168M verdict, as injunction hearing looms. | |
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General News
Monday, July 14, 2025 |
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| American babies born this year through 2028 are eligible to receive $1,000 from the government for a new type of account aimed at helping families get their children off to a strong economic start. | |
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General News
Friday, August 1, 2025 |
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| Consumer Watchdog and another nonprofit claim Commissioner Ricardo Lara unlawfully withheld payments and reshaped the hearing process to punish their opposition to key insurance regulations. | |
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General News
Wednesday, July 30, 2025 |
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| A Los Angeles judge allowed a lawsuit to proceed against the city and an LAPD officer after a man was struck by a misfired less-lethal round at an unauthorized concert. | |
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General News
Monday, July 28, 2025 |
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| Sports lawyers say NFL players may sue or file labor grievances against the NFLPA for concealing an arbitration ruling on alleged collusion by team owners to limit guaranteed contract money. | |
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General News
Friday, July 25, 2025 |
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| The decision could have significant implications for venue selection in Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act cases, an area where some courts have already voiced frustration over growing case volumes and their impact on court dockets. | |
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General News
Wednesday, July 23, 2025 |
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| Ventura and its tree contractor settled for $19 million with the family of a man killed by a falling tree branch, in one of Ventura County's largest wrongful death payouts. | |
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General News
Monday, July 21, 2025 |
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| A new phase of Anaheim's immigrant aid program launches with public funds after a federal court order restrains ICE and CBP practices. | |
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General News
Friday, July 18, 2025 |
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| Santa Ana became the first Orange County city to join a high-profile federal lawsuit accusing ICE and CBP agents of unconstitutional raids and racial targeting. A judge's restraining order bars such practices in the Central District. | |
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General News
Wednesday, July 16, 2025 |
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| Meta's newly formed superintelligence lab has discussed making a series of changes to the company's artificial intelligence strategy, in what would amount to a major shake-up at the social media giant. | |
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General News
Monday, July 14, 2025 |
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| The number of arrests by the Department of Homeland Security in the Los Angeles region has spiked over the past month as the Trump administration has deployed hundreds of agents and military members to crack down on the area. | |