News from February 2023
New California tax to penalize oil industry stirs opposition, concern over 'job killer' price hikes
A bill to tax oil companies on profits is raising questions about the impact on residents and businesses already facing inflation pressure and high gasoline prices.
Cal/OSHA’s Permanent COVID-19 Standard: What Employers Should Know About California’s Next Phase in COVID-19 Compliance on February 28, 2023
While most employers have operational exhaustion from trying to keep up with COVID-19 requirements for the past three years, California's position remains that employers must protect employees from COVID-19 exposure in the workplace.
New California policy review aims to require more cities to build more 'affordable' housing
As deadlines loom for California jurisdictions that haven’t sent in required plans to build more housing, San Francisco’s plan to create roughly 82,000 more units just was approved.
Benesch Welcomes Stephanie Sheridan as Partner in Charge of San Francisco Office
Benesch is deepening its bench of litigation talent on the West Coast with the addition of one of the top retail and e-commerce powerhouse practices in the country, headed by Stephanie Sheridan.
Lawsuit claims big sellers of sports bras, other athletic apparel violate Prop 65 by not warning of BPA
The lawsuit takes aim at defendants including Athleta, The North Face, Victoria's Secret, Target, Reebok, New Balance and more
Adult film firm Strike 3 Holdings continues to mass-file copyright lawsuits
An adult film company continues to mass-file copyright infringement lawsuits in the Northern District of California and elsewhere against defendants it says viewed the company’s films via illegal downloads.
Attorney General Bonta Co-Leads Multistate Coalition in Support of Medication Abortion at CVS, Walgreens Stores
California Attorney General Rob Bonta, Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum, and Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson led a coalition of 23 attorneys general in welcoming a decision by CVS and Walgreens to start offering mifepristone and misoprostol, often referred to as medication abortion, in their stores.
Polsinelli Partnership with Rowan TELS Receives The National Law Journal's 2023 Legal Technology Trailblazers Recognition
Am Law 100 firm Polsinelli and Rowan TELS/Rowan Patents have been named to The National Law Journal’s “2023 Legal Technology Trailblazers” list, earning the recognition for their collaborative partnership for visually creating patent applications based on method or apparatus claims.
California falls behind on water storage as losses mount for businesses, residents
The lasting impact of recent rains has not yet been determined as California continues to gauge best practices to make use of significant precipitation.
GT San Francisco Black History Month Panel & Reception on February 22, 2023
Panelists will discuss the increased role Black athletes are playing in social awareness and fairness and how in-house departments lead the charge alongside the athletes, within their organizations, and in the community.
In Third Big Trial Win for Client Terex, Dinsmore Team Defeats $25M Product Liability Suit
A litigation team led by Lexington-based Dinsmore partner Chris Jackson and California based attorney Larry Panek, secured a complete, unanimous, defense verdict in a federal product liability jury trial brought against Terex entities.
World Trademark Review features 7 Reed Smith lawyers from 3 jurisdictions in WTR 1000
Reed Smith partners in California, London and France were described as top trademark lawyers and the firm again was named among the world’s leading national and international trademark firms, in the 2023 edition of the WTR 1000.
Class action accuses YouTube of misleading consumers about cancellation, auto renewal after free trial
The lawsuit claims Google, which owns YouTube, allegedly uses an allegedly confusing cancellation process to ultimately withdraw funds from users' accounts after a free trial for YouTube ends
Humboldt County faces class action from landowners over marijuana-related code enforcement using satellite pics
Homeowners allege flimsy evidence, exorbitant fines and indefinite administrative delays, often attempting to make them pay for the alleged misdeeds of prior landowners
Civil rights groups back correctional officers' objections to new beard policy
Civil rights groups are calling on the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) to reconsider a health and safety policy that requires bearded peace officers to shave or face disciplinary action, even if they previously had religious accommodations.
Attorney General Bonta: State and Local Entities Must Have Access to Corporate Ownership Information to Prevent Terrorism and Fight Crime
California Attorney General Rob Bonta today joined a bipartisan coalition of attorneys general in urging the U.S. Treasury Department Federal Treasury Bureau to enable state, local, and tribal entities to have appropriate and timely access to corporate ownership information, which is critical to fight crime and terrorism.
Family sues UC, doctors for allegedly failing to diagnose woman's brain bleed
The lawsuit asserts doctors associated with University of California committed medical malpractice, leading to woman's death in 2021
Environmental Health Advocates says Sephora should have warning label for titanium dioxide in makeup
The lawsuit accuses Sephora and others of violating California's Proposition 65, a law critics have asserted has become a means for trial lawyers to extract big fees from defendant companies
New scorecard rates lawmakers’ work to address equity in California’s civil justice system
The Civil Justice Association of California (CJAC) has released a new scorecard on legislators’ recent efforts to foster parity and balance in the state’s civil court procedures, by gauging how each one voted on bills involving liability and litigation.
Feb. 10: Contra Costa Superior Court docket for "consumer credit collections cmpl (crc 3.740)" cases
The following cases categorized as "consumer credit collections cmpl (crc 3.740)" were on the docket in the Contra Costa Superior Court on Feb. 10. All case details are allegations only and should not be taken as fact: