Charmaine Little News
Court rules Securities and Exchange Commission failed to show entitlement to disgorgement from Berkeley Healthcare Dynamics
SAN FRANCISCO – The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California partially granted the Securities Exchange Commission’s motion for summary judgment in its case against companies it alleged violated federal securities laws.
International Aero Products granted leave to amend complaint in Aero trademark infringement case
LOS ANGELES – The U.S. District Court for the Central District of California granted in part and denied in part motions in a company’s trademark infringement case against a similarly named company on Jan. 8.
Court rules MetLife owes couple nearly $500,000 for attorneys' fees in insurance claim dispute
SAN FRANCISCO – On Jan. 7, a federal court granted in part a couple’s motion for judgment award against their insurance company after they were denied coverage several times for payment of accident dismemberment benefits.
Court says Alphonso did not infringe on Samba's patent for system that matches advertising to TV viewing habits
SAN FRANCISCO – The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California recently said a company that sends advertisements to consumers' mobile devices based on the television shows they watch is not infringing on a patent created by a company that also sends ads to mobile devices based on television viewing habits.
Court grants final approval of class settlement in restaurant workers' tip-pool lawsuit against Brigantine
SAN DIEGO – The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California recently granted final approval of a class settlement in a wage-and-hour lawsuit filed against a San Diego area restaurant company by several employees.
Court tosses woman's suit against American Airlines employee over allegations of assault and battery
SAN DIEGO – The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California granted a man's motion to dismiss a lawsuit filed by an Arizona woman for lack of personal jurisdiction and denied his insufficient service of process on Dec. 11.
Judge partially grants Old Gringo's motion for summary judgment in case against designer
SAN DIEGO – On Dec. 13, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California weighed in on a fashion designer’s case stemming from an alleged promise she would be a millionaire after becoming part owner in a company that sells Western-style boots.
Court denies Amazon, Google and Walmart's motion to compel in patent infringement case
SAN FRANCISCO – On Dec. 14, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California ruled against a motion filed by Amazon, Google and Walmart in a patent infringement case and determined the plaintiff suing them doesn’t have to produce certain documents.
Federal judge grants GoPro's request for stay in patent infringement case
SAN FRANCISCO – Despite a holding company’s opposition, GoPro Inc. was granted a motion to stay in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California on Dec. 12 in a patent infringement case.
Holdings company granted access to documents after homeowner refuses to pay court-ordered $5.3M judgement
The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California granted a holdings company its request for sanctions after a former homeowner not only failed to pay the $5.3 million the company was awarded in a judgement but also refused to deliver documents relating to his financial status.
General Mills cleared of lawsuit over its use of partially hydrated oils
Thanks to conflict preemption, General Mills was able to escape a class-action lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.
First Appellate District Court affirms setting aside default judgments in asbestos injury suits
SAN FRANCISCO – The 1st Appellate District Court of the California Court of Appeal, Division Five affirmed an order that set aside default judgments in asbestos injury cases that were served on a company that ceased operating in the 1970s.
9th District affirms states have standing to sue over religious exemption of contraceptive coverage
SAN FRANCISCO – On Dec. 13, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit affirmed, vacated and remanded an Affordable Care Act case a handful of states filed against a number of federal agencies over regulations that would exempt religious employers from a contraceptive care policy.
9th Circuit rules Golden Gate Bridge users' privacy suit belongs in state court
SAN FRANCISCO – A case over privacy concerns with the toll system at the Golden Gate Bridge belongs in state court, a federal appellate court has ruled.
Insurer granted summary judgment in lawsuit over rejected claim for jet that went missing in Mexico
SAN DIEGO – The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California recently granted an insurance company's motion for summary judgment in a lawsuit regarding the denial of an insurance claim for a Gulfstream jet that went missing in Mexico.
Video-game developers entitled to attorney-client privilege with PR company amid copyright lawsuit, court rules
Video game developers hoping to create a sequel to another company's video-game series have been allowed to keep their communications with lawyers and public relations team confidential.
Court denies motion to dismiss copyright claim over use of Willie Nelson photo on Facebook
A publication’s motion to dismiss claims it violated the Copyright Act and the Digital Millennium Copyright Act was granted in part and denied in part by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California on Nov. 30.
Settlement agreement between Volkswagen and investors gets green light
The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California granted a motion for a preliminary approval of a settlement after a number of Volkswagen investors sued the company for allegedly violating federal security laws.
Investors accuse Fidelity Charitable of breach of contract after liquidating shares; court denies motion to dismiss
A couple suing Fidelity for contract and tort claims related to their $100 million donation to Fidelity Charitable have proper standing to make a claim, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California determined in denying Fidelity’s motion to dismiss.
Yelp may have misled investors, court rules while dismissing several parts of fraud lawsuit
Popular review app Yelp had some claims against it dismissed in a lawsuit alleging that the company misled investors over the strength of its advertising business.