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Northern California Record

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA RECORD

Wednesday, February 19, 2025

Federal Court

Federal law shields Grindr from lawsuit over underaged rapes arranged on app, appeals court says

By Jonathan Bilyk |
A federal appeals panel says Section 230 - a legal provision protecting social media companies from many lawsuits - protects gay dating and sex hookup app Grindr from a lawsuit from a man who claims he was raped four times by men using the app when he was 15, because Grindr didn't verify his age 
Lawsuits

'Hey, Siri:' $95M Apple Siri class action settlement gets initial OK from judge; Lawyers could get $28.5M

By Jonathan Bilyk |
Under the settlement, eligible claimants could get $20 for each Siri-equipped Apple devices they may have owned since 2014, up to five devices. The lawsuit asserted Apple devices wrongly recorded user conversations and other interactions, even when Siri was not summoned
Hot Topics

Lawsuits: CA law banning certain workplace meetings unconstitutional, tramples free speech rights

By Jonathan Bilyk |
Federal Court

Changes from 2023 didn't take Roundup plaintiffs' 'shaky' causation experts

By John O'Brien |
SAN FRANCISCO (Legal Newsline) - Experts once called "shaky" by the federal judge hearing thousands of Roundup cases can continue to testify, as the latest wave of plaintiffs make their way through a multidistrict litigation proceeding.
State Court

CA law repealing stiffer sentences for murders committed by gang members can apply to some past crimes

By Scott Holland |
Supreme Court rules convicted murderer's prosecution wasn't 'final'
The Business of Law Arrow gray brought to you by Peak

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

Plaintiffs accuse neighbors' dogs of dangerous attack leading to severe injuries

By Northern California Record |
A lawsuit has been filed in San Francisco by three residents who suffered severe injuries after being attacked by their neighbors' dogs with known aggressive tendencies.
State Court

Plaintiff Alleges Gemini Wine & Spirits Violated ADA with Inaccessible Website

By Northern California Record |
A visually impaired plaintiff has filed a lawsuit against Gemini Wine & Spirits for failing to make their website accessible according to ADA standards.
State Court

Plaintiff injured commuter sues City for negligence over hazardous road conditions

By Northern California Record |
Sean Willem Bass has filed a lawsuit against the City and County of San Francisco following an injury caused by a pothole while riding his scooter.
State Court

Plaintiffs accuse construction company Prosper Construction Development Inc. of breach of contract

By Northern California Record |
A lawsuit has been filed against Prosper Construction Development Inc., alleging breach of contract among other charges related to inadequate roof repairs at a San Francisco property owned by Melinda Chau and managed through a living trust.
State Court

Safeway accused of negligence following customer's slip-and-fall incident

By Northern California Record |
A San Francisco man has filed a lawsuit against Safeway Inc., claiming negligence after slipping on a grape at one of their stores.
State Court

Pedestrian Sues Waste Management Company Over Negligence After Collision

By Northern California Record |
Steven Hawthorne has taken legal action against Recology Inc., its leasing arm, and employee Tommy Minh Nguyen following an alleged negligent collision involving a company vehicle in San Francisco.
State Court

Plaintiffs accuse Property Management Firm of Disability Discrimination Over Emotional Support Animal

By Northern California Record |
Two tenants have taken legal action against their former property managers over alleged discrimination tied to an emotional support animal at a luxury apartment complex in San Francisco.
State Court

Plaintiff Nicholas Lucas accuses former employer JM Mountain View LLC of multiple labor code violations

By Northern California Record |
Nicholas Lucas has filed a lawsuit against his former employer JM Mountain View LLC alleging numerous labor code violations including unpaid wages and failure to provide meal breaks as per California law.
State Court

Restaurant Employee Alleges Labor Violations Against Mylapore Inc

By Northern California Record |
Jhonedythe Salazar has filed a lawsuit against her employer Mylapore Inc., alleging multiple labor law violations including unpaid wages and unlawful tip collection practices.

'Hey, Siri:' $95M Apple Siri class action settlement gets initial OK from judge; Lawyers could get $28.5M

By Jonathan Bilyk |
Under the settlement, eligible claimants could get $20 for each Siri-equipped Apple devices they may have owned since 2014, up to five devices. The lawsuit asserted Apple devices wrongly recorded user conversations and other interactions, even when Siri was not summoned

Family of man who died while 'train surfing' sues, says BART should've stopped him

By Jonathan Bilyk |
The family of 19-year-old Daniel Baran claims BART should pay because their trains aren't equipped with tech to stop the trains when someone climbs on the roof of a moving train

LDS Church defeats bid to force refunds of 'tithes' over mall development

By Jonathan Bilyk |
A majority of an 11-member panel of the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals said there was no proof Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints leaders lied to members about how it was funding a mall development project. Other judges on the panel said the lawsuit had serious First Amendment problems

