State Court
San Jose doesn't need to ask voters' permission to issue $3.5B bonds for pensions, appeals panel says
A state appeals panel has ruled that California cities' obligations to fully fund public worker pensions supersedes the constitutional rights of California taxpayers to decide if their cities should be locked into paying billions of dollars in bonds to cover future pension costs estimated by pension fund actuaries
Legislation
State Sen. Becker: ‘Our state is facing an unprecedented crisis of skyrocketing insurance rates’
Federal Court
Homeservices of America to pay $250M to settle real estate commission antitrust lawsuits
Hot Topics
State Farm announces limits on their coverage for California residents
State Farm General Insurance Company announced new limitations on their insurance offerings in the state of California, including the termination of commercial apartment policies and non-renewals of multiple different current policy holders.
Lawsuits
Lawyers seek $217M+ fees for work on Google Icognito privacy settlement
The settlement, supposedly worth $5 billion, requires Google to delete billions of data files allegedly collected by Google while allegedly monitoring people's supposedly secret web browsing. But the deal doesn't include any direct payments from Google to consumers on a classwide basis
Despite promising solutions, California officials are poised to use Prop 1 to simply throw $6 billion more at a homelessness problem already massive state spending has yet to solve
From WV Record
Gaming company files pretrial motion to restrict mentions of its China ties during trial against Google
Epic Games, the developer behind Fortnite and several other renowned online games, has initiated legal action against tech behemoth Google, alleging that the latter is unjustly monopolizing Android app distribution. The gaming company's lawsuit comes with a pretrial motion to limit mentions of Epic's second largest shareholder being based in China during the trial scheduled for Nov. 6 start, said Epic Games.
The State Bar of California's Board of Trustees has initiated a new phase governance
The State Bar of California's Board of Trustees recently announced significant changes and decisions during its latest meeting. Brandon Stallings has been appointed as the new Board Chair, with José Cisneros assuming the role of Vice Chair and Mary Huser joining as a new Trustee. Stallings emphasized the organization's commitment to transparency and accountability.
State Court
Joseph sues Matthew for violating trust's no contest clause
In the court case of Joseph Kaisersatt vs Matthew A. Guerra, filed in the First Appellate District Division Two of the Court of Appeal of the State of California, with case ID A166640 on April 24, 2024, a dispute arose over the Theodore P. Glaza Trust.
State Court
Dennis Samulewski sues Jayferson Golepang for medical negligence
In the Superior Court of the State of California, County of Sacramento, plaintiffs Dennis Samulewski and Mary Janet Samulewski have filed a lawsuit against defendants Jayferson Golepang, M.D., Joy Liu, D.O., Healthy Living Primary Care, and Does 1 through 100.
State Court
Doris Baccala sues Claire Latimer for negligence due to a motor vehicle collision
In the Superior Court of California, County of Sacramento, plaintiffs Doris Baccala and Avery Baccala are suing defendant Claire Latimer and DOES 1-100 for negligence, negligence per se, and loss of consortium.
State Court
Ashley Brown sues Timothy John Whittome for civil harassment
In the case of Ashley Brown vs Timothy John Whittome, filed in the Court of Appeal of the State of California, First Appellate District, Division Three (case ID: A168384) on April 23, 2024, Brown was granted a civil harassment restraining order against Whittome.
State Court
Alyssa Leidel sues Larry Edward Wafford for motor vehicle negligence
In the Superior Court of California, Sacramento County, Alyssa Leidel has filed a lawsuit against Larry Edward Wafford and Producers Dairy Foods Inc.
State Court
Travis R. Maxon sues Shirley Bernice Rosa for a family dispute over inheritance proceeds
The lawsuit, Travis R. Maxon et al. v. Shirley Bernice Rosa et al., was filed in the Court of Appeal of the State of California, First Appellate District, Division Two, with a court case ID A166134 on April 26, 2024.
State Court
Martin Moroz sues David Albert for dog bite injuries. \n
In the Superior Court of California, County of Santa Clara, plaintiff Martin Moroz, represented by Attorney Alexei Kuchinsky of Kuchinsky Law Office, has filed a lawsuit against defendant David Albert and Does 1 through 5.
State Court
Ryan Kime sues Dignity Health for violating his rights by denying his application without a hearing
Dr. Ryan Kime has filed a lawsuit against Dignity Health, Inc., in the Court of Appeal of the State of California, First Appellate District, Division Two.
State Court
Steven Sanchez sues Nguyen Tran for damages from a motor vehicle accident
Steven Sanchez, represented by Mark J. Bourassa of The Bourassa Law Group, has filed a lawsuit against Nguyen Tran and 20 unidentified defendants (DOES 1 through 20) in the Superior Court of California, Sacramento County.
