GUEST COLUMNS
Wednesday, December 17, 2025
When powerful interests redefine accountability through public narratives, perception can begin to outweigh evidence in shaping the law.
Government coercion of private platforms to suppress apps like ICEBlock exemplifies "censorship by proxy," raising urgent First Amendment concerns about protecting speech, transparency and public safety against overreach.
Tuesday, December 16, 2025
A $303 million settlement over the NCAA's 31-year ban on compensating volunteer coaches signals that coordinated wage-fixing among employers -- even in college athletics -- will face increasingly stringent antitrust scrutiny.
From fake case citations in court briefs to deepfake audio in custody battles, AI is already reshaping California litigation -- and most judges still don't know when they're relying on an algorithm's judgment instead of a human's.
Monday, December 15, 2025
California's 2026 laws turn slow payments and oversized retentions into legal risks for construction contracts.
From grade school lessons on immigrants of every language, faith and skin color forming a "melting pot," to today's U.S. as a global economic and cultural powerhouse, it's clear that diversity and immigration have driven American innovation -- even as some political rhetoric now frames newcomers as a threat.
Friday, December 12, 2025
California's Senate Bill 440 takes effect Jan. 1, imposing new non-waivable dispute resolution rules on private construction contracts, including mandatory timelines for owner responses and the right to stop work for non-compliance.
Holiday rituals and hard-won lessons in war and peace remind us of what it means to come home.
Thursday, December 11, 2025
When the SEC comes knocking, corporate counsel must call in reinforcements, guard confidences, spot conflicts and tread carefully to protect both the company and themselves.
California's infrastructure boom is delivering new bike lanes and roadways at record speed -- but oversight hasn't kept pace. When facilities open with unlit sections, unmarked hazards, or unclear design changes, a troubling question emerges: Who's actually responsible?
Wednesday, December 10, 2025
From Halloween to New Year's, America's four major holidays form a deliberate cultural scaffold that lifts a diverse nation from welcoming strangers to honoring survival, strengthening intimate bonds, and finally embracing future possibility.
Liability insurers' use of catch-all language in Intellectual Property and Habitability exclusions -- designed to eliminate coverage for entire mixed lawsuits -- may conflict with California Insurance Code section 530.
Tuesday, December 9, 2025
A $10,000 sanctions case revealed how deeply generative AI unsettles the legal system. The passion it inspires isn't new. Plato, Aristotle, and the Stoics wrestled with the same anxieties about imitation, untrained power, and institutional fragility. Their wisdom offers a roadmap.
President Trump's pardon of former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández, who was convicted of trafficking over 400 tons of cocaine into the U.S., has drawn widespread criticism as contradictory to his simultaneous military escalation against drug traffickers.
Monday, December 8, 2025
California's legal market presents complex risks, and some firms explore international insurers, such as Lloyd's of London, as an alternative to domestic coverage.
Business cases turn on getting documents into evidence, so trial lawyers must beat hearsay objections by knowing what counts as operative documents, party admissions, or admissible business records -- and laying the foundation early.
Friday, December 5, 2025
Military bases previously renamed to remove Confederate associations have been renamed again to their original surnames, now honoring different individuals with the same last names who served in various American conflicts.
The IRS has launched electronic filing for § 83(b) elections via Form 15620, allowing founders and service providers to submit online while keeping the 30-day deadline and employer-copy requirement, though filers should be mindful of technical quirks, save PDF confirmations, and coordinate with their companies to ensure accuracy.
Thursday, December 4, 2025
Meteoric rise of deepfake AI-generated content creates risks for attorneys.
Most plaintiffs in contingent fee cases must
report the entire settlement as income under Commissioner v. Banks, even
though their lawyer is paid a share, but with careful tax planning -- such as
using above-the-line deductions for qualifying claims -- they can usually avoid
paying tax on the portion of the recovery that goes to their attorney.
Wednesday, December 3, 2025
Despite equal ability, Black and Latino students are routinely denied early algebra access -- turning a curricular choice into a civil rights problem hiding in plain sight.
