GUEST COLUMNS
Thursday, July 10, 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.
Wednesday, July 9, 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.
Tuesday, July 8, 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.
Monday, July 7, 2025
The Senate narrowly passed the sweeping "One Big Beautiful Tax Bill," which includes major changes to small business stock rules, SALT deductions, school choice tax credits, and bonus depreciation -- policies with significant implications for California taxpayers.
As California fights to protect its century-old water rights while the Colorado River shrinks to dangerous lows, the nation's most populous state finds itself navigating between legal tradition and climate reality, with 40 million people's water supply hanging in the balance.
Thursday, July 3, 2025
In June 2025, ICE raids intensified across California as the DOJ escalated immigration enforcement efforts. Employers must understand their rights under federal law and California's AB 450 to avoid criminal liability and respond appropriately to ICE inspections.
If Herman Melville didn't need to write "Call me Ishmael ('Ishmael')," then legal writers shouldn't feel compelled to define every party with clunky parentheticals. Clear, consistent naming is better writing and better advocacy.
Wednesday, July 2, 2025
Business disputes are costly, complex, and often ruin relationships, but when approached with early communication, strategic mediation, and the right people at the table, resolution can be faster, cheaper and even lead to renewed collaboration.
While campaign ads must disclose who paid for them, lobbying ads -- especially digital ones -- often don't, and usually that's entirely legal.
Tuesday, July 1, 2025
Litigation funding, already complex and tax-sensitive, faces a seismic shift under the Senate's pending tax bill, which would impose a sweeping 40.8% excise tax on virtually all litigation financing profits--foreign or domestic--without offsets, exemptions for most existing deals, or regard for how the funding is structured, alarming funders, lawyers, and law firms alike.
With immigration enforcement intensifying in 2025, California employers face renewed federal scrutiny and must balance compliance with both I-9 rules and California's strict worker protection laws.
Monday, June 30, 2025
Thousands of homeowners are being denied insurance coverage for toxic smoke damage, despite clear health risks and legal protection.
As California's 2025 legislative session nears its close, lawmakers are advancing three impactful employment bills--targeting fake job ads, AI-driven management, and employee rights education -- that, if enacted, will reshape workplace transparency and compliance obligations statewide.
Friday, June 27, 2025
The U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Zuch redefines the boundaries of Tax Court jurisdiction in CDP cases, with potential implications for how collection disputes unfold during litigation.
As Congress advances the "One Big Beautiful Tax Bill," proposed Senate reforms signal a long-term, pro-investment future for Opportunity Zones -- expanding eligibility, enhancing tax benefits (especially in rural areas), and tightening reporting requirements, all with the potential to reshape how investors engage in distressed community development.
Thursday, June 26, 2025
Could a New Jersey township's plan to condemn a church for pickleball courts eventually become the U.S. Supreme Court case that finally defines what constitutes "pretextual" eminent domain?
If you have California customers sending you money -- even if you've never set foot in the Golden State -- California's tax authorities may come knocking with an income tax bill.
Wednesday, June 25, 2025
A new Supreme Court ruling hints that medical
expenses from personal injuries might now open the door to RICO claims -- but
don't expect a flood of new lawsuits just yet.
In the face of escalating violence and political resistance, federal ICE and CBP agents, attacked by rioters and left without timely local support in Los Angeles, now confront a controversial California SB 627 that's seeking to unmask them.
Tuesday, June 24, 2025
As tensions escalate between Israel and Iran, the United States faces renewed pressure to weigh military involvement -- raising urgent constitutional questions about who holds the power to declare war and whether recent presidents have sidelined Congress in one of the nation's gravest decisions.
As accusations of politically motivated "debanking" grow louder, from religious groups to crypto firms, regulators and courts are stepping in, urging banks to adopt viewpoint-neutral policies that protect both financial access and First Amendment principles.
Monday, June 23, 2025
California's Vehicle Code section 17004.7
provides public entities with immunity from liability in pursuit-related
crashes if they adopt and regularly train officers on pursuit policies, but
ongoing litigation, including the case Gilliland v. City of Pleasanton,
could significantly impact the scope of that immunity.
A Georgia court's dismissal of the first AI hallucination defamation suit underscores just how early -- and unsettled -- the legal questions remain around generative AI's liability.
Friday, June 20, 2025
Devastated parents and bipartisan leaders are calling for urgent reform of Section 230, as Big Tech continues to hide behind the outdated law while their platforms target, addict, and endanger kids -- with deadly consequences.
Generative AI platforms are turning to centuries-old public domain documents to train their systems and sidestep billion-dollar legal battles over the use of protected works.
Thursday, June 19, 2025
Public entities often invoke trail immunity in
tree-fall cases, but Toeppe v. City of San Diego draws a clear line--if
the hazardous tree exists independent of the trail, § 831.4 does not apply.
