State Legislature
California bill to protect children from social media risks would promote lawsuits, critics say
A California bill that critics say would lead to an avalanche of frivolous lawsuits being filed against social media companies unanimously passed a key California Assembly panel last month.
Lawsuits
Class action: Allstate wrongly using workers' comp benefits to reduce, deny underinsured motorist claims
State Supreme Court
Good intentions enough to protect company from class action lawyers
Hot Topics
Cato Institute policy analyst: ‘It's hard to get homeowners insurance in most of California’
In a May 4 social media post, Cato Institute policy analyst Marc Joffe highlighted the difficulties Californians are facing in securing homeowners insurance across the state, not limited to areas prone to wildfires.
Federal Court
Judge OKs Google location tracking class action deal to pay $42M to mostly left-wing groups
The $62M settlement ends class action accusing Google of misleading users into believing their location history had been turned off. The deal includes no money for Google users, though, only $18.6M for lawyers and big money for non-profits, which objectors said is a 'slush fund' for left-wing activism
Despite promising solutions, California officials are poised to use Prop 1 to simply throw $6 billion more at a homelessness problem already massive state spending has yet to solve
From WV Record
Gaming company files pretrial motion to restrict mentions of its China ties during trial against Google
Epic Games, the developer behind Fortnite and several other renowned online games, has initiated legal action against tech behemoth Google, alleging that the latter is unjustly monopolizing Android app distribution. The gaming company's lawsuit comes with a pretrial motion to limit mentions of Epic's second largest shareholder being based in China during the trial scheduled for Nov. 6 start, said Epic Games.
The State Bar of California's Board of Trustees has initiated a new phase governance
The State Bar of California's Board of Trustees recently announced significant changes and decisions during its latest meeting. Brandon Stallings has been appointed as the new Board Chair, with José Cisneros assuming the role of Vice Chair and Mary Huser joining as a new Trustee. Stallings emphasized the organization's commitment to transparency and accountability.
State Court
Cecilia A. Portillo-Cardoza sues Fox Transportation for wage and hour violations
In the case of Cecilia A. Portillo-Cardoza and Jorge Santacruz versus Fox Transportation, Inc., et al., filed in the First Appellate District Division Five of the Court of Appeal of the State of California, case ID A166526, on May 1, 2024, the plaintiffs appeal a trial court's order denying their motion to advance trial and dismissing a certified class action for failure to timely prosecute.
State Court
Woman sues Marriott International Inc. for gross negligence and other charges
She alleges that during her stay at the Sacramento Marriott Rancho Cordova hotel from October 10-12, 2018, she experienced an infestation of bed bugs that led to her filing this lawsuit.
State Court
Sacramento Municipal Utility District sues man for power theft allegations in support of a cannabis grow operation
In the Court of Appeal of the State of California, Third Appellate District (Sacramento), Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) has filed a lawsuit against David Kwan.
State Court
Man sues The Superior Court of San Joaquin County for non-compliance with ICWA inquiry requirements
In the Court of Appeal of the State of California, Third Appellate District, San Joaquin, a lawsuit has been filed by petitioner H.A. against The Superior Court of San Joaquin County and San Joaquin County Human Services Agency et al., under case ID C099704 on May 3, 2024.
State Court
Sutter’s Place sues California Gambling Control Commission for denial of application to increase gambling tables
In the case of Sutter's Place, Inc. vs California Gambling Control Commission, filed in the Court of Appeal of the State of California, First Appellate District, Division Four on April 8, 2024 (case ID: A168427), Sutter's Place sought to increase its number of gambling tables from 49 to 64.
State Court
Woman trips and fall while in a parking lot resulting in serious injuries.
In the Superior Court of California, County of Santa Clara, Patricia Esquer has filed a lawsuit against Biagini Properties, Inc., Biagini Family Properties, LLC and Horng-Kuoag Corporation.
State Court
Yu Qing Mo sues Koichi Sugiyama for premises liability
In the Superior Court of the State of California for the County of San Francisco, plaintiff Yu Qing Mo has filed a lawsuit against defendants Koichi Sugiyama, 10 Inca Lane Apartments, and St. Francis Square Cooperative, Inc., among others.
State Court
Jesse Carrizzo sues Nicole Unita Lee for personal injuries due to alleged negligence
In the Superior Court of California, County of San Francisco, a lawsuit has been filed by plaintiff Jesse Carrizzo against defendant Nicole Unita Lee.
State Court
Yeung Chi Shing Holding sues Yeung Bing Kwong Kenneth for breach of fiduciary duty
In the court of appeal of the state of California, a case was filed on May 1, 2024, with the case ID A168383.
Class action: Allstate wrongly using workers' comp benefits to reduce, deny underinsured motorist claims
The lawsuit claims Allstate has a company policy of allegedly using the payment of workers' comp benefits to deny or reduce claims for uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage for people injured while driving on the job, allegedly violating California law
Disability services group director says PAGA lawsuits are damaging small businesses, nonprofits
A California law that allows individuals to file civil lawsuits against employers to resolve state Labor Code disputes needs to be overhauled this year to end trial-attorney shakedowns of small business and nonprofits, according to a disability services advocate.
