Lawsuits
Judge nixes $5.1M deal to end visual impairment website discrimination class action vs Fashion Nova
A San Francisco federal judge said he could not approve the deal to end the action vs women's clothing seller Fashion Nova because the retailer might get too much of its money back at the end of the deal. Attorneys would have gotten $1.24 million under the deal
Federal Court
Ex-law firm CFO, ex-president of LGBTQ chamber of commerce pleads guilty to embezzling $1.3M
Reform
ATRA ranks California Courts among top 5 Judicial Hellholes in 2024
Federal Court
Judge gives win to Meta in court fight over use of Pegasus spyware to monitor Whatsapp users
A federal judge found Israel-based NSO liable for installing its Pegasus spyware program to intercept messages sent by about 1,400 users of Meta's Whatsapp messaging platform. The judge said the parties will face a trial over how much in damages NSO may need to pay to resolve the case
Lawsuits
Judge refuses to delete class action over Twitter data breach
The lawsuit asserted the former owners and management at the social media platform formerly known as Twitter allowed an API defect to remain unfixed, letting hackers scrape private user data for nearly a year from 2021-2022 and then sell the data as recently as 2023
Gov. Gavin Newsom's big anti-homelessness initiative has not been a success, as California's homelessness crisis deepens
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
Plaintiff accuses former business associate of fraud and seeks indemnity
A lawsuit filed by Ha Vinh Ly accuses former business partner Lap Thanh Tang of fraud related to investments made into TWN Investment Group LLC back in 2008.
State Court
California Resident Alleges Ford Motor Company Breached Warranties on Defective Vehicle
James Kirk Zimmer has taken legal action against Ford Motor Company for allegedly failing to honor warranties on his defective vehicle purchase while engaging in unfair business practices under California law.
State Court
Gig Economy Platform Accused of Misclassifying Workers in Legal Showdown
San Francisco City Attorney David Chiu has filed a lawsuit against Delaware-based company GigSmart Inc., accusing it of misclassifying its shift workers as independent contractors rather than employees in violation of Californian labor laws.
State Court
Widow Alleges Former Acquaintance Defrauded Her Out Of Life Savings
A widow has filed a lawsuit against a former acquaintance alleging fraud and elder financial abuse after lending him $140k based on false promises of repayment that never occurred; she's seeking damages plus punitive measures
State Court
Plaintiffs Accuse Healthcare Corporation of Wage Violations
Five former employees have filed a class-action lawsuit against Lorian Health alleging widespread labor law violations including unpaid wages and denial of meal breaks.
State Court
Cryptocurrency Exchange Giant Accused of Negligence After Massive Identity Theft
A Florida resident has taken legal action against cryptocurrency platform Coinbase following an alleged identity theft incident that resulted in $600k loss from digital wallets.
State Court
Liberty Insurance Corporation Sues Auto Manufacturer FCA US LLC Over Alleged Vehicle Defect
Liberty Insurance Corporation has filed a lawsuit against FCA US LLC over an alleged defect in a Chrysler Pacifica vehicle that led to significant property damage due to fire.
State Court
Real Estate Firm Alleges Fraud Against Potential Buyer Over Misleading Financing Claims
A real estate firm has filed a lawsuit against a potential buyer for allegedly misleading them about financing plans in a failed property deal involving an apartment complex in Berkeley.
State Court
Plaintiff Alleges Website Accessibility Violations Against Pizza Company
A visually-impaired plaintiff has sued a pizza company over alleged violations of accessibility laws concerning its website design and functionality.
Judge nixes $5.1M deal to end visual impairment website discrimination class action vs Fashion Nova
A San Francisco federal judge said he could not approve the deal to end the action vs women's clothing seller Fashion Nova because the retailer might get too much of its money back at the end of the deal. Attorneys would have gotten $1.24 million under the deal
Judge refuses to delete class action over Twitter data breach
The lawsuit asserted the former owners and management at the social media platform formerly known as Twitter allowed an API defect to remain unfixed, letting hackers scrape private user data for nearly a year from 2021-2022 and then sell the data as recently as 2023
Lawsuit OK to continue accusing Amazon of using user agreement to squelch bad reviews
Tech giant sought to send users' complaint to arbitration
Plaintiffs can seek emotional distress damages in class action vs CooperSurgical for loss of emrbyos
A San Francisco federal judge rejected CooperSurgical's efforts to toss a San Jose couple's class action lawsuit, which is one of at least 39 cases in California courts accusing the company of selling defective 'culture media' used by fertility clinics to aid embryo development in invitro fertilization
'De-transitioned' woman accuses doctors of 'medical abuse,' pushing her as child to become 'trans'
A young woman has sued prominent transgender youth doctor Johana Olson-Kennedy and others, accusing them of inflicting traumatic "medical abuse" in allegedly pushing a "scared, confused, and traumatized" girl into trans "affirming care," causing psychiatric problems and irreversible physical damage
SCOTUS to consider if other states, energy companies can sue to reverse California's special emissions regulating power
The U.S. Supreme Court won't consider - yet - if California gets to keep its outsized power to use a special provision in federal Clean Air law to essentially set vehicle emissions standards throughout the U.S. But the court will consider if other states and energy companies have the right to challenge that authority in court
Appeals court: Idaho can't interpret state abortion restrictions to block doctors from referring abortions
The decision from the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals echoed decisions that had struck down a California Covid "misinformation" law, agreeing Idaho's attempt to criminalize out-of-state abortion referrals also would trample doctors' free speech rights to express professional medical opinions
SF 'Empty Homes Tax' unconstitutional, judges say; Violates landlords' rights to not rent homes
A San Francisco Superior Court judge issued a written ruling on Nov. 26, formally striking down San Francisco's 'Empty Homes Tax,' approved under Prop M, because it would illegally force property owners to either pay a potentially onerous annual tax or face the choice of leasing to strangers or selling their longtime homes
Lawsuit: San Jose State, Mountain West Conf. retaliated vs women volleyballers' complaints over transgender athlete
The lawsuit seeks an injunction blocking San Jose State University from participating in the upcoming Mountain West Conference tournament. Plaintiffs are also seeking payout from the school and conference for allegedly punishing and silencing women's volleyball players and coaches who complained or raised questions
Judge: Tenderloin residents, business can't use Covid-era order to force city to address homeless camps now
A San Francisco federal judge said the settlement under which the city agreed to work to reduce homeless tents on Tenderloin sidewalks and other public spaces to "zero" expired at the same time Mayor Breed officially ended the declared Covid emergency in 2023
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.
Price becomes latest 'progressive prosecutor' tossed from office amid anti-crime outcry
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
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
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
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
California Resident Alleges Ford Motor Company Breached Warranties on Defective Vehicle
James Kirk Zimmer has taken legal action against Ford Motor Company for allegedly failing to honor warranties on his defective vehicle purchase while engaging in unfair business practices under California law.
Judge gives win to Meta in court fight over use of Pegasus spyware to monitor Whatsapp users
A federal judge found Israel-based NSO liable for installing its Pegasus spyware program to intercept messages sent by about 1,400 users of Meta's Whatsapp messaging platform. The judge said the parties will face a trial over how much in damages NSO may need to pay to resolve the case
California clocks in at No. 5 on the list of worst U.S. 'Judicial Hellholes'
The report, released by the American Tort Reform Association, faulted California for permissive laws, regulations and court rules which allow the state to stand as a "laboratory" for trial lawyers to hit businesses with a host of different lawsuits, all working to make the Golden State more unfriendly to business and harming the state's economy
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.