Jonathan Bilyk News
Appeals court: ADA doesn't nix Montana state law blocking 'vax discrimination'
The federal appeals judges said a Montana federal judge overreached in declaring that the Americans with Disabilities Act all but required health care organizations to require workers to be vaccinated against Covid and other communicable diseases to protect 'immunocompromised disabled persons'
CA lawmakers exempt Capitol Annex project from state enviro review law, can't be sued
A state appeals court said California lawmakers didn't violate the state constitution by specifically and immediately exempting the $1.2B Capitol Annex project from the state's controversial California Environmental Quality Act, in an apparent move to thwart legal challenges seeking to halt the project
Supreme Court will let SF enforce campaign donor disclosure ordinance, despite speech concerns
After the high court refused to review the ordinance on appeal, one of the co-authors of the so-called "Sunlight on Dark Money" ordinance urged governments across the country to follow San Francisco's lead. Speech advocates, however, said they believe the measure tramples free speech rights
Crypto investor Terpin cleared to sue AT&T for 'SIM swap' hack, $24M crypto theft
A federal appeals panel said AT&T can be sued for allegedly allowing hackers to use a technique known as a "SIM swap" to effectively seize control of the mobile communications of prominent cryptocurrency investor Michael Terpin. Terpin's lawyer hailed the decision as a "major" legal precedent "of national significance."
Judge blocks Newsom's new 'anti-parody' law, says it 'has no place' under First Amend
A Sacramento federal judge entered a preliminary injunction sought by online content creator known as Mr. Reagan, whose video of Kamala Harris reportedly triggered Gov. Gavin Newsom and other Democrats to pass the new law, allegedly to combat online "deepfakes" which could deceive voters
Judge tosses class action vs Musk, Tesla over 'full self-driving' car tech claims
A San Francisco federal judge parked, for now, a class action lawsuit accusing Elon Musk and his electric car company, Tesla, of allegedly misleading investors and the public about the autonomous abilities of Tesla vehicles. The judge said the statements amounted to "puffery" or "forward-looking" projections
Tamalpais H.S. on hook for $10M owed to student sexually abused by tennis coach Burgos
A state appellate court justice agreed with his colleagues that the Tamalpais school district should owe the former student for abuse he suffered at the hands of his ex-tennis coach in 2003. But the justice said the school can't be on the hook for the full verdict, while the abuser would owe nothing
CA air board OK to ignore truckers' alternatives, public comment in setting zero emission trucks rule
A California state appeals court rejected truck engine makers' bid to undo California's so-called Advanced Clean Trucks rule, saying CARB didn't violate state law by ramming through the ACT rule with minimal regard for pleas from truck makers and the public to consider alternatives to their zero emissions mandate
SF federal judge: EPA must reevaluate acceptable fluoride levels in water
While public health officials believe water containing fluoride helps to promote dental and skeletal health in the U.S., a federal judge said EPA has been wrong to refuse to consider fluoridation's alleged and debated impact on childhood cognitive development
California, enviro activists hit ExxonMobil with lawsuits over plastics recycling
The state's new lawsuit accuses ExxonMobil of misleading Americans into believing recycling is a "cure-all" for plastic waste. ExxonMobil says the lawsuit is just an attempt by the state to absolve itself of blame for flooding landfills and the environment with plastic
Google privacy settlement a $62M windfall for trial lawyers, left-wing groups: Court filings
Twenty GOP state attorneys general have filed a brief in the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in support of a group of objectors, seeking to undo approval of a settlement that would steer most of $62 million from Google to trial lawyers and the ACLU and other groups to advance left-wing social and political causes
Woman can't press constitutional claims vs Santa Clara over police dog attack
A federal judge said an attack by a Santa Clara 'K-9 officer' that left a woman with significant injuries wasn't a violation of her Fourth Amendment rights, because the attack was initiated by the dog and the dog's police officer handler never intended to restrain the woman
Judge: Lawsuits over supposedly toxic acne medicines blocked by federal drug safety, labeling law
A L.A. federal judge has tossed class action lawsuits against the makers of Proactiv and other acne medicines that contain benzoyl peroxide. The judge said the FDA has declared the medications safe, so plaintiffs can't cite a controversial private lab's findings that they are not
Lawsuit challenges CA laws targeting online election parody videos the state considers 'deceptive misinfo'
The lawsuit was filed by online content creator "Mr. Reagan," who famously published a video mocking Democratic presidential candidate Vice President Kamala Harris using AI tech to make it seem she described herself as "the ultimate diversity hire" and which drew pointed direct attacks from Gov. Newsom
Sacramento won't get new chance for ruling stopping judges from blocking city from clearing encampments
A federal appeals court declined again to review a lower court's now-expired 2023 injunctions blocking the city from clearing homeless encampments in the summer. Some appellate judges, however, said the courts must address a misinterpretation of the Constitution that improperly protects encampments
23AndMe says $30M data breach settlement in jeopardy from 'mass arbitration' claims
23AndMe has agreed to pay $30 million to settle millions of claims over a 2023 data breach. Attorneys stand to make $7.5 million from the deal. However, the company said other lawyers are threatening the deal with parallel arbitration and state court claims
Appeals panel: 2020 oil price deal brokered by Trump with Saudis, Russia off limits to court review
A federal appeals panel agreed with oil companies that it needed to shut down a lawsuit accusing energy companies of allegedly colluding to persuade former President Trump to strike an oil production deal with Russia and OPEC to boost the price of oil and gasoline in 2020
Judge says 49ers can't spike suit accusing them of refusing to help elderly wheelchair user find a seat
A family filed a lawsuit accusing the San Francisco 49ers and others associated with operating Levi's Stadium of violating the Americans with Disabilities Act because they wouldn't help an elderly wheelchair without a ticket for the wheelchair area find another seat at which to watch a game last December
Lawsuit: Big Healdsburg 'inclusionary housing' fees trample rights, boosts housing costs
A Healdsburg family is suing their city government saying they were charged an unconstitutionally excessive $20K "inclusionary housing" fee before they could subdivide their existing duplex lot and build a new home for their family, while renting out both halves of the duplex
Judge: Parents have a right to transgender students' records, but teachers can't be forced to report student transitions
A San Bernardino County Superior Court judge delivered a partial win to both sides in the dispute between a Chino school district and California state officials over a school district policy requiring school staff to notify parents and provide student records if their children are 'social transitioning' gender