Judges and Judiciary
Judge to decide if one superior court can restrain another
By Kamila Knaudt
“This court’s lack of authority to issue any relief directed at another superior court judge is fatal to all of petitioners’ c...
Environmental & Energy
Company gets 18 months probation, $2.5M fine for Walnut Creek Canal spill
By Kamila Knaudt
Attorney General Rob Bonta announced that SFPP, owned by Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, agreed to the plea deal at arraignment...
Government, California Supreme Court
State high court won’t hear challenge to redistricting commission
By Malcolm Maclachlan
Michael A. Columbo, senior counsel with Dhillon Law Group, said in an email, “We are disappointed that the Supreme Court has d...
Civil Litigation, Bankruptcy
Jones Day remains in J&J bankruptcy amid calls to end case
By Blaise Scemama
U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Michael B. Kaplan said he would, for now, allow Jones Day to continue representing LTL Management but ma...
Judges and Judiciary
Justice Harry Low, first Chinese American judge in the Bay Area, was a bridge across communities
By Douglas Saunders Sr.
The retired presiding justice of the 1st District Court of Appeal died on Dec. 9, after a second career at JAMS. He was 91.
Government, Ethics/Professional Responsibility, Criminal
LA utility doesn’t want city attorney representation for federal probe
By Blaise Scemama
The utility board president, Cynthia McClain-Hill, sent the city attorney a letter requesting his authorization to engage inde...
Judges and Judiciary
Sacramento courthouse operations limited by electrical fire
By Malcolm Maclachlan
The fire late Tuesday morning shut down power to several blocks. The substation is directly between the main superior and fede...
Judges and Judiciary, 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals
4 judges nominated to Central District of California
By Craig Anderson
Jennifer Sung, a former labor organizer, was confirmed to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
Judges and Judiciary
Legal group leader blasts Biden for not nominating more Hispanics
By Craig Anderson
Thomas A. Saenz, president and general counsel of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, said he had worked ...
Civil Litigation, Antitrust & Trade Reg.
Long-running capacitor antitrust case concludes with final $160M settlement
By Jonathan Lo
Joseph Saveri Law Firm LLP announced a $160 million settlement Wednesday with the final defendants in a multiyear capacitor an...
Labor/Employment, Civil Litigation
Staffing agency might be co-employer in harassment case
By Blaise Scemama
“There are triable issues of fact as to whether ADP took part in the termination of plaintiff and whether this termination was...
Ethics/Professional Responsibility, Criminal
Santa Clara County grand jury starts removal procedure against sheriff
By Kamila Knaudt
“Removing a public official by grand jury accusation is uncommon, but it does happen,” said David A. Carrillo, executive direc...
State Bar & Bar Associations, Law Practice
Mayor backs out of deal to improve State Bar's relations with lawmakers
By Malcolm Maclachlan
State Bar officials decided to hire Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg last month. Two powerful lawmakers recently said the ag...
Judges and Judiciary, Ethics/Professional Responsibility
Opinion issued for judges advising lawyers on court performance
By Jonathan Lo
“We felt it was important to provide some uniform guidance about the ethical considerations and risks that judges should keep ...
U.S. Supreme Court, Labor/Employment, Civil Litigation, California Courts of Appeal
US Supreme Court to review PAGA limit on arbitration
By Skyler Romero
“Viking River Cruises would be a far more significant case than Badgerow this term because its potential ramifications for the...
Environmental & Energy, Civil Litigation
Judge warns lawyers who want to lead oil spill litigation
By Gina Kim
“Don’t take with confidence that any nonperformance on your part you’re going to be forgiven by the court,” U.S. District Judg...
Environmental & Energy, Criminal
DOJ charges 3 companies with negligence for Orange County oil spill
By Gina Kim
“An indictment filed this afternoon charges the companies that own and operate the 17-mile long San Pedro Bay Pipeline with on...
“We want it to be something that is respected, well received and viewed as serious legal research,” said Jonathan Laifman, who...
Alternative Dispute Resolution
Straus Institute’s 1st senior fellow in dispute resolution is former justice
By Kamila Knaudt
Tricia Bigelow of Signature Resolution is the first senior fellow in dispute resolution at the Straus Institute for Dispute Re...
Intellectual Property, Entertainment & Sports, Civil Litigation
Coachella Music Festival sues over tribe’s competing event
By Gina Kim
The lawsuit was filed in Los Angeles by David J. Steele of Tucker Ellis LLP, alleging that Twenty-Nine Palms Band of Mission I...
Entertainment & Sports, Criminal
Former Netflix executive sentenced to prison for bribes
By Douglas Saunders Sr.
Michael Kail was convicted of taking more than $500,000 from company venders
Civil Litigation, Antitrust & Trade Reg.
As trial nears end, capacitor antitrust case settles
By Jonathan Lo
Tuesday was intended to be a long day of trial, with the defense planning to call three final witnesses and plaintiffs’ counse...
U.S. Supreme Court, Torts/Personal Injury, Alternative Dispute Resolution
‘Encouraged’ Bayer suspends weedkiller settlement talks
By Blaise Scemama
The U.S. Supreme Court asked the Biden administration weigh in on an appeal of a $25 million verdict in a bellwether lawsuit a...
State Bar & Bar Associations, Law Practice
Bar might stop its study of law firm management changes
By Malcolm Maclachlan
The State Bar responded to a Dec. 7 letter from Assemblyman Mark Stone, D-Scotts Valley, and Sen. Tom Umberg, D-Santa Ana. The...
Civil Litigation, California Courts of Appeal
Appeal panel considers if consumer law apply to bail contracts?
By Kamila Knaudt
The 1st District Court of Appeal heard arguments in an appeal by Bad Boys Bail Bonds challenging an Alameda County judge’s pre...
Law Practice, Ethics/Professional Responsibility, Civil Litigation
Girardi dangled ‘connections with judges’ Edelson founder testified
By Craig Anderson
“He was trying to explain to me that if we simply dropped it, he would make a ton of money for me because of his connections w...
LADWP President Cynthia McClain-Hill on Monday formally requested authorization from the city attorney's office to engage inde...
Labor/Employment, Civil Rights
Judge rebukes state, federal agencies for 'unseemly' dispute in Activision Blizzard case
By Gina Kim
Judge won't allow state civil rights agency to intervene in gaming case, but cites concerns with proposed consent decree betwe...
State Bar & Bar Associations
San Diego County Bar Association installs new president
By Douglas Saunders Sr.
David Majchrzak, a professional responsibility lawyer at Klinedinst, will serve as president
Torts/Personal Injury, Bankruptcy, Alternative Dispute Resolution
Sex abuse survivors settle with USAG and Olympic Committee for $380M
By Gina Kim
U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Robyn L. Moberly of the Southern District of Indiana blessed the settlement, which provides not just mon...