Jonathan Bilyk News
CA Utilities Commission wrongly flushed water companies' 'decoupling' programs, Supreme Court says
The state high court ruled the California Public Utilities Commission didn't provide proper notice before eliminating so-called rate decoupling programs. The programs allow utilities to assess surcharges to customers to cover shortfalls when customers use less water
Judge tosses class action vs Google over Youtube's kids' data collection
Plaintiffs still have work to do to show the practice of using tracking cookies to collect data from kids under the age of 13 was actually harmful and why they should get paid, in part because the parents need to show how their kids' information had any economic value to them
Non-criminal DUI records aren't protected by California's right to privacy, appeals court says
A California state appeals panel has ruled that privacy rights established under the California state constitution and the state's labor laws don't stop the DMV from disclosing information about DUI-related license suspensions to employers, insurers and others
Disney can't end antitrust suit over streaming TV price hikes
A SF federal judge said plaintiffs had done enough to back their claims Disney used its ownership of Hulu and ESPN to force streaming TV services to boost prices to maintain Disney profits at levels earned through cable and satellite TV before 'cord cutting' era
No constitutional right for 'involuntarily homeless' to camp in public spaces, Supreme Court says
The 6-3 ruling tosses out a controversial court decision that blocked communities from enforcing 'anti-camping' rules and hamstrung governments' ability to respond to myriad health and safety problems caused by homeless encampments in parks and on sidewalks and in other public spaces
'Junk science:' SF federal judge tosses expert analysis often cited to support Roundup cancer lawsuits
Northern California District Judge Vince Chhabria said "peer review" wasn't enough to persuade him to allow lawyers to use an oft-cited analysis of other studies, which the judge said was pocked by "glaring" flaws, to back their claims that a South Carolina man's lymphoma was caused by using Roundup
CA high court: Patients can accuse med makers of 'failure to warn,' even if doctors recommended treatment
The California Supreme Court imposed limits of the so-called "learned intermediary doctrine," which largely shields the makers of medication and medical devices from personal injury lawsuits accusing them of failure to warn of risks from their products, so long as doctors have been warned and still OK treatment
'Threat to direct democracy:' CA Supreme Court ruling preserves Dem power over CA taxes, fees
The California Supreme Court has kicked off the fall 2024 ballot the so-called Taxpayer Protection Act, a citizen initiative that would have required state and local governments to get voter OK before hiking taxes and fees. The court agreed with Gov. Gavin Newsom that the initiative exceeded citizen initiative power
Biz groups, Dems announce deal to reform law that spawned thousands of 'shakedown' suits vs employers
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
Orange County Fair didn't need to competitively bid carnival contract, appeals court says
A Santa Ana appellate panel rejected a bid by a Texas-based carnival operator for an injunction blocking the Orange County Fair from continuing with its contract with Ray Cammack Amusements to run the Fair's carnival and midway, even though the Fair tailored the process to ensure only Cammack could win the bid
CA Supreme Court hands win to primary insurers in fight vs excess insurance providers over asbestos claims
The California Supreme Court said lower courts were wrong to block a primary insurer saddled with massive claims resulting from asbestos-related lawsuits vs Kaiser Gypsum from seeking additional coverage from Kaiser's excess liability insurance providers
Appeals court: CA Democrats didn't violate Constitution by tailoring AB5 to target Uber, others
An earlier court had ruled the law unconstitutional because lawmakers had demonstrated 'impermissible animus and political favoritism' in forcing Uber and similar companies to potentially face massive financial risk under a new stringent test to determine if drivers should be treated as contractors or employees, while exempting hosts of others
California to get cut of $700M deal to end states' legal action vs J&J over talc powder marketing
The settlement will end legal actions launched by 43 states accusing Johnson & Johnson of allegedly misleading consumers about the safety of its talc baby powder and body powder products. The company has denied a link between its products and cancer, as alleged in thousands of other lawsuits
Lawsuit: UCLA leaders' 'cowardice' enabled antisemitic harassment, bigotry to flourish amid protests
The lawsuit filed by three Jewish students accused UCLA of violating their constitutional and civil rights and endangered Jewish students and faculty by allowing pro-Hamas antisemitic protests and imagery to proliferate and flourish on campus this spring
CA Supreme Court clears way for UC Berkeley housing project; Law says student noise can't stop new developments
The California Supreme Court has ruled a new state law indeed pulls the rug out from under opponents of the People's Park student housing project at UC Berkeley, who had scored a win on appeal to force the school to include concerns over 'student-generated noise' in their environmental review
LA lifeguard captain says LA County Fire Dept trampled his religious rights over 'Progress Pride' flag
22-year veteran captain of L.A.'s lifeguard service, who is a 'devout Christian,' says he was mistreated by commanding officers and he and his family were threatened with harm by others after he requested an exemption from county mandate to personally raise the 'Progress Pride' flag at his lifeguard station
CA Supreme Court: LA assessor right, State Board wrong on when corporate owned properties can be reassessed
The California Supreme Court says property transfers of corporate-owned property can trigger a reassessment under Prop 13, even if the property remains essentially under the same control throughout. "Stock" refers to real ownership interests, not who controls a company, the high court says
Appeals court blocks GOP-led states from trying to stop Biden from negotiating away immigration rule
A dissenting judge said the decision is motivated by a desire to ensure the Biden administration and left-wing groups reach a deal that could undermine a rule intended to reduce illegal immigration and prevent the U.S. Supreme Court from entering the legal fight
Lawsuit: California telehealth doctor licensing rules unconstitutionally block patients from 'lifesaving' care
The Pacific Legal Foundation, a successful nonprofit constitutional law organization, has filed suit against the California Medical Board on behalf of a patient with a rare hemophilia condition and a prominent New York cancer specialist, asserting California's restrictions on out-of-state telehealth are unconstitutional
Rideshare driver stabbed by passenger can't sue Lyft for not screening passengers' criminal history
The passenger who attacked a rideshare driver had a lengthy criminal history, easily pulled in a basic background check. But a state appeals court says California law blocks Lyft and other rideshare operators from screening passengers to protect their drivers