Reform News
Reform
Pete’s Plumbing CFO Hillis: ‘Lawsuits are out of control’
As auto insurance rates continue to rise across the country, critics are increasingly pointing to what they describe as rampant abuse of the legal system by trial lawyers.
Reform
Science court advocate: A less adversarial system could improve outcomes in civil litigation
A decades-old idea of convening “science courts” to make informed judgments on controversies such as federal funding for nuclear power or the safety of a pharmaceutical drug is now being promoted as a way to bolster public confidence in the scientific method.
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Reform
Biz groups, Dems announce deal to reform law that spawned thousands of 'shakedown' suits vs employers
Under the deal to reform the Private Attorney General Act, a coalition of business groups would agree to withdraw a ballot measure that would have largely gutted PAGA. Reports showed PAGA generated lawsuits worth $10B in payouts from employers in the past 10 years, with big money for lawyers, little real benefit for workers
Reform
Lawsuit: California telehealth doctor licensing rules unconstitutionally block patients from 'lifesaving' care
The Pacific Legal Foundation, a successful nonprofit constitutional law organization, has filed suit against the California Medical Board on behalf of a patient with a rare hemophilia condition and a prominent New York cancer specialist, asserting California's restrictions on out-of-state telehealth are unconstitutional
Reform
'De facto invisible': High costs, state rules, lack of online access can block public from monitoring 'public' court proceedings
A settlement has resolved a class action vs federal courts over fees charged to access online court documents. But high costs for certain records and varying court rules about public access to court records in Illinois and elsewhere create a legal patchwork that mostly limits public view into the courts
Reform
Cal Supreme Court OKs new ethics rules to fight conflicts of interest
Newly issued rules from the California Supreme Court are designed to combat corruption and to prevent conflicts of interest like those resulting from the Thomas Girardi scandal.
Reform
Rampant PAGA, Prop 65 lawsuits land California courts high on list of worst U.S. 'Judicial Hellholes'
The report issued by the American Tort Reform Association says California ranks third on the annual list, thanks to its continued status as lawyers' 'laboratory' for innovative ways to increase businesses' lawsuit risk
Reform
Class action accuses Core Power Yoga of shorting workers' pay
A class action lawsuit has accuses fitness studio Core Power Yoga of allegedly shorting its workers' pay, among other alleged violations of California labor law.
Reform
Los Angeles County zero bail policy for most crimes goes into effect
Critics say the policy will result in a revolving door of criminals getting arrested, booked, and then immediately released back into public, again and again, leaving the L.A. less safe
Reform
Sidewalk vendors battle with California cities over regulations and rights in court, city halls, state capitol
State law says sidewalk vending is permitted, but LA, San Diego imposing regulations
Reform
Appeals court says San Bernardino Co. board can be held to single terms, pay caps
An appellate panel has ruled it is constitutional for voters to limit San Bernardino County supervisors to one-term limits and to a compensation cap, over the supervisors' objections.
Reform
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.
Reform
California ranks again among the top judicial hellholes
This year, the Golden State landed in 3rd place after Georgia and The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
Reform
Ninth Circuit upholds federal judge's ban on Prop 65 litigation requiring cancer warning labels
Defense attorneys have a new tool under their belt to fend off acrylamide litigation now that the Ninth Circuit dismissed a challenge to a preliminary injunction that bans new Proposition 65 warning requirement lawsuits
Reform
ATRA: More than $34 million was spent on lawyer ads in top media markets statewide
Study: Californians are exposed to more legal services commercials on television than to restaurants and furniture store promotions
Reform
Employer groups succeed in gathering 960,000 signatures to reform PAGA
Employer groups that launched the California Fair Pay and Employer Accountability Act of 2022 have been successful in gathering the requisite number of signatures to launch a ballot initiative
Reform
CJAC: 'Ballot initiative on contingency fee limits is postponed until 2024'
CJAC postpones contingency fee limitation ballot initiative until 2024
Reform
CJAC: 'SCOTUS ruling in Viking v Moriana provides PAGA relief but it's temporary'
The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) fell short of what the business community wanted in its Viking River Cruises ruling involving the state's Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA)
Reform
California is the 6th highest state spending $1.4 billion on trial lawyer advertisements
Study: California spent $85.3 million on 809,000 tv advertisements from 2017 to 2021
Reform
Employer groups launch ballot initiative to eliminate PAGA
The official title and summary of the California Fair Pay and Employer Accountability Act of 2022 were released last week, which, if approved by voters, would change the way in which workers file labor code claims