California law requires landlords to remediate hidden black mold (Stachybotrys chartarum) and structural decay rather than merely covering it up.
Tuesday, December 2, 2025
Just as USDA acted to sustain WIC, it could -- within statutory bounds -- lawfully consider similar tools to bolster SNAP's contingency funding and help ensure benefit continuity.
California is facing a dual crisis as the engineered stone silicosis epidemic among immigrant workers grows -- now over 435 confirmed cases -- and courts struggle to manage hundreds of complex, coordinated lawsuits, creating both a public health and legal emergency.
Monday, December 1, 2025
Plans to convert Baldwin Hills from oil production to parks or housing overlook the constitutionally protected property rights of current owners, raising the prospect of regulatory overreach and the need for compensation under established law.
Mismanaging client funds -- through commingling, overdrafts, or poor recordkeeping--is the fastest route to serious State Bar discipline, making proper trust account management, including IOLTA compliance, essential for every lawyer.
Wednesday, November 26, 2025
The QSF regulations give claimants and their counsel broad flexibility -- there's no requirement to use a trust, but rather the opportunity to do so when it suits the situation.
Judges can enhance fairness and public trust by using respectful, clear and compassionate communication to humanize courtroom proceedings and foster a sense of justice for all participants.
Tuesday, November 25, 2025
Noland v. Land of the Free makes clear: AI can assist, but lawyers remain fully accountable for every word they file.
In probate law, only those with a genuine, sustained relationship or legal stake can petition to override another's autonomy, and casual acquaintances or well-meaning strangers do not have standing.
Monday, November 24, 2025
*Ramirez v. McCormack* confirms that suing opposing counsel for actions taken while representing their client -- including post-settlement advice -- is barred under California's anti-SLAPP statute, and failing to address both prongs of the motion can forfeit any defense.
Under new federal guidance, more than 3,000 rural tracts now qualify as opportunity zones, opening the door for investment in overlooked areas -- from California's Central Valley to remote corners of the country.
Friday, November 21, 2025
Broken or unstable utility vault covers and exposed wires on sidewalks across the U.S. create predictable, preventable hazards that current inspections and enforcement fail to address.
The Noland decision delivered a sharp warning to lawyers: use generative AI at your own risk, because only human judgment -- not predictive tools -- can ensure competent, ethical legal work.
Thursday, November 20, 2025
California's post-wildfire recovery efforts in early 2025 revealed both the promise and the pitfalls of its disaster laws -- exposing a system in urgent need of modernization as climate threats grow.
The Supreme Court has repeatedly ruled against transgender individuals this year, allowing bans on military service, healthcare and identity recognition. With key cases on transgender athletes approaching, the Court shows little inclination to protect them from discrimination.
Wednesday, November 19, 2025
A recent amendment to California's data breach law imposes a firm 30-day notice deadline, limiting companies' discretion to postpone alerting residents to threats.
AI tools are transforming mediation practice, from document analysis to settlement predictions, but the distinctly human elements of trust-building, empathy and reading the room remain irreplaceable in resolving disputes.AI in mediation: The modern Prometheus?
Tuesday, November 18, 2025
Unlike the masked Lone Ranger who upheld justice, today's masked ICE agents raise serious legal concerns as they operate more like villains than heroes.
If you're falsely imprisoned but not exonerated, your legal recovery may be taxable --highlighting a peculiar gap in how the tax code treats lost freedom.
