News from August 2016
MetLife compliance officer testifies in investment fraud case
LOS ANGELES — Attorneys in the lawsuit against MetLife and its subsidiary grilled a vice president in the insurance giant’s compliance department about policies governing its employees’ activities.
LA Bar Association offers flat-fee options to consumers
LOS ANGELES – California’s largest voluntary bar association, the Los Angeles County Bar Association (LACBA), has launched its own flat-fee service in an attempt to remain competitive with online companies that use the internet to offer consumers low-cost legal services.
Judge brings 'breadth of experience' to Solano County court
FAIRFIELD – Carlos R. Gutierrez will soon join Solano County Superior Court as its newest judge.
Company employees testify in MetLife trial
LOS ANGELES – In the first week of testimony, attorneys representing Christine Ramirez in the lawsuit against MetLife and its subsidiary have pointed to years of contracts, emails and scheduled seminars, trying to convince jurors that the insurance giant failed to properly train and supervise its representatives who allegedly promoted a fraudulent investment fund, making it responsible for investors’ losses.
EcoRain America LLC, inventor file patent infringement suit
LOS ANGELES – An inventor has filed a suit over patent infringement claims with the manufacturing of underground infiltration tanks.
Individuals file suit after accident with USPS employee
LOS ANGELES – Two Anaheim men have filed suit alleging damages after an accident with a postal service employee.
Fabric designs were used without permission, Textile 26 Corp. claims
LOS ANGELES – Two companies are facing allegations from a Los Angeles company that they used its fabric designs without permission.
Foley Waterproofing Corp. alleged to have breached bargaining agreement
SAN FRANCISCO – Several labor trust funds allege that a Marin County employer failed to submit an audit of its books and records, including benefit contributions to the labor group.
SNUBA International Inc. accuses Florida company, individual of cybersquatting
SACRAMENTO – A Shingle Springs corporation alleges a Florida company and an individual attempted to extort money from it for a domain name.
Ford Focus owner alleges car came with faulty transmission
SACRAMENTO – A Lincoln woman alleges her Ford Focus has a defective transmission.
Standard Insurance Co. alleged to have wrongfully terminated disability benefits
SAN FRANCISCO – A San Francisco man alleges that his Oregon insurer wrongfully terminated his disability benefits.
Two distinguished legal professionals honored at FBANC annual dinner
SAN FRANCISCO – Tani Gorre Cantil-Sakauye and Rob Bonta were honored by the Filipino Bar Association of Northern California (FBANC) as exceptional in their work and duties at their 36th annual Installation Dinner held at the Oakland Rotunda Building in the Frank Ogawa Plaza.
Intellectual property knowledge expert James Pooley joins Orrick
SILICON VALLEY – More than 30 years of intellectual property knowledge (IP) is being added to Orrick. James Pooley, Orrick's new senior counsel, is bringing his passion for protecting trade secrets, his decades of cybersecurity knowledge and his international experience with him to Silicon Valley.
California attorney general agrees to Providence-St. Joseph merger
LOS ANGELES – St. Joseph Health and Providence Health & Services are to merge, creating the nation’s third-largest nonprofit health system.
San Francisco Baykeeper alleges Oakland facility is in violation of the Clean Water Act
OAKLAND – A nonprofit corporation is seeking declaratory judgment and injunctive relief against an Oakland recycling facility alleging it is unlawfully discharging polluted stormwater into East Creek Slough.
Oldcastle Precast alleges company is selling utility boxes that infringe patents
SACRAMENTO – The manufacturer of utility boxes used to protect underground components claims a competitor is manufacturing similar boxes unlawfully.
Photographer claims companies used photos after license expiration
SAN FRANCISCO – A Petaluma photograph distributor and a photographer allege their copyrighted property continued to be published past the expiration of a license.
Bank of America employee files suit seeking long-term disability benefits
SAN FRANCISCO – A former senior personal banker alleges her disability benefits were wrongfully terminated.
Suit filed against MERS Inc. over trademark infringement claims
SAN FRANCISCO – An Oakland business is facing accusations from a Virginia corporation alleging it is using a similar name and causing confusion.
Man claims Wells Fargo keeps calling to collect an alleged debt owed by another person
SAN FRANCISCO – A Virginia man claims a San Francisco business called him at an "excessive and harassing rate" to collect an alleged debt owed by a third party.