Reform News
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.
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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
Reform
California returns to the top spot of the 20th annual 'Judicial Hellhole' ranking
California is back in the top spot of the 20th annual American Tort Reform Foundation (ATRF)’s Judicial Hellhole ranking after having dropped to No. 3 last year.
Reform
'We remain shocked': Los Angeles County Business Federation reacts to new rule aimed at regulating nitrogen oxide and diesel emissions
The South Coast Air Quality Management District has adopted a rule aimed at regulating nitrogen oxide and diesel particulate matter emissions related with truck traffic at area warehouses.
Reform
Two bills aiming to reform guardianship of adults and elderly are proceeding
The California Assembly is allowing two pieces of legislation to proceed that would reform probate court in adult and elder guardianship cases but at least one of the proposed bills has advocates up in arms
Reform
Lawsuit seeks halt to in-person court appearances for nonessential civil proceedings
After two Los Angeles Superior Court interpreters and a traffic clerk, died of COVID-19 in recent weeks, a group of attorneys have filed a lawsuit to stop in-person appearances for “non-essential civil matters” such as traffic and eviction trials.