State Bar & Bar Associations, Administrative/Regulatory
Bar ‘access to justice’ group says work has been mischaracterized
By Malcolm Maclachlan
One major rift between the bar and the lawmakers appears to be a disagreement about how well "regulatory sandbox" changes have...
Government, Criminal
Doctor acquitted of shipping unapproved anti-addiction drug
By Blaise Scemama
Dr. Lance L. Gooberman faced a 12-count felony indictment accusing him of misbranding and illegally shipping Naltrexone — a dr...
State Bar & Bar Associations
San Bernardino County attorney Florentino 'Tino' Garza passes away at 94
By Douglas Saunders Sr.
Florentino "Tino" Garza, who picked cotton and delivered newspapers to support himself after being orphaned and became one of ...
Environmental & Energy, Civil Litigation
Aitken Cohn, Lieff Cabraser, Larson to lead oil spill class actions
By Skyler Romero
After hearing pitches from several large law firms, U.S. District Judge David O. Carter chose Wylie A. Aitken of Aitken Aitken...
Entertainment & Sports, Criminal
Crime documentaries can educate and misinform viewers
This year, several new true crime documentaries focused on prominent California cases.
Law Practice
Ropes & Gray announces lateral hire, says it will open LA office
By Douglas Saunders Sr.
The Los Angeles office will be primarily focused on the private equity, asset management and healthcare industries. The firm s...
Judges and Judiciary
2 more judges confirmed to district courts in California
By Craig Anderson
President Biden has nominated eight other California district judges. Two of them had Senate Judiciary Committee hearings but ...
City Attorney Mike Feuer said Monday he won’t stop the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power from removing his office and ...
Entertainment & Sports
Coachella Music Festival wins injunction against similar-named event
By Skyler Romero
Co-defendant Live Nation Entertainment Inc. is now barred from selling tickets to Coachella Day One 22 on Ticketmaster.com.
Civil Litigation
Bus company, school district trade suits shutdown payments
By Jonathan Lo
The bus company, First Student Inc., initially sued for the costs of maintaining its fleet of school buses in ready condition ...
Environmental & Energy, Criminal
PG&E likely faces hearing on whether it violated probation
By Jonathan Lo
U.S. District Judge William Alsup set a hearing for Jan. 3 for the utility to admit or deny charges involving two fires. If th...
State Bar & Bar Associations
Bar subpoenas lawyers who used LegalMatch, objections raised
By Malcolm Maclachlan
“Under the State Bar’s obligation as a regulatory agency whose principal mission is the protection of the public, it has issue...
Civil Litigation
3-month jury trial during COVID ends with defense win in $355M scam case
By Skyler Romero
"It appears to be the longest jury trial in the nation in the last couple of years because of COVID," Thomas P. O'Brien of Ell...
Criminal
Penal Code Revision Committee suggests abolishing three strikes law
By Kamila Knaudt
The seven recommendations were: strengthen California’s mental health diversion law; encourage alternatives to incarceration; ...
Bankruptcy
Legislation could end corporate bankruptcy forum shopping
By Blaise Scemama
The Bankruptcy Venue Reform Act of 2021, introduced in September by U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and John Cornyn, ...
Law Practice, Ethics/Professional Responsibility, Bankruptcy
Girarid Keese bankruptcy trustee can’t hire another law firm
By Craig Anderson
Indira J. Cameron-Banks, a principal at Cameron Banks Law who represents the family of a former Girardi Keese client who has a...
Labor/Employment, Civil Litigation
Farmers ordered to pay ousted lawyer $155.4 million in damages
By Douglas Saunders Sr.
“It’s a healthy warning to corporations and entities in California that they can’t treat employees poorly; they’re not going t...
Judges and Judiciary
Senate OKs 1st Biden nominee to district court in California
By Craig Anderson
U.S. Magistrate Judge Linda Lopez will replace U.S. District Judge Roger T. Benitez in San Diego. Superior Court Judge Jinsook...
Patrick Kelly’s years of leadership pay off in mediation
Sonoma County judge’s career has been committed to children.
Torts/Personal Injury, Law Practice, Government, Civil Litigation
Next year’s election shaping up to be a fight over lawsuits
By Malcolm Maclachlan
California Secretary of State Shirley Weber released the title and summary text for three initiatives proposed by the Civil Ju...
Labor/Employment, Corporate
Nearly 1,100 women on corporate boards since law passed, report says
By Malcolm Maclachlan
The report was issued as the law faces continued legal challenges, including in a bench trial in Los Angeles — and as a vetera...
Judges and Judiciary, Ethics/Professional Responsibility
LA judge mentorship is a model for courts around the state
By Skyler Romero
Nearly 45 counties have started their own versions, according to Los Angeles County Judge Paul A. Bacigalupo.
Judges and Judiciary, 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals
LA judge moves toward 9th Circuit, but time is short
By Craig Anderson
Democrats rushed to confirm as many of President Joe Biden’s judicial nominees as possible before the end of the year.
Entertainment & Sports, Civil Litigation
TV show consulting agreement signed by attorney deemed void
By Gina Kim
A consulting agreement signed by an attorney who said he advised the co-creator for the TV reality show "Survivor" was deemed ...
Judges and Judiciary
Judge to decide if one superior court can restrain another
By Kamila Knaudt
“This court’s lack of authority to issue any relief directed at another superior court judge is fatal to all of petitioners’ c...
Environmental & Energy
Company gets 18 months probation, $2.5M fine for Walnut Creek Canal spill
By Kamila Knaudt
Attorney General Rob Bonta announced that SFPP, owned by Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, agreed to the plea deal at arraignment...
Government, California Supreme Court
State high court won’t hear challenge to redistricting commission
By Malcolm Maclachlan
Michael A. Columbo, senior counsel with Dhillon Law Group, said in an email, “We are disappointed that the Supreme Court has d...
Civil Litigation, Bankruptcy
Jones Day remains in J&J bankruptcy amid calls to end case
By Blaise Scemama
U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Michael B. Kaplan said he would, for now, allow Jones Day to continue representing LTL Management but ma...
Judges and Judiciary
Justice Harry Low, first Chinese American judge in the Bay Area, was a bridge across communities
By Douglas Saunders Sr.
The retired presiding justice of the 1st District Court of Appeal died on Dec. 9, after a second career at JAMS. He was 91.