Rich Peters News
Appeals court rules in favor of BART in 2017 platform robbery case behind common carrier law
SAN FRANCISCO – A state appeals court on Jan. 15 ruled that a woman who was robbed at a Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) station cannot hold the public transit agency accountable because the crime took place while she was on the platform, not the train.
Supreme Court Justice Chin announces retirement; Newsom expected to shift state further left in successor
SAN FRANCISCO – California Supreme Court Justice Ming W. Chin announced his retirement on Jan. 15, potentially shifting the state’s judicial landscape further left as Gov. Gavin Newsom now prepares to make his pick to replace the court’s longest-sitting member.
CSAC director: 'Action is required now' to address state's homeless crisis
SACRAMENTO – A proposal by Gov. Gavin Newsom’s task force on homelessness asks the Legislature to put a state constitutional amendment on the November ballot that would force California cities and counties to take steps to provide housing for the more than 150,000 Californians who lack it or potentially face legal action.
CCPA is ‘unnecessary burden’ on retailers across the state and beyond, CPC exec says
SACRAMENTO – The California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) took effect at the turn of the year, not just reshaping the landscape of internet privacy but reshaping the future of retail as the state knows it.
Judge dismisses two lemon law transmission cases involving Ford Focus, Fiesta
LOS ANGELES – A federal judge has dismissed two cases against Ford Motor Co. over transmission issues with Focus and Fiesta models.
Judge extends preliminary injunction for California truckers against gig economy bill
SAN DIEGO – A federal judge has extended last month’s ruling that California’s independent truckers are exempt from the state’s new Assembly Bill 5 gig economy law as permanent injunction is being weighed.
Cannabis smoke, THC added to state's Prop 65 warning list; Critic calls it a 'dumb list'
SACRAMENTO – Listing cannabis smoke and THC as “reproductive toxins” under the state's Proposition 65 has been approved by a state office.
Johnson & Johnson unexpectedly settles Alameda County talc case
OAKLAND – Johnson & Johnson reportedly earlier this month agreed to pay more than $2 million to settle a case in which the plaintiff alleged asbestos in the company's Baby Powder was the cause of her mesothelioma.
New study supports Johnson & Johnson's stance of 'no statistically significant' link between talc, ovarian cancer
SAN FRANCISCO – A federally funded study consisting of data from more than 250,000 subjects has found that women who used talc for feminine hygiene did not face a significantly increased risk of developing ovarian cancer, a finding that supports Johnson & Johnson’s stance that its talcum powder does not cause cancer.
Attorney representing CalChamber says judge made right call in halting anti-arbitration bill
SACRAMENTO – California’s Assembly Bill 51, which aimed to limit the use of workplace arbitration agreements, is on hold following the California Chamber of Commerce winning a temporary restraining order from a federal judge on Dec. 30, just days before the bill was set to take effect.
Cannabis Advisory Committee report finds licensed marijuana merchants only account for quarter of market; Reason: taxes are high
LOS ANGELES – California may have legalized recreational marijuana, but the state's heavy-handed regulations and tendency to overtax is smothering legal marijuana dispensaries, which account for only 25 percent of the estimated market, according to a report by the Reason Foundation.
American Kidney Fund CEO says she is 'grateful' that federal judge blocked dialysis law
SANTA ANA – A federal judge has halted Assembly Bill 290 from taking effect, saying if the law was not enjoined, “thousands of California HIPP (Health Insurance Premium Program) recipients – who number among the poorest and most medically vulnerable of all Californians – may not be able to afford the dialysis treatments that keep them alive ... and may face further delays in receiving a transplant.”
Stanford Law professor: Uber, Postmates in ‘crosshairs’ of gig economy law, lack evidence
LOS ANGELES – Uber and Postmates together filed a lawsuit against the state of California over its gig economy law Assembly Bill 5, calling the new bill “unconstitutional,” but some experts don’t see the ride-hailing giant and goods courier prevailing.
Uber says gig economy law unfairly targeted app-based companies
LOS ANGELES – Uber and Postmates recently filed a joint lawsuit against the state of California over its new gig economy law Assembly Bill 5, calling the bill “unconstitutional.”
Expert says states have 'smartly avoided taking any cues from California' regarding internet privacy law
SACRAMENTO – The California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) took effect at the turn of the year, reshaping the landscape of internet privacy. Legislators throughout the rest of the country are following closely as a number of states are looking to soon push through similar laws.
Becerra says plaintiffs 'sensationalized' criminal liability potential in arbitration bill after judge halts enforcement
SACRAMENTO – Last week, a federal judge halted a new anti-arbitration bill hours before it was set to take effect on Jan. 1. Judge Kimberly Mueller of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California cited that the CalChamber and other high-profile business groups and organizations had raised enough “serious questions” regarding the new, controversial law.
California truckers temporarily exempt from AB5 gig law: Hearing on permanent injunction Jan. 13
SAN DIEGO – A federal judge last week ruled that California’s freelance truckers are exempt from the state’s new Assembly Bill 5 gig economy law – for now.
Uber, Postmates sue over gig economy law, call bill ‘unconstitutional’
LOS ANGELES – Ride-hailing giant Uber and goods courier Postmates together filed a lawsuit against the state of California over its gig economy law Assembly Bill 5, calling the new bill “unconstitutional.”
As federal court upholds right to sleep on sidewalks, new poll shows increased concern with homeless population
A lawsuit out of the state of Idaho regarding the way cities across the country can enforce sleeping in public will not be heard by the Supreme Court, opening up more questions and concerns for dealing with the homeless population.
CalChamber policy advocate: State's restrictions on oil and gas production has increased reliance on foreign energy
SACRAMENTO – A recent Capitol Insider report from the California Chamber of Commerce notes that the state is relying more on oil from other countries as lawmakers are regulating oil and gas production in the state.