GUEST COLUMNS
Thursday, August 7, 2025
Trump's new tax bill quietly delivers a major win for startup investors by reshaping federal rules on Qualified Small Business Stock. The catch? State law may still get in the way.
In addition to being faster than waiting for a result at trial -- and the inevitable appeal -- mediation offers a host of advantages over trying environmental disputes in court.
Wednesday, August 6, 2025
A proposed EPA settlement offers long-overdue action on ozone pollution in the Joaquin Valley, but it may once again delay the justice these communities have fought so hard to achieve.
Part 2 of this article series on Proposition 65 settlements highlights the often-overlooked exposure of licensors -- the brand owners whose names appear on licensed products -- and outlines practical strategies, from explicit release language to third-party beneficiary clauses, to ensure they are fully protected from future liability.
Tuesday, August 5, 2025
The opportunity zone program is now permanent, and with new rural-focused incentives and stricter eligibility rules, recent reforms reshape how investors can tap into these tax-advantaged areas.
While it's flattering that Hollywood finds the law so interesting -- and yes, we get the need for creative license -- we've got four tropes in legal dramas to debunk.
Monday, August 4, 2025
Uber's latest RICO lawsuit -- framed as a fight against fraud but timed to push SB 371--shows that when most corporations lose in court they appeal, but when Uber loses it attacks the entire system to gain political leverage and immunity.
Seasonal jobs may be short-term, but California employers' obligations aren't -- compliance with state and federal law is required no matter how long the employee stays.
Friday, August 1, 2025
A New Jersey township's effort to seize a 175-year-old family farm for affordable housing has triggered a clash between local obligations under the Mount Laurel doctrine, federal farmland protections, and the Henry family's property rights -- ironically prompting the U.S. government to step in with a Reaganesque "I'm here to help."
Thursday, July 31, 2025
California courts have embraced a "harmless error" rule to uphold imperfect wills that clearly reflect a testator's intent, but as the recent Estate of Boyajian decision shows, that rule does not extend to revocations--leaving a gap in the law that can thwart clear efforts to cancel a prior will.
Judges must resist external and internal pressures to avoid becoming either a servant or king, which takes courage and humility -- the yin and the yang of judicial independence.
Wednesday, July 30, 2025
This article and self-study test explore evidentiary issues commonly encountered in DUI trials, including the admissibility of a defendant's statements, field sobriety tests, breath test results and blood draws, with Part 2 to address implied consent, refusals, inference instructions, partition ratios, DUI drug offenses and enhancements.
Tuesday, July 29, 2025
A cyclist who suffered fatal injuries after hitting a known road defect on a paved path leading to a trail has no case against the county, because under Government Code §831.4 and decades of precedent -- including Gibbons v. East Bay Regional District -- the government is immune from liability for injuries on both paved and unpaved recreational trails.
As Prop 65 lawsuits continue to grow, strategic approaches are required to structure settlements that cover the entire supply chain -- from upstream suppliers to downstream partners and licensors.
Monday, July 28, 2025
Given recent ICE workplace activity, California labor and employment attorneys are poised to face a wave of inquiries from both employers and employees about potential civil liabilities tied to employer responses.
The CARE Act arose from a historical need -- its policies, definitions and hearings warrant explanation as to illuminate its complex legal framework.
Friday, July 25, 2025
In a major shift, California's 2025 budget legislation expanded wildfire recovery tax relief beyond specific named fires, but only for payments received through a class action "settlement entity," leaving many victims -- especially of recent fires like the 2025 LA fires -- uncertain about whether their recoveries will be tax-free under either federal or state law after 2025.
Recent court rulings have complicated smoke damage recovery for wildfire survivors. Rather than pursuing years of costly litigation against insurers, homeowners facing toxic contamination should consider mediation as a faster, more practical solution.
Thursday, July 24, 2025
The lawsuit, alleging that California's animal welfare laws have led to increased egg prices, ignores the impact of external forces like bird flu, industry pricing dynamics and U.S. Supreme Court precedent.
In 100 days, Trump issued 142 executive orders -- many attacking DEI and transgender rights -- prompting court rulings that they likely violate the Constitution and federal law.
