Insurance
More business interruption insurance cases go to high court
By Craig Anderson
“These cases have ramifications that go far beyond the COVID-19 context,” said Andrew F. Kirtley of Cotchett, Pitre & McCa...
Newsom nominates Earl to presiding justice of 3rd District, taps associate justices to 2nd and 4th districts
By Skyler Romero
The governor also named 14 judges to 11 superior courts
Corporate, Civil Rights
Former Tesla worker tells jurors racism he says he experienced
By Jonathan Lo
Owen Diaz tearfully said that one of his biggest regrets in life was recommending his son, Demetric Diaz, join Tesla.
Criminal
DAs can continue challenge to prisons’ early release scheme
By Malcolm Maclachlan
The dispute involves early release rules the Department of Corrections instituted on May 1, 2021. It cited its authority under...
Technology
Sacramento County Superior Court eliminates online case search fees
By Douglas Saunders Sr.
Fees remain in place for in-person searches, which take longer than 10 minutes, and hard copies of documents.
Environmental & Energy
UCLA law students testify for groundwater adjudication bill they wrote
By Douglas Saunders Sr.
“Proceedings can take over 10 years, with legal fees in the millions of dollars. In some cases, small farmers have been forced...
Environmental & Energy
California communities oppose challenge to use of fire retardant
By Skyler Romero
In addition to the municipal intervenors, California-based organizations including the Rural County Representatives of Califor...
Litigation & Arbitration
$55.5M fee award approved for lawyers of minor leaguers
By Craig Anderson
U.S. Magistrate Judge Joseph C. Spero rejected claims the fee was excessive.
Litigation & Arbitration, Environmental & Energy
Judge agrees to consolidate cases from Mosquito wildfire
By Wisdom Howell
Attorneys for PG&E did not oppose the consolidation but continued to deny that the company’s equipment sparked the fire.
Labor/Employment, Insurance
Judge loath to send noncompete case out of state
By Antoine Abou-Diwan
Los Angeles County Judge Robert B. Broadbelt III said that defendants did not meet their burden of showing that litigating the...
As part of a plea agreement, Matthew Powell Fletcher agreed to resign from the California Bar and not to apply for reinstatement.
Ethics/Professional Responsibility
Former state Senate candidate sued for sex harassment
By Malcolm Maclachlan
Grecia Figueroa, a public relations specialist at the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System, where County Supervisor Nathan Fl...
Litigation & Arbitration
Judge certifies classes in pork producer antitrust litigation
By Craig Anderson
California law firms, including Pearson Warshaw LLP and Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP, represent different sets of plaintiff...
Litigation & Arbitration, Environmental & Energy
Developers of Tejon Ranch must redo CEQA study, judge rules
By Skyler Romero
Judge Mitchell L. Beckloff ordered Los Angeles County and its board of supervisors to set aside approval for respondent Tejon ...
Litigation & Arbitration
Sacramento County court strikes deal with court reporters
By Douglas Saunders Sr.
The agreement reached Tuesday includes signing bonuses for newly hired court reporters, retention bonuses for current court re...
Family
Complaints against judges rise sharply, especially in family court
By Malcolm Maclachlan
The figures show the Commission on Judicial Performance had 127 pending cases at the beginning of 2022, but 162 at the end of ...
Litigation & Arbitration
State judge declines to compel arbitration in Coinbase user suits
By Wisdom Howell
The plaintiffs have sued the company in state and federal court on different grounds seeking to hold Coinbase accountable for ...
State Bar & Bar Associations
Court may reinstate discipline charges against ex-bar chief
By Devon Belcher
A ruling from February that dismissed most of the counts against former State Bar director Joseph Dunn as time-barred is being...
“The Court concludes that Google intended to subvert the discovery process, and that Chat evidence was ‘lost with the intent t...
Civil Procedure
Judge delays ruling on challenge to LA County bail scheme
By Antoine Abou-Diwan
“The big concern of mine, how people arrested … for violent crimes – whether they are in custody or not in custody is a matter...
Los Angeles Center for Law and Justice selects new executive director
By Douglas Saunders Sr.
Technology, Ethics/Professional Responsibility, Corporate
Tensions run high in first day of testimony in Tesla race harassment trial
By Jonathan Lo
All three witnesses testified that use of the n-word and its Spanish equivalent was pervasive throughout the Tesla factory.
Discipline
Report recommends 15-year time limit on judicial discipline
By Malcolm Maclachlan
Marie L. Wrighten will be a member of the firm’s Labor & Employment practice.
Labor/Employment
Grocery company accused of employment law violations
By Wisdom Howell
“Weee! has a long history of denying its delivery drivers the tips, pay, and regular meal breaks to which they are entitled, a...
Litigation & Arbitration, Civil Procedure
Judge won’t pause proceedings in wildfire insurance suit
By Skyler Romero
“The judge was very clear that if you’re going to deny a claim and trigger a lawsuit you don’t get to come back and reinvestig...
Chief justice tells lawmakers court must be modernized and budgets protected
By Malcolm Maclachlan
“The judicial branch budget accounts for 1.7% of the total state budget. We’re doing a lot with those taxpayer funds in the lo...
U.S. Supreme Court
Supreme Court rejects disbarred lawyer’s challenge to prosecution
By Craig Anderson
Steven Donziger challenged his conviction for criminal contempt on the grounds that a New York judge’s decision to hire privat...
Technology, Corporate, Civil Rights
Tesla discrimination trial returns for new penalty phase
By Jonathan Lo
Potential jurors voice strong opinions about Musk and his companies.
Legal Education, Education Law
Canadian law school professor named next dean of Chapman law school
By Douglas Saunders Sr.
Paul D. Paton is an internationally recognized expert in legal ethics.