Hot Topics
PAGA lawsuits vs employers keep rising in CA, helping to fuel big class action payouts nationwide
A new report from defense law firm Duane Morris said class action settlements again totaled more than $40B in 2024, with attorneys raking in many of those billions for themselves in fees. In California, much of the action was driven by thousands of "representative" lawsuits vs employers under the PAGA law
Federal Court
ExxonMobil critics condemn energy company's filing of defamation lawsuit in plastics dispute
Lawsuits
Palisades, Eaton wildfires spawning lawsuits vs LADWP, SoCal Edison; Many more expected
Hot Topics
Federal appeals court won't revisit decision upholding CA 'sensitive place' gun carry ban
Dissenting judges warned the decision rested on strained legal reasoning, likely in defiance of the U.S. Supreme Court's holdings on Second Amendment rights and could tee up review and the risk of a loss before the Supreme Court
Attorney Complaints
California appeals court seeks justification for prosecution of L.A. district attorney legal advisor
A California appeals court has asked prosecutors to justify their case against a Los Angeles district attorney advisor who was charged with felonies for allegedly accessing confidential police officer information.
From Northern California Record
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
From WV Record
From WV Record
From Madison Record
From Northern California Record
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
Minor Alleges Medical Malpractice Against Radiologist Over Misdiagnosis Leading to Severe Complications
A recent ruling by California's Court of Appeal has reversed a lower court decision in a medical malpractice case involving a minor patient and a radiologist accused of misdiagnosing a critical condition during an emergency room visit in October 2020
State Court
Plaintiffs accuse nursing home operator Gramercy Court of wrongful death
Lisa Lombardo and others are suing Gramercy Court over allegations related to the negligent care leading to Elizabeth Stein's death at their facility.
State Court
Plaintiff alleges major online delivery platform misclassified workers under labor law
A recent appellate court decision has reversed a lower court ruling regarding employment classification disputes involving a prominent online delivery service provider and its parent company.
State Court
Plaintiff Alleges Former Employer Sine Qua Non Inc.'s Associational Disability Discrimination
Juan D. Garcia has filed a lawsuit against Sine Qua Non Inc., accusing them of associational disability discrimination following his termination after requesting family medical leave.
State Court
Plaintiff alleges California farms violated labor laws through wage theft
A former line leader at two California farms has filed a lawsuit alleging serious labor law violations including unpaid wages and lack of proper breaks during his employment period from March 2022 to August 2023.
State Court
Plaintiff Alleges Former Employer Simi CDJR Violated Labor Laws
A class action lawsuit has been filed against Simi CDJR by Nurer Bilash in Ventura County's Superior Court on December 31st.
State Court
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Student Alleges Negligence Against Instructor and Dojo
In a landmark case highlighting safety concerns within martial arts training environments, Jack Greener has been awarded $46 million after suing his Brazilian jiu-jitsu instructor and dojo for negligence following a severe injury sustained during...
State Court
Plaintiff accuses digital marketing firm of privacy invasion through unauthorized chat surveillance
Emily Rodriguez has launched a class action lawsuit against Epsilon Data Management for allegedly violating privacy laws by allowing third-party surveillance on their website chats without user consent.
State Court
Plaintiff alleges former employer CIDA Sleep Systems for racial discrimination
David Navarro has taken legal action against his former employer CIDA Sleep Systems for alleged racial discrimination and harassment during his employment as an HR Generalist.
Palisades, Eaton wildfires spawning lawsuits vs LADWP, SoCal Edison; Many more expected
Investigations could take months or years, but trial lawyers have rushed into court on behalf of the Pacific Palisades and Eaton wildfire victims. The suits accused LA Dept of Water & Power of failing to provide enough water and accused Southern California Edison of causing the blazes. Many more lawsuits are expected to be filed
California judge: Plaintiffs’ expert opinion in paraquat cases ‘inconsistent,’ ‘haphazard’
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'
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.
'De-transitioned' woman accuses doctors of 'medical abuse,' pushing her as child to become 'trans'
A young woman has sued prominent transgender youth doctor Johana Olson-Kennedy and others, accusing them of inflicting traumatic "medical abuse" in allegedly pushing a "scared, confused, and traumatized" girl into trans "affirming care," causing psychiatric problems and irreversible physical damage
CA Supreme Court says used cars with unexpired warranties aren't "new" cars
'Huge win for all automakers,' attorneys for FCA US said, in praise of the decision declaring used car buyers must also purchase an original manufacturer's warranty to demand coverage under a California consumer protection law
PAGA lawsuits vs employers keep rising in CA, helping to fuel big class action payouts nationwide
A new report from defense law firm Duane Morris said class action settlements again totaled more than $40B in 2024, with attorneys raking in many of those billions for themselves in fees. In California, much of the action was driven by thousands of "representative" lawsuits vs employers under the PAGA law
Federal appeals court won't revisit decision upholding CA 'sensitive place' gun carry ban
Dissenting judges warned the decision rested on strained legal reasoning, likely in defiance of the U.S. Supreme Court's holdings on Second Amendment rights and could tee up review and the risk of a loss before the Supreme Court
Exxon: CA A/G Bonta, enviro activists conspired with foreign 'green energy' interests in plastic recycling suits
ExxonMobil has sued California Attorney General Rob Bonta and environmental activist organizations, accusing them of working with an anti-oil Australian billionaire to launch a coordinated "lawfare" campaign against ExxonMobil, including recent lawsuits over Exxon's 'advanced recycling' programs
Judge blocks CA teen 'social media addiction' law for 30 days
A federal judge mostly declined to issue an injunction preventing California and Attorney General Rob Bonta from enforcing SB976, a law that the social media companies say is designed to establish a state-led censorship program to restrict online speech in the name of protecting children. But the judge followed that with a ruling blocking the state from enforcing the law until Feb. 1 to let an appeals court weigh in
Amazon employee on Teamster strike: Amazon is 'paying more then any other job postings'
Amazon employee Josh Muirhead highlighted the company's competitive wages, noting they surpass other job postings on Indeed by a significant margin.
Orange County Superior Court judge pleads not guilty to murdering his wife
An Orange County Superior Court judge has pleaded not guilty to murdering his 65-year-old wife with a firearm last year in their Anaheim Hills home.
Property tax raising Prop 5 appears headed to defeat, per preliminary election results
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’s new auto insurance law expected to raise costs, fuel legal challenges
Beginning Jan. 1, 2025, California drivers will face higher minimum liability insurance requirements due to the enactment of Senate Bill 1107, the Protect California Drivers Act.
California extends 'take-home' asbestos liability to case of brother who lived elsewhere
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
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.
Plaintiffs accuse nursing home operator Gramercy Court of wrongful death
Lisa Lombardo and others are suing Gramercy Court over allegations related to the negligent care leading to Elizabeth Stein's death at their facility.
Huntington Beach asks courts to end California 'Sanctuary State' law, let cops deal with criminal illegal immigrants
The lawsuit asserts California's so-called "Sanctuary State" law has not only harmed California residents and their communities, but has placed the city in the position of having to choose between obeying state or federal laws. The lawsuit asserts the state law violates the U.S. Constitution's federal supremacy clause
Science court advocate: A less adversarial system could improve outcomes in civil litigation
A decades-old idea of convening “science courts” to make informed judgments on controversies such as federal funding for nuclear power or the safety of a pharmaceutical drug is now being promoted as a way to bolster public confidence in the scientific method.
UNITE HERE Local 11 continues to target California hospitality employers with recall law, latest fine hits Hyatt Regency Long Beach for $4.8 million
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.