GUEST COLUMNS
Wednesday, April 23, 2025
Amid rising political scrutiny and legal uncertainty, California nonprofits must navigate shifting rules and rising risks around 501(c)(3) and (4) advocacy to protect their tax-exempt status and public trust.
Insurance payments, including those for wildfire-related damages or bad faith claims, can be tax-free under certain conditions, but complexities in the tax code, such as the treatment of settlements and the IRS's evolving interpretations, make it crucial for taxpayers to carefully navigate insurance recoveries to avoid unintended tax liabilities.
Monday, April 21, 2025
As professional salaries in women's sports remain
underwhelming, female college athletes are uniquely positioned to maximize their earnings through NIL deals -- making strategic planning and legal guidance essential for sustaining long-term financial success.
The El Salvador deportations highlight how the Trump Administration may have manufactured foreign entanglements to bypass domestic due process requirements for accused individuals.
Friday, April 18, 2025
In Capito v. San Jose Healthcare, the
California Supreme Court addressed the scope of "unfair" business
practices under section 17200, ruling that hospitals don't need to disclose
emergency service fees beyond what is required by existing regulations, while suggesting
that "unfairness" in consumer cases may be limited by the Cel-Tech
"safe harbor" rule.
Laws have largely failed to prevent AI generated impersonations and technology companies aren't helping.
Wednesday, April 16, 2025
A settlement may feel like the end of conflict,
but without careful planning, enforcement mechanisms, and foresight, it can
quickly unravel into renewed hostilities and litigation.
By providing junior associates with hands-on trial experience and meaningful roles in high-stakes business disputes, firms can foster growth, build successful teams, and achieve impactful results, as demonstrated by a recent case that resulted in a $28.5 million jury verdict.
Monday, April 14, 2025
Effective payor-provider mediations require meticulous preparation, including detailed claims spreadsheets, expert input, and clear communication, with careful attention to approaches for claim grouping and productive participation.
Children sexually abused in foster care face barriers to justice when the law shields social workers under discretionary immunity without examining if meaningful discretion was actually exercised.
Friday, April 11, 2025
While technology offers efficiency, in-person
interactions are crucial for building trust and resolving emotionally charged
disputes, particularly in cases involving deeper personal stakes.
Wednesday, April 9, 2025
A recent court ruling raises new questions about the scope of liability for owners and contractors when subcontractor employees are involved in incidents away from the construction site.
Governor Newsom's efforts to shield California companies from foreign retaliatory tariffs by working directly with foreign governments could violate the Logan Act.
Monday, April 7, 2025
As the interstate abortion legal battle intensifies, a legal expert examines potential scenarios Louisiana might pursue after New York's refusal to extradite a doctor - raising questions about federal power, state sovereignty, and the constitutional limits of enforcing abortion laws across state lines.
The devastating January 2025 wildfires in Los Angeles have intensified an already severe construction labor shortage, delaying rebuilding efforts, driving up costs, and creating legal challenges that require careful planning, contract protections, and compliance oversight to navigate successfully.
Friday, April 4, 2025
The use of AI in judicial decision-making raises concerns about transparency, ethical reasoning, and the potential erosion of judicial legitimacy
College sports are changing fast with NIL compensation and Title IX compliance in flux. Schools must navigate shifting federal guidance, including presidential transitions, and ensure equity in funding allocation to avoid legal risks.
Wednesday, April 2, 2025
Rancho Palos Verdes homeowners installing propane tanks in a landslide zone designated as a Very High Fire Severity Zone may face strict liability under the ultrahazardous activity standard, given the significant fire risk, potential for catastrophic harm, and the inappropriateness of propane storage in such a hazardous location.
The Federal Appeals Court decision marks a pivotal moment in secular recognition of religious arbitration.
Monday, March 31, 2025
In City and County of San Francisco v. U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (2025), the U.S. Supreme Court struck down
generic receiving water limitations in Clean Water Act permits, potentially
reducing liability for public agencies but raising concerns about future water
quality enforcement.
California's 2024 PAGA amendments expand employers' ability to cure Labor Code violations but create a complicated early evaluation conference process that may prove more costly than resolving claims through private mediation.
Friday, March 28, 2025
Amid tariff uncertainty and market chaos, thoughtless 'copy and paste' M&A approaches will prove problematic as standard contract terms take on non-ordinary meanings.
Despite California's mandated implicit bias training, little progress has been made in addressing systemic discrimination affecting women and marginalized groups in our courtrooms.
Wednesday, March 26, 2025
California's new Senate Bill 940, effective January 1, 2025, expands discovery rights in arbitration, aligning them with California court procedures, but raises significant legal questions about its scope, conflicts with federal law, and the burden on arbitrators to manage increased discovery requests.
The EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), starting in 2023, targets carbon-heavy imports like steel and cement, presenting both challenges and opportunities for California exporters as they navigate evolving climate rules and trade tensions.