As urban fires grow more toxic, firefighters face mounting exposure to dangerous substances like mercury, lead, and carcinogens--risks that are reshaping legal protections, expanding the scope of workers' compensation, and highlighting the need for better exposure documentation and civil remedies when misrepresentation or third-party misconduct is involved.
Wednesday, June 18, 2025
The deployment of military forces to Los Angeles amid peaceful protests lacks constitutional or statutory justification and raises serious concerns about potential autocratic overreach.
In a powerful and meticulously reasoned opinion, Judge Charles Breyer correctly ruled that President Trump's unprecedented federalization of the California National Guard to suppress protests in Los Angeles violated federal law, underscoring the critical importance of judicial oversight in preventing unchecked presidential authority and the unlawful militarization of domestic affairs.
Tuesday, June 17, 2025
As state-sponsored cyberattacks grow more disruptive, insurers are expanding the War Exclusion to deny coverage even in peacetime--threatening to leave U.S. businesses exposed to financial losses that were previously handled through cyber insurance.
The Supreme Court ruled unanimously in Ames v. Ohio that Title VII protects all workers equally, striking down the extra "background circumstances" burden for majority-group discrimination claims and unifying the standard for all plaintiffs.
Monday, June 16, 2025
The Trump administration's sweeping "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" may be doomed to fail because it illegally stuffs non-budgetary provisions--from AI regulation bans to court enforcement restrictions--into a fast-track budget process that's supposed to handle only fiscal matters.
National Audubon reframed water rights as
conditional privileges, establishing that environmental values are core
criteria--not secondary considerations--in California's ongoing water governance.
Friday, June 13, 2025
What is happening in Los Angeles today is not unprecedented--and if we ignore the lessons of our past, including the vital role immigrants have played in building our state and sustaining our economy, we risk repeating the injustices we once rose up to resist.
President Trump's second-term immigration agenda marks a sharp escalation from his first, with an aggressive revival of civil denaturalization efforts that put not only naturalized citizens--but also their spouses and children--at risk of losing U.S. citizenship based on past omissions or alleged misstatements, no matter how minor.
Thursday, June 12, 2025
The Supreme Court's decision eliminates extra burdens for majority-group plaintiffs, casting new doubt on California's Assembly Bill 7 and its reparative admissions policy.
Citing a rarely used statute and without the governor's request--President Donald Trump deployed 2,000 National Guard troops following ICE raids that sparked resistance, igniting a constitutional clash over presidential power, the limits of military enforcement and the meaning of "rebellion."
Wednesday, June 11, 2025
In the aftermath of devastating wildfires and mounting litigation, Los Angeles faces a critical need for accelerated legal resolution to protect its financial future and public interests--especially ahead of global events--raising the urgent question of who will lead the city forward.
Wildfire victims may be able to reduce, delay, or avoid paying taxes on insurance or settlement proceeds--especially if the fire is classified as a federally declared disaster, which unlocks key tax relief options like casualty loss deductions and Section 1033 deferrals.
Matthew B. Borden, BraunHagey & Borden LLP
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NEWS
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General News
Thursday, July 10, 2025 |
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| When Amazon CEO Andy Jassy wrote last month that he expected the company's use of artificial intelligence to "reduce our total workforce" over the next few years, it confirmed the fear among many workers that AI would replace them. | |
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General News
Thursday, July 10, 2025 |
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| The court's 8-1 decision clears the way for Trump administration agencies to pursue large-scale layoffs, overturning a San Francisco judge's injunction requiring congressional approval for such actions. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson called the ruling "hubristic and senseless" in her dissent. | |
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General News
Thursday, July 10, 2025 |
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| California Hospital Association's lawsuit against Anthem Blue Cross for delayed post-acute care was dismissed without prejudice. The association plans to appeal, citing violations of California's Knox-Keene Act. | |
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General News
Wednesday, July 9, 2025 |
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| The justices ruled elected officials cannot claim whistleblower protections under Labor Code Section 1102.5, rejecting an appeal by Inglewood Treasurer Wanda Brown in her lawsuit alleging retaliation by city leaders. | |
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General News
Wednesday, July 9, 2025 |
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| A Pacific Palisades attorney sues Mercury Insurance, alleging improper deductions from fire-related claims and seeking court clarification on coverage of security deposits, personal property losses, and depreciation practices. | |
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General News
Wednesday, July 9, 2025 |
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| I'm generally optimistic about all the ways artificial intelligence is going to make life better -- scientific research, medical diagnoses, tutoring and my favorite current use, vacation planning. But it also offers a malevolent seduction: excellence without effort. | |
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General News
Tuesday, July 8, 2025 |
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| The crux of the claim is that the Girardi Keese bankruptcy was involuntary, that it was a sole proprietorship and that the government had no right to seize "papers and effects of an incompetent individual." | |
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General News
Tuesday, July 8, 2025 |
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| The state Supreme Court held that arbitration clauses in dealership sales contracts don't extend to the automaker. | |
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General News
Tuesday, July 8, 2025 |
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| Since the explosion of generative artificial intelligence over the last two years, the technology has demeaned or defamed opponents and -- for the first time, officials and experts said -- begun to have an impact on election results. | |
