Sarah Downey News
Bonta under fire: Cal Policy Center asks state bar to investigate AG's use of law against parents
As parents continue efforts to push for inclusion in key decisions on how their children want to gender identify, California Attorney Gen. Rob Bonta is suing to quash it, leading to a state Bar complaint that challenges the AG’s use of the legal system against parents.
New CA school curriculum law faces constitutional hurdles, runs over local community control of what is taught in schools
A new law that gives more state power over what is taught in schools is raising questions over whether the state isn't just running roughshod over local school boards because the state doesn't like local school curriculum decisions.
Newsom signs bill allowing lawsuits to continue, even amid fight over whether arbitration is required
In what’s anticipated to mean more angst for California businesses, Gov. Gavin Newsom recently signed a new law, SB 365, that allows court cases to continue against employers while arbitration appeals are still pending.
Newsom vetoes bill that would have paid striking workers amid rising unemployment debt
Business groups warned the legislation would have only worsened strikes, by making strikes far less painful for unions, while at the same time further draining the state's unemployment funds.
Newsom, California Dems ask state high court to block voters from reining in their ability to raise taxes
As Californians face more tax increases, a new ballot measure that would allow residents to have a say in the process is being challenged by government leaders in a petition to the state Supreme Court.
Newsom vetoes bill that would have opened new litigation floodgate against businesses
A bill that would have granted expansive liability to sue California employers has been rejected in a veto by Gov. Gavin Newsom, but not without a concentrated business coalition effort that questioned how a bill with such sweeping language could even make it to the governor’s desk.
National clothing store sues San Francisco mall owners over unchecked retail theft, criminal activity
With organized retail crime on the rise in San Francisco, retailer American Eagle has filed suit against mall operator Westfield, on grounds that persistent unchecked criminal activity has violated the terms of its lease.
New metropolitan growth index ranks several California cities near the bottom
As rising costs and crime add to challenges in cities across the country, a new index analyses which metro areas are making living more manageable and which are suppressing growth with heavy taxes and regulations.
As cities defy state housing laws, L.A. court decision clarifies when builder’s remedy applies
Amid a host of new court filings involving builder’s remedy, it’s raising questions about the impact that provision will have on California’s historic housing shortage and how it could affect production numbers here in the coming months.
Last-minute budget bill gives state preemptive strike before voters decide on Nov. ’24 fast food ballot question
A late addition to the budget could stop a hard-fought opportunity for voters to have their say on a November 2024 ballot measure about the future of fast food in California.
California Supreme Court rule to report attorney misconduct takes effect, to avoid repeat of Girardi debacle
A new rule from the California Supreme Court requires increased oversight among attorneys, a mandate long present in other states, and now here following high profile cases of wrongdoing including now disbarred attorney Thomas Girardi.
Patent lawsuit vs Apple puts more attention on potentially murky business of third-party lawsuit investing
A California federal judge has ordered lawsuit investors affiliated with litigation financier Burford to explain why they shouldn't be sanctioned for potentially not being completely above board about their level of involvement in funding a patent lawsuit against Apple.
'Treasure trove to make a quick buck:' New CAL Sup Ct ruling OKs continued 'unscrupulous' lawsuits under PAGA law
The yearlong wait on the future of California’s Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) has yielded a conflicting opinion from the state Supreme Court, which recently ruled that collective PAGA claims can proceed in court, even when the lead plaintiff's case is already in arbitration.
CA Supreme Court ruling against liability expansion in “take-home” Covid cases a big win for CA employers
The California Supreme Court has ruled employers cannot be held liable in court if a worker passes COVID-19 to a member of their household, helping answer questions that arose at the outset of the pandemic, including what is the scope of responsibility for a company to stop a highly contagious virus from spreading.
Federal judge orders major fee reduction for KLG in VW case, citing “subpar” performance, 'lavish' expenses
Attorneys seeking more than $600,000 in legal fees after they failed to secure a successful outcome for their clients have been reprimanded by a federal judge for assuming they still deserved a big payday after the plaintiffs netted far less than they sought.
Legal reform group alleges ethical violations - fake claimants - in mass arbitrations
A legal reform organization has written to The State Bar of California, calling for investigation of potential ethical violations in mass arbitrations, including possible use of fictitious, deceased or otherwise ineligible claimants in order to leverage higher settlements from businesses.
Legislation threatens California businesses with big new risk from website, app accessibility lawsuits
A new bill that could mean another record filing of California lawsuits on website accessibility is now under consideration by Sacramento lawmakers, following a “gut-and-amend” process that let it replace a different bill that had already been through required legislative channels.
Class action lawsuits target corporations' ESG promotion strategies, claim 'greenwashing'
The growth of ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) measures has also led to class action lawsuits that challenge assertions made in company materials and advertising.
CA Supreme Court agrees to review if courts can demolish UC Berkeley student housing plans over 'noise'
Attorneys hopeful state high court will recognize the legal and societal implications of an appellate ruling expanding interpretation of CEQA to allow lawsuit to stop UC's housing plan over environmental concerns related to "noisy" students
Bill to scale back California’s oil imports and improve local production unanimously passes state Senate, now goes before Assembly Appropriations
As the California Legislature continues its work to balance energy and environmental concerns, a new bill to make it easier to produce fuel products here, reducing reliance on oil from countries that don’t share the same values, has received unanimous bipartisan support