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NORTHERN CALIFORNIA RECORD

Monday, March 18, 2024

Reform News

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Reform

Rampant PAGA, Prop 65 lawsuits land California courts high on list of worst U.S. 'Judicial Hellholes'

By Jonathan Bilyk |
The report issued by the American Tort Reform Association says California ranks third on the annual list, thanks to its continued status as lawyers' 'laboratory' for innovative ways to increase businesses' lawsuit risk

Reform

California lawmakers Jones, Grayson honored for leadership in civil justice policy

By Sarah Downey |
The Civil Justice Association of California has named the 2023 recipients of the Civil Justice Gavel Award, which recognizes legislators with a record of working on balance and equity in California’s legal system.

Reform

New scorecard rates lawmakers’ work to address equity in California’s civil justice system

By Sarah Downey |
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.

Reform

California ranks again among the top judicial hellholes

By Juliette Fairley |
This year, the Golden State landed in 3rd place after Georgia and The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania

Reform

Following state appellate ruling involving ADA claims, further relief urged at federal level

By Sarah Downey |
With the state Supreme Court declining review of an ADA (Americans with Disabilities) Act case involving website accessibility, an appellate decision on application of California’s Unruh Act will function as precedent, although it doesn’t guard against repeat ADA claims for businesses with physical locations.

Reform

New mandates add to complex California litigation landscape

By Sarah Downey |
With more difficult economic news across the state and nation, there is growing concern about new California mandates increasing the cost and difficulty of doing business here.

Reform

California regulators set to consider new Proposition 65 labels

By Sarah Downey |
As California environmental regulators prepare to review Proposition 65 additions, concerns persist about the impact of such labels on items without clear evidence they are harmful, and the torrent of related litigation that threatens to shut down businesses.

Reform

ATRA: More than $34 million was spent on lawyer ads in top media markets statewide

By Juliette Fairley |
Study: Californians are exposed to more legal services commercials on television than to restaurants and furniture store promotions

Reform

After SCOTUS ruling for Viking, California Supremes to review arbitration questions

By Sarah Downey |
The California Supreme Court has granted review in an arbitration case that is expected to show how the state judiciary interprets the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in in Viking v. Moriana, which found lawsuits brought under California’s Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) are subject to federal arbitration rules.

Reform

SCOTUS rules 8-1 that federal law preempts California’s PAGA arbitration rules

By Sarah Downey |
The U.S. Supreme Court in a near-unanimous decision in Viking v. Moriana has agreed that claims brought under the California Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) can be compelled to arbitration.

Reform

Lawmakers asked to consider bill addressing excessive ADA litigation against small businesses

By Sarah Downey |
Pending legislation is bringing increased attention to frivolous ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) lawsuits and the impact on small businesses.

Reform

U.S. Supreme Court hears arguments in California PAGA case; decision expected by early summer

By Sarah Downey |
Oral arguments before the U.S. Supreme Court took place late last month in Viking v. Moriana, a case that questions whether California’s Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) is exempt from the rules of the Federal Arbitration Act (FAA).

Reform

Legislators Hurtado, Nguyen honored for support, leadership in civil justice matters

By Sarah Downey |
The Civil Justice Association of California (CJAC) has announced the recipients of its Civil Justice Gavel Award, which is given annually to one Democrat and one Republican legislator who demonstrate willingness to work across the aisle in pursuit of fairness and balance in the state’s legal system.

Reform

Environmental law exemption for UC Berkeley prompts calls for more legislative reform

By Sarah Downey |
With last week’s legislative action to exempt the University of California at Berkeley from a long-standing state environmental law, it’s raising questions about how the statute could be further reformed to help not just schools but a host of infrastructure, housing, wildfire protection, and other projects.

Reform

Amicus brief on California’s PAGA distributed to U.S. Supreme Court ahead of hearing in Viking v. Moriana

By Sarah Downey |
An amicus brief by the California Business and Industrial Alliance (CABIA) has been distributed to the U.S. Supreme Court prior to oral arguments later this month in Viking v. Moriana, a case involving the California Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA).

Reform

New scorecard rates lawmakers’ efforts to bring equity to California’s civil justice system

By Sarah Downey |
The Civil Justice Association of California (CJAC) has released a new scorecard that gauges legislators’ recent work to foster parity and balance in the state’s civil court procedures, evaluating actions on key bills concerning unwarranted liability expansions, frivolous litigation, and private rights of action (PRAs).

Reform

New study shows more ADA litigation in California than all other states combined

By Sarah Downey |
As businesses seek to reopen ami​​​​​d the economic challenges of the pandemic, concerns persist that excessive litigation is causing many to close or leave the state and that such data has hasn’t prompted reform efforts by the state Legislature.

Reform

New amicus brief filed in case challenging constitutionality of California’s PAGA statute

By Sarah Downey |
In litigation ​​​​​over the constitutionality of California’s Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA), the U.S. Chamber of Commerce has filed an amicus brief urging the court to find the statute violates the state’s separation of powers doctrine.