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SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA RECORD

Thursday, October 17, 2024

State Court

Monsanto agrees to pay city of Los Angeles $35 million to settle PCB lawsuit

By Michael Carroll |
Monsanto Co. has agreed to pay $35 million to settle a city of Los Angeles lawsuit that sought to hold the agrochemical firm accountable for manufacturing and selling chemical compounds decades ago that contaminated L.A.-area waterways.
Lawsuits

Meta, social media operators can't pull plug on states' suit over young people's 'addiction'

By Jonathan Bilyk |
An Oakland federal judge said a bipartisan coalition of nearly three dozen state attorneys general had provided enough evidence to this point that Meta and other social media companies knew their products were addictive to young people and misled the public about the risks, leading to societal harms
Federal Court

SCOTUS ends Uber's challenge to the lingering effects of AB5, won't hear appeal

By Jonathan Bilyk |
Hot Topics

SCOTUS won't review CA court's decision, clearing path for state, city lawsuits vs Uber, Lyft

By Jonathan Bilyk |
The Attorney General and city attorneys for L.A., San Diego and San Francisco have sued Uber and Lyft under the controversial AB5 labor law, seeking to extract a big payday from the companies, ostensibly on behalf of workers, over claims the companies misclassified drivers as independent contractors
Federal Court

Science behind California stem cell clinic therapies comes under legal scrutiny

By Michael Carroll |
A recent appeals court decision opens the door for the federal Food and Drug Administration to regulate a procedure offered at several California stem cell clinics that critics say is unproven and potentially harmful.
Despite promising solutions, California officials are poised to use Prop 1 to simply throw $6 billion more at a homelessness problem already massive state spending has yet to solve
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California State Bar accuses immigrant-services business owner of offering legal services without license

For the second time, an immigration-services firm in El Monte has been seized by the State Bar of California for allegedly offering legal services without proper authorization.

DOJ official: Southern California law firm misused coronavirus relief funds

A Southern California law firm founded by the daughter of women’s rights attorney Gloria Allred has agreed to pay a settlement of more than $200,000 after providing false information to obtain coronavirus hardship funds from the federal government.
State Court

Plaintiff accuses Financial Institution Trustee Company over Quiet Title Dispute

By Southern California Record |
In a recent appellate court decision dated October 3rd, Cherie Brown lost her appeal against Deutsche Bank National Trust Co., which she accused of wrongful foreclosure practices involving complex mortgage transactions dating back to her property's purchase in 2007 from Youval Zive with ties to Washington Mutual loans.
State Court

Freight Company Accused of Breach Over Unpaid Invoices

By Southern California Record |
In a high-stakes legal battle involving two freight giants, Manifest Destiny Transport Corporation successfully sued South Bay Freight System for over half a million dollars in unpaid invoices following a contentious cargo theft incident. The court found South Bay acted improperly by withholding payments far exceeding their losses and attempting to poach staff from Manifest Destiny amidst ongoing litigation.
State Court

Calvary Chapel accuses Superior Court over Contempt Orders amid COVID-19 Restrictions

By Southern California Record |
In a legal tussle over COVID-19 restrictions versus religious freedom rights, Calvary Chapel San Jose challenges contempt rulings by the Superior Court of Santa Clara County dating back to pandemic-era mandates. Despite earlier victories annulling fines for non-compliance with health directives at church services deemed unconstitutional under First Amendment grounds—further pursuit for attorney fees was recently denied due largely because self-interest motivated their defense efforts without needing additional financial incentives typically awarded through public interest litigation statutes like section1021 .5 which they invoked unsuccessfully here according recent appellate review outcomes this September!
State Court

Plaintiff alleges Roller-Skating Rink Owner Negligence After Injury

By Southern California Record |
A legal dispute unfolded as Geraldine Myers sued Skateland Enterprises following an injury at their Northridge roller-skating rink. Despite claims of negligence due to inadequate safety measures, the court upheld that inherent risks are part of such activities, dismissing her lawsuit based on existing legal doctrines surrounding recreational sports.
State Court