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General News
Monday, July 7, 2025 |
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| A San Jose jury ordered Google to pay $314 million for covertly using Android users' cellular data, marking a major legal precedent in data privacy and user consent law. | |
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General News
Monday, July 7, 2025 |
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| A San Bernardino County jury largely cleared Northwest Pallet Services LLC of wage and break violations, marking a rare trial victory for a California employer under the strict "rebuttable presumption" standard established in Donohue v. AMN Services. | |
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General News
Monday, July 7, 2025 |
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| Numerous misconceptions persist regarding the relationship between workers' compensation and other workplace rights. | |
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General News
Thursday, July 3, 2025 |
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| Antitrust litigator Meredith Dearborn, based in San Francisco, is the first West Coast attorney to join Dunn Isaacson Rhee LLP. | |
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General News
Thursday, July 3, 2025 |
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| A legislative push to create an expedited licensing path for former federal attorneys has been shelved for the year, even as multiple reform efforts continue in response to a troubled bar exam and mounting criticism of the California State Bar's governance. | |
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General News
Thursday, July 3, 2025 |
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| The number of applications submitted on LinkedIn has surged more than 45% in the past year. | |
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General News
Wednesday, July 2, 2025 |
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| The inaction left intact a 9th Circuit ruling that the Los Angeles policy did not constitute a taking under the Fifth Amendment. Two justices dissented and would have taken the case. | |
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General News
Wednesday, July 2, 2025 |
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| Recent events have bolstered assumptions that Newsom is running for president. | |
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General News
Wednesday, July 2, 2025 |
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| The move follows a May arbitration order, which found in favor of Mohammad Honarkar on key fraud and contract claims | |
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General News
Tuesday, July 1, 2025 |
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| The seventh month has become the seasonal focus of the "no spend" budgeting trend, popular on social media, in which people swear off discretionary spending for a period of time to save, pay down debt or just get a handle on their finances. | |
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General News
Tuesday, July 1, 2025 |
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| Plaintiff Peter Rogerson claimed he was repeatedly mocked for using a cane to walk, subjected to jokes for being a "cripple" and compared to a horse ready for the "glue factory" by senior leadership and colleagues. | |
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General News
Tuesday, July 1, 2025 |
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| Sacramento judges upheld Attorney General Bonta's right to hire outside counsel, while attorneys working for the state secured a one-year delay on Gov. Gavin Newsom's return-to-office order. | |
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General News
Monday, June 30, 2025 |
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| San Francisco judge postpones ruling in whistleblower lawsuit accusing major banks of defrauding California taxpayers by inflating municipal bond rates, with billions in potential damages at stake. | |
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General News
Monday, June 30, 2025 |
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| Senior U.S. District Judge Charles R. Breyer permits expedited discovery into possible Posse Comitatus Act violations, rejecting President Donald Trump's jurisdictional challenge, in a mixed ruling for California's fight against federalized National Guard deployment. | |
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General News
Monday, June 30, 2025 |
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| Over the last half century or so, millions more people have moved to greater Los Angeles. And during this same time, Angelenos have been consuming less water. | |
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General News
Friday, June 27, 2025 |
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| No matter your stage in life or the size of your refund, there are ways you can use your refund to help reach your current and future financial goals. | |
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General News
Friday, June 27, 2025 |
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| The DOJ's lawsuit pertains to a request for unredacted voter records after the U.S. Attorney General received a complaint over a mail-in ballot received by a non-citizen. | |
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General News
Friday, June 27, 2025 |
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| Dr. Michael Wasilisin sues Therabody, alleging the company used his Theragun tip designs, breached their agreement, and denied him inventor credit and compensation, despite documented promises from founder Jason Wersland. | |
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General News
Thursday, June 26, 2025 |
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| Thirteen entertainment companies seek to join the Live Nation-Ticketmaster antitrust lawsuit, fearing competitors could access sensitive financial data without stronger protective order safeguards. | |
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General News
Thursday, June 26, 2025 |
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| While California is still No.1 in agricultural production among the states, generating about $60 billion a year, other sectors, such as technology, health care and logistics now play much larger roles in the state's economy. | |
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General News
Thursday, June 26, 2025 |
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| Ranch owners sue State Farm, alleging underpaid insurance claims for structures lost in the 2018 Woolsey Fire. State Farm says the homeowners' insurance did not cover buildings used for business. | |
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General News
