Karen Kidd News
California Insurance Commissioner lands $200 million cash payment in CastlePoint conservation
SAN FRANCISCO -– California's insurance commissioner's office recently landed a $200 million cash payment for Castlepoint National Insurance Co. in a continuing effort to protect policyholders and covered injured workers.
Environmental law attorney: EPA's clean power plan among major litigation in California
SAN FRANCISCO – The Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) clean power plan is among the major environmental and energy litigation in the state right now, according to a San Francisco-based industry attorney.
Yelp case could have 'serious consequences' for sites that host user-generated content, Wikimedia fellow says
SAN FRANCISCO – Speech freedoms enjoyed by online websites are in peril if the California Supreme Court will not hear a case in which a lower court said a woman could not post an allegedly defamatory review about her former attorney on a social media review site, a legal fellow said.
'X-Men' VFX Brothers Strause may appeal case of anonymous emailer to state Supreme Court
LOS ANGELES – The burden is on two filmmaking brothers to prove an anonymous person talking about them in emails to Hollywood executives is making false statements, an entertainment industry attorney said in a recent interview
Court asked to prevent NFL from speaking to potential plaintiffs in canceled Hall of Fame game case
LOS ANGELES – The attorney for potentially tens of thousands of fans who didn't get to see the abruptly canceled NFL Hall of Fame Game last month has asked a California federal court to make defendants stop talking to potential members of the putative class action.
Attorney says he hopes DOJ will not appeal court ban on feds prosecuting medical marijuana cases
SAN FRANCISCO – An attorney representing clients in whose favor a California appeals court ruled last month that they could not be prosecuted for marijuana offenses if no state laws were broken, says he hopes the U.S. Department of Justice will not file an appeal.
Oral arguments in critical real estate case before state Supreme Court to be live-streamed
SAN FRANCISCO – Oral arguments in a critical real estate case scheduled before the California Supreme Court on Wednesday, Sept. 7, is expected to be live-streamed, providing interested parties inside the industry and out a chance to observe the proceedings.
Appeal pending in Hughson farmer's Clean Water Act, WOTUS case
HUGHSON – A federal judge erred earlier this summer when she ruled against a Stanislaus County farmer fighting federal regulators over the Clean Water Act and claims that his property contains Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS), a Pacific Legal Foundation attorney said during a recent interview.
Attorney: Supreme Court decision in precondemnation case a mix of win for state agencies and property owners
SAN FRANCISCO – A state Supreme Court decision earlier this summer to reform an unconstitutional California statute in eminent domain cases wasn't exactly a loss for property owners and probably isn't over yet, an eminent domain attorney said during a recent interview.
Legislative committee chairman can't predict outcome of state's first judicial commission audit
SACRAMENTO – An upcoming audit of California's only commission responsible for disciplining California judges, the Commission on Judicial Performance, will be objective and credible, state legislators say.
Activist for audit of state judicial commission jailed, action could be retaliatory, fellow activist says
MARTINEZ – A five-times disciplined Contra Costa County judge has jailed the founder of a group that was the leading lobbyist for a recently announced audit of the state's commission that disciplines California judges, an incarceration that activists say appears retaliatory.
Purple Berets founder: Nondisclosure agreements in domestic violence cases have ‘very negative impact on women in particular’
SANTA ANA – Nondisclosure agreements, such as that signed by Mel Gibson's ex-girlfriend that recently cost her $500,000 for discussing domestic abuse in their relationship, is one way to make assault victims shut up, a noted women's rights activist said during a recent interview.
No legislative or voter action prompted by announced Covered California rate increase
SANTA MONICA – A more than 13 percent increase in health insurance premiums for 2017 announced by Covered California hasn't prompted any action from California lawmakers or voters, an industry spokeswoman said during a recent interview.
Law students should 'remember who they are and what they represent,' Mills College's new president says
OAKLAND – The new president at Mills College recalled the words of her predecessor when offering advice to young women entering their new careers, especially those aspiring to the legal profession.
Attorney: Courts, DOL say field service engineers are nonexempt, entitled to OT pay
SAN FRANCISCO – A Sunnyvale company facing a lawsuit by one of its field service engineers for allegedly not paying him overtime wages will have a difficult time defending itself if the employee's legal counsel's assessment of the case plays out.
Law school dean: U.S. Supreme Court decision to take up Fannie Mae case not surprising
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Supreme Court's decision to hear a case about Fannie Mae's charter awards jurisdiction to federal courts is not too surprising, the dean of the University of California Irvine School of Law said during a recent interview.
Prof.: Winemakers’ push for stricter label rules fraught with unintended consequences
WASHINGTON – A federal proposal that California winemakers and legislators hope will tighten labeling rules for wine in the state also will have unintended consequences, a law professor said during a recent interview.
Committee member: Pfizer should educate physicians, consumers about Viagra risks
EL SEGUNDO – Consumers should be better informed about Viagra's risks, a California attorney recently appointed to the Plaintiffs' Executive Steering Committee in Viagra Products Liability Action said during a recent interview.
Pacific Legal Foundation's new president and CEO plans ambitious agenda
SACRAMENTO – Pacific Legal Foundation's new president and CEO Steven Anderson has high and ambitious plans for the public interest legal organization.
CA Supreme Court ruling on Brandt fees likely will have little reach, specialist says
SACRAMENTO – The state Supreme Court's recent ruling that certain attorneys’ fees be included when a trial court calculates a jury’s penalty damage award likely won't have much impact, a class-action specialist said during a recent interview.