Wednesday, July 23, 2025
Practitioners must approach the public charge section of Form I-485 with heightened care and precision, as USCIS has increased scrutiny on applicants' financial histories under this rule -- making it crucial to assess income, assets and benefits usage in advance of filing or attending an interview.
Federal raids and military displays -- including a chilling July 7 show of force in LA's MacArthur Park -- have sparked fear, swept up citizens and immigrants alike, and pushed Los Angeles and nearby cities to fight back in court against what they call unconstitutional overreach.
Tuesday, July 22, 2025
California's dairy industry consumes more water daily than the populations of San Diego and San Jose combined, spotlighting a critical choice: reform industrial agriculture or watch the wells run dry.
In reaffirming that nudity doesn't make a public business an "intimate association," the 9th Circuit delivers a powerful blow to privacy-based challenges against trans-inclusive access policies.
Monday, July 21, 2025
Mediating claims against public entities involves complex and often time-consuming procedures, but with patience and preparation, a negotiated settlement offers greater certainty and fewer risks than trial.
In Contour IP Holding LLC v. GoPro, Inc., the Federal Circuit clarified that patent claims must include specific, structured technological improvements -- not just abstract ideas -- to meet subject matter eligibility under Section 101.
Friday, July 18, 2025
An MIT study shows that reliance on AI alone reduces cognitive function, but AI plus brainpower yields superior results
Attorneys increasingly use AI tools in their practice, but misuse of AI -- such as submitting fabricated case citations -- can trigger a reporting obligation under California Rule of Professional Conduct 8.3.
Thursday, July 17, 2025
California raised its minimum auto insurance
limits in January 2025 for the first time in over 50 years, with another
increase set for 2035 -- a shift that underscores the financial and legal risks
for uninsured drivers seeking noneconomic damages.
A single IRS Form 1099 can trigger a mess for plaintiffs--especially when the form is misapplied or duplicative--making it critical to address tax reporting explicitly in settlement agreements.
Wednesday, July 16, 2025
Supreme Court's blessing of Texas Age Verification Law bodes well for California's Digital Age Assurance Act.
Misclassifying California employees as exempt can trigger steep penalties and litigation, making it essential for employers to meet the state's strict exemption standards with rigorous documentation and legal counsel.
Tuesday, July 15, 2025
California employers are scrambling to balance
state requirements with new federal directives that impact everything from
immigration to gender issues. Here's what you need to know.
Court holds that Anthropic's training of AI using legally obtained books is fair use, but storage of pirated books is not.
Monday, July 14, 2025
With companies increasingly eyeing Nevada and Texas over Delaware, Texas's new Business Court offers a timely, if still untested, alternative to the Court of Chancery's seasoned dominance.
An unpublished appeals court ruling in a machete attack case clarifies the steep hurdles plaintiffs face when suing public entities over dangerous conditions involving third-party conduct.
Friday, July 11, 2025
In an era where TikTok hauls and hashtag trends blur the line between homage and infringement, Lululemon's lawsuit against Costco spotlights how the law is scrambling to keep pace with the viral rise of "dupes" -- and the high-stakes battle over brand identity, consumer confusion, and what it really means to copy.
California's push for renewable energy is vital, but without strict oversight and meaningful safety standards for massive battery storage facilities, we risk replacing one environmental crisis with another.
Thursday, July 10, 2025
A controversial excise tax on litigation funding proceeds -- once feared by funders and lawyers alike -- has been left out of the Senate's final tax bill for now, but with strong industry backing and future legislative interest, it may yet return in another form.
The 9th Circuit Court upheld that J-M Manufacturing violated federal and state False Claims Acts by falsely claiming its pipes met industry standards despite evidence of non-compliance, but ruled that penalties apply per project--not per pipe--due to lack of proof on specific defective units or exact damages.
Wednesday, July 9, 2025
AI is reshaping legal practice--but when left unchecked, its subtle biases in language and logic can expose California attorneys to ethical and legal risks.
In Bradsbery v. Vicar Operating, Inc., the
California Court of Appeal, in a case of first impression, held that
prospective, revocable written waivers of meal periods for shifts between five
and six hours are enforceable if not coercive or unconscionable, providing
employers with legal clarity and operational flexibility.
