Hot Topics News
Hot Topics
'Ladies night' promotion lawsuit drives Concord Peruvian restaurant out of business
The lawsuit was filed in 2023 against the Lima restaurant under California state anti-discrimination laws. Plaintiffs said the restaurant's "Ladies' Night" promotion unfairly offered discount drinks to women customers, but not to men or transgender patrons. The restaurant said the strain from the added legal bills proved too great to overcome
Hot Topics
SCOTUS to consider if other states, energy companies can sue to reverse California's special emissions regulating power
The U.S. Supreme Court won't consider - yet - if California gets to keep its outsized power to use a special provision in federal Clean Air law to essentially set vehicle emissions standards throughout the U.S. But the court will consider if other states and energy companies have the right to challenge that authority in court
Latest News
Hot Topics
Appeals court: Idaho can't interpret state abortion restrictions to block doctors from referring abortions
The decision from the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals echoed decisions that had struck down a California Covid "misinformation" law, agreeing Idaho's attempt to criminalize out-of-state abortion referrals also would trample doctors' free speech rights to express professional medical opinions
Hot Topics
SF 'Empty Homes Tax' unconstitutional, judges say; Violates landlords' rights to not rent homes
A San Francisco Superior Court judge issued a written ruling on Nov. 26, formally striking down San Francisco's 'Empty Homes Tax,' approved under Prop M, because it would illegally force property owners to either pay a potentially onerous annual tax or face the choice of leasing to strangers or selling their longtime homes
Hot Topics
Lawsuit: San Jose State, Mountain West Conf. retaliated vs women volleyballers' complaints over transgender athlete
The lawsuit seeks an injunction blocking San Jose State University from participating in the upcoming Mountain West Conference tournament. Plaintiffs are also seeking payout from the school and conference for allegedly punishing and silencing women's volleyball players and coaches who complained or raised questions
Hot Topics
Judge: Tenderloin residents, business can't use Covid-era order to force city to address homeless camps now
A San Francisco federal judge said the settlement under which the city agreed to work to reduce homeless tents on Tenderloin sidewalks and other public spaces to "zero" expired at the same time Mayor Breed officially ended the declared Covid emergency in 2023
Hot Topics
Alameda DA Price accused of anti-Asian, pro-black racial bias in ex-chief inspector's lawsuit
The lawsuit from Craig Chew, former chief of inspectors for the Alameda County District Attorney's Office, who is Asian says the county must pay for allowing D.A. Pamela Price to fire him and replace him with an allegedly ineligible black staffer without an investigation for apparent racial discrimination and other potential misconduct
Hot Topics
Hundreds of school districts cleared to keep up 'nuisance' lawsuit vs. social media companies
A federal judge said the core theory of allegations is the impact of compulsive use of the products marketed by the companies that own and operate Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube, among other social media platforms alleged in the lawsuits to be "addictive" and harmful to society, and schools in particular.
Hot Topics
CA law blocking religious schools from special ed funds violates religious freedom, appeals court says
U.S. Ninth Circuit Appeals Court said California can't show its discrimination vs religious schools is "neutral." Three devout Orthodox Jewish families can continue their suit against the state for allegedly forcing them to choose between their faith and obtaining educational services for their disabled children
Hot Topics
Ex-BART workers fired over Covid vax mandate should get $7.8M, jury says
The San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District should pay at least $1.1 million to six workers who were fired in 2022 after BART repeatedly refused to grant religious exemptions and accommodations to workers who said their faith prevented them from complying with BART's Covid shot mandate
Hot Topics
Appeals panel: U.S. can't apply Asylum Transit Rule to illegal immigrants already at the border
A federal appeals court has blocked the Biden administration from forcing illegal immigrants who already were turned away from the border to first apply for "asylum" in Mexico before requesting the same from the U.S. A dissenting judge said the ruling "twists" U.S. asylum law to extend to people who haven't even arrived in the country
Hot Topics
Tenderloin residents, hotels cleared to move ahead with suit vs SF over drug, crime 'nuisance'
A federal judge has ruled residents and hoteliers in the Tenderloin have done enough to show the city of San Francisco's policies and actions may have exacerbated the drug, crime and homelessness problems plaguing the neighborhood
Hot Topics
Judge won't let Disney run to appeals court to win OK to fire actors over political speech
A Los Angeles federal judge said Disney can't go to an appeals court to seek to overturn her refusal to dismiss a lawsuit from former "Mandalorian" actor Gina Carano, accusing the company of violating her rights by firing her from the show over her conservative political views, which Disney said was "offensive"
Hot Topics
SCOTUS won't review CA court's decision, clearing path for state, city lawsuits vs Uber, Lyft
The Attorney General and city attorneys for L.A., San Diego and San Francisco have sued Uber and Lyft under the controversial AB5 labor law, seeking to extract a big payday from the companies, ostensibly on behalf of workers, over claims the companies misclassified drivers as independent contractors
Hot Topics
CA lawmakers exempt Capitol Annex project from state enviro review law, can't be sued
A state appeals court said California lawmakers didn't violate the state constitution by specifically and immediately exempting the $1.2B Capitol Annex project from the state's controversial California Environmental Quality Act, in an apparent move to thwart legal challenges seeking to halt the project
Hot Topics
Supreme Court will let SF enforce campaign donor disclosure ordinance, despite speech concerns
After the high court refused to review the ordinance on appeal, one of the co-authors of the so-called "Sunlight on Dark Money" ordinance urged governments across the country to follow San Francisco's lead. Speech advocates, however, said they believe the measure tramples free speech rights
Hot Topics
Judge blocks Newsom's new 'anti-parody' law, says it 'has no place' under First Amend
A Sacramento federal judge entered a preliminary injunction sought by online content creator known as Mr. Reagan, whose video of Kamala Harris reportedly triggered Gov. Gavin Newsom and other Democrats to pass the new law, allegedly to combat online "deepfakes" which could deceive voters
Hot Topics
Olive Garden partners with Uber in reversal of previous statements
Darden Restaurants, Inc., the parent company of Olive Garden, has announced a multi-year exclusive delivery partnership with Uber Technologies, Inc. set to begin with Olive Garden in late 2024.
Hot Topics
NFIB Chief Economist: 'Uncertainty among small business owners continues to rise' amidst high inflation
National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) Chief Economist Bill Dunkelberg said "uncertainty among small business owners continues to rise" as inflationary pressures continue.
Hot Topics
Google privacy settlement a $62M windfall for trial lawyers, left-wing groups: Court filings
Twenty GOP state attorneys general have filed a brief in the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in support of a group of objectors, seeking to undo approval of a settlement that would steer most of $62 million from Google to trial lawyers and the ACLU and other groups to advance left-wing social and political causes