Dee Thompson News
Appellate court rules how California's legislative branch can fund education mandates
SAN FRANCISCO — A California appeals court has concluded it is constitutional for the state legislature to designate funding that it already provides to school districts as offsetting revenue when reimbursing them for the costs of new state-mandated programs.
Court refuses to certify class in Queen of the Valley Medical Center wage, hour suit
SAN FRANCISCO — An appeals court has upheld a lower court ruling, denying class certification in a case alleging wage and hour violations by Queen of the Valley Medical Center (QVMC) and concluding "individualized issues predominate and the claims cannot be proven efficiently as a class."
United Policyholders weighs in on insurance dispute between Office Depot and AIG
As the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is set to hear arguments in a coverage dispute between Office Depot and AIG, an amicus curiae brief was filed by nonprofit United Policyholders.
Music publisher accuses Spotify of copyright infringement in $1.6 billion suit
Wixen Music Publishing Inc. recently filed a lawsuit against Spotify, alleging copyright infringement on thousands of songs by major artists such as Stevie Nicks, Weezer and Tom Petty.
Consumer board seeks $287 million in restitution over CashCall case
LOS ANGELES -- A Nov. 20 hearing featured the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau calling CashCall a purveyor of “financial snake oil” and arguing the online lender should pay as much as $287 million because they deceived customers.
Pacific Gas & Electric loses part of contaminated water case
SAN FRANCISCO -- The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit has reversed a lower court ruling in part but also affirmed part of the ruling in a case against Pacific Gas & Electric Company over contaminated water discharge.
Dollar Tree wins class action suit over pay stubs
LOS ANGELES -- Dollar Tree stores have been cleared of wrongdoing in federal court when a jury sided with the store in a class action regarding employee access to electronic wage statements (pay stubs).
Class action securities fraud case against Amirys dropped
SAN FRANCISCO -- Plaintiffs in a class action securities fraud case against a California biotechnology company have dismissed the case, with no reason given for the dismissal.
California Supreme Court remands case involving license plate readers
SAN FRANCISCO -- The California Supreme Court has largely upheld but remanded, the American Civil Liberties Union's license plate reader data request case.
Condominium owners continue to fight Shell over contaminated soil, water
SAN FRANCISCO -- A condominium complex built on the site of a former fuel distribution terminal has lost part of its case against Shell Oil. An appellate court found Shell not guilty of negligence but the question of Shell’s failure to remove all its petroleum products from the soil and water at the site, thus creating a continuing nuisance, remain to be settled by the lower court.
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit rules bank underwriters entitled to overtime
A federal appeals court recently ruled that mortgage underwriters who work more than 40 hours per week are entitled to overtime pay.
United Poultry Concerns vows to fight ritual killing of chickens
A recent court victory by an Orthodox synagogue in Irvine in a case brought by United Poultry Concerns, a Virginia-based animal rights group, is not the end, according to the group's founder.
Synagogue wins suit filed by United Poultry Concerns over ritual killing of chickens
An Orthodox Jewish synagogue in Orange County has won a suit filed against it by an animal rights group alarmed by the ritual killing of chickens.
Qualcomm faces legal battles over chip technology
Tech giant Qualcomm is facing litigation on several fronts related to its exclusive patent on the chip essential to all iPhones.
Favorable ruling given in cases brought by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
SACRAMENTO — A recent order in the case against a California energy company could have far-ranging implications in actions brought against companies by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
California Supreme Court rules lower court failed to consider if coho salmon are native species
The California Supreme Court recently ruled that claimants who are seeking to remove coho salmon from the state's endangered species list can now attempt to demonstrate that the fish never should have been included on the list.
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Netflix, Fox battle over executive employment contracts
LOS ANGELES — Fox and Netflix are locked in a battle over the employment contracts of two executives who Netflix lured away from the rival network.
Data: Criminal cases in California not argued in a timely manner before state Supreme Court
SACRAMENTO — Attorney Kirk Jenkins of Sedgwick LLP has made a science of analyzing the California Supreme Court and how it operates, but its handling of criminal cases has bore particular scrutiny.
Judge in Monsanto/Roundup lawsuits asks for briefings on flaws in agency reports
SAN FRANCISCO — Judge Vince Chhabria of the U.S. District Court for the Northern
District of California entered a pretrial order in the Roundup litigation last month, asking the parties to submit briefs addressing the flaws or biases within the Environmental Protection Agency and the International Agency for Research on Cancer.
Scientists fighting over patent for gene-editing technology
BERKELEY, Calif. — In the world of genetic-editing technology known as CRISPR, a major battle is brewing between rival scientists who both feel they deserve the patent.