News from November 2016
WildFox Couture, WildFox Retail allege T-shirt did not infringe copyrighted design
LOS ANGELES – Two Cypress companies that design and distribute apparel are seeking the court's help in a copyright issue.
California Faucets Inc. alleges copyrighted shower drains were reproduced by competitor
LOS ANGELES – A Huntington Beach company alleges a New York competitor unlawfully copied its shower drain covers.
Standard Fabrics International Inc. alleges design was illegally reproduced for clothing
LOS ANGELES – A textile manufacturer based in Los Angeles County alleges its design was illegally copied for garment use.
Hestan Commercial Corp. accuses Jade Range of trade dress infringement
LOS ANGELES – An Anaheim kitchen products manufacturer claims a Brea company is using its designs on its appliances.
3 Pak Holdings LLC alleges Micro Modal Sweat Proof Undershirts infringe patent
LOS ANGELES – A Placentia garment company alleges a San Francisco business has used its patented technology for an undershirt.
Consumer accused CarMax Auto Superstores of California of fraud in sale
LOS ANGELES – An Oceanside consumer alleges a dealer did not disclose that a car she purchased had previously been involved in an accident.
Roseville lawyer accused of conversion by other lawyers
SACRAMENTO – Two attorneys allege they were not paid for their work in a legal matter.
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.
Insurance app squashed by Facebook
SILICON VALLEY — An attempt by a United Kingdom-based insurance company called Admiral to collect user data through an application designed to provide customer insurance rates has been shut down by Facebook, the platform used to run the app.
Secretary of Labor disagrees with whistleblower reinstatement ruling; no decision on appeal
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Appeals Court for the District of Columbia has rejected a request by a California cement plant worker for temporary reinstatement of his employment as a whistleblower after the company for which the employee had worked had changed hands.
Federal judge hired by commercial litigation funder IMF Bentham
SANTA MONICA -- A commercial litigation financier has appointed a former federal judge to its U.S. investment committee.
California Supreme Court rules against Coldwell Banker in real estate case
LOS ANGELES – The Supreme Court of California has ruled in favor of a home buyer in a real estate case against a brokerage firm.
California Supreme Court ruling in public employee pension case seeks to clarify "reasonable" pension
SACRAMENTO – A possible California Supreme Court ruling in a public employee pension case could clarify what a so-called "reasonable" pension for a state worker would be.
California Franchise Tax Board will take action on pending claims
SAN FRANCISCO -- California's franchise tax board (FTB) has announced actions it will take in cases that were being held up pending a decision in the Gillette Company & Subs v. California Franchise Tax Board case.
California Supreme Court ruling in medical negligence cases has far reaching effect
SAN FRANCISCO -- A recent California Supreme Court court ruling has broken new ground when it comes to the interpretation of the statute of limitations regarding medical negligence lawsuits.
Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals changes opinion on lip balm slack-fill case, putting pressure on similar suits
SAN FRANCISCO — Courts may now approach slack-fill suits with greater skepticism when a manufacturer accurately labels its net weight following an amended opinion by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit, according to a lip balm lawsuit.
State Farm ordered to refund rate inflations back to California policyholders
SACRAMENTO — A court has ordered insurance company State Farm to repay California policyholders millions of dollars in a case that stems from a petition filed by the Consumer Federation of California (CFC) questioning the company’s decision to raise rates in July 2015.
Epistar settles patent litigation with Adamax in U.S.
SAN FRANCISCO -- Epistar Corp., an innovative LED global lighting company that took legal action in August against Adamax Inc. for alleged patent infringement of six of its LED lighting labels has reached an agreement with Adamax.
Federal judge approves $15 billion Volkswagen settlement
SAN FRANCISCO – A federal judge recently approved a $15 billion settlement, one of the largest in the history of the United States, concerning Volkswagen Groups' diesel car emissions scandal.
McDonald's settlement in wage dispute could affect franchisees everywhere, lawyer says
LOS ANGELES – A decision by one of the largest fast-food companies in the world to settle a franchise dispute could impact restaurants everywhere, according to an attorney who specializes in franchise law.