Michael Carroll News
Tort-reform supporters urge passage of California bill to limit accessibility lawsuits against small firms
Tort-reform supporters told lawmakers at the California’s State Capitol earlier this month that one of their top legislative priorities would be the passage of Senate Bill 84, which aims to limit construction-related accessibility lawsuits against small businesses.
U.S. Justice Department: Immigration lawyer who fled California now faces multiple fraud charges
An immigration attorney who once ran a law office in California has been extradited from the central Asian nation of the Kyrgyz Republic on fraud charges related to investments made by foreign nationals seeking permanent U.S. residency.
Plaintiff attorney: Device to treat urinary incontinence 'unreasonably dangerous'
An Orange County woman is suing her physician after an operation to resolve urinary incontinence issues by implanting a mesh sling allegedly resulted in intractable pain and other complications.
Starbucks: 'We plan to appeal' $50 million damages award over injuries from hot tea
A Los Angeles man has won a $50 million damages award against Starbucks after suffering third-degree burns to his genital area when a scalding, venti-sized cup of tea spilled on his lap at a restaurant pickup window.
Sony Music lawsuit: USC social media videos used popular artists' work 'willfully and without permission'
Sony Music is suing the University of Southern California in federal court, alleging that USC social media channels engaged in repeated copyright violations through the unauthorized use of popular music tracks.
California Supreme Court: February bar exam-takers 'deserved and expected better'
The California State Bar has launched an investigation of its problem-plagued February bar exam after the state Supreme Court expressed concern about “troubling reports of technical failures, delays and other irregularities” with the computer-based test.
Los Angeles county counsel, sheriff oversight panel at odds over Teran prosecution
The prosecution of a former special advisor in the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office for inappropriately accessing information on possible sheriff deputies’ misconduct is hampering the work of civilian police oversight boards, an amicus brief states.
Local government lawsuits filed against SCE fuel concerns about California Wildfire Fund
Observers are questioning the solvency of California's $21 billion Wildfire Fund in the wake of Los Angeles County and two Los Angeles-area cities suing Southern California Edison over infrastructure damage resulting from January’s devastating Eaton Fire.
California attorney general sued over outsourcing of climate-change litigation to private attorneys
Tensions between the California Attorney General’s Office and the office’s rank-and-file attorneys surfaced last month with the filing of a lawsuit challenging the office’s 2023 decision to hire outside counsel for climate-change litigation.
California's Prop. 65 pushes businesses to abandon products, chemicals which could result in 'shakedown' lawsuits
Proposition 65’s requirement for businesses to warn Californians when they use chemicals that state officials have said could potentially cause cancer, birth defects or reproductive issues has helped to prod manufacturers to drop products or reformulate them to avoid potentially costly lawsuits under the state law, a new study finds
San Diego Unified settles lawsuit filed by student suspended for wearing black eye during game
San Diego Unified School District officials have agreed to expunge the suspension of a middle school student accused of a hate crime for wearing blackface and engaging in racist language at a football game, according to a legal settlement.
Huntington Beach plaintiffs: Library policies restricting minors' access to books amounts to 'censorship'
A lawsuit filed by Huntington Beach residents and a nonprofit group alleges that the city’s library system restricts minors’ access to books and other materials in violation of state law and the California constitution. City officials say it's an effort to undermine parents' rights to raise their children
Appeals court: Smoke, fire debris issues do not constitute 'direct physical loss' in home insurance claim
A property insurer is not required to pay a claim to a Granada Hills couple whose home was affected by smoke, ash and falling debris from the 2019 Saddle Ridge wildfire, since the contamination did constitute a “direct physical loss,” a state court has decided.
Plaintiff attorney: Human papillomavirus trial delay warranted due to RFK Jr. confirmation hearings
A Los Angeles trial involving a plaintiff who alleges that Merck & Co.’s human papillomavirus vaccine (HPV) led to side effects including chronic pain, a heart condition and fatigue has been postponed until September, according to attorneys familiar with the case.
State panel admonishes Orange County judge for angry outbursts, bias
An Orange County Superior Court judge has been publicly reprimanded by the state’s Commission on Judicial Performance for engaging in repeated incidents of discourteous, angry or impatient behavior toward female or fledgling attorneys.
Bayer: New study finding that Roundup exposure harms perinatal health 'flawed,' 'inconsistent'
The Roundup herbicide, which remains at the center of federal multidistrict litigation in California, continues to be a linchpin for disputed scientific claims about the popular weed killer.
Santa Ana Unified settlement: Future ethnic studies classes must have 'meaningful, substantive input' from public
The Santa Ana Unified School District and several Jewish advocacy groups have resolved a legal challenge that alleged several of the district’s ethnic studies courses contained antisemitic narratives and demeaned the Jewish community.
Baker who refused to sell cake to lesbian couple violated state law, California appeals court rules
A Christian baker’s refusal to sell a basic three-tiered wedding cake to a lesbian couple violated a California civil rights law and amounted to intentional discrimination, a state appeals court has decided.
L.A. Superior Court judge admonished for intrusions into other judges' chambers after hours
A state panel has publicly admonished a Los Angeles County Superior Court judge who repeatedly entered the chambers of her fellow judges without authorization and attempted to access computer files and confidential documents.
L.A. city attorney: Housing company's rent hikes after wildfires 'unconscionable,' 'illegal'
A home-rental company has disavowed charges in a civil lawsuit filed by the Los Angeles city attorney alleging that Blueground US Inc. ran afoul of state anti-gouging laws by raising its rents by 10% to more than 50% after last month’s deadly wildfires.