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San Francisco City Attorney David Chiu
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NEWS
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General News
Wednesday, April 23, 2025 |
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| It is noteworthy that some of the earliest mentions of "looting" in news reports during this year's deadly fires in Los Angeles County made the point that there actually wasn't much of it. | |
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General News
Wednesday, April 23, 2025 |
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| Three of the students say they were arrested but not convicted. The government, which was not granted a hearing, says it has not declared them deportable. | |
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General News
Wednesday, April 23, 2025 |
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| An en banc panel reinstated a plaintiff's proposed class action against Shopify, ruling the company's alleged data-mining practices were deliberately aimed at California consumers. The closely watched decision marks a significant development in personal jurisdiction law as it applies to online commerce. | |
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General News
Monday, April 21, 2025 |
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| U.S. District Judge Jesus J. Bernal wrote that the policy violations violates constitutional and federal law, and issued an emergency national injunction. | |
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General News
Monday, April 21, 2025 |
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| Why there is no train to the airport is anybody's guess. | |
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General News
Monday, April 21, 2025 |
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| Orange County Judge Jeffrey M. Ferguson took the stand in his own defense Thursday afternoon, breaking down as he discussed his drinking, the night of the killing, and his claim that the shooting was unintentional. | |
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General News
Friday, April 18, 2025 |
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| MR Technologies, led by Austrian physicist Dieter Suess, sues Toshiba for infringing patents that revolutionized hard disk drive storage. After a $360M win against Western Digital, the company targets Toshiba's devices. | |
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General News
Friday, April 18, 2025 |
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| Disbarred attorney Paul Paradis testifies about chaotic meetings and alleged misconduct by James Clark in a Los Angeles water billing settlement, facing State Bar disciplinary action. | |
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General News
Friday, April 18, 2025 |
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| Clearing through clutter and refocusing on goals can be just as important for your finances as it is for your home. | |
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General News
Wednesday, April 16, 2025 |
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| Creating a stronger future for the Salton Sea depends on our unity, especially as we navigate the uncertainties of the lithium industry, and as the state prepares to disburse $10 billion from the climate bond that California voters passed in November. | |
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General News
Wednesday, April 16, 2025 |
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| Gucci's alleged failure to pay arbitration fees on time could lead to a class action lawsuit, with claims its website misused cookies, violating user privacy despite opt-out settings. | |
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General News
Wednesday, April 16, 2025 |
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| The owners of a mobile home park that straddles two Orange County cities say California lawmakers unconstitutionally targeted them with rent control legislation. After a 9th Circuit revival, their case is being watched for its broader implications in housing and targeting laws. | |
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General News
Monday, April 14, 2025 |
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| OpenAI seeks to crush a rival's trademark in Oakland federal court, accusing founder Guy Ravine of fraud. Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers faces a high-stakes AI identity battle. | |
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General News
Monday, April 14, 2025 |
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| Former LA Deputy City Attorney James Clark orchestrated a sham lawsuit to shield the city from a billing fiasco, risking disbarment as testimony unfolds in State Bar court. | |
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General News
Monday, April 14, 2025 |
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| California defends climate disclosure laws against free speech challenge | |
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General News
Friday, April 11, 2025 |
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| A month from now, Gov. Gavin Newsom must reveal a revised version of the $322.3 billion budget for the 2025-26 fiscal year that he proposed in January. | |
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General News
Friday, April 11, 2025 |
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| A mother sues KSX Enterprise and Golden Star in Los Angeles, claiming a Scorch Torch lighter should have had a lock to keep her toddler from starting a fire that killed his brother. | |
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General News
Friday, April 11, 2025 |
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| Prosecutors said Dr. Karim Arabi concealed his involvement in the company, Abreezio, while serving as vice president of R&D at Qualcomm, violating his employment agreement and defrauding his employer out of tens of millions of dollars. | |
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General News
Wednesday, April 9, 2025 |
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| OHLA USA Inc. sues Santa Clarita Valley Sanitation District, claiming inadequate plans and delays in a water treatment project. The company is seeking payment after contract termination in 2025. | |
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General News
Wednesday, April 9, 2025 |
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| Paper checks issued for tax refunds, Social Security payments and other government benefits have been dwindling and will soon be eliminated, potentially affecting hundreds of thousands of Americans. | |
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General News
Wednesday, April 9, 2025 |
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| Ten insurers and a shareholder sue Southern California Edison, alleging its powerlines sparked the Eaton Fire, claiming negligence and mismanagement amid a history of wildfire-related failures. | |
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General News
Monday, April 7, 2025 |
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| Life in and around MacArthur Park, a once-venerated Los Angeles center, had gone alarmingly awry. | |
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General News
Monday, April 7, 2025 |
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| A former Grubhub driver's lawsuit, deeming drivers as employees, heads to trial April 9 to set the amount of unpaid wages from 2014-2020, amid disputes over last-minute damage calculations. | |
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General News
Wednesday, April 23, 2025 |
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| San Francisco city attorney sues GoShare, alleging illegal driver misclassification under Proposition 22, claiming excessive control and denial of worker benefits, with experts split on the lawsuit's prospects. | |
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General News
Monday, April 21, 2025 |
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| The swift order from U.S. District Judge Sunshine S. Sykes of Riverside came days after the government said it had no power to retrieve another accused gangster deported in error to El Salvador. | |
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General News
Friday, April 18, 2025 |
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| A firearms instructor who trained Judge Jeffrey M. Ferguson disputed claims that Ferguson could have fired one-handed--central to allegations he intentionally shot his wife during a domestic dispute. | |
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General News
Wednesday, April 16, 2025 |
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| A former Tesla engineer's defamation battle with Elon Musk isn't over. The 9th Circuit reversed a federal judge's decision to confirm a zero-dollar arbitration award, potentially reopening the door for claims against the automaker and its CEO--and setting new precedent on arbitration enforcement. | |
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General News
Friday, April 11, 2025 |
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| The Douglas Emmett property company battles tenants' bid to dismiss their appeal, arguing a judge's ruling against mass evictions at Barrington Plaza remains contested despite rent collection claims. | |
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General News
Wednesday, April 9, 2025 |
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| CoStar and a former employee were cleared of trade secrets claims after Move Inc. voluntarily dismissed its lawsuit, ending a year-long legal battle with no settlement. | |
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General News
Monday, April 7, 2025 |
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| A Los Angeles judge favored franchisees claiming Floyd Mayweather's fitness brand defrauded them of $8M, sustaining demurrers against his associates, a day after Mayweather won in a separate case. | |