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Justice Leondra R. Kruger (Courtesy of the California State Supreme Court)
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NEWS
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General News
Wednesday, December 17, 2025 |
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| As Gavin Newsom ramps up his almost certain campaign for president, and polls put him in contention for the Democratic Party's nomination in 2028, he has become a favorite target of right-leaning commentators on network television and in YouTube videos and social media. | |
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General News
Wednesday, December 17, 2025 |
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| A federal judge denied Lost International's injunction bid, ruling trademark law does not apply to Lady Gaga's "Mayhem" album promotion, finding the use artistically relevant and not explicitly misleading. | |
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General News
Wednesday, December 17, 2025 |
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| Beagle Labs alleges AppFolio violated antitrust law by blocking platform access to favor an in-house service, calling security justifications pretextual and seeking an injunction and damages in federal court relief. | |
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General News
Tuesday, December 16, 2025 |
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| Thinking about donating to your favorite charity before the new year? You may want to consider tax law changes arriving in 2026 before deciding whether to make your gift in December or wait until next year. | |
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General News
Tuesday, December 16, 2025 |
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| Victims of the Palisades Fire argue California State Parks improperly redacted maps and texts about protecting the endangered Astragalus plant, allegedly limiting suppression of the earlier Lachman Fire. A judge hears discovery disputes Monday. | |
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General News
Tuesday, December 16, 2025 |
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| The National Labor Relations Board urged a federal judge in Sacramento to block AB 288, arguing the new California law is preempted by the National Labor Relations Act and threatens national uniformity in labor policy, as the agency moves toward restoring a quorum. | |
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General News
Monday, December 15, 2025 |
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| Tessa Veksler's Title VI claim relies heavily on recent guidance from the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights, which has reiterated that discrimination and harassment against Jewish students based on shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics can trigger federal civil rights protections. | |
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General News
Monday, December 15, 2025 |
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| U.S. District Judge André Birotte Jr. said that the campaign slogan "proven problem solver" is generic political language outside the Lanham Act's reach. The court found no plausible confusion and warned against granting candidates monopolies over common political phrases. | |
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General News
Monday, December 15, 2025 |
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| For most people, the tax cuts that President Donald Trump signed into law this summer have yet to materialize. | |
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General News
Friday, December 12, 2025 |
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| California Gov. Gavin Newsom, an all-but-certain candidate for president in 2028, jumped at the chance to address a forum of business executives and other A-list figures last week and burnish his credentials as President Donald Trump's most vocal critic. | |
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General News
Friday, December 12, 2025 |
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| The firm's revamped model embeds attorneys directly with CEOs and leadership teams, offering a more comprehensive alternative to traditional outsourced legal support. | |
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General News
Friday, December 12, 2025 |
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| Compton City Attorney Eric J. Perrodin resigned amid dueling lawsuits with the city over his office's authority, staffing, and alleged misconduct, ending a protracted dispute that included limits on using his official title. | |
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General News
Thursday, December 11, 2025 |
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| Starting in January, millions of disabled Americans will become eligible to save and invest for current expenses and future needs without jeopardizing their federal benefits like Medicaid. | |
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General News
Thursday, December 11, 2025 |
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| Former Lucid chief engineer sues for $10 million, alleges retaliatory firing after HR employee called him a Nazi. The company calls his claims "absurd" and instead cites legitimate reasons for termination. | |
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General News
Thursday, December 11, 2025 |
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| Cal Fire's cost-recovery suit over the 2024 Airport Fire alleges Orange County workers violated fire-safety rules and operated equipment during extreme weather conditions, triggering statutory presumptions of negligence. The county now has until Jan. 12 to respond. | |
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General News
Wednesday, December 10, 2025 |
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| Filed in San Francisco Superior Court, the suit claims landlords outfitted rental units with smart-home devices that log when tenants come and go, track temperature settings, and feed data into analytics tools -- all without meaningful consent. | |
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General News
Wednesday, December 10, 2025 |