Former Police Officers Allege Retaliation Against City Over Whistleblower Claims

By Southern California Record |
Two former police officers have taken legal action against the City of Long Beach alleging wrongful termination due to whistleblower retaliation under California's Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) and Labor Code section 1102.5 protections following multiple lawsuits against their former employer spanning several years
State Court

Patient Alleges Medical Negligence Against Cosmetic Surgery Provider Following Complications

By Southern California Record |
A lawsuit filed by Ivon Valdez alleges professional negligence against Celebrating Women Center following complications from a Brazilian Butt Lift surgery performed by Dr. Adrienne Lara in February 2023. The suit seeks damages exceeding $35k due to alleged improper care leading to nerve injuries and prolonged suffering for Valdez.
State Court

Plaintiff alleges negligence after injury at restaurant

By Southern California Record |
A plaintiff's negligence claim against a restaurant has been dismissed due to procedural errors during the appeal process. Dionza Blue had sued The Veggie Grill following an injury but failed to provide necessary documentation and reasoned arguments required for appellate review.
State Court

Patient Alleges Surgeon’s Negligence Following Hand Surgery

By Southern California Record |
A California appellate court has upheld a ruling favoring a surgeon accused of medical negligence by a patient following hand surgery complications The plaintiff failed to provide necessary expert testimony resulting in summary judgment for the defense
State Court

Plaintiffs accuse real estate attorney Jack W. Chao of interfering with property sale

By Southern California Record |
Navigators Real Estate Inc., doing business as Pinnacle Real Estate Group, along with Jing Shao have accused real estate attorney Jack W. Chao of intentionally interfering with their contractual relations involving a property sale in Monrovia, California.

Meta, social media operators can't pull plug on states' suit over young people's 'addiction'

By Jonathan Bilyk |
An Oakland federal judge said a bipartisan coalition of nearly three dozen state attorneys general had provided enough evidence to this point that Meta and other social media companies knew their products were addictive to young people and misled the public about the risks, leading to societal harms

Stanford, Cal Tech, USC among top U.S. universities hit with class action over financial aid practices

By Jonathan Bilyk |
A new class action lawsuit says some of America's top colleges and universities have for nearly two decades violated U.S. antitrust law by collectively making it harder for students to obtain need-based financial aid by forcing them to include non-custodial parent income on applications

GSK, plaintiffs in 2 Zantac cases in California reach confidential settlements

By Michael Carroll |
The pharmaceutical company that manufactured the popular heartburn medication Zantac has settled with two California plaintiffs who brought lawsuits alleging the active ingredient in Zantac, ranitidine, caused their cancers.

Judge: Lawsuits over supposedly toxic acne medicines blocked by federal drug safety, labeling law

By Jonathan Bilyk |
A L.A. federal judge has tossed class action lawsuits against the makers of Proactiv and other acne medicines that contain benzoyl peroxide. The judge said the FDA has declared the medications safe, so plaintiffs can't cite a controversial private lab's findings that they are not

Disputed science drives lawsuits over Abbott's specialized formula for preterm infants

By Michael Carroll |
Researchers and health care companies say plaintiffs’ attorneys are engaged in a feeding frenzy of litigation and scientific questioning about the safety of certain types of formula for infants and toddlers.

SCOTUS won't review CA court's decision, clearing path for state, city lawsuits vs Uber, Lyft

By Jonathan Bilyk |
The Attorney General and city attorneys for L.A., San Diego and San Francisco have sued Uber and Lyft under the controversial AB5 labor law, seeking to extract a big payday from the companies, ostensibly on behalf of workers, over claims the companies misclassified drivers as independent contractors

CA lawmakers exempt Capitol Annex project from state enviro review law, can't be sued

By Jonathan Bilyk |
A state appeals court said California lawmakers didn't violate the state constitution by specifically and immediately exempting the $1.2B Capitol Annex project from the state's controversial California Environmental Quality Act, in an apparent move to thwart legal challenges seeking to halt the project

Attorney General Bonta: 'We travel,' use jet fuel in wake of new ExxonMobil lawsuit

By Michael Carroll |
California Attorney General Rob Bonta flew to New York for an interview on CNBC’s “Squawk Box” last month to discuss his latest lawsuit challenging ExxonMobil’s recycling efforts but found himself on the defensive over his own contributions to climate change.

