News from March 2024
Black teacher says Chula Vista school district officials didn't address allegedly racist messages from students against her
The teacher says she was compelled to resign her job after the district administrators allegedly ignored years of alleged anti-black racial harassment at the hands of students, while taking stands against alleged anti-Latino, antisemitic and anti-LGBTQ actions by students in other San Diego area schools
Class action says Glad brand trash bags are not as recyclable as sellers claim
The lawsuit claims the defendants have misled consumers by not telling them the trash bags allegedly are not considered to be recyclable by most municipalities.
Angela Zanin Nominated to Join Lacba Board of Trustees
Los Angeles Partner Angela Zanin was recently nominated to join the Los Angeles County Bar Association (LACBA) Board of Trustees for the 2024-2025 bar year, with her term commencing on July 1, 2024.
Mayer Brown Plays Critical Role in $2 Billion Residential and Commercial Megadevelopment to Be Built in Downtown Los Angeles
Mayer Brown partners Edgar Khalatian and Nedda Mahrou have been representing Denver-based Continuum Partners, developer of Fourth & Central, a 2-million-square-foot-plus, mixed-use neighborhood in downtown Los Angeles.
Introducing UCI Law’s Inaugural Legal Empowerment Attorney Sarah Beydoun ’23
Sarah Beydoun (’23) has recently been hired to serve as the inaugural Legal Empowerment Attorney with the University of California, Irvine School of Law (UCI Law), through a partnership with El Centro Cultural de México (El Centro), in a position that will help deepen the relationship between UCI Law’s acclaimed clinical program and the Orange County community.
DOL’s Fiduciary Proposal & Its Impact on Annuity Recommendations on March 19, 2024
Join Faegre Drinker to discuss DOL’s proposed fiduciary regulation and its amendments to Prohibited Transaction Exemptions 84-24 and 2020-02 and their anticipated impact on annuity sales.
Trends and Transactions in Technology M&A on March 19, 2024
Blank Rome partner Jason S. Kim will serve as a panelist for Expert Webcast’s live video roundtable webinar, Trends and Transactions in Technology M&A, on Tuesday, March 19, 2024, at 1:00 p.m. PDT / 4:00 p.m. EDT.
Steve Wozniak sues YouTube LLC and Google for alleged involvement in a cryptocurrency scam
In a lawsuit filed on March 15, 2024, in the Court of Appeal of the State of California, Sixth Appellate District (Case ID: H050042), plaintiffs Steve Wozniak and 17 other individuals are suing YouTube LLC and Google for their alleged involvement in a cryptocurrency scam.
CA appeals court ruling could allow biz to be sued for not selling 'better' products, company warns
Pharmaceutical companies and business advocates say the decision could have a devastating impact on innovation, unless the California Supreme Court steps in
Class action says kratom maker MIT45 allegedly hasn't been honest about the addictive nature of their products
The lawsuit alleges MIT45 violated California laws by allegedly not disclosing to customers how addictive their products may actually be.
Realtors to pay $418M to end home seller commission class action; Big changes coming to home sale process
Lawyers who brought the lawsuits could be in for a big payday, as well, potentially claiming $140 million from the deal, plus $69 million from earlier settlements with large real estate brokerages facing similar claims of alleged collusion to boost real estate agent commissions
Leadership Council for Legal Diversity Selects New Shook Partner
The Leadership Council for Legal Diversity (LCLD) has selected Partner Diana Chang as a Fellow for the 2024 program.
Disability rights advocates say California must allow voters with 'print disabilities' to vote electronically from home
A group of California voters who are blind or otherwise have "print disabilities" have joined with disability rights advocate organizations to sue the state of California, claiming California's vote-by-mail program discriminates against them because they must print and mail their completed ballots
Class action accuses Houser LLP over data breach
Law firm Houser LLP is facing a class action lawsuit for allegedly failing to protect individuals' personal data during a data breach.
Attorney General Bonta Holds Recycling Fraud Suspects Accountable, Five Managers Ordered to Pay a Total of $140.5 Million in Restitution and Fines
California Attorney General Rob Bonta, along with CalRecycle Director Rachel Machi Wagoner, announced that five managers of Recycling Services Alliance, Inc. (RSA), who together carried out a recycling fraud scheme in Sacramento County, have been ordered to pay a total of $140.5 million total criminal restitution and administrative fines for the purpose of replenishing the money stolen from the California Refund Value (CRV) Fund.
Holland & Knight Attorneys Secure Victory for 600 Foothill Owner in Mixed-Use Project
Holland & Knight attorneys secured a win for 600 Foothill Owner LP, a project sponsored by Cedar Street Partners LLC, by challenging the City of La Cañada Flintridge's denial of a mixed-use development project with 80 mixed-income residential dwelling units, 14 hotel units and 7,791 square feet of office space as a violation of the California Housing Accountability Act.
DoD sued by animal care training vocational school over decision to cut off tuition assistance for military spouses
Animal Behavior College said the Department of Defense wrongly classified its programs as "continuing education," cutting off tuition assistance for thousands of military spouses who use ABC animal care and services training to start or advance new careers.
Disney accused of underpaying Southern California hotel workers in class-action lawsuit
Southern California hotel maintenance workers have filed a class-action lawsuit against Florida-based Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, alleging Disney violated the California Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) and evaded the minimum pay rate.
Car insurance costs soared over last year, hurting low-income Californians
The most recent summary of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reveals a significant increase in car insurance costs over the past year, exceeding overall inflation rates. This rise in car insurance prices is disproportionately affecting low-income drivers in California.
Lawsuits cost U.S. consumers $500 billion per year, hurting low-income Americans most
David Williams, president of the Taxpayers Protection Alliance (TPA), recently addressed the economic implications of mass tort litigation on Federal Newswire’s Business of America podcast. He argued that excessive lawsuits are a financial burden to taxpayers, with a significant portion of the funds being allocated to legal fees.