Lawyers seek $217M+ fees for work on Google Icognito privacy settlement
The settlement, supposedly worth $5 billion, requires Google to delete billions of data files allegedly collected by Google while allegedly monitoring people's supposedly secret web browsing. But the deal doesn't include any direct payments from Google to consumers on a classwide basis
Appeals panel: Investors can go after Genius Brands for over-boosting 'Rainbow Rangers'
A federal appeals panel says a L.A. federal judge wrongly tossed a lawsuit against kids TV producer Genius Brands for misleading investors about the prospects for its show "Rainbow Rangers" and for boosting a report that they could be bought by Disney or Netflix
Class action takes on Zyn, alleges Philip Morris is targeting youth
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Legal Newsline) - The popular nicotine product ZYN is at the center of a new class action lawsuit against its maker, Philip Morris.
Cato Institute policy analyst: ‘It's hard to get homeowners insurance in most of California’
In a May 4 social media post, Cato Institute policy analyst Marc Joffe highlighted the difficulties Californians are facing in securing homeowners insurance across the state, not limited to areas prone to wildfires.
State Farm announces limits on their coverage for California residents
State Farm General Insurance Company announced new limitations on their insurance offerings in the state of California, including the termination of commercial apartment policies and non-renewals of multiple different current policy holders.
SCOTUS appears poised to undo rulings that left cities in 'straitjacket' when addressing homeless encampments
Precise contours on the eventual ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court remain cloudy, but oral arguments revealed the court's conservative majority will most likely overturn rulings from the Ninth Circuit that critics said essentially created a constitutional right for the homeless to camp in parks and other public spaces
Insurance Information Institute CEO: 'there are multimillions of dark money investor dollars' behind lawsuits
Sean Kevelighan, CEO of the Insurance Information Institute (III), stated that "there are multimillions of dark money investor dollars" fueling litigation that ultimately escalates insurance costs for consumers. This assertion was made in a press release dated Feb. 27.
Governor restricts legal challenges to L.A. development in push for more housing
Gov. Gavin Newsom is streamlining a major mixed-use development near Skid Row in downtown Los Angeles to speed the building of housing and urban infrastructure, using new state laws aimed at reducing environmental litigation.
American Tort Reform Association president: ‘significant campaign contributions’ from California attorneys ‘raise concerns about the potential influence on legislative and judicial decisions’
Sherman "Tiger" Joyce, president of the American Tort Reform Association (ATRA), expressed concerns about a new report that analyzes California trial attorneys' campaign contributions. The report suggests these contributions may have potential influence on legislative and judicial decisions. Joyce voiced his concerns in a press release dated March 19.
California election authorities can't bump Fong from race to replace McCarthy in Congress, appeals panel says
A California state appeals court has ruled California Secretary of State Shirley Weber misinterpreted the state's election laws in attempting to block Republican State Assemblyman Vince Fong from the ballot in the contest to replace former U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy
State Sen. Becker: ‘Our state is facing an unprecedented crisis of skyrocketing insurance rates’
State Senator Josh Becker (D-Menlo Park) announced that SB 1060, the Fire Insurance Risk Evaluation Act (FIRE Act), is designed to address California’s escalating insurance rates. The proposed legislation requires property insurance providers to consider wildfire mitigation efforts when underwriting insurance policies. Becker shared this information in a press release dated April 24.
Jury decides Johnson & Johnson negligent in causing man’s mesothelioma in Northern California trial, awards $18.8 million
An Alameda County jury on Tuesday decided that Johnson & Johnson baby powder caused a man's deadly mesothelioma and awarded $18.8 million in damages for negligence and failure to warn
Plaintiff attorneys go after Johnson & Johnson product safety officer claims of asbestos-free powder
In a trial to decide if asbestos in Johnson & Johnson baby powder caused a man’s mesothelioma, plaintiff attorneys challenged a J&J safety officer’s claims that the powder was clean
Woman sues Marriott International Inc. for gross negligence and other charges
She alleges that during her stay at the Sacramento Marriott Rancho Cordova hotel from October 10-12, 2018, she experienced an infestation of bed bugs that led to her filing this lawsuit.
Homeservices of America to pay $250M to settle real estate commission antitrust lawsuits
Attorneys could stand to rake in more than $80 million in fees from the new deal, meaning plaintiffs' lawyers could be in line for more than $300 million in fees from multiple settlements worth more than $940 million so far, with potentially more on the way.
Placer County can't use political speech law to ditch retaliation lawsuit from demoted ex-interim D.A.
Ex-Placer County Interim D.A. Jennifer Miszkewycz claimed was demoted in retaliation for cooperating with an Attorney General's investigation of a county board member
Claremont attorney faces suspension, probation following overturned embezzlement, grand theft conviction
SAN FRANCISCO – Longtime Claremont attorney Louis Julian White faces suspension and probation following an Aug. 8 California Supreme Court order and his overturned conviction last year on embezzlement and grand theft charges, according to a recent State Bar of California announcement and court documents.