New study points to danger of fabricated, AI-generated scientific papers on legislation, politics

By Michael Carroll |
Academic studies about health issues, the environment and computing are increasingly susceptible to artificial intelligence-driven fabrications, putting the quality of scientific research, such as that which underlies legal arguments, at risk, new research suggests.

Google privacy settlement a $62M windfall for trial lawyers, left-wing groups: Court filings

By Jonathan Bilyk |
Twenty GOP state attorneys general have filed a brief in the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in support of a group of objectors, seeking to undo approval of a settlement that would steer most of $62 million from Google to trial lawyers and the ACLU and other groups to advance left-wing social and political causes

Polls in Bay Area, elsewhere in CA show big support for Prop 36, despite Dem leaders' opposition

By Jonathan Bilyk |
Prop 36 would restore to police and prosecutors powers to address property and drug crimes that had been stripped by away 10 years ago by Prop 47, which helped to fuel California's current crime problems and was strongly supported by Kamala Harris

California ban on switchblades affirmed; Judge rejects Second Amendment arguments, will be appealed

By John O'Brien |
Switchblade knives are not "arms" protected by the Second Amendment, a California federal judge has ruled in rejecting a legal challenge to California's switchblade knife ban law

California extends 'take-home' asbestos liability to case of brother who lived elsewhere

By Daniel Fisher |
SAN FRANCISCO (Legal Newsline) - A California Supreme Court decision limiting “take-home” asbestos liability to people who live in the same house doesn’t preclude a man from suing over claims he was exposed to asbestos when visiting at his brother’s house.

Court overturns $3 million punitive damages award in case of Old Spice talcum powder

By Daniel Fisher |
LOS ANGELES (Legal Newsline) - A California appeals court reversed a $3 million punitive-damages award against a former supplier of cosmetic talc, ruling there wasn’t evidence the company’s executives knew their product contained dangerous amounts of asbestos when the plaintiff claimed his exposure.

Plaintiff accuses Financial Institution Trustee Company over Quiet Title Dispute

By Southern California Record |
In a recent appellate court decision dated October 3rd, Cherie Brown lost her appeal against Deutsche Bank National Trust Co., which she accused of wrongful foreclosure practices involving complex mortgage transactions dating back to her property's purchase in 2007 from Youval Zive with ties to Washington Mutual loans.

Science behind California stem cell clinic therapies comes under legal scrutiny

By Michael Carroll |
A recent appeals court decision opens the door for the federal Food and Drug Administration to regulate a procedure offered at several California stem cell clinics that critics say is unproven and potentially harmful.

Biz groups, Dems announce deal to reform law that spawned thousands of 'shakedown' suits vs employers

By Jonathan Bilyk |
Under the deal to reform the Private Attorney General Act, a coalition of business groups would agree to withdraw a ballot measure that would have largely gutted PAGA. Reports showed PAGA generated lawsuits worth $10B in payouts from employers in the past 10 years, with big money for lawyers, little real benefit for workers

UNITE HERE Local 11 continues to target California hospitality employers with recall law, latest fine hits Hyatt Regency Long Beach for $4.8 million

By Southern California Record |
A few months ago, airline catering company Flying Food Group (FFG) was one of many California-based hospitality groups to be targeted by state lawmakers trying to enforce a union-backed bill that affects the rehiring process in the hospitality industry. UNITE HERE Local 11 Union was instrumental in getting the recall law passed and is now using it as a weapon to attack other employers they are bargaining with. The latest hotel to be targeted is the Hyatt Regency in Long Beach.