Michael Carroll News
Judge: Former State Bar executive director culpable for lying about funding of Mongolia trip
A former California State Bar executive director should be placed on one year of probation for allegedly misleading the State Bar’s Board of Trustees by falsely saying that no State Bar funds would be used for a 2014 trip to Mongolia, a judge has decided.
Critics of 'carbon offsets': Corporations' 'green' investment claims mislead consumers
Investments in “carbon offsets” by Delta Air Lines and other corporations aim to present more environmentally friendly images, but they now face strong headwinds, both in the courtroom and in independent reports.
Kern County judge questions legality of California farmworker unionization bill
A new California law streamlining the unionization process for farmworkers is likely unconstitutional and defective, depriving agricultural employers of property and due process rights, a Kern County Superior Court judge concluded last month.
Medical clinic lawsuit: Bonta attacking women's right to obtain abortion pill reversal
A Southern California Catholic medical clinic has filed a countersuit against the state’s attorney general, accusing Rob Bonta of unlawfully prohibiting advocacy groups from informing women about a procedure called abortion pill reversal (APR).
J&J attorney: Judge was right to call for re-examination of 'junk science' in talc litigation
Johnson and Johnson remains hopeful that a recently amended rule on expert testimony and new scientific approaches will lead to a weakening of plaintiff attorneys’ argument that the use of J&J’s talc powder increases cancer risks.
California high court: Prop 22 gig-worker measure doesn't conflict with state Constitution
California’s high court has upheld Prop 22, a voter-approved initiative that allows certain gig workers to remain independent contractors rather than become traditional employees. Unions sought to overturn Prop 22, in part, because it blunts their ability to force rideshare companies to unionize
State Bar's chief trial counsel: Tustin attorney's misappropriation of client funds 'stunning'
A Tustin attorney is facing 27 ethics charges and possible disbarment as a result of an investigation by the state’s Office of Chief Trial Counsel (OCTC) that found him liable for misappropriating $282 million belonging to as many as 60,000 clients.
California church's legal counsel: Covid-era citations worth $67K for alleged health violations were 'government overreach'
Covid-related citations issued by a California agency against a San Jose church and Christian school were the product of an invalid search warrant, an administrative appeals board decided. The church and school's lawyers said the citations were targeted violations of religious freedom
Anti-fluoride plaintiffs: Water fluoridation 'an unreasonable risk to developing brain'
Two environmental groups that oppose the addition of fluoride to drinking water are waiting for a federal judge in California to decide if there’s a significant risk that fluoride has harmful effects on the brains of children.
Judicial discipline panel: L.A. judge's remarks to litigants were 'disparaging, gratuitous'
The state’s Commission on Judicial Performance has publicly admonished a Los Angeles County Superior Court judge for engaging in a pattern of making “discourteous, disparaging and gratuitous” remarks to litigants, creating the appearance of bias.
Plaintiffs' attorney: California law enables 'right to keep secrets from parents'
Despite a federal court challenge, the California Attorney General’s Office is standing behind a bill signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom this month that bars school districts from informing parents about their children’s requests for changes in names or pronouns.
Los Angeles street vendors settle lawsuit with city over 'discriminatory' sidewalk vending regulations
Street vendors and several community groups have reached a settlement in their lawsuit against the city of Los Angeles that challenged restrictions on vendors around the city as violations of state law.
State Bar: Former Los Angeles DWP official engaged in 'dishonesty, corruption'
The California State Bar is accusing a former Los Angeles Department of Water and Power commissioner of violations of attorney ethics for allegedly engaging in a quid pro quo deal leading up to a vote on a city contract.
Judge on paraquat pesticide multi-district lawsuit: plaintiff witness's methodology equates to 'cooking the books'
A California lawmaker is pressing to ban the pesticide paraquat despite a federal judge’s recent conclusion in several civil lawsuits that expert witness testimony had failed to prove the chemical causes Parkinson’s disease.
City of L.A. accused of 'thinly veiled racism' in lawsuit over Venice low-income housing project
Low-income housing advocates are suing the city of Los Angeles and City Council for allegedly obstructing the construction of a 140-unit project in Venice that plaintiffs say is needed to house chronically homeless people in the coastal community.
Home Depot agrees to settle L.A. district attorney's lawsuit over its gift cards
Home Depot has agreed to pay $750,000 to settle a civil lawsuit filed by several California district attorneys over violations of a California consumer law requiring the redemption of company gift cards with balances of less than $10.
Alhambra family-law lawyer acknowledges misappropriating nearly $5 million in client funds
An Alhambra attorney has acknowledged in a court filing that she misappropriated nearly $5 million in client funds, falsified bank records and failed to disclose a 2023 court judgment against her to the State Bar of California.
GOP states: California climate-change lawsuit will jack up energy costs, threatens America's 'basic way of life'
Attorneys general from 19 Republican-led states have asked the U.S. Supreme Court to step in and block California and other Democrat-dominated states from using lawsuits against oil and gas companies to essentially sidestep the federal process and set nationwide energy and climate policies
TV anchor sues L.A. CBS stations, arguing he was fired because he was white and older
A former anchor at KCBS and KCAL television stations has filed a federal discrimination lawsuit against CBS, alleging that he was illegally fired from his position because he was an “older, white, heterosexual male.”
Second Amendment rights advocates sue to block California's new excise tax on firearms, ammo
Several Second Amendment groups and individual gun owners have filed a lawsuit challenging a new California law imposing an 11% excise tax on firearms and ammunition as an unconstitutional assault on individual rights.