Lawyers seek $217M+ fees for work on Google Icognito privacy settlement
The settlement, supposedly worth $5 billion, requires Google to delete billions of data files allegedly collected by Google while allegedly monitoring people's supposedly secret web browsing. But the deal doesn't include any direct payments from Google to consumers on a classwide basis
Judge: Nestle can't melt class action over white chocolate content in TollHouse white baking chips
A San Jose federal judge said a recent decision from a California state appeals court in a virtually identical case against Walmart will require Nestle to work harder to beat the class action accusing the company of misleading consumers
Appeals panel: Investors can go after Genius Brands for over-boosting 'Rainbow Rangers'
A federal appeals panel says a L.A. federal judge wrongly tossed a lawsuit against kids TV producer Genius Brands for misleading investors about the prospects for its show "Rainbow Rangers" and for boosting a report that they could be bought by Disney or Netflix
Wells Fargo accused of allegedly signing customers up for warranty, consumer protection products without consent
The plaintiffs have accused Wells Fargo of violating California's Unfair Competition Law, among other counts.
David's Natural hit with class action alleging PFAS in its toothpastes
The lawsuit asserts the company markets its toothpaste as natural and healthy, while lab testing allegedly revealed the company's products contain perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), synthetic chemicals that are slow to break down and allegedly have been linked to health issues.
State Farm announces limits on their coverage for California residents
State Farm General Insurance Company announced new limitations on their insurance offerings in the state of California, including the termination of commercial apartment policies and non-renewals of multiple different current policy holders.
SCOTUS appears poised to undo rulings that left cities in 'straitjacket' when addressing homeless encampments
Precise contours on the eventual ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court remain cloudy, but oral arguments revealed the court's conservative majority will most likely overturn rulings from the Ninth Circuit that critics said essentially created a constitutional right for the homeless to camp in parks and other public spaces
Insurance Information Institute CEO: 'there are multimillions of dark money investor dollars' behind lawsuits
Sean Kevelighan, CEO of the Insurance Information Institute (III), stated that "there are multimillions of dark money investor dollars" fueling litigation that ultimately escalates insurance costs for consumers. This assertion was made in a press release dated Feb. 27.
Governor restricts legal challenges to L.A. development in push for more housing
Gov. Gavin Newsom is streamlining a major mixed-use development near Skid Row in downtown Los Angeles to speed the building of housing and urban infrastructure, using new state laws aimed at reducing environmental litigation.
The Utility Reform Network calls for relief for California ratepayers
The Utility Reform Network (TURN) has raised concerns about the financial burden on California's ratepayers, who are grappling with "record-breaking bills" that are allegedly pushing families into poverty and homelessness. The organization points out that Californians are dealing with escalating costs for basic necessities such as housing, food, utilities, and insurance.
American Tort Reform Association president: ‘significant campaign contributions’ from California attorneys ‘raise concerns about the potential influence on legislative and judicial decisions’
Sherman "Tiger" Joyce, president of the American Tort Reform Association (ATRA), expressed concerns about a new report that analyzes California trial attorneys' campaign contributions. The report suggests these contributions may have potential influence on legislative and judicial decisions. Joyce voiced his concerns in a press release dated March 19.
California election authorities can't bump Fong from race to replace McCarthy in Congress, appeals panel says
A California state appeals court has ruled California Secretary of State Shirley Weber misinterpreted the state's election laws in attempting to block Republican State Assemblyman Vince Fong from the ballot in the contest to replace former U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy
State Sen. Becker: ‘Our state is facing an unprecedented crisis of skyrocketing insurance rates’
State Senator Josh Becker (D-Menlo Park) announced that SB 1060, the Fire Insurance Risk Evaluation Act (FIRE Act), is designed to address California’s escalating insurance rates. The proposed legislation requires property insurance providers to consider wildfire mitigation efforts when underwriting insurance policies. Becker shared this information in a press release dated April 24.
Jury decides Johnson & Johnson negligent in causing man’s mesothelioma in Northern California trial, awards $18.8 million
An Alameda County jury on Tuesday decided that Johnson & Johnson baby powder caused a man's deadly mesothelioma and awarded $18.8 million in damages for negligence and failure to warn
Plaintiff attorneys go after Johnson & Johnson product safety officer claims of asbestos-free powder
In a trial to decide if asbestos in Johnson & Johnson baby powder caused a man’s mesothelioma, plaintiff attorneys challenged a J&J safety officer’s claims that the powder was clean
Joseph sues Matthew for violating trust's no contest clause
In the court case of Joseph Kaisersatt vs Matthew A. Guerra, filed in the First Appellate District Division Two of the Court of Appeal of the State of California, with case ID A166640 on April 24, 2024, a dispute arose over the Theodore P. Glaza Trust.
Privacy class action firms jockey for control of 23andMe data breach claims; Edelson calls for new approach
Data privacy class action firm Edelson P.C. is seeking to control 40 class actions, potentially worth huge money, against 23andMe for allegedly allowing genetic info to be stolen in a data breach. In a new filing, Edelson is asking courts to reconsider how they decide which lawyers should lead
Placer County can't use political speech law to ditch retaliation lawsuit from demoted ex-interim D.A.
Ex-Placer County Interim D.A. Jennifer Miszkewycz claimed was demoted in retaliation for cooperating with an Attorney General's investigation of a county board member
Claremont attorney faces suspension, probation following overturned embezzlement, grand theft conviction
SAN FRANCISCO – Longtime Claremont attorney Louis Julian White faces suspension and probation following an Aug. 8 California Supreme Court order and his overturned conviction last year on embezzlement and grand theft charges, according to a recent State Bar of California announcement and court documents.