Reform
California’s small businesses report strain amid rising lawsuit abuse and skyrocketing insurance rates
As auto insurance premiums climb in California, small business owners are voicing concerns over a legal environment they say is driving up costs and threatening their livelihoods.
State Court
Appeals panel: Govt lawsuit can resume vs Kaiser over allegedly misleading 'provider directories'
Reform
Critics blame California’s rising auto insurance costs on legal system abuse
Hot Topics
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
Federal Court
Grand Canyon University wins appeal over feds' efforts to block return to nonprofit status
One of the country's largest Christian colleges and universities has said it has been the target of a "coordinated" campaign by federal agencies, particularly under President Biden. Federal appeals court judges said the Education Department overreached its authority under the law in denying GCU's application for nonprofit status
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
Jane Doe Alleges Negligence Against Rideshare Giant Lyft Over Sexual Assault Incident
A lawsuit filed by Jane Doe against Lyft Inc., accuses the rideshare company of negligence after an alleged sexual assault by one of its drivers in Ohio.
State Court
California Resident Alleges Defective Vehicle Purchase Against Major Auto Manufacturer
A Sacramento resident has filed a lawsuit against Jaguar Land Rover North America LLC and a San Francisco dealership for alleged warranty breaches related to a defective vehicle purchase.
State Court
Consumer Alleges San Francisco Café Engages in Deceptive Pricing Practices
A San Francisco resident has filed a lawsuit against a local café for allegedly using deceptive pricing tactics that violate multiple state laws.
State Court
Xavier Family Alleges Fertility Fraud Against UCSF Health Medical Center
In a disturbing case filed on November 4th at the Superior Court of California in San Francisco County, Michael Xavier and his family accuse UCSF Health Medical Center and Dr. Christopher Herndon of fertility fraud among other charges after...
State Court
Uber Accused of Negligence in Passenger Sexual Assault Case
A lawsuit filed in San Francisco accuses Uber Technologies and its subsidiary Rasier LLC of failing to protect passengers from sexual assault by drivers despite being aware of such incidents since at least 2014.
State Court
Insurance Firm Alleges Negligence Against Tenants Over Water Damage Incident
Clear Blue Insurance Company has taken legal action against two tenants over alleged negligence leading to property damage in San Francisco.
State Court
Plaintiff alleges Legal Malpractice by Attorney John E. Cowan
Lori Reese-Brown has taken legal action against attorney John E. Cowan for alleged malpractice related to a civil lawsuit initiated in June 2021.
State Court
Disabled Veteran Alleges Discrimination by Auto Dealer Under Unruh Civil Rights Act
A disabled veteran has filed a lawsuit against Anderson Enterprises for alleged discrimination under the Unruh Civil Rights Act after being denied access due to blocked ADA parking spaces at their San Francisco location.
State Court
San Francisco Resident Sues Automotive Giant Over Alleged Warranty Breaches
Amanda Colleen Halpin has filed a lawsuit against General Motors in San Francisco for alleged breaches under the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act regarding her Chevrolet Bolt's defects and malfunctions.
Fed judge rejects reporter's challenge to Alameda County ban on 'spectating' at illegal car 'sideshows'
The judge said the First Amendment protects the rights of reporters to publish and speak, not necessarily to stand on the sidewalk and observe illegal and dangerous gatherings within a proscribed radius. The reporter and his lawyers are considering an appeal
Live Nation can't use 'mass arbitration' rules to beat class action over Ticketmaster fees, appeals court says
The U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals said a provision in Ticketmaster's user agreement that would force customers with legal claims against the company into so-called 'mass arbitration,' in a bid to ward off trial lawyers' new costly litigation tactics, was 'unconscionable' under California law and could not be saved by federal law
Appeals court: Class action vs Coinbase can bypass arbitration because seeks 'public relief'
Crytpo company plans to seek California Supreme Court review
Meta, social media operators can't pull plug on states' suit over young people's 'addiction'
An Oakland federal judge said a bipartisan coalition of nearly three dozen state attorneys general had provided enough evidence to this point that Meta and other social media companies knew their products were addictive to young people and misled the public about the risks, leading to societal harms
Stanford, Cal Tech, USC among top U.S. universities hit with class action over financial aid practices
A new class action lawsuit says some of America's top colleges and universities have for nearly two decades violated U.S. antitrust law by collectively making it harder for students to obtain need-based financial aid by forcing them to include non-custodial parent income on applications
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
Alameda DA Price accused of anti-Asian, pro-black racial bias in ex-chief inspector's lawsuit
The lawsuit from Craig Chew, former chief of inspectors for the Alameda County District Attorney's Office, who is Asian says the county must pay for allowing D.A. Pamela Price to fire him and replace him with an allegedly ineligible black staffer without an investigation for apparent racial discrimination and other potential misconduct
Hundreds of school districts cleared to keep up 'nuisance' lawsuit vs. social media companies
A federal judge said the core theory of allegations is the impact of compulsive use of the products marketed by the companies that own and operate Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube, among other social media platforms alleged in the lawsuits to be "addictive" and harmful to society, and schools in particular.
CA law blocking religious schools from special ed funds violates religious freedom, appeals court says
U.S. Ninth Circuit Appeals Court said California can't show its discrimination vs religious schools is "neutral." Three devout Orthodox Jewish families can continue their suit against the state for allegedly forcing them to choose between their faith and obtaining educational services for their disabled children
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
Jane Doe Alleges Negligence Against Rideshare Giant Lyft Over Sexual Assault Incident
A lawsuit filed by Jane Doe against Lyft Inc., accuses the rideshare company of negligence after an alleged sexual assault by one of its drivers in Ohio.
SCOTUS ends Uber's challenge to the lingering effects of AB5, won't hear appeal
The U.S. Supreme Court denied a petition to overturn an appeals court's decision that California lawmakers didn't violate the constitutional rights of Uber, Postmates and similar companies by targeting them with AB5, a labor law that would have exposed the companies to massive liability over the employment classification of drivers
Critics blame California’s rising auto insurance costs on legal system abuse
Auto insurance rates are rising sharply in California, and critics are pointing fingers at the state's legal system as a major contributor to the increase.
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.