Real Estate/Development, Antitrust & Trade Reg.
California Association of Realtors hit with antitrust suit over listing requirement
By Craig Anderson
A group of real estate agents filed an antitrust lawsuit Monday against the National Association of Realtors and its subsidiar...
U.S. Supreme Court
US Supreme Court lined up 13 qualified immunity petitions for Friday hearing
By Blaise Scemama
There are 13 certiorari petitions concerning qualified immunity in Friday’s conference, indicating to several observers the ju...
State Bar & Bar Associations
Bill to lower bar dues passes marathon Assembly Judiciary Committee session
By Malcolm Maclachlan
AB 3362 would drop the annual active bar dues by $34, to $395. Inactive memberships would also drop $5.60 to $97.40. The bill ...
Judges and Judiciary
Former Haapala partner named Contra Costa County commissioner
By Arin Mikailian
Prior to her appointment, Dashman handled insurance defense, personal injury and real estate at Haapala, Thompson & Abern ...
State Bar & Bar Associations, Legal Education
Law deans shocked, concerned about low February bar exam scores
By Henrik Nilsson
“We’re definitely concerned that less than 50% of graduates from law schools accredited by the American Bar Association would ...
Government, Civil Litigation, Banking
Professionals sue banks for cut of loan fees
By Gina Kim
Accountants, attorneys, consultants and loan brokers are suing big banks for refusing to compensate for all of the work they p...
Tesla disregarded an Alameda County stay-at-home order on Monday by reopening its Fremont factory in an escalating feud over w...
Government, Constitutional Law
After initial ruling, judge in OC beach case mulls another one
By Justin Kloczko
A superior court judge overseeing the Orange County beach closure dispute held off on making a ruling Monday, saying it wasn’t...
Judges and Judiciary
Commission on Judicial Performance elects new leadership
By Arin Mikailian
Superior Court Judge Michael Harper succeeds Burlingame attorney Nanci Nishimura of Cotchett, Pitre & McCarthy LLP as chai...
Criminal, 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals
9th Circuit hears arguments Tuesday on solitary confinement conditions
By Tyler Pialet
The 2015 settlement between the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and the Center for Constitutional Righ...
Civil Litigation, 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals
Ashley Judd suit against Weinstein likely to be revived
By Craig Anderson
Judges on a 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals panel seemed likely to revive actor Ashley Judd’s sexual harassment claim agains...
State Bar & Bar Associations, Legal Education
State Bar February pass rate is 26.8%, lower than last
By Henrik Nilsson
Just 26.8% of State Bar applicants passed the February exam, down from 31.4% last year, the bar announced Friday.
From the website to the careful choice of clients, Farzad and Ochoa Family Law Attorneys LLP says it deal in facts, not false ...
Judges and Judiciary, Bankruptcy
Congress urged to name more bankruptcy judges
By Winston Cho
A group of bankruptcy and business professors is urging Congress to appoint temporary bankruptcy judges and increase court cap...
Health Care & Hospital Law, Civil Litigation
Liability shield for medical industry is hotly debated
By Justin Kloczko
A request by medical groups for an emergency legal immunity order is so broad it would nullify claims unrelated to Covid-19 an...
Civil Litigation
Visitors must wear masks at Fresno County Superior courthouses starting Monday
By Gina Kim
Fresno Superior Court to resume limited operations as two employees came into contact with a person who had COVID-19.
Gov. Gavin Newsom faces more constitutional challenges, this time from a handful of Californians who say some of their most im...
U.S. Supreme Court, Immigration, 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals
Ginsburg smacks 9th Circuit, backed by unanimous high court
By Tyler Pialet
The 9th Circuit’s consideration of arguments not presented by parties in the case was a “radical transformation of the case th...
Government
Courts likely to be hit hard as California finances crater
By Malcolm Maclachlan
The current crisis makes good on a prediction former Gov. Jerry Brown made for years after spending most of his last two terms...
Government, Civil Rights
US judge unlikely to block governor’s ban on Capitol protests
By Malcolm Maclachlan
The judge noted events outside the court, specifically the several dozen people gathered at the Capitol just a few blocks away...
Judges and Judiciary, Ethics/Professional Responsibility
Johnson makes emotional defense in bid to remain a justice
By Craig Anderson
During an emotional defense that mixed regret and defiance, 2nd District Court of Appeal Justice Jeffrey W. Johnson argued Thu...
State Bar & Bar Associations, Legal Education
Law firms, schools, attorney mentors find new ways to administer oaths to latest bar exam passers
By Henrik Nilsson
Videoconferencing will replace traditional gatherings. But attorneys and deans are saying that administering the oath remotely...
Labor/Employment
Plaintiffs’ attorneys, business lawyers battle over PAGA moratorium request
By Justin Kloczko
A collective of pro-worker and plaintiff groups, including the Consumer Attorneys of California, have asked Gov. Gavin Newsom ...
Law Practice, Alternative Dispute Resolution
Mediator offers services for free to front line workers
By Kamila Knaudt
Jeff Kichaven, an independent mediator, is offering his services pro bono to those working on the front lines of the COVID-19 ...
Civil Litigation
24-hour fitness sued for allegedly collecting membership dues while closed down
By Winston Cho
A class action was filed against 24 Hour Fitness USA Inc. alleging it continues to collect membership dues while its 430 gyms ...
Immigration, Government, Civil Litigation
Lawsuit challenges stimulus fund denial for kin of undocumented
By Gina Kim
The federal government has been sued for refusing give a stimulus check to a U.S. citizen because her spouse is in the United ...
A federal judge in San Jose threw out a class action accusing Google of illegally recording, listening to and profiting off of...
Environmental & Energy
Ratepayers criticize suspension of $200M fees from $2B PG&E fine
By Gina Kim
Pacific Gas & Electric Co. fined $1.937B for starting 2017-18 wildfires.
Workers' Comp., Labor/Employment
Workers’ comp burden is shifted to employer in virus cases
By Jessica Mach
A state executive order that shifts the burden of proof almost entirely to employers for workers' compensation claims related ...
Criminal
Felony murder law should be decided by state Supreme Court, DAs say
By Tyler Pialet
The law amended California’s felony murder rule to eliminate liability for murder under the natural and probable consequences ...