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NORTHERN CALIFORNIA RECORD

Tuesday, March 19, 2024

State Court News

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State Court

SF sued for discrimination in transgender guaranteed income program

By Jonathan Bilyk |
Lawsuit says the city illegally prioritizes biological male Black or Latino transgender people to receive up $21,600 each from city treasury every 18 months

State Court

California Supreme Court says employers can't beat PAGA suits by claiming they are not 'manageable'

By Scott Holland |
The decision narrows the ability of employers to beat the sometimes sprawling lawsuits, increasing the likelihood they will get sued and the likelihood that they will need to pay to defend or settle the actions under California's controversial PAGA law

State Court

Appeals panel: Judge can shut down major LA shipping terminal over environmental mitigations

By Jonathan Bilyk |
A state appeals court says a San Diego judge improperly restrained himself from crafting a harsher "remedy" to address alleged mishandling of environmental mitigation at the Port of L.A.'s China Shipping terminal.

State Court

California Supreme Court says drug abuse alone not enough to justify removing kids from parents

By Scott Holland |
Unanimous ruling sends father's lawsuit back to appellate court for reconsideration under new framing of legal standard that did away with the so-called tender years presumption.

State Court

Enviros can't undo California rule intended to lessen electric bill pain for most customers

By Jonathan Bilyk |
A state appeals panel says it won't second-guess a state commission's decision to reduce the amount paid to homeowners with solar power systems to hold down bills for all other customers who had been paying more to pay for others' home solar arrays

State Court

Friend of angry ex will face lawsuit after smear campaign cost student a spot at Dartmouth

By Daniel Fisher |
SAN FRANCISCO (Legal Newsline) - A student who claims he fell victim to a “vengeful smear campaign” by a spurned ex-girlfriend can sue over emails to Dartmouth College officials that led the prestigious school to rescind his offer of admission.

State Court

SF residents OK to resume class action vs waste hauler Recology over bribes to secure inflated rates in 2017

By Jonathan Bilyk |
A California appeals panel ruled that the class action lawsuit doesn't amount to an illegal attempt to challenge rates set by the SF Rate Board, nor is it an attempt to make Recology pay twice, after the company paid $94M to settle prosecutors' earlier enforcement action over the alleged bribes

State Court

Bonta under fire: Cal Policy Center asks state bar to investigate AG's use of law against parents

By Sarah Downey |
As parents continue efforts to push for inclusion in key decisions on how their children want to gender identify, California Attorney Gen. Rob Bonta is suing to quash it, leading to a state Bar complaint that challenges the AG’s use of the legal system against parents.

State Court

Facebook faces suit over not putting insurance ads on some users' feeds

By Daniel Fisher |
SAN FRANCISCO (Legal Newsline) - Most people would probably pay money not to be subjected to ads featuring quacking ducks and apron-clad insurance agents. But a California appeals court has decided Facebook must face a class action over claims it discriminates against users by allowing insurance companies to select their audience based on age and gender.

State Court

California sues energy companies over 'climate' problems; 'Kitchen sink' lawsuit a 'political stunt,' industry says

By Michael Carroll |
Energy companies say the state's lawsuit is little more than a "meritless, politicized" effort to extract big paydays from oil and gas companies, while accomplishing little to address the alleged problems caused by "climate change"

State Court

School district in trouble after bus never picks up student and she dies in car crash

By Daniel Fisher |
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Legal Newsline) - A California school district may be on the hook for a car crash that took the life of a 16-year-old student who got in a car with a friend after her bus was late, an appeals court ruled.

State Court

'Paid' means check in hand, court rules in case of arbitration fees

By Daniel Fisher |
SAN FRANCISCO (Legal Newsline) - A company whose check to the arbitrators arrived several days late can’t claim it “paid” its fees within a statutory deadline, a California appeals court ruled, reviving a former employee’s chances at pursuing her sexual-harassment claim in court.

State Court

Court reinstates PAGA case against Marshalls thanks to COVID extension

By John O'Brien |
SAN FRANCISCO (Legal Newsline) - The COVID pandemic will help a former Marshalls employee sue under California's Private Attorneys General Act.

State Court

California Supreme Court rule to report attorney misconduct takes effect, to avoid repeat of Girardi debacle

By Sarah Downey |
A new rule from the California Supreme Court requires increased oversight among attorneys, a mandate long present in other states, and now here following high profile cases of wrongdoing including now disbarred attorney Thomas Girardi.

State Court

CAL Supreme Court: Contractors, like those hired for pre-employment screening, can be sued for discrimination under state law

By Scott Holland |
U.S. Healthworks Medical Group, which conducted pre-employment medical screenings, argued only direct employers should face discrimination lawsuits under California law, but the court said agents who professionally should know better can't just say they were following directions

State Court

Appeals panel rules Alameda schools' special tax doesn't violate state law

By Scott Holland |
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

State Court

California Supreme Court says Monterey County can't barrel through a ban on oil drilling

By Dan Churney |
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.

State Court

'Treasure trove to make a quick buck:' New CAL Sup Ct ruling OKs continued 'unscrupulous' lawsuits under PAGA law

By Sarah Downey |
The yearlong wait on the future of California’s Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) has yielded a conflicting opinion from the state Supreme Court, which recently ruled that collective PAGA claims can proceed in court, even when the lead plaintiff's case is already in arbitration.