Workers help residents with FEMA processing in the aftermath of the Eaton Fire in Pasadena, Calif., Jan. 13, 2025. (Kyle Grillot/The New York Times)
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NEWS
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General News
Thursday, August 7, 2025 |
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| Usman Arain, who joined the firm from Paul Weiss, has led deals across software, fintech, education and government technology sectors. | |
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General News
Thursday, August 7, 2025 |
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| It is no secret that we have little privacy anymore. But once in a while, companies still have the ability to shock us with how much they know. | |
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General News
Thursday, August 7, 2025 |
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| In a 6-1 decision written by Justice Leondra Kruger, the California Supreme Court reversed a 1st District Court of Appeal ruling that had directed a trial judge to double a defendant's sentence. The high court ruled that sentencing discretion, including whether to dismiss a strike, rests with the trial court. | |
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General News
Wednesday, August 6, 2025 |
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| U.S. District Judge Trina L. Thompson accused the Trump administration of discriminatory intent. Meanwhile, another judge is considering similar claims from Venezuelans even as the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals considers whether it can review that order. | |
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General News
Wednesday, August 6, 2025 |
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| The dispute arose after Phillips 66 allegedly used proprietary information obtained during acquisition talks to launch its own renewable fuels venture, prompting a five-week trial that concluded with the jury finding the misconduct "willful and malicious." While Propel sought $1.2 billion in punitive damages, Judge Michael Markman ruled the request "would go too far." | |
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General News
Wednesday, August 6, 2025 |
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| The new school year is about to begin, which means that parents are facing an often-resented task: buying the items on their children's back-to-school supply lists. | |
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General News
Tuesday, August 5, 2025 |
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| The ruling revived a lawsuit by a man rear-ended by an ambulance. The justices drew a sharp line between professional medical duties owed to patients and the broader duty of care owed to the public. | |
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General News
Tuesday, August 5, 2025 |
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| Conducting workplace investigations can be tricky, especially when it comes to how much information to share with participants. | |
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General News
Tuesday, August 5, 2025 |
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| App store restrictions violated federal and state laws, appeals court says in affirming the jury's verdict and injunction | |
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General News
Monday, August 4, 2025 |
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| The federal lawsuit claims the popular women-focused app left tens of thousands of users vulnerable by failing to secure their ID documents and private messages. The breach has led to widespread sharing of sensitive information and triggered panic among victims. | |
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General News
Monday, August 4, 2025 |
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| Recent court filings show the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is staying or dismissing multiple sexual abuse cases in California, signaling progress in a proposed global settlement involving more than 100 claims. | |
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General News
Monday, August 4, 2025 |
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| Imagine that an airline notices you've booked a five-star hotel, so it charges you more for your ticket than it would have if you had booked a four- or three-star hotel. That's the vision of personalized pricing, a concept that has for years intrigued companies and enraged consumer advocates. | |
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General News
Friday, August 1, 2025 |
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| A judge dismissed a lawsuit against USC by parents involved in the "Varsity Blues" scandal, ruling they had ample time and reason to discover alleged fraud related to their son's admission. | |
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General News
Friday, August 1, 2025 |
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| Former Vice President Kamala Harris will not run for California governor next year, she announced Wednesday, forgoing another campaign after losing last year's presidential election. | |
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General News
Friday, August 1, 2025 |
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| San Luis Obispo County District Attorney Dan Dow, the next leader of the California District Attorneys Association, said on Tuesday that he would prioritize crime victims' constitutional rights. | |
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General News
Thursday, July 31, 2025 |
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| A judge trimmed $5.5M from a $292.5M false advertising verdict against Natera but upheld the rest of the award and imposed an ad ban. Natera plans to appeal. | |
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General News
Thursday, July 31, 2025 |
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| Operating in a little-known corner of the nearly $5 trillion health care system, Truemed helps supply people with letters attesting to their medical need for products like red-light masks, Peloton bikes and $9,000 saunas. | |
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General News
Thursday, July 31, 2025 |
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| Bank of America is challenging class certification in a lawsuit over frozen unemployment debit cards during the pandemic, citing mass fraud; plaintiffs argue BofA's actions harmed thousands unjustly. | |
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General News
