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Southern California Record

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA RECORD

Wednesday, February 19, 2025

Federal Court

Federal law shields Grindr from lawsuit over underaged rapes arranged on app, appeals court says

By Jonathan Bilyk |
A federal appeals panel says Section 230 - a legal provision protecting social media companies from many lawsuits - protects gay dating and sex hookup app Grindr from a lawsuit from a man who claims he was raped four times by men using the app when he was 15, because Grindr didn't verify his age 
Lawsuits

'Hey, Siri:' $95M Apple Siri class action settlement gets initial OK from judge; Lawyers could get $28.5M

By Jonathan Bilyk |
Under the settlement, eligible claimants could get $20 for each Siri-equipped Apple devices they may have owned since 2014, up to five devices. The lawsuit asserted Apple devices wrongly recorded user conversations and other interactions, even when Siri was not summoned
Reform

Litigation among factors driving surge in California's auto insurance rates

By K. T. Sarmiento |
Hot Topics

Lawsuits: CA law banning certain workplace meetings unconstitutional, tramples free speech rights

By Jonathan Bilyk |
Two lawsuits - one from the California Chamber of Commerce and other business advocates, the other from the California Policy Center - assert Democrat-supported SB399 would violate the constitutional rights of business owners and others by subjecting them to lawsuits and fines for sharing their views with workers
Federal Court

UC Student Association lawsuit: DOGE access to students' financial data 'unprecedented,' illegal

By Michael Carroll |
The U.S. Department of Education has agreed to temporarily bar people affiliated with Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) from accessing students’ financial data as a result of a lawsuit filed by the University of California Student Association.
From Northern California Record
By Donald J. Kochan |
Law professor says California Attorney General Rob Bonta's decision to join with environmental activists to sue ExxonMobil over its Advanced Plastics Recycling programs is "Orwellian," defying both the rule of law and the Constitution.
From WV Record
By The West Virginia Record |
From WV Record
By The West Virginia Record |
From Madison Record
By The Socal Record |
The Business of Law Arrow gray brought to you by Peak

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 Alleges Delaware Corporation Violated Privacy Laws with TikTok Spyware

By Southern California Record |
A new class action lawsuit filed by Rebeka Rodriguez accuses Grand Home Holdings Inc., operating BBQGalore.com, of using TikTok spyware to illegally collect user data without consent—allegedly aiding Chinese espionage efforts in violation of...
State Court

Plaintiff alleges cosmetics company violated privacy laws through unauthorized data sharing

By Southern California Record |
A class action lawsuit has been filed against Jafra Cosmetics International for allegedly violating privacy laws by sharing user data with TikTok without consent.
State Court

Plaintiff alleges Assisted Home Recovery violated employment laws after cancer diagnosis

By Southern California Record |
Adriana Reyes has filed a lawsuit against Assisted Home Recovery claiming discrimination and retaliation following her cancer diagnosis and subsequent medical leave.
State Court

Former Employee Accused by Village Repair Partners LP and Gas Station Real Estate Corp. of Computer Fraud

By Southern California Record |
Village Repair Partners LP and Gas Station Real Estate Corp., represented by attorney David R. Fisher, have filed a lawsuit against former employee Matt Gann for alleged computer fraud among other charges in Ventura County Superior Court on...
State Court

Plaintiff Alleges FOMAT Medical Research Violated Labor Laws in Class Action Suit

By Southern California Record |
A former employee has filed a class action lawsuit against FOMAT Medical Research Inc., accusing them of violating multiple labor laws including unpaid overtime and failure to provide meal breaks.
State Court

Felipe Martinez Accuses Former Employer DFG Restaurants Inc., Carl Karcher Enterprises LLC Of Discrimination And Wrongful Termination

By Southern California Record |
Felipe Martinez has filed a lawsuit against DFG Restaurants Inc., Carl Karcher Enterprises LLC., alleging discrimination due to disability and wrongful termination after more than three decades with the company.
State Court

Tenants Sue Property Management Firm Over Alleged Privacy Violations

By Southern California Record |
Five tenants have filed a lawsuit against Global Integrity Realty Corporation in Ventura County Superior Court alleging violations of privacy laws during tenant screenings.
State Court

Plaintiff accuses Entertainment Earth of violating California Trap and Trace Law

By Southern California Record |
Kymbreli Ochoa has filed a lawsuit against Entertainment Earth for allegedly using TikTok's tracking software to collect personal data without consent.
State Court

Plaintiff Alleges Discriminatory Hiring Practices Against Local High School

By Southern California Record |
A former assistant coach has taken legal action against Newbury Park High School and its district over alleged discriminatory hiring practices based on gender and age bias.

