News from 2023
Lawsuit claims San Francisco Opera shorted workers overtime pay, meal breaks
A new class action lawsuit has accused the San Francisco Opera of allegedly shorting their workers overtime pay, denying them meal breaks and allegedly committing other violations of California's wage and hour laws.
HR Essentials – Let’s Talk About Managing Employee Leaves of Absence on August 16, 2023
California employers dealing with their employees’ leaves of absence requests must sort through an alphabet soup of complex and ever-changing federal and California leave laws, including FMLA, CFRA, PDL, PFL, PSL, SDI, ADA, and CRD, and often the laws of counties, cities, and other municipalities.
Investigations & Compliance in a Hybrid World on August 16, 2023
Complaints about bullying and harassing behavior are on the rise.
Lawsuit accuses San Francisco YMCA of pattern of employee 'wage abuse'
A new class-action lawsuit accuses the YMCA of San Francisco of engaging in a pattern of "wage abuse" of their employees, resulting in workers allegedly being repeatedly shorted pay, allegedly being forced to work off the clock, and allegedly being denied breaks.
Appeals panel: Plaintiff can't 'borrow' insurer BCBS' financial loss to sue drug maker over dose sizes
A California appellate court has ruled an unscathed plaintiff cannot "borrow" an injury from his insurance company, to press a suit against a San Francisco area pharmaceutical company for allegedly selling unnecessarily large dosages of anti-cancer drugs.
Contra Costa Superior Court: Actions Taken on Aug. 7
The Contra Costa Superior Court reported the following activity on Aug. 7 in the suits below:
Aug. 7: Contra Costa Superior Court docket for "fl" cases
The following cases categorized as "fl" were on the docket in the Contra Costa Superior Court on Aug. 7. All case details are allegations only and should not be taken as fact:
The New EU-U.S. Data Privacy Framework: What You Need to Know and Practical Considerations on August 15, 2023
On July 10, 2023, after years of negotiations between the European Commission and the United States government, the long-awaited, latest data protection adequacy decision for the U.S. was announced and took immediate effect—in the form of the new EU-U.S. Data Privacy Framework.
Appeals panel says San Francisco allowed to let noncitizens vote in school board elections
Ruling overturns dismissal of Proposition N ordinances as unconstitutional
Lawsuit: California inmate died from overdose after getting drugs from cellmate
SAN FRANCISCO (Legal Newsline) — The family of a California inmate who died from a fentanyl overdose after getting drugs from her cellmate is claiming negligence and civil rights violations.
'Better than imports:' Oil producers say CAL Supreme Court correct to strike down local drilling bans, allow essential continued local production
A California Supreme Court ruling says counties can't shut down oil and gas drilling. Activists vowed to continue fighting to hinder local oil and gas extraction, which the industry said is misguided, will leave U.S. more dependent on foreign, dirtier energy sources
Benchmark Ranks Shook Partner Among Top 250 Women in Litigation
For the fifth time, Benchmark Litigation has selected Shook Partner Jessica Grant among its Top 250 Women in Litigation.
Appeals panel rules Alameda schools' special tax doesn't violate state law
The court tossed out a lower court's ruling that the special tax illegally allowed owners of larger properties to pay a lower effective tax rate
County's ban on drilling for oil, natural gas struck down by California Supreme Court
SAN FRANCISCO (Legal Newsline) - An ordinance banning oil and gas drilling within Monterey County that passed with 56% of the vote is preempted by state law promoting the production of underground hydrocarbons, the California Supreme Court ruled, rejecting comparisons to earlier decisions allowing municipalities to prohibit drilling in certain areas or ban marijuana dispensaries entirely.
Two Reed Smith partners named 2023 Top Labor & Employment Lawyers
Reed Smith announced that the Daily Journal has named two of its partners – Michele Haydel Gehrke and Mara Curtis – as “Top Labor & Employment Lawyers” for 2023.
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.
Micro Webinar Series: Half an Hour for Healthcare - Helpful Hints for Health Care Companies on California Wage & Hour Issues on August 9, 2023
We will be hosting a three-part series where Seyfarth Labor & Employment attorneys will examine the key wage & hour issues facing health care employers doing business in the Golden State, and the ways those issues show up in and affect the health care industry in particular.
Contra Costa Superior Court: Actions Taken on July 31
The Contra Costa Superior Court reported the following activity on July 31 in the suits below:
California Supreme Court says Monterey County can't barrel through a ban on oil drilling
The California Supreme Court has tanked Monterey County's prohibition of oil and gas drilling, ruling the county's ban flies in the face of superseding state law that gives oversight of drilling to Sacramento.
HIPAA Compliance for Attorneys as Business Associates on August 9, 2023
This program will explain when lawyers must comply with HIPAA, best practices for compliance, and common HIPAA mistakes and misconceptions.