Rich Peters News
Bayer ‘encouraged’ by support from DOJ, states in Hardeman appeal
SAN FRANCISCO (Legal Newsline) – Bayer announced last week that at least 16 entities - including trade groups, several states and the federal government - are supporting the company's appeal of a $25 million verdict in favor of plaintiff Edwin Hardeman, who alleged Roundup weedkiller caused his cancer.
American Society of Journalists and Authors sue state over AB 5 limitations for freelancers
SACRAMENTO – The Pacific Legal Foundation, on behalf of two groups representing freelance journalists, filed a suit against the state of California over its new labor law, Assembly Bill 5, which sets limits on the definition of independent contractors.
Attorney: Businesses could expect 'torrent' of lawsuits if high court doesn't review appellate Dynamex decision
SAN FRANCISCO – The future of business across the state of California may be riding on the state Supreme Court’s ruling over a case decided by Dynamex by an appellate court.
Monsanto appeals verdict in Hardeman Roundup case, cites 'errors relating to causation'
SAN FRANCISCO – Monsanto on Friday filed its opening brief for its appeal of the verdict in its case with plaintiff Edwin Hardeman to the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.
CJAC president: California's poor Judicial Hellholes ranking comes at 'no surprise'
WASHINGTON – The American Tort Reform Association (ATRF) earlier last week released its annual Judicial Hellholes report with the state of California placing as the second-worst legal climate in the nation following the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas.
Two more Roundup trials postponed as rumors of a global settlement continue to swirl
OAKLAND – Two more Roundup trials were suspended last week as more reports have suggested a potential global settlement in the thousands of Bayer AG/Monsanto Roundup cancer lawsuits pending throughout the country. The pharmaceutical giant, however, remains mum on any such settlement talks.
Public nuisance suits against Exxon are driven by activism more so than for money, plaintiff attorney says
LOS ANGELES – As Exxon Mobil Corp. takes on a number of states accusing the company of masking the knowledge of its own effects on global warming, the future of similar “public nuisance” cases against it remains unclear.
For farmers across the country, the fight for glyphosate against Proposition 65 continues
LOS ANGELES – In the face of onerous labeling restrictions, farmers and businesses in the Golden State continue a battle to keep a toxic warning label off of products that contain glyphosate - the key ingredient in the popular weedkiller Roundup.
CJAC president: 'Many businesses are still struggling' with 'complex' internet privacy law
SACRAMENTO – As the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) nears its Jan. 1 enactment, businesses across the state are preparing for the relatively unknown as they push for full compliancy with the new internet privacy bill. Small businesses in particular are expected to struggle to keep up with the costs and complexity of the law, leaving many with uncertain futures.
California still a top ‘judicial hellhole’ according to annual ATRF report
WASHINGTON – The American Tort Reform Association (ATRF) released its annual Judicial Hellholes report this week with the state of California once again placing among the worst legal climates in the nation at number two, following only the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas.
Padilla's office says it supports 'woman quota' requirement, will respond to lawsuit over it in court
A lawsuit filed in October by the Pacific Legal Foundation is challenging the state’s requirement by way of SB 826 that publicly traded companies are to have a certain number of women on their boards of directors. The law is the first of its kind in the nation.
Pacific Legal Foundation hopes to set precedent in lawsuit against state's 'woman quota'
SACRAMENTO – A recent lawsuit filed by the Pacific Legal Foundation is fighting the state’s requirement that publicly traded companies are to have a certain number of women on their boards of directors as ruled in Senate Bill 826. The law is the first of its kind in the country and those who oppose it allege discrimination against men and the patronizing of women.
McDonald’s settles lengthy wage dispute suit, agrees to pay $26 million
LOS ANGELES – McDonald’s has agreed to pay a $26 million settlement after a long battle with its California cooks and cashiers who alleged that the fast-food chain failed to properly pay them for their work and work expenses.
Jury awards $64,000 in suit against Ford over allegedly defective transmission - $11K less than settlement offer
LOS ANGELES – A jury awarded $64,000 to the first in a long line of plaintiffs seeking retribution from Ford Motor Co. over allegedly defective transmissions by way of multidistrict litigation.
Bayer continues to stand firmly behind Roundup’s safety amid reports of a potential global settlement
SAN FRANCISCO – Following another postponed trial, several media reports have suggested a potential global settlement in the thousands of Monsanto Roundup cancer lawsuits pending throughout the country. However, Bayer, which purchased Monsanto last year, remains firm in its stance that the weed killer is safe and believes that it will prevail not only in future cases but also overturn several verdicts through the appeal process.
Coalition says University of California's use of SAT/ACT for admission puts some students at disadvantage
OAKLAND – A civil rights coalition comprised of groups who oppose the University of California's use of the SAT/ACT standardized tests for admissions are considering filing a lawsuit against the school system.
CJAC president: California businesses ‘need certainty’ in order to operate under new CCPA
SACRAMENTO – As the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) nears its Jan. 1 enactment, businesses, state leaders and legal experts throughout the state are keeping a watchful eye on newly signed amendments and last ditch efforts to bring more transparency on the controversial measure.
Coalition argues University of California should drop use of admission tests, cites bias
OAKLAND – The University of California system faces a lawsuit from a civil rights coalition comprised of groups who oppose its use of the SAT/ACT standardized tests for admissions.
NFIB gauging level of support for new ride-hailing initiative that seeks to amend AB 5
SACRAMENTO – A coalition of ride-hailing companies and supporters throughout the industry have submitted a ballot initiative to the California Secretary of State’s Office in an effort to amend Assembly Bill 5, a new law that will make it more complicated for companies to classify gig economy workers as contractors.
Searching for answers, San Francisco looks even further left in new district attorney-elect
SAN FRANCISCO – The city by the bay has steadily lost its some ambiance over the past decades, particularly due to the high-priced housing market, an increase in the homeless population, and an abundance of drugs, particularly heroin, flooding the streets. In searching for answers, the notoriously liberal city has looked even further left in its new District Attorney-elect Chesa Boudin.