Wednesday, June 25, 2025 |
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| A Los Angeles County judge allows Calabasas to test wildfire debris dumped in its landfill for hazardous materials, despite opposition from the county sanitation district, to ensure community safety. | |
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General News
Wednesday, June 25, 2025 |
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| People who pay their rent on time can establish credit scores or significantly raise low scores if the payments are reported to credit bureaus, new research found. | |
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General News
Wednesday, June 25, 2025 |
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| The ruling breathes new life into the Los Angeles commercial real estate company's counterclaims under the Sherman and Cartwright Acts, even as a copyright infringement trial looms. | |
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General News
Tuesday, June 24, 2025 |
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| The businesses' attorney denies wrongdoing and says the case belongs in federal court due to constitutional issues and the involvement of a foreign bank. | |
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General News
Tuesday, June 24, 2025 |
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| Testifying in the State Bar's ethics case against former Deputy City Attorney James Clark, attorney Paul R. Kiesel of Kiesel Law LLP insisted he acted at the city's direction and not on behalf of plaintiffs. | |
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General News
Tuesday, June 24, 2025 |
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| A report last year from the Energy Department found AI could help increase the portion of the nation's electricity supply consumed by data centers from 4.4% to 12% by 2028. To meet this demand, some power plants are expected to burn more coal and natural gas. | |
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General News
Monday, June 23, 2025 |
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| Coal use has been declining for decades, but ending the use of the fuel isn't going to be easy, even in a place like California, which has ambitious climate change goals. | |
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General News
Monday, June 23, 2025 |
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| MGA Entertainment urges dismissal of $71.5M verdict for infringing OMG Girlz's trade dress, arguing excessive punitive damages and lack of willfulness, seeking reduction or a fourth trial. | |
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General News
Monday, June 23, 2025 |
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| The decision sends the matter back to the agency, which now faces renewed pressure to reconsider long-standing wastewater regulations. | |
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General News
Thursday, July 10, 2025 |
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| Journalists and detained foreigners sue ICE, alleging unconstitutional tactics in Los Angeles raids. California's amicus brief supports a restraining order, while journalists seek expedited discovery to halt rights violations. | |
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General News
Wednesday, July 9, 2025 |
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| Los Angeles judge restricts GLAZA's fundraising, requiring city approval. The city claims GLAZA acts as its fiduciary, while GLAZA, an independent nonprofit, appeals, arguing donor intent protection. | |
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General News
Monday, July 7, 2025 |
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| AB 130 reshapes how California's environmental review law applies to housing projects--but attorneys say it's far from the end of CEQA challenges. | |
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General News
Thursday, July 3, 2025 |
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| Coronavirus Reporter accuses Apple and Gibson Dunn of fraud, intimidation in $200B antitrust suit, seeking $20M in sanctions, attorney disqualification. | |
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General News
Wednesday, July 2, 2025 |
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| DOJ sues Los Angeles, alleging its sanctuary ordinance violates the Constitution by discriminating against federal immigration enforcement, fostering lawlessness and defying federal law. The lawsuit seeks to void the ordinance. | |
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General News
Tuesday, July 1, 2025 |
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| Elon Musk's attorneys from Toberoff & Associates accuse OpenAI and Samuel Altman of improper defenses in a lawsuit challenging OpenAI's shift to a $157 billion for-profit entity, alleging breach of contract. | |
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General News
Monday, June 30, 2025 |
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| Central Valley Eden Environmental Defenders sue Capital Ready Mix, alleging toxic runoff into Sacramento River violates federal and state laws, seeking injunctive relief for ongoing environmental harm. | |
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General News
Friday, June 27, 2025 |
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| A lawsuit against Gehry Partners by a fired architect accuses the firm of discriminating against him because of his age, laying him off on the pretense of lack of work while others more than 20 years younger were retained for projects. | |
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General News
Thursday, June 26, 2025 |
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| The parents of 14-year-old Armando Morales, fatally stabbed outside Santa Ana High School, are seeking unlimited damages from the district, alleging school officials ignored repeated warnings about student safety. | |
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General News
Wednesday, June 25, 2025 |
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| A Los Angeles judge sanctioned Mayweather Boxing + Fitness defendants for discovery violations, citing inconsistent record explanations. Another case allows a fraud claim against Mayweather to proceed. | |
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General News
Tuesday, June 24, 2025 |
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| The decision affirms the city's obligations under the state's housing element law and bolsters statewide efforts to address the housing crisis. | |
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General News
Monday, June 23, 2025 |
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| Seven men face federal charges for a $100M Brink's truck jewelry heist. Jewelers have sued, alleging Brink's lax security enabled the theft, while Brink's claims limited liability in ongoing litigation. | |