Michael Carroll News
Defense attorneys: Studies linking benzoyl peroxide acne creams to cancer 'warrant skepticism'
Defense attorneys continue to raise questions about the science behind the filing of multiple federal lawsuits in California accusing pharmaceutical and health care companies of marketing or selling acne medications that can degrade into the carcinogen benzene.
California State Bar seizes non-attorney's office, says Filipino immigrants were scammed
The office of a Los Angeles woman accused of engaging in the practice of law without a license and charging Filipino immigrants five-figure amounts for bogus legal services has been seized by the State Bar of California.
Two legal aid groups urge state Supreme Court to expand electronic recording in courtrooms
Two legal aid groups have petitioned the California Supreme Court to require that litigants in several types of civil lawsuits have access to verbatim electronic recordings of court proceedings whenever court reporters are unavailable.
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.
State Bar memo: Lawyers candidates who engage in campus protests may face 'moral character' probes
California State Bar applicants’ protest-related activities, such as the kind related to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict this past year, can warrant a moral character inquiry by the State Bar, a recent policy document says.
Southern California utility, U.S. Attorney's Office agree to settle lawsuit stemming from 2020 Bobcat Fire
The U.S. Attorney’s Office and Southern California Edison (SCE) have agreed to resolve a federal lawsuit over property damage and firefighting costs related to the 2020 Bobcat Fire, according to court documents filed this month.
California's civil justice system ranks fifth worst in latest list of Judicial Hellholes in U.S.
California’s reputation as a proving ground for new theories of liability, its massive jury verdicts exceeding $10 million and its pushing the envelope of environmental litigation have all helped to put the state in the No. 5 spot on the new Judicial Hellholes report released this week.
Los Angeles oil field owner challenges new law aimed at shutting down low-production wells
The operator of the Inglewood Oil Field in Los Angeles County has filed a lawsuit challenging a new state law that would phase out low-production wells at the site by the end of 2030 and potentially subject the company to “unlimited penalties.”
Attorney elected Orange County supervisor facing prison, disbarment for accepting bribes
A former member of the Orange County Board of Supervisors who agreed to plead guilty to a felony charge of accepting more than $550,000 in bribes will likely be recommended for disbarment, the Southern California Record has learned.
San Diego County residents sue over raw sewage, pollution discharges from treatment plant
South Bay residents are suing Veolia, the operators of an international water treatment plant in San Ysidro, alleging that raw sewage and other pollutants including hydrogen sulfide and DDT have been regularly discharged from the plant. Veolia says the lawsuit is "opportunistic," capitalizing on environmental problems caused by discharges from Tijuana
California State Bar advances plans to expunge attorney discipline records after 8 years
The California State Bar says the proposal is intended to address allegedly racist attorney disciplinary practices, which allegedly resulted in black male attorneys being punished more frequently than white lawyers. Opponents say the change will allow lawyers to hide misconduct from future clients
Environmental groups sue to block carbon-capture project at Kern County oil field
Environmental groups are suing the Kern County Board of Supervisors over its approval of a carbon-capture project at the century-old Elk Hills oil field, alleging that the project violates the California Environmental Quality Act and will likely leak carbon.
Pfizer facing new lawsuits in California over injectable form of birth control
Several plaintiffs have filed lawsuits against Pfizer Inc. and other pharmaceutical companies in California, alleging that an injectable form of birth control causes or contributes to a higher risk of developing brain tumors.
Pipeline company agrees to $72.5 million settlement over 2015 Santa Barbara County oil spill
An oil pipeline company based in Houston has agreed to pay $72.5 million to settle damages claims stemming from a 2015 oil spill in Santa Barbara County that harmed wildlife, closed beaches and shut down fisheries.
Evolving scientific views of child abuse drive debate over Menendez brothers’ resentencing
An anticipated resentencing hearing for Erik and Lyle Menendez has sparked debate about the state of scientific knowledge on the effects of child abuse 30 years ago, when the brothers were convicted of the shotgun slayings of their parents.
California State Bar charges Los Angeles attorney with more counts of preying on inmate clients
A Los Angeles attorney now faces a second round of misconduct counts accusing him of charging inmates thousands of dollars for resentencing requests under a 2018 state law, even though authorities told him such applications were ill-advised.
Judge rejects lawsuit challenging city of Huntington Beach's voter ID requirements
An Orange County judge has sustained the city of Huntington Beach’s objection to a legal action brought by the California Attorney General’s Office that sought to overturn the city’s new voter identification requirements.
11 California attorneys disbarred in third quarter, State Bar reports
A total of 11 California attorneys were expelled from their profession in the third quarter of this year, while another 15 were either suspended, put on probation or both, according to new data released by the California State Bar.
L.A. city officials say litigation costs put the city on path to fiscal peril
Los Angeles officials are warning that the city’s reserve fund has been drained well below its usual minimum level of 5% due to dramatically expanding liability expenditures driven by large settlements and outside counsel costs.
Rapper Tory Lanez files ethics complaint with State Bar against former attorney
Jailed rapper Tory Lanez has filed an ethics complaint against the Los Angeles attorney who represented him during his 2022 trial before a jury that found him guilty of shooting fellow musician Megan Thee Stallion in the foot.