Wednesday, July 30, 2025 |
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| For years, 529 accounts were synonymous with college savings plans. But recent updates have given the accounts a makeover. | |
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General News
Wednesday, July 30, 2025 |
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| Pepperdine cites a recent 9th Circuit ruling on NFTs to challenge Netflix's bid to dismiss its trademark suit, arguing the "Waves" marks used in an adult show serve as source identifiers, not artistic elements. | |
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General News
Wednesday, July 30, 2025 |
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| HCA Healthcare will cancel nurse training debts, refund prior payments, and pay $2.9 million in penalties after a legal settlement with California, Nevada and Colorado over unlawful repayment agreements. | |
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General News
Wednesday, July 30, 2025 |
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| Starting in January, California will ban all single-use and thicker plastic bags. | |
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General News
Tuesday, July 29, 2025 |
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| Plenty of Angelenos these days complain about what they see as the city's lack of leadership, a critique that often is directed at the city's mayor and council. | |
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General News
Tuesday, July 29, 2025 |
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| The divided appellate panel found that state plaintiffs had standing to sue under the 14th Amendment--even as it dismissed individual claims pending in a related class action. The ruling drew sharp dissent from Judge Patrick J. Bumatay. | |
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General News
Tuesday, July 29, 2025 |
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| The ruling affirms a permanent injunction issued by a San Diego judge known for repeatedly finding California gun laws unconstitutional, and has already prompted online retailers to resume direct ammunition sales to Californians. | |
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General News
Monday, July 28, 2025 |
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| The fever in financial markets over "meme stocks" is back and stranger than ever. | |
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General News
Monday, July 28, 2025 |
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| In the high-profile Bored Ape case, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals found the creator failed to prove consumer confusion and overturned an $8 million award. | |
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General News
Monday, July 28, 2025 |
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| Clorox sued Cognizant for $380 million, alleging the IT firm negligently gave cybercriminals access to company systems, leading to massive operational disruptions, product shortages and tens of millions in damages. | |
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General News
Friday, July 25, 2025 |
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| New Jersey officials recently proposed that affordable housing projects in coastal flood zones be allowed to apply for "hardship" exemptions from new building regulations meant to protect homes from rising sea levels. | |
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General News
Friday, July 25, 2025 |
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| Tesla challenges DMV's administrative trial to suspend self-driving car sales, citing Seventh Amendment jury trial rights and First Amendment free speech protections against claims of misleading Autopilot marketing. | |
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General News
Friday, July 25, 2025 |
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| The Hindu American Foundation sought to intervene in a California civil rights complaint that claims Silicon Valley is rife with caste discrimination. | |
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General News
Thursday, July 24, 2025 |
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| Blocked for now by a federal court order from sending warrantless roving immigration patrols through Los Angeles and six other Southern California counties, U.S. agents on Thursday moved their sweeps north to Sacramento. | |
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General News
Thursday, July 24, 2025 |
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| A Los Angeles judge ruled that LAUSD's policy blocking charter schools from sharing campuses violates Proposition 39, ensuring equitable access to facilities for all public school students. | |
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General News
Thursday, July 24, 2025 |
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| Robbins Geller seeks final approval of a $150 million Zoom settlement and about $28 million in fees after litigating claims the company misled investors about its video call encryption security. | |
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General News
Wednesday, July 23, 2025 |
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| Catholic bishops challenged Washington's new clergy reporting law that requires them to disclose what they hear about in confession, and a federal judge agreed the measure likely fails strict scrutiny under the First Amendment. | |
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General News
Wednesday, July 23, 2025 |
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| Mortgage lenders will soon have the choice to use either a traditional FICO score or an updated version from a rival, VantageScore, to evaluate a borrower's creditworthiness, a top housing finance regulator announced this month. | |
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General News
Wednesday, July 23, 2025 |
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| Families of Santa Clara VTA shooting victims push to expedite depositions and begin mediation, saying they have strong evidence against security firms in a suit over the deadly 2021 railyard attack. | |
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General News
Tuesday, July 22, 2025 |
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| A San Francisco nonprofit, United Council of Human Services, sues the city and others, alleging wrongful withholding of $900 million in homeless housing funds after past financial misconduct accusations. | |
