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State Court
California Supreme Court says drug abuse alone not enough to justify removing kids from parents
Unanimous ruling sends father's lawsuit back to appellate court for reconsideration under new framing of legal standard that did away with the so-called tender years presumption.
State Court
Enviros can't undo California rule intended to lessen electric bill pain for most customers
A state appeals panel says it won't second-guess a state commission's decision to reduce the amount paid to homeowners with solar power systems to hold down bills for all other customers who had been paying more to pay for others' home solar arrays
State Court
Handwritten business agreement drafted in coffee shop is valid, court finds
LOS ANGELES (Legal Newsline) - A two-page, handwritten document drafted in a coffee shop is a valid contract between men who discussed buying a collection of gas stations for more than $12 million, a California appeals court ruled, reversing a trial court that found the document was too imprecise to enforce.
State Court
$12 million verdict over broken roof hatch reversed; Mall owner not to blame
LOS ANGELES (Legal Newsline) - With narrow exceptions, property owners can’t be liable for injuries suffered by independent contractors working on their premises, a California appeals court ruled, reversing a $12.6 million jury verdict won by an electrical worker who was injured when a heavy roof hatch fell on him.
State Court
Bonta under fire: Cal Policy Center asks state bar to investigate AG's use of law against parents
As parents continue efforts to push for inclusion in key decisions on how their children want to gender identify, California Attorney Gen. Rob Bonta is suing to quash it, leading to a state Bar complaint that challenges the AG’s use of the legal system against parents.
State Court
No lawsuit for woman who went bottoms up on bottomless mimosas
RIVERSIDE, Calif. (Legal Newsline) - A woman who suffered paralyzing injuries after consuming a large amount of alcohol and plunging from a parking garage has no case against the owner of the structure, a California appeals court ruled, reversing a trial judge who said there were fact questions about whether private security guards should have protected her.
State Court
Press release hyping overdose drug not protected speech, Calif. court rules
RIVERSIDE, Calif. (Legal Newsline) - A company that issued news releases touting a new treatment for opioid overdoses can’t protect itself against lawsuits by citing a California law shielding statements of general public interest, an appeals court ruled.
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Bar not to blame over killing of man it bounced an hour earlier
RIVERSIDE, Calif. (Legal Newsline) - Parents of a man who was killed after encountering his assailants from an earlier fight can’t recover money from the bar where the initial fracas occurred, a California appeals court ruled.
State Court
California sues energy companies over 'climate' problems; 'Kitchen sink' lawsuit a 'political stunt,' industry says
Energy companies say the state's lawsuit is little more than a "meritless, politicized" effort to extract big paydays from oil and gas companies, while accomplishing little to address the alleged problems caused by "climate change"
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California Supreme Court Rejects State Bar Rule Changes
California Supreme Court Rejects State Bar Rule Changes
State Court
'Tester' law firm loses another lawsuit over website access for the blind
SAN DIEGO (Legal Newsline) - A California appeals court rejected a lawsuit by serial plaintiffs who claimed a website discriminated against them by failing to provide proper access to the blind, ruling the Americans with Disabilities Act doesn’t cover websites.
State Court
No free-speech protection from lawsuit against 'Bling Empire' producers
LOS ANGELES (Legal Newsline) - California’s law allowing for the quick dismissal of lawsuits challenging free speech won’t protect the producers of “Bling Empire” from a lawsuit by Kelly Li, onetime star of the reality series.
State Court
Paralyzed man loses lawsuit against Newport Beach over headfirst dive into shallow water
SANTA ANA, Calif. (Legal Newsline) - A California city can't be sued by a man who was paralyzed when he dove headfirst into shallow water in Newport Bay, an appeals court has ruled.
State Court
California Supreme Court rule to report attorney misconduct takes effect, to avoid repeat of Girardi debacle
A new rule from the California Supreme Court requires increased oversight among attorneys, a mandate long present in other states, and now here following high profile cases of wrongdoing including now disbarred attorney Thomas Girardi.
State Court
CAL Supreme Court: Contractors, like those hired for pre-employment screening, can be sued for discrimination under state law
U.S. Healthworks Medical Group, which conducted pre-employment medical screenings, argued only direct employers should face discrimination lawsuits under California law, but the court said agents who professionally should know better can't just say they were following directions
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California Supreme Court says Monterey County can't barrel through a ban on oil drilling
The California Supreme Court has tanked Monterey County's prohibition of oil and gas drilling, ruling the county's ban flies in the face of superseding state law that gives oversight of drilling to Sacramento.
State Court
CAL Supreme Court: USC didn't violate football player's rights by expelling him over assault without chance to face witnesses
Private schools aren't required to conduct in-person hearings with cross examination, even with expulsion on the line, when dealing accusations of sexual misconduct or intimate partner violence, the state high court said
State Court
Labor class actions under PAGA needn't be manageable, California court rules
SAN DIEGO (Legal Newsline) - Sticking to its interpretation of the law unless the California Supreme Court decides otherwise, an appeals court ruled that labor lawsuits under the state Private Attorneys General Act needn’t meet the manageability requirements of other class actions.
State Court
California appeals court's ban on towing cars with parking tickets seen as setback for public safety
A California appeals court has barred municipal government agencies from towing vehicles that have been the subject of multiple unpaid traffic tickets, provided the car is parked legally and is not causing a safety hazard.
State Court
Disneyland workers entitled to 'living wage' under Anaheim ordinance, because Disney gets tax rebate from city
Appeals panel said Walt Disney Company receives rebates of its own taxes under a redevelopment agreement with the city of Anaheim, and that qualifies as a city "subsidy," which in turn requires Disney to pay its workers in accordance with Anaheim's so-called 'Living Wage Ordinance.'