Jonathan Bilyk News
Privacy class action firms jockey for control of 23andMe data breach claims; Edelson calls for new approach
Data privacy class action firm Edelson P.C. is seeking to control 40 class actions, potentially worth huge money, against 23andMe for allegedly allowing genetic info to be stolen in a data breach. In a new filing, Edelson is asking courts to reconsider how they decide which lawyers should lead
Judge: Nestle can't melt class action over white chocolate content in TollHouse white baking chips
A San Jose federal judge said a recent decision from a California state appeals court in a virtually identical case against Walmart will require Nestle to work harder to beat the class action accusing the company of misleading consumers
SCOTUS: CA appeal court wrong to block man from suing El Dorado County over $23K 'traffic fees' for one house
The U.S. Supreme Court took to task the California Third District Court of Appeals for ruling that the Fifth Amendment's prohibition on property takings doesn't apply to permit fee schemes enacted by legislatures, like the El Dorado County Board.
California election authorities can't bump Fong from race to replace McCarthy in Congress, appeals panel says
A California state appeals court has ruled California Secretary of State Shirley Weber misinterpreted the state's election laws in attempting to block Republican State Assemblyman Vince Fong from the ballot in the contest to replace former U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy
Appeals panel: Investors can go after Genius Brands for over-boosting 'Rainbow Rangers'
A federal appeals panel says a L.A. federal judge wrongly tossed a lawsuit against kids TV producer Genius Brands for misleading investors about the prospects for its show "Rainbow Rangers" and for boosting a report that they could be bought by Disney or Netflix
Appeals panel: Local density caps OK'd by voters don't defeat state law allowing denser housing
California appeals judges said Senate Bill 10, which allows cities and counties to approve certain higher-density housing developments, don't violate the state constitution by overriding local voter initiatives setting housing density caps.
'De facto invisible': High costs, state rules, lack of online access can block public from monitoring 'public' court proceedings
A settlement has resolved a class action vs federal courts over fees charged to access online court documents. But high costs for certain records and varying court rules about public access to court records in Illinois and elsewhere create a legal patchwork that mostly limits public view into the courts
Meta can't escape class action claiming Facebook 'Potential Reach' for ads misled advertisers
A majority on a split panel of the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals said it should only matter that Facebook allegedly inflated the "Potential Reach" of "boosted" ads, not by how much individual advertisers may have been misled, if at all
Lawsuit accuses San Diego of operating discriminatory anti-white homebuyer assistance program
The lawsuit seeks a court order blocking the city of San Diego from administering its first-time homebuyer assistance program which the lawsuit said intentionally excludes white applicants.
Realtors to pay $418M to end home seller commission class action; Big changes coming to home sale process
Lawyers who brought the lawsuits could be in for a big payday, as well, potentially claiming $140 million from the deal, plus $69 million from earlier settlements with large real estate brokerages facing similar claims of alleged collusion to boost real estate agent commissions
Disability rights advocates say California must allow voters with 'print disabilities' to vote electronically from home
A group of California voters who are blind or otherwise have "print disabilities" have joined with disability rights advocate organizations to sue the state of California, claiming California's vote-by-mail program discriminates against them because they must print and mail their completed ballots
Objectors to Sacramento marijuana shop owner residency rule win chance to press constitutional claims
A federal appeals panel ruled that a federal district judge had wrongly attempted to duck the thorny constitutional questions by citing the deep conflict between federal and California state marijuana laws
CA Supreme Court says car buyers can demand to keep trade-in credits under 'lemon law' verdicts
Automaker Stellantis/FCA had argued such a ruling would essentially allow car buyers to profit when they buy defective cars, trade them in toward the purchase of other vehicles, and then sue under the lemon law for a full refund.
Judge upholds Temecula Valley schools policies blocking classroom CRT, requiring parental notification for gender changes
A Riverside County judge sided with Temecula Valley Unified School District in a dispute with activists and the local teachers union over school board policies that block teachers from telling students that white people are inherently racist and require educators to notify parents if their children change gender ID
San Diego judge slashes 90% off $332M verdict awarded to man in Roundup trial
The judge said $325 million in punitive damages was excessive, compared to the $7 million in compensatory damages the jury awarded plaintiff Mike Dennis. The judge cut punitive damages to $21 million. Monsanto still plans to appeal
California remains one of top spots for ADA disability access lawsuits in America
An analysis by the Seyfarth firm placed California No. 2, behind New York, as the top state for new lawsuits filed in federal court under ADA Title III in 2023. Many such lawsuits have been likened by prosecutors to "shakedowns" of small businesses
Biden administration, left-wing allies 'colluding' to shove court fight over immigration past November, judge says
A federal appeals court judge in San Francisco blasted the Biden administration and his fellow judges for allowing left-wing activists to help the president quietly tuck from public view a court fight over the politically fraught crisis at the southern border
California cities can't bring class action to force Netflix, Hulu, other streamers to pay cable TV franchise fees
A state appeals court has pulled the plug, for now, on efforts by trial lawyers and California cities to force streaming entertainment services, like Netflix, to pay the fees normally levied by state law on cable TV companies
California can't enforce minor gun ad ban law while court case plays out over speech restrictions
The full U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals said it won't grant the Attorney General's request for a review of a three-judge panel's decision to slap an injunction on AB2571, which they said amounted to an unconstitutional 'muzzling of speech'
Appeals court: Lowe's can't escape PAGA class action by enforcing arbitration clause vs lead plaintiff
The U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals agreed that the California Supreme Court's interpretation of the state's controversial PAGA law holds sway over that of the U.S. Supreme Court