'Hey, Siri:' $95M Apple Siri class action settlement gets initial OK from judge; Lawyers could get $28.5M

By Jonathan Bilyk |
Under the settlement, eligible claimants could get $20 for each Siri-equipped Apple devices they may have owned since 2014, up to five devices. The lawsuit asserted Apple devices wrongly recorded user conversations and other interactions, even when Siri was not summoned

LDS Church defeats bid to force refunds of 'tithes' over mall development

By Jonathan Bilyk |
A majority of an 11-member panel of the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals said there was no proof Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints leaders lied to members about how it was funding a mall development project. Other judges on the panel said the lawsuit had serious First Amendment problems

Appeals court: Ex-USC linebacker's family can't sue NCAA over player's CTE, death

By Scott Holland |
Panel rejects widow's attempt to invoke assumption of risk doctrine

California judge: Plaintiffs’ expert opinion in paraquat cases ‘inconsistent,’ ‘haphazard’

By Michael Carroll |
A recent California court decision and a new report from the state Department of Pesticide Regulation have cast doubt on whether plaintiffs’ attorneys can prove a causal link between the weed killer paraquat and Parkinson’s disease.

Legal affairs expert: California civil courts among the worst for allowing 'sham research'

By Michael Carroll |
When it comes to scrutinizing questionable scientific claims, California courts tend to be among the most permissive in the nation, providing fertile ground for aggressive trial attorneys, according to a legal affairs expert at the Center for Individual Freedom.

Lawsuits: CA law banning certain workplace meetings unconstitutional, tramples free speech rights

By Jonathan Bilyk |
Two lawsuits - one from the California Chamber of Commerce and other business advocates, the other from the California Policy Center - assert Democrat-supported SB399 would violate the constitutional rights of business owners and others by subjecting them to lawsuits and fines for sharing their views with workers

CA appeals court: State OK to go after Christian baker for refusing to bake 'plain, simple' cake for lesbian wedding

By Jonathan Bilyk |
The court said sincere Christian beliefs concerning marriage and lack of "ill will or malice" held by Cathy Miller, owner of Tastries Bakery in Bakersfield, don't shield her from the state's civil rights enforcement action. Miller's attorneys vowed to appeal to the state Supreme Court, saying the state is trying to "crush" her over her beliefs

CA A/G Bonta threatens hospitals for complying with Trump's order blocking child gender transition procedures

By Jonathan Bilyk |
Attorney General Rob Bonta sent a letter to Children's Hospital Los Angeles and issued a public statement threatening state action vs hospitals and other medical providers who comply with President Trump's order forbidding federal funding and directing federal action vs those providing child gender transition procedures

LA school district gets new chance to shut down lawsuit over Covid vax mandate

By Jonathan Bilyk |
The full Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals tossed out their colleagues' earlier holding that had allowed L.A. public school workers to sue L.A. Unified School District over its Covid shot mandate, because the Covid shots don't prevent infection. LAUSD said the effectiveness of the shot shouldn't matter to the court

Judge: Profs can't challenge CA community college DEI rules, because rules haven't been enforced yet

By Jonathan Bilyk |
A federal judge has rejected, for now, a lawsuit brought by Fresno-area community college instructors challenging California's community college DEI regulations. The instructors said the rules are an unconstitutional threat vs professors who could be found to be insufficiently 'anti-racist'

Property tax raising Prop 5 appears headed to defeat, per preliminary election results

By Jonathan Bilyk |
As of Nov. 7, 56% of California voters had voted "No" on Proposition 5, a measure promoted by California Democratic state lawmakers to make it significantly easier for local governments to amass new debt and raise property taxes in the name of infrastructure improvement and affordable housing

California Legislature approves $50 million for legal defense against Trump administration, despite GOP warnings

By Michael Carroll |
California lawmakers this week sent Gov. Gavin Newsom two bills providing tens of millions of dollars to defend against anticipated Trump administration policies that legislative Democrats say may illegally shortchange the state’s taxpayers. Democrats rejected an amendment that would have forbidden the state from using the money to defend criminal illegal immigrants

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 Alleges Delaware Corporation Violated Privacy Laws with TikTok Spyware

By Southern California Record |
A new class action lawsuit filed by Rebeka Rodriguez accuses Grand Home Holdings Inc., operating BBQGalore.com, of using TikTok spyware to illegally collect user data without consent—allegedly aiding Chinese espionage efforts in violation of...

UC Student Association lawsuit: DOGE access to students' financial data 'unprecedented,' illegal

By Michael Carroll |
The U.S. Department of Education has agreed to temporarily bar people affiliated with Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) from accessing students’ financial data as a result of a lawsuit filed by the University of California Student Association.

Pete’s Plumbing CFO Hillis: ‘Lawsuits are out of control’

By K. R. Nelson |
As auto insurance rates continue to rise across the country, critics are increasingly pointing to what they describe as rampant abuse of the legal system by trial lawyers.

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.