John O'Brien News
California DOC escapes liability in case of inmate allegedly stomped to death
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Legal Newsline) - A California federal judge won't hold the state's Department of Corrections liable for the death of a 37-year-old inmate who was stomped to death.
Subway proves point in tuna lawsuit, now wants lawyers who brought it punished
OAKLAND, Calif. (Legal Newsline) - Class action lawyers knew their "mystery meat" lawsuit against Subway over its tuna would fail and must be punished for causing the company to rack up more than $600,000 in attorney fees, the restaurant chain is arguing.
As New York bans gas stoves, GE Appliances goes to court to fight no-injury class action
SAN FRANCISCO (Legal Newsline) - The parent company of GE Appliances is mounting its defense in one of the first cases over the safety of emissions from gas stoves - a lawsuit that does not allege any physical injury.
Stone must pay COVID-era rent at now-closed Napa brewpub, court rules
SAN FRANCISCO (Legal Newsline) - Pay your tab, a California court has told beer-maker Stone Brewing as it attempts to get out of forking over rent at its Napa brewpub.
Vet who euthanized cat with needle to heart will face lawsuit
SAN FRANCISCO (Legal Newsline) - A woman whose cat was euthanized via a needle to the heart will get a second chance to sue the veterinarian who performed the procedure.
Coffee-causes-cancer cases still barred as SCOTUS declines intervention
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - The U.S. Supreme Court won't reignite coffee-causes-cancer lawsuits in California, declining to hear an appeal on April 17.
S.F. Chronicle wins attorneys fees from fighting defamation lawsuit
SAN FRANCISCO (Legal Newsline) - Should his appeal fail, failed Congressional candidate Shahid Buttar will have to pay nearly $90,000 in lawyer fees incurred by the San Francisco Chronicle to fight his defamation lawsuit.
846 hours, $2.5 million: Lawyers ask for fees from Vizzy settlement
SAN FRANCISCO (Legal Newsline) - Class action lawyers who gained a $9.5 million settlement with Molson Coors are asking for $2.5 million in fees - a figure that represents nearly $3,000 per hour.
Lawsuit over allegedly harmful eye makeup fails
SAN FRANCISCO (Legal Newsline) - A woman not hurt by eye makeup that allegedly contains harmful color additives has lost her proposed class action lawsuit.
RJR, others appeal after flavored-tobacco ban upheld
SAN DIEGO (Legal Newsline) - Tobacco companies are appealing a decision that rejected their challenge to California's ban on the flavored products they make.
Fruit snacks ruling sweet for class action lawyers
SAN FRANCISCO (Legal Newsline) - Class action lawyers can take joy in a recent ruling that allows their case over the ingredients in fruit snacks to move forward.
Failed Congressional candidate appeals defamation loss in case against Chronicle
SAN FRANCISCO (Legal Newsline) - California Democrat Shahid Buttar, an attorney and civil rights advocate, will appeal the loss of his defamation lawsuit over 2020 articles in the San Francisco Chronicle that followed sexual harassment allegations.
Judge won't block California's ban on flavored tobacco
SAN DIEGO (Legal Newsline) - A California federal judge has tossed tobacco companies' challenge to a state law that prohibits the sale of flavored products.
Judge gives preliminary OK to $9.5M settlement over Vizzy hard seltzers
SAN FRANCISCO (Legal Newsline) - A San Francisco federal judge has no qualms with a proposed class action settlement in a lawsuit alleging the vitamin C claims on Vizzy hard seltzers mislead drinkers.
Facebook Live doesn't violate Video Privacy Protection Act, judge rules
SAN FRANCISCO (Legal Newsline) - Facebook's parent company has won dismissal of a proposed class action lawsuit that claims Facebook Live violates the Video Privacy Protection Act.
Chronicle wants $80K from Shahid Buttar after failed defamation lawsuit
SAN FRANCISCO (Legal Newsline) - The publisher of the San Francisco Chronicle wants a failed Congressional candidate who sued it for defamation to pay its attorneys fees.
Twitter again wants dismissal of class action over sale of contact information
SAN FRANCISCO (Legal Newsline) - Twitter is again asking a San Francisco federal court to toss a class action lawsuit over the sale of its users' information.
NCAA challenges volunteer baseball coaches' lawsuit
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Legal Newsline) - An antitrust lawsuit against it targets a "commonsense" rule limiting the amount of paid coaches baseball teams can have, the NCAA says.
Plaintiffs firm to face lawsuit over abandoned app
SAN FRANCISCO (Legal Newsline) - A Los Angeles technology company will be able to pursue a lawsuit that says a Washington, D.C.-based law firm failed to pay it for development of a mobile app used to help find wildfire plaintiffs.
V8 maker says third class action complaint as ridiculous as other two
SAN FRANCISCO (Legal Newsline) - The maker of V8 is again arguing for the dismissal of a class action lawsuit that says there is too much sugar in fruit and vegetable blends for them to be considered healthy.