Michelle de Leon News
Fenwick & West strives for better community impact with new CSR initiative
SAN FRANCISCO – As the San Francisco Bay Area-based Fenwick & West strives to make its New York branch as successful as its main office, the law firm also ensures that they give back to the society through corporate social responsibility initiatives.
New California law protects employees through choice of law and venue bans
SACRAMENTO — The new year means a new labor code provision in California where employers are now prohibited from insisting that disputes with employees who live and work in the state be resolved using another state's law or court system.
California court denies Students Matter’s plea to use test scores in teacher evaluations
MARTINEZ, Calif. — A California Superior Court judge has ruled against the petition of Students Matter to order districts to include the test scores of students as part of the criteria used in the evaluation of teachers.
Patent battle underway over camera mouth mount
SAN DIEGO — A camera mouth mount is at the center of a legal battle between San Diego-based company MyGo LLC and an entrepreneur who operates the website called Ho Stevie.
Ford faces lawsuit over alleged shattering sunroofs
SACRAMENTO – A class-action lawsuit was filed against Ford Motor Co. following the complaints from consumers that the sunroofs of some of the vehicle models have reported defects.
Judge grants permanent injunction in case against attorney general
A federal judge approved the permanent injunction request of the Thomas Moore Law Center against California Attorney General Kamala Harris, putting an end to the official’s
campaign to obtain the donor list of the organization.
Appeals court agrees with 23andMe arbitration clause
SAN FRANCISCO – The arbitration clause included in a contract with a California biotechnology company was upheld by the appeals court.
Court rejects request of alleged casino money launderer’s wife to take back California home
FREMONT – The restraining order issued against the California house of a suspected casino money launderer has been reaffirmed by the court as authorities believe that the property might have been purchased using laundered money.
Judge: San Francisco 49ers’ insurer should share cost over bathroom assault suit
SAN FRANCISCO – A California court declared that Great Divide, the insurance company handling the concerns of the San Francisco 49ers, should share the burden of the costs brought about by the state court action filed against the security services in the arena.
California court rejects oyster company's appeal
SAN FRANCISCO -- A California appellate court has rejected the petition of an oyster company which alleges their due process rights were compromised in the investigation conducted by the California Coastal Commission.
California prosecutor suspended for ‘joke’ over child molestation confession
FRESNO -- A California prosecutor, who added a purported confession under a defendant’s name in a child molestation case, alleged his actions were meant to be a “joke” on a public defender. However, an appellate court did not find anything humorous with the situation.
Railroads succeed in blocking new Haz-Mat tax
SACRAMENTO -- A California judge has granted a preliminary injunction against the new tax scheme scheduled to be imposed on trains carrying hazardous materials, pointing out that the petitioners’ arguments merited a day in court.
Ninth Circuit confirms fairness of neutral time clock rounding system
SAN FRANCISCO – The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit declared that a petitioner seeking overtime pay and damages under the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act was misguided in his claims that the time clock rounding system cheated him of his pay.
EMC and Pure Storage finally make peace with each other
MOUNTAIN VIEW, California – Pure Storage has reached a settlement agreement with EMC Corporation, putting an end to the legal drama that lasted for three years between the two tech companies.
Dentons disqualified from National Law Journal's top 500 list due to global expansion
LOS ANGELES -- The brisk expansion of Dentons across the globe has prompted the National Law Journal to remove the law firm from its NLJ 500 and the American Lawyer 200 list. However, Dentons came out in sixth place in The American Lawyer’s Global 100 ranking this year, rising from No. 19 in 2015.
Appeals court overturns $73.4 million ruling in Kings County
FRESNO – A California appeals court has reversed a $73.4 million verdict in favor of a new city proposal in Kings County, a move that now casts uncertainty over the plan.
Natural foods company reaches non-prosecution agreement in immigration case
SACRAMENTO – A local natural food company in Butte County has reached a non-prosecution agreement with the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of California following the results of an investigation on the immigration status of approximately 49 undocumented immigrant employees. The deal included the payment of $1.5 million and the creation of a corporate compliance program.
Judge tosses out $4 million defamation lawsuit against sexual assault victim
MARYSVILLE -- A Northern California judge has dismissed a defamation lawsuit filed by the alleged attacker of a sexual assault victim whom she called a rapist in a series of social media posts.
Administrative law judge blames unsafe factory practice for worker’s injuries
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA – The failure of a California-based almond factory to implement safe operating policies and work guidelines in its work area resulted in serious physical harm to one of the employees, according to an administrative judge.
Environmental groups seek state's help
SAN FRANCISCO -- With the November elections right around the corner, supporters of the state's water, forest and oak woodland protection initiative are seeking the help of the state's 1st District Court of Appeals to overturn the initial ruling on the project.