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General News
Tuesday, July 22, 2025 |
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| A Sacramento lawsuit challenges the Female Sex Offender Risk Assessment tool's validity, claiming it's unvalidated, causing unfair restrictions and homelessness for low-risk female parolees. | |
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General News
Tuesday, July 22, 2025 |
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| What sort of protection does homeowners' insurance provide? | |
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General News
Monday, July 21, 2025 |
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| A second-tier soccer team's plans for a 12,000-seat stadium in downtown Sacramento face a legal challenge from residents who say their protests were ignored. | |
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General News
Monday, July 21, 2025 |
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| Supporters say the change would modernize an outdated process where justices are almost never unseated, but critics warn it could erode voter oversight and eventually apply to superior court judges. | |
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General News
Monday, July 21, 2025 |
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| How do I figure out what the building codes are in my area (and what they were when a property was constructed)? | |
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General News
Thursday, August 7, 2025 |
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| States and cities that boycott Israeli companies will be denied grants from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, according to grant notices posted by the agency in recent days. | |
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General News
Wednesday, August 6, 2025 |
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| A Napa County jury awarded $2.1 million to a PG&E lineman who said he was defamed after raising wildfire safety concerns. Although a state appellate court reversed, calling the defamation theory a backdoor attempt at wrongful termination, the California Supreme Court has agreed to review the case, which could reshape employer liability for post-firing statements. | |
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General News
Tuesday, August 5, 2025 |
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| An appellate panel appeared sympathetic Thursday to researchers challenging a Trump-era freeze on federal grants tied to diversity-related academic work. The plaintiffs argue the cancellations violate the First Amendment and administrative law. A Justice Department lawyer say the shift simply reflects a change in priorities -- and funding what they call "viewpoint-based" research isn't constitutionally required. | |
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General News
Monday, August 4, 2025 |
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| Legal and academic experts warn a mooted Trump administration proposal to tax patents based on their estimated value could stifle innovation, increase litigation risks, and deter investment in R&D. | |
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General News
Friday, August 1, 2025 |
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| Apple alleges Haptic shifted its legal strategy in a patent case over the iPhone's Back Tap feature by submitting a late expert report introducing new infringement theories, including equivalence. | |
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General News
Thursday, July 31, 2025 |
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| Attorneys looking to secure their future may need to flip the script: rather than viewing AI as a threat, successful lawyers are becoming subject matter experts in the technology itself. | |
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General News
Wednesday, July 30, 2025 |
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| Anthropic seeks to pause a major copyright lawsuit over claims it illegally used millions of books to train its AI, Claude, arguing the case's class certification exposes it to massive liability. | |
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General News
Tuesday, July 29, 2025 |
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| Sports lawyers say NFL players may sue or file labor grievances against the NFLPA for concealing an arbitration ruling on alleged collusion by team owners to limit guaranteed contract money. | |
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General News
Monday, July 28, 2025 |
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| The decision could have significant implications for venue selection in Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act cases, an area where some courts have already voiced frustration over growing case volumes and their impact on court dockets. | |
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General News
Friday, July 25, 2025 |
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| Like the many similar efforts that came before it, the plan to cleave the nation's largest federal appeals court faces steep political and practical hurdles, not least questions about its necessity in a system some say is running more smoothly than ever. | |
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General News
Thursday, July 24, 2025 |
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| The California Supreme Court ruled that forum selection clauses are enforceable even if they require litigation in jurisdictions like Delaware that don't provide jury trials, reversing two lower court decisions. | |
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General News
Wednesday, July 23, 2025 |
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| X Corp. argues a former Twitter employee was fired for cause, not laid off, and seeks to dismiss his lawsuit ahead of a September trial over unpaid expenses and severance. | |
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General News
Tuesday, July 22, 2025 |
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| Federal judge certifies class action against Anthropic for pirating 7 million books to train AI assistant Claude, rejecting fair use defense. Trial set for December. | |
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General News
Monday, July 21, 2025 |
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| A federal judge denied class certification for iPhone users suing Apple, citing "fading memories" and lack of device settings data in a case alleging unauthorized cellular data use. | |