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| By denying certiorari, the Supreme Court left intact a 5th District Court of Appeal decision holding that a generic wedding cake is not protected speech and cannot be withheld from same-sex customers under California's civil rights laws. | |
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General News
Wednesday, December 10, 2025 |
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| California has long been at the forefront of employee-protection laws, and compensation transparency is no exception. | |
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General News
Tuesday, December 9, 2025 |
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| Artificial intelligence is the hot new college major. | |
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General News
Tuesday, December 9, 2025 |
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| A year after law school, first-chair trial lawyer Justin W. Shegerian won a $103 million verdict against Liberty Mutual for firing a longtime employee in retaliation for reporting ageist hiring practices, overcoming the company's misconduct defense at trial. | |
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General News
Tuesday, December 9, 2025 |
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| The federal appeals court signaled Friday it may overturn an injunction blocking the Trump administration from taking actions to withhold or condition federal funds from so-called sanctuary jurisdictions. Judges appointed by the president pressed San Francisco's attorney on whether Trump's latest orders actually require agencies to cut funding, drawing a contrast with his 2017 directive previously ruled unconstitutional. | |
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General News
Monday, December 8, 2025 |
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| Paul Wieland believed a "smart" garage door should operate only over a local Wi-Fi network to protect a home's privacy, so he started building his own system to plug into his garage door. | |
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General News
Monday, December 8, 2025 |
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| In California's first talc bellwether trial, plaintiffs challenged Johnson & Johnson expert Brooke Howitt over her views on talc migration and cancer grading, prompting evidentiary strikes before closing arguments next week. | |
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General News
Monday, December 8, 2025 |
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| Los Angeles' chief negotiator, Matthew Szabo, testified the city met homelessness settlement reporting duties "to the extent possible," arguing data gaps stem from a separate agency's limits as Judge David Carter considers potential contempt. | |
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General News
Friday, December 5, 2025 |
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| When you retire, one of the biggest expenses you may be confronted with on a regular basis is health care. | |
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General News
Friday, December 5, 2025 |
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| A federal judge dismissed a class action alleging Alaska Airlines illegally reduced Flight Pass benefits, finding the contract allowed program changes and subscribers had already received all credits purchased before termination. | |
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General News
Friday, December 5, 2025 |
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| In a long-running dispute over coastal development, justices pressed attorneys on both sides about jurisdiction, delay, and whether recent amendments to San Luis Obispo County's Local Coastal Program have rendered the case effectively moot. | |
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General News
Thursday, December 4, 2025 |
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| Edison International argues it can't be liable for the Eaton Fire, asserting only its Southern California Edison subsidiary operated the equipment. The company cites prior wildfire cases where courts dismissed similar claims. | |
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General News
Thursday, December 4, 2025 |
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| The San Bernardino terrorist attack on Dec. 2, 2015 left 14 dead and shattered the sense of safety in the Inland Empire. Daily Journal reporter and former Army soldier Douglas Saunders reflects on the harrowing hours he spent inside the police perimeter -- and how the tragedy blurred the lines between battlefield instincts and journalistic duty. | |
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General News
Thursday, December 4, 2025 |
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| It will take more attention to research and the stories of detained immigrants for the public to understand the degree of medical harm resulting from Trump-era raids and arrests, to ensure it doesn't happen again. | |
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General News
Wednesday, December 3, 2025 |
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| Jurors heard disputed testimony as Los Angeles County Public Works Director Mark Pestrella said Prologis' warehouse runoff caused the 2021 Carson odor event, prompting objections and judicial limits on unadmitted investigative findings. | |
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General News
Wednesday, December 3, 2025 |
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| A bot may soon be booking your vacation. | |
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General News
Wednesday, December 3, 2025 |
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| The trial set to begin this week would have featured a Who's Who of current and former Court of Appeal justices. Ex-Justice William J. Murray Jr. faced allegations that he chronically delayed issuing decisions in his cases. | |
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General News
Tuesday, December 2, 2025 |
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| The Trump administration is snapping up ownership shares of private companies it deems essential to national security. | |
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General News
Tuesday, December 2, 2025 |
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| A Los Angeles judge refused to certify a proposed class of homeowners seeking damages from Southern California Edison for widespread smoke and ash from the 2017 Thomas Fire, finding plaintiffs' expert evidence inadmissible. | |
