Why generative AI litigation in Hollywood is ripe for mediated settlement
By David R. Shraga
The entertainment industry is at the forefront of innovative claims arising from the intersection of media and generative AI t...
Civil liability of ICE and border patrol agents for excessive force
By Douglas S. Gilliland
Bivens actions, once a key tool for victims of federal excessive force, are now largely foreclosed in immigration and...
HOA laws on affordable housing may price out compliant owners
By Lee Freedman, Damien Bielli
Legislation intended to promote affordable housing by limiting community associations' enforcement, collection, and maintenanc...
Consumer AI tools put confidentiality at risk
By Marc D. Alexander
The use of consumer generative artificial intelligence tools such as ChatGPT and Claude may not be protected by attorney-clien...
Should I Stay or Should I Go: The Clash between SB 365 and the FAA
By Thomas D. Rutledge
California's SB 365 eliminates automatic stays on appeals of arbitration denials, giving trial courts discretion to balance ef...
Scripted silence: the lost skill of speaking in court
By Chanell Botshekan
Oral advocacy is becoming a rare and undervalued skill for developing attorneys, with overreliance on writing and scripted pre...
Candlestick Park's sordid history
By John S. Caragozian
Candlestick Park was more than cold and windy. It was built on insider deals, political maneuvering and a grand jury probe tha...
Civil Rights
A commission on liberty, a hearing that failed Jewish Americans
By Baruch C. Cohen
A commission on liberty, a hearing that failed Jewish Americans
Fueled by advertising deregulation from the Supreme Court of the United States, high-volume "plantation" law firms rely on mas...
Evidence
LAPD body-camera deletion policy puts future evidence preservation at risk
By Lateef Gray
The LAPD's plan to delete nearly 12 million "non-evidentiary" recordings lacks a clear legal basis, risks the loss of relevant...
Civil Litigation
California JCCPs in 2025: A year in review
By Jay Bhimani, Allie Ozurovich
In 2025, Judicial Council Coordinated Proceedings continued to shape California's product liability and mass tort landscape; t...
Labor/Employment
2026 California employment law updates: Compliance, enforcement and litigation risk - Part 3
By Elaisha Nandrajog, Servando R. Sandoval
California's 2026 employment laws boost penalties, revive claims, expand enforcement and extend deadlines--raising risk for em...
Torts/Personal Injury
Rental car apps give access but not blame when a driver causes injuries
By Michael E. Rubinstein
Remote car rentals aren't responsible for checking if a customer is sober--negligent entrustment requires proof the driver was...
Contracts, Construction
Staffing companies aren't 'laborers' under California's construction payment laws
By Garret D. Murai
The California Court of Appeal recently held that staffing companies are not "laborers" under Civil Code section 8024 and cann...
State Bar & Bar Associations, California Supreme Court
After last year's bar exam disaster, state must adopt NextGen
By Erwin Chemerinsky
After the February 2025 bar exam disaster, California should adopt the NextGen Uniform Bar Exam for July 2028 and restore conf...
Environmental & Energy, Administrative/Regulatory
H.R. 3699 is an assault on local power, safety and affordability
By Daniel Carpenter-Gold
H.R. 3699 would broadly block state and local governments from most forms of energy regulation --potentially disrupting electr...
Judges and Judiciary, California Supreme Court
Gov. Newsom will probably go to the appellate bench for the next SCOCA justice
By David A. Carrillo, Stephen M. Duvernay
Governor Gavin Newsom is almost certain to fill the California Supreme Court vacancy with a safe, experienced Court of Appeal ...
Protest has again become commonplace on public colleges and universities; this article identifies six legal areas for issue-sp...
Although AI can speed up legal research and handle routine analysis, the human intuition and judgment required to persuade app...
Technology, Law Practice
The impact of general-purpose AI on legal practice, staffing and the economics of legal research
By Neal J. Fialkow
For decades, legal research rested on the scarcity of authoritative information; general-purpose AI now places that assumption...
Criminal
Who will restore Diana Teran's tarnished reputation after the California AGs failed prosecution?
By William M. Paparian
Diana Teran, former assistant district attorney for ethics and integrity in the Los Angeles County DA's Office, endured lastin...
Torts/Personal Injury, Insurance
The fox guarding the henhouse: Why insurers can't certify smoke-damaged homes
By Kevin Pollack
Who decides when a smoke-contaminated home is safe? Right now, it's the insurance company.
In a constitutional republic, the attorney general must enforce the law with independence and integrity, and the Trump-Bondi r...
Torts/Personal Injury
Liability laundering and the 'not our driver' defense
By Yosi Yahoudai, Parham Nikfarjam
In California courtrooms, companies that tightly control branded delivery operations increasingly deny responsibility after se...
Technology, Securities
Fake AI, real lawsuits: The market's newest bubble meets the courthouse
By Leslie R. Stern, Michael Dark
AI hype boosted markets, but "AI washing" -- exaggerated or false claims about artificial intelligence -- is now triggering SE...
Ethics/Professional Responsibility, Alternative Dispute Resolution
The power of communication in keeping cases moving and clients happy
By Robyn E. Frick
Cases stall not from law, but from silence. A quick call or mediated chat can clear confusion, build trust and move settlement...
Guide to Legal Writing, Alternative Dispute Resolution
Why good mediation briefs matter
By Scott Hengesbach
A strong mediation brief isn't just paperwork--it sharpens your case, informs the mediator, impresses clients and opposing cou...
How to defend a legal malpractice lawsuit: Potential defenses and insider tips
By Shari L. Klevens, Alanna G. Clair
Legal malpractice suits are costly and stressful, but clear engagement letters, insurance, procedural checks, and defenses lik...
Judges and Judiciary, Civil Litigation, Alternative Dispute Resolution
Justice for sale: How court backlogs favor deep-pocketed companies
By Daniel Y. Zohar
America's success has long depended on strong courts enforcing contracts, but crushing backlogs, overburdened judges and costl...
Ethics/Professional Responsibility
New reporting rules change how California lawyers work
By Jason E. Fellner, Nina Langley
Starting with the 2026 licensing cycle, California attorneys face expanded annual reporting and compliance obligations--includ...