Civil Litigation
Wildfire victims group wants to delay $13.5B PG&E settlement vote
By Winston Cho
Given market turmoil caused by the coronavirus, the group wants PG&E to guarantee the $6.75 billion in stock it agreed to ...
State Bar & Bar Associations
1,300 students ask high court to allow diplomas without passing the bar
By Henrik Nilsson
The State Bar has not yet announced whether it will postpone the July exam until the fall or stick to the current date. The Co...
Civil Litigation
Proof of causation likely defense in virus-related premises liability cases
By Nick Kipley
“Given we’re now in community transmission it would be hard for a plaintiff to argue a specific venue was the source of infect...
Law Practice, Government, Criminal
DA’s resignation worsens Modoc County’s prosecutorial instability
By Tyler Pialet
Samuel Kyllo, the former county public defender elected district attorney, resigned from his post on Friday, having achievecd ...
Based in Fresno, Salazar has been a sole practitioner since 1993.
State Bar & Bar Associations
National bar exam materials will be available in September
By Henrik Nilsson
The National Conference of Bar Examiners said it would make exam materials available for tests from Sept. 9-10 and Sept. 30-Oc...
Criminal
Attorneys seeking state prisoner releases must refile, panel says
By Malcolm Maclachlan
Seventeen state inmates have tested positive for the virus, with no deaths so far, the prisons department stated Monday.
Law Practice
Postmates seeks preliminary injunction in suit with couriers
By Jessica Mach
“In the midst of a global pandemic — Postmates has sued its own couriers to prevent them from arbitrating for the labor and em...
Judges and Judiciary
State high court sides with Montrose in insurance dispute
By Meghann Cuniff
The ruling widens coverage options for continuous injury cases such as toxic torts and construction defect.
Calling out PG&E’s refusal to guarantee the $6.5 billion in stock it agreed to pay as part of the larger settlement will a...
Judges and Judiciary, Government
Santa Clara County Superior Court adds a new commissioner
By Craig Anderson
Rebeca M. Esquival-Pedroza was sworn in Monday as a Santa Clara County Superior Court commissioner after judges appointed the ...
Judges and Judiciary, Criminal
Central District chief judge seeks to suspend Speedy Trial Act deadlines for a year due
By Gina Kim
Chief Judge Virginia A. Phillips of the Central District of California asked the 9th Circuit Monday to allow her to suspend cr...
Civil Litigation
Lawyer behind initiative to raise cap on medical malpractice damages sues to overturn the limit
By Justin Kloczko
Beverly Hills firm Carpenter, Zuckerman & Rowley has filed a lawsuit seeking to overturn the $250,000 cap on noneconomic d...
Civil Litigation
NASA’s JPL agrees to $10 million deal in age discrimination suit
By Nicole Tyau
The lawsuit arose out of an allegation that JPL would lay off and then rehire employees in a way that discriminated against pe...
Law Practice
Some law firms reveal layoffs and cutbacks while others hold off
By Craig Anderson
While some law firms have revealed layoffs, many others are holding off or in a few cases adding laterals even as they grapple...
Courts can require remote proceedings, but the defendant must consent to staying out of court.
Law Practice
Law firms reluctantly cut back on summer associate positions
By Henrik Nilsson
Law students hoping to work at firms this summer will face daunting uncertainties, if they get a chance at all. Some compare t...
Labor/Employment
Seyfarth Shaw out as attorneys for US Soccer in pay inequality case
By Jessica Mach
All nine attorneys from Seyfarth Shaw have been replaced by Jamie L. Wine and Michele D. Johnson from Latham and Watkins LLP.
Intellectual Property
Federal Circuit revives trade secrets case against San Jose company
By Craig Anderson
A federal appellate panel revived a state trade secrets lawsuit against a San Jose technology company Friday, concluding a dis...
Law Practice
Firm leader tries to avoid layoffs but hunkers down with 20% pay cut
By Craig Anderson
Downey Brand LLP, Sacramento’s largest law firm, has slashed salaries of attorneys and staff by 20% until the end of July and ...
Civil Rights
9th Circuit panel grills state on 10-round gun magazine ban
By Malcolm Maclachlan
“This seems to be quite a severe burden on the core Second Amendment right. Why shouldn’t that trigger strict scrutiny?” asked...
PG&E and the victims agreed on a settlement in December to set up a $13.5 billion trust for wildfire victims, half of whic...
Federal approach to prison releases during pandemic differs from state
By Blaise Scemama
While California state prisons and county jails free inmates before their sentences were fully served to make room for social ...
Doug Mandell worked in the past as general counsel for LinkedIn and Nauto Inc., and he worked as a personal legal advisor in S...
Criminal
Panel considers demand to release thousands of state prisoners
By Malcolm Maclachlan
Eight state prisoners have been diagnosed with the coronavirus, the plaintiffs said in their argument for release of 45,000.
Criminal
State Supreme Court affirms death penalty judgment with unusual conflict question
By Meghann Cuniff
Justices said the prosecutor’s new partnership with the defense ‘gives us great pause.’
Criminal, Civil Rights
State reports drop in number of people on prohibited gun list
By Malcolm Maclachlan
The Department of Justice report said the enforcement unit made 21,696 contacts with individuals in 2019, and seized 2,130 fir...
Government
State high court won’t hear Huntington Beach’s sanctuary law case
By Meghann Cuniff
Justices decided Wednesday not to take the case, which began as a writ petition from the Huntington Beach challenging the enfo...
Los Angeles-based Loeb & Loeb LLP announced across-the-board pay cuts Thursday, joining the list of law firms announcing c...
Labor/Employment, Intellectual Property
Mintz Levin lawyers persuade judge to dismiss trade secrets case against employees
By Craig Anderson
Citing California’s public policy protecing the rights of employees working for California companies to change jobs, a San Die...