Judge partially reboots class action vs Google over YouTube kids' data collection

By Scott Holland |
Amended complaint alleged company targeted younger users with main website's tracking protocol

Palisades, Eaton wildfires spawning lawsuits vs LADWP, SoCal Edison; Many more expected

By Jonathan Bilyk |
Investigations could take months or years, but trial lawyers have rushed into court on behalf of the Pacific Palisades and Eaton wildfire victims. The suits accused LA Dept of Water & Power of failing to provide enough water and accused Southern California Edison of causing the blazes. Many more lawsuits are expected to be filed

Lawsuits: CA law banning certain workplace meetings unconstitutional, tramples free speech rights

By Jonathan Bilyk |
Two lawsuits - one from the California Chamber of Commerce and other business advocates, the other from the California Policy Center - assert Democrat-supported SB399 would violate the constitutional rights of business owners and others by subjecting them to lawsuits and fines for sharing their views with workers

CA appeals court: State OK to go after Christian baker for refusing to bake 'plain, simple' cake for lesbian wedding

By Jonathan Bilyk |
The court said sincere Christian beliefs concerning marriage and lack of "ill will or malice" held by Cathy Miller, owner of Tastries Bakery in Bakersfield, don't shield her from the state's civil rights enforcement action. Miller's attorneys vowed to appeal to the state Supreme Court, saying the state is trying to "crush" her over her beliefs

San Francisco, Santa Clara, others sue Trump to halt DOJ actions vs 'Sanctuary' cities, counties

By Jonathan Bilyk |
The lawsuit comes as a preemptive strike against the Trump administration, which has signaled its intent to use funding cuts, lawsuits and other actions to pressure 'Sanctuary' governments into complying with efforts to remove criminals and other illegal immigrants from the U.S.

CA A/G Bonta threatens hospitals for complying with Trump's order blocking child gender transition procedures

By Jonathan Bilyk |
Attorney General Rob Bonta sent a letter to Children's Hospital Los Angeles and issued a public statement threatening state action vs hospitals and other medical providers who comply with President Trump's order forbidding federal funding and directing federal action vs those providing child gender transition procedures

Appeals court: SF City Hall, fed judge wrongly crushed workers' religious Covid jab objections

By Jonathan Bilyk |
A federal appeals panel has ordered an Oakland federal judge to issue an injunction sought by ex-city workers who say they wrongly lost their jobs for refusing the city's Covid shot mandate for its workers. The appeals panel said the city and a federal judge were wrong to gloss over the workers' 'crisis of conscience'

American Tort Reform Association president: ‘significant campaign contributions’ from California attorneys ‘raise concerns about the potential influence on legislative and judicial decisions’

By D. L. Deener |
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.

Price becomes latest 'progressive prosecutor' tossed from office amid anti-crime outcry

By Jonathan Bilyk |
Voters appeared to deliver big wins to the efforts to recall both Alameda County D.A. Pamela Price and Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao, following on successful efforts elsewhere to oust other progressive leaders whose policies have been blamed for spike in crime

Business groups express relief as Newsom signs PAGA reforms into law

By Michael Carroll |
Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed newly passed legislation that aims to reform the Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA), which business groups have long criticized as a vehicle for rampant lawsuit abuse that offers little in the way of worker protections.

California extends 'take-home' asbestos liability to case of brother who lived elsewhere

By Daniel Fisher |
SAN FRANCISCO (Legal Newsline) - A California Supreme Court decision limiting “take-home” asbestos liability to people who live in the same house doesn’t preclude a man from suing over claims he was exposed to asbestos when visiting at his brother’s house.

Closing arguments heard in man’s lawsuit over toxic baby powder; Verdict delayed

By John Sammon |
In a Northern California trial to decide if Johnson & Johnson baby powder caused a man's mesothelioma a jury verdict in the six-week-long case has been delayed

Plaintiff Alleges Gemini Wine & Spirits Violated ADA with Inaccessible Website

By Northern California Record |
A visually impaired plaintiff has filed a lawsuit against Gemini Wine & Spirits for failing to make their website accessible according to ADA standards.

Changes from 2023 didn't take Roundup plaintiffs' 'shaky' causation experts

By John O'Brien |
SAN FRANCISCO (Legal Newsline) - Experts once called "shaky" by the federal judge hearing thousands of Roundup cases can continue to testify, as the latest wave of plaintiffs make their way through a multidistrict litigation proceeding.

ILR: California's $72 billion tort costs strain households

By A. I. Benavidez |
California's tort costs amount to $72 billion, or $5,429 per household.

Claremont attorney faces suspension, probation following overturned embezzlement, grand theft conviction

By Karen Kidd |
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.