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General News
Tuesday, December 2, 2025 |
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| A congressional hearing last week in Los Angeles on the Trump Administration's immigration raids offered a searing look at a program that has been equal parts stupid and cruel. | |
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General News
Monday, December 1, 2025 |
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| The World Health Organization says air pollution is the biggest global environmental risk factor to human health. | |
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General News
Monday, December 1, 2025 |
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| A federal judge allowed Taylor Swift fans' core antitrust and unfair competition claims against Live Nation and Ticketmaster to proceed, while permanently dismissing negligence and fraud allegations stemming from the "Eras Tour" ticketing chaos. | |
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General News
Monday, December 1, 2025 |
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| Disability advocates claim racial disparities and soaring per-participant costs while supporters say the system fills gaps in mental health care. | |
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General News
Wednesday, December 17, 2025 |
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| The California Supreme Court ruled that a single act of vehicular manslaughter that killed two people cannot be counted as two prior strikes under the Three Strikes law, rejecting a decade-old appellate precedent and ordering resentencing in a DUI case. | |
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General News
Tuesday, December 16, 2025 |
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| Plaintiffs allege ChatGPT reinforced dangerous delusions that led to a killing, testing the limits of AI product liability law. | |
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General News
Monday, December 15, 2025 |
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| By declining to review Huntington Beach's appeal, the California Supreme Court has affirmed that charter cities cannot sidestep state housing mandates -- a ruling that delivers another courtroom win for Gov. Gavin Newsom and Attorney General Rob Bonta as the case heads back to the trial court for enforcement. | |
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General News
Friday, December 12, 2025 |
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| A Los Angeles judge advanced hearings for Palisades Fire victims seeking permission to file late government claims, rejecting state arguments that emergency action was unnecessary as petitioners warned of expiring noneconomic-damages rights. | |
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General News
Thursday, December 11, 2025 |
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| The legal profession's traditional billing model faces an existential threat from artificial intelligence, and firms and attorneys that fail to adapt to the technology will be replaced by those that do, according to Vidhya Prabhakaran, partner-in-charge of Davis Wright Tremaine's San Francisco office. | |
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General News
Wednesday, December 10, 2025 |
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| A federal judge refused to dissolve an injunction governing LAPD's crowd-control weapons, saying the city's challenge to plaintiffs' standing must wait while appellate proceedings and renewed class certification efforts continue. | |
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General News
Tuesday, December 9, 2025 |
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| Legal experts warn Netflix's planned $82.7 billion Warner Bros. Discovery acquisition could shrink creative opportunities, reduce buyers, pressure talent compensation, and raise antitrust and AI-related concerns despite Netflix's assurances of industry benefits. | |
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General News
Monday, December 8, 2025 |
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| Jeffrey Lenkov's unpaid representation of Pete Rose did more than challenge Major League Baseball's ban on its all-time hits leader; it forged the philosophy behind Zelms Erlich Lenkov's rapid growth and his own shift into media, sports ownership and "must-see" cultural projects. | |
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General News
Friday, December 5, 2025 |
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| A Los Angeles judge approved limited firefighter and state parks depositions in the Palisades Fire suit, allowing plaintiffs to probe claims that smoldering Lachman Fire embers persisted due to state wildfire management policies. | |
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General News
Thursday, December 4, 2025 |
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| Los Angeles accused Judge David O. Carter of echoing plaintiffs' arguments in a contempt hearing over homeless shelter obligations, disputing his remarks as biased while the court scrutinized the city's compliance. | |
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General News
Wednesday, December 3, 2025 |
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| Thirty-three law firms deny responsibility for a leak of sealed records in Uber's sexual assault litigation as Judge Ethan Schulman weighs the company's failed bid to halt discovery amid ongoing confidentiality concerns. | |
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General News
Tuesday, December 2, 2025 |
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| Federal prosecutors are escalating tariff evasion and trade fraud investigations as rising duties, new enforcement task forces, and national security arguments reshape a rapidly evolving landscape likely headed for prolonged litigation and policy shifts. | |
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General News
Monday, December 1, 2025 |
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| Experts outline how a potential Chapter 9 by Los Angeles, L.A. County or Santa Monica would unfold, highlighting limits on judicial power, pension and creditor battles, and California's pre-filing safeguards. | |