Anti-SLAPP motions are regularly deployed for purposes the Legislature did not intend. While fewer than 60 motions were filed...
Perspective
Steep penalties for insurers that wrongfully refuse to defend
By Ben Armisteadn
This principle incentivizes the insurer to meet its duty to defend by vigorously searching the underlying complaint for facts ...
A decision in May resolved an important issue regarding state vs. local medical marijuana regulations, but advocates continue ...
U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit
Executive compensation suits kicked back to state court
By Salvador Mares
A 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals panel on Wednesday overturned a San Diego district judge's decision to accept a pair of sh...
The 9th Circuit panel reversed U.S. District Judge Cormac J. Carney's judgment awarding plaintiffs' attorneys $36,248 in sanc...
The social gaming arena is rapidly growing, and among the most popular games are those that look and function like gambling. W...
Government
Central District veteran to be named magistrate judge -sources
By Henry Meier
Alka Sagar, a deputy chief of the major frauds section and a veteran of the Central District U.S. attorney's office, will be a...
Intellectual Property
Federal Circuit revives wireless earpiece patent suit
By Kevin Lee
Santa Cruz-based consumer electronics manufacturer Plantronics Inc. can continue pursuing its patent infringement claims again...
U.S. District Judge Gary A. Feess will take senior status in March, opening up a judicial vacancy in the Central District of C...
Corporate
Cooley, Sullivan help with pair of $800 million biotech deals
By Andrew Mc Intyre
Cooley and Sullivan & Cromwell represented antibiotic drug makers Trius Therapeutics Inc. and Optimer Pharmaceuticals Inc....
U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit
College stars can proceed with class action against NCAA, Electronic Arts
By John Roemer
Pro football legend Jim Brown failed to score but college stars can proceed with a class action over their video game likeness...
Business law firm Lee, Hong, Degerman, Kang & Waimey APC will move from its current location at 1920 Main Street in the I...
Public Interest
Morrison & Foerster's pro bono coordinator, who blazed new trails, is retiring
By Joshua Seboldn
The lead counsel for MoFo's legal aid program is retiring Thursday after 23 years of service. Kathi J. Pugh is thought to be t...
Perspective
Warning for purchasers of subdivision properties in development
By Ben Armisteadn
A state appellate court rejected the attempt of a purchaser of lots, also the subdivider's lender, to enforce subdivision impr...
Use common sense and your instinct. You don't need to take any case; there are plenty out there.
Since 1975, nothing has changed in the law. Literally. Nothing. Not even an adjustment for inflation. By Bradley I. Kramer ...
This is the first new corporate form with a national scope to be introduced into American law since the LLC in 1977. By Jonath...
Litigation
Intuit settles anti-poaching lawsuit ahead of next phase of class certification hearings
By Saul Sugarman
Mountain View-based software maker Intuit Inc. is the lastest company to settle allegations that it tried to control employee ...
Law Practice
Mixed results for defendant firms in Heller Ehrman bankruptcy hearing
By Joshua Seboldn
Heller Ehrman LLP's bankruptcy took some interesting turns this month as a judge rejected one of the estate's theories for end...
After about five years with Hewlett-Packard Co., Marcel Valenta, the company's senior corporate counsel for mergers and acquis...
Litigation
HP replaces outside counsel defending Automony class action - again
By Hadley Robinson
Hewlett-Packard Co. is running through law firms hired to defend the company against a cluster of putative shareholder class a...
Retail workers sued Apple Inc. on Thursday claiming unpaid overtime for the time spent waiting in a security line before leavi...
Criminal
Petitioners lobby officials to end indefinite isolation of prisoners
By Hamed Aleazizn
Two women with family members in California prisons delivered a petition boasting more than 40,000 signatures to Gov. Jerry Br...
Government
Bill introduced to add 29 federal judgeships in California
By Hadley Robinson
Two Democratic senators introduced legislation Tuesday that would create 91 federal judgeships, 29 of them in California ...
A nascent regulatory effort to alter warning labels for products is ratcheting up pressure on businesses to take a legislative...
Judges and Judiciary
Superior court judge admonished for misconduct in son's case
By Don Debenedictisn
The Commission on Judicial Performance publicly admonished a Contra Costa County Superior Court judge on Tuesday for going beh...
U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit
Best Buy, lacking arbitration clause, must face class action claims
By John Roemer
In an illustration of the value of arbitration clauses, DirecTV avoided a consumer class action while Best Buy did not in a Tu...
Litigation
City's plan to seize mortgages could lead to court fights, attorneys say
By Omar Shamout
Lawyers are gearing up to challenge Richmond's controversial plan to seize underwater mortgages through eminent domain, likely...
Labor/Employment
Kmart seating settlement steps forward despite judge's concerns
By Laura Hautalan
A federal judge will allow Kmart to move toward settling a lawsuit filed by former cashiers but said he's concerned that class...
Eastern District Chief Judge Morrison England is known for being affable and a team player.