Sarah Downey News
Newsom launches new homelessness plans while on four-city tour in place of traditional State of State address
Newsom pledges to spend $1 billion more to address homelessness in California. But critics say the state cannot spend and build its way out of the homelessness epidemic gripping California
Criminal charges for assisted living center over Covid outbreak signals new risk for industry already beset by lawsuits
Silverado Senior Living is facing criminal charges over COVID-19 deaths after allegedly admitting a patient in March 2020 from New York that was infected and led to a deadly outbreak
New ruling means employers don't 'automatically' need to pay when hit with class actions over meal break pay claims
An attorney who defends businesses againt lawsuits over wage claims says a new appeals court ruling is a significant win for employers, giving businesses new means of defending themselves against potentially big class action claims
New scorecard rates lawmakers’ work to address equity in California’s civil justice system
The Civil Justice Association of California (CJAC) has released a new scorecard on legislators’ recent efforts to foster parity and balance in the state’s civil court procedures, by gauging how each one voted on bills involving liability and litigation.
New report examines results, recent spending on California’s homeless
As California’s homeless population continues to grow, a new report on Project Homekey and the billions spent so far analyzes how the Newsom administration’s program is helping people at-risk and the cost to state taxpayers.
California continues losing streak on annual list of nation’s 'Judicial Hellholes'
California once again ranks near the bottom of the American Tort Reform Foundation’s (ATRF) annual ranking of “Judicial Hellholes,” which evaluates local court actions and state civil justice systems to determine its list.
Crop growing associations say judge properly relied on science in Prop 65 ruling
The recent federal court ruling barring enforcement of California’s Proposition 65 on the herbicide glyphosate is a win for American agriculture, and conveys that state regulators overreached by trying to attach it to a product that worldwide consensus has deemed safe, trade group leaders say.
San Diego rental car fee at center of class action lawsuit
A class action lawsuit filed in federal court for the Southern District of California alleges several rental car companies have improperly charged customers a fee, claiming it was required by the Port of San Diego.
Lack of awareness of PAGA is big problem, official says; Points to case where lawyers got $2M, employees, $1.08
SACRAMENTO – A new California law requiring additional workplace lactation accommodations for employees could become a target for private attorney lawsuits.
Former state legislator says more awareness of PAGA law necessary for reform
SACRAMENTO – A former state senator believes greater awareness about the drawbacks of the Private Attorneys General Act is needed to bring about reform to the law.
California Retailers Association president says tort reform needed, 'over-regulation and the threat of lawsuits' hurt businesses
SACRAMENTO – As Gov. Gavin Newsom prepares to sign into law a slew of new regulations, a leading retailers’ advocacy group hopes to see more reforms to help businesses succeed.