Government, Civil Litigation
California has key role in national debate over liability for damages from coronavirus
By Malcolm Maclachlan
U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell warned of a coming “lawsuit pandemic” and said he wants liability protection for b...
Judges and Judiciary
Constitutional rights groups say lack of public access allows courts to operate in secret
By Tyler Pialet
Since Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye gave local judges the ability to adopt their own rules to address the impact of the...
The litigation stems from an ordinance aimed at regulating sober living homes and protecting people who are recovering there, ...
Judges and Judiciary, Government
Newsom picks 14 new superior court judges
By Craig Anderson
Gov. Gavin Newsom appointed 14 superior court judges Tuesday. His choices include the director of litigation and advocacy for ...
Class actions have been sprouting up against universities nationwide fighting to claw back campus service fees as schools have...
Criminal
Jurors’ virus concerns loom large in postponement of criminal trial
By Winston Cho
The defendant, an alleged Russian hacker, prosecutors and a U.S. judge all favored resuming the trial on May 4, but 11 of 16 j...
Immigration, Government
State warns of federalism in writ opposition
By Meghann Cuniff
The state Supreme Court asked for expedited briefing on a writ petition over virus payments to those in the U.S. illegally.
Labor/Employment
Pandemic unemployment aid intensifies debate over classifying gig workers
By Jessica Mach
Companies that employ many of the workers who would benefit from the assistance — including Uber and Lyft — do not pay into th...
Judges and Judiciary
Appeals panel weighs Judicial Council order on bail
By Blaise Scemama
An appellate panel is considering whether the Judicial Council's emergency order for jail inmates to be released without bail ...
Mergers & Acquisitions
Lawmakers propose moratorium on ‘risky’ mergers
By Kamila Knaudt
Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez announced plans Tuesday to introduce the Pandemic Anti-Monopoly Act to...
Mergers & Acquisitions, Data Privacy
Baker Hostetler adds new data economy partner in Bay Area
By Kamila Knaudt
Jeewon K. Serrato is among a flurry of partners the firm has brought on in California in the past couple of years.
Criminal, Constitutional Law
Defense attorneys say without mass releases, the state is violating constitutional rights of inmates
By Tyler Pialet
One of the plaintiffs, Eric H. Schweitzer, president of California Attorneys for Criminal Justice, said Monday the prison and ...
Environmental & Energy, Civil Litigation, Bankruptcy
Environmental group tries to get around defendant’s bankruptcy filing
By Malcolm Maclachlan
The plaintiff filed a motion April 1 seeking to stop the bankruptcy stay and to amend their complaint to name a wholly-owned s...
U.S. Supreme Court
US high court declines to rule on gun case as NYC law is moot
By Gina Kim
Nation’s high court doesn’t rule on highly-watched New York firearm transporting case because the city ordinance has already b...
Law Practice, Bankruptcy
Pillsbury hires two bankruptcy laterals as firms seek to handle client demand
By Craig Anderson
As bankruptcy filings and debt restructuring efforts start to accelerate, Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP announced the hi...
The Dhillon Law Group and the Law Office of D. Gill Sperlein has joined forces to represent a group of demonstrators fighting ...
Labor/Employment, Constitutional Law
Uber, Postmates claim gig worker law is unconstitutional
By Jessica Mach
Uber’s and Postmates’ opposition filing said there is no rational basis for how AB 5 requires some California workers to pass ...
Securities, Government, Education Law
SEC charges education company with bond fraud
By Winston Cho
The defendants were aware of various issues concerning the company’s finances they neglected to disclose, including being unab...
Government
Delaying TRO request, judge urges negotiation on homeless-to-hotels plan
By Meghann Cuniff
Attorneys are to reconvene via telephone Tuesday in a lawsuit brought by Los Angeles County against the City of Norwalk.
U.S. Supreme Court, Intellectual Property
US Supreme Court finds states can’t copyright laws
By Steven Crighton
The court found the protections cited by the plaintiff in a case involving a publication of Georgia’s legal codes only extend ...
The lawyer involved in the scheme, only identified as CW1, or cooperating witness 1, received his license to practice law in 2...
State Bar & Bar Associations, Legal Education
State high court orders California’s first online bar exam
By Henrik Nilsson
As a trial, the court also directed that the first-year law students exam, the so-called “baby bar,” should be conducted onlin...
Criminal
Several judges, district attorneys and sheriffs have pushed back against early releases or zero bail, saying some inmates are ...
Civil Litigation
Nursing homes and other businesses seek tort immunity for coronavirus deaths or injuries
By Nick Kipley
“It would ensure businesses deemed essential are protected and shielded from frivolous lawsuits in connection with the critica...
Late last month, TorkLaw founder Reza Torkzadeh spoke with Tom Feher, trial lawyer and founder of Feher Law, who reached out t...
Government, Constitutional Law
California's background checks for ammunition purchases violates 2nd Amendment, judge says
By Gina Kim
Southern District judge Roger T. Benitez has blocked the state’s order mandating background checks for gun purchases, accordin...
Criminal
Qualified immunity won't protect against excessive force used by police dog, a panel rules
By Blaise Scemama
Well established law says allowing a police dog to bite a fleeing suspect after he has surrendered is unconstitutional, and th...
Government
Bell Gardens sues hotel participating in Gov.’s Project Roomkey
By Meghann Cuniff
The complaint accuses a hotel of breaching a city lease that allows it to operate as a hotel and restaurant by allowing Los An...
Intellectual Property, Civil Litigation
Federal Circuit affirms patent award on prenatal test but denies injunction
By Craig Anderson
A federal appellate panel affirmed a $26.7 million award for a San Diego-based health care company Friday against Roche Holdin...
Labor/Employment
Lawyers helping small businesses navigating CARES Act funding requirements
By Jessica Mach
Confusion around who qualifies for funding and how to get application materials together have prevented many small business ow...