GUEST COLUMNS
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.
Monday, November 17, 2025
In State Farm Fire & Casualty Co. v.
Diblin, the California Court of Appeal reaffirmed that intentional conduct
cannot constitute an "occurrence" under a liability policy, holding that even
when a jury finds negligence, coverage is precluded if the injury stems from
intentional acts.
Plaintiffs' attorneys are increasingly turning to Washington's CEMA to challenge text-based refer-a-friend programs, drawn by its broad liability standards, statutory damages, and fee-shifting provisions.
Friday, November 14, 2025
Five years after Liu v. SEC, courts remain
split on how to apply its limits on disgorgement, leaving the SEC's most potent
remedy in need of Supreme Court clarification.
Trump calls up the National Guard in Illinois, citing "rebellion" and insufficient forces; courts and critics say there's no threat, raising 10th Amendment, federal-overreach and domestic-military concerns.
Thursday, November 13, 2025
A GOP lawsuit over California's new district maps tests whether the state's largest ethnic group -- Latinos -- can still qualify for voting protections despite their numbers but persistent political underrepresentation.
California's wildfire litigation is echoing the post-Katrina struggle over causation, with courts now facing the pivotal question of whether smoke damage counts as "direct physical loss" -- a decision that will shape recovery for years to come.
Wednesday, November 12, 2025
On Veterans Day, we honor Justice Buck Compton -- a Silver Star-winning D-Day hero, Band of Brothers paratrooper and longtime California Court of Appeal justice -- whose extraordinary life blended courage in war, dedication to public service and a commitment to the law.
Tuesday, November 11, 2025
As flu season sets in, even the most tireless lawyer must recognize when illness demands a pause -- because ethical duties don't take sick days.
Some fertility plaintiffs may endure painful follow-up procedures--yet still face taxes on settlements, depending on how claims are characterized and how the IRS views the loss.
Monday, November 10, 2025
Betting, branding and foreign financing were once unthinkable in college sports -- now they're on the table. Without a federal NIL framework, it's time for lawyers to step in.
A recent en banc decision by the Federal Circuit
in EcoFactor, Inc. v. Google LLC (2025) -- left standing by the U.S.
Supreme Court's denial of review -- has sparked widespread debate in the legal
community for significantly heightening the scrutiny of expert testimony under Daubert
and Federal Rule of Evidence 702, and for potentially shifting decision-making
power over patent damages from juries to judges.
Friday, November 7, 2025
Unlike the dot-com era, when women were largely sidelined, the AI boom offers a historic opportunity for women to lead by leveraging their judgment, communication, empathy and collaborative skills across industries.
California joins other states where partisan gerrymandering skews representation, disenfranchises voters and fuels political polarization and gridlock.
Thursday, November 6, 2025
UC San Diego's gutting of a scholarship once intended for Black students is just the beginning of a broader, deafening effort to further marginalize those already up against the odds.
In California, employers facing employee embezzlement can often recover stolen funds by acting quickly with discreet investigations, civil remedies like temporary restraining orders or writs of attachment, and, when appropriate, reporting the theft to law enforcement to preserve assets and pursue restitution.
Wednesday, November 5, 2025
Medical debt is a leading cause of consumer bankruptcy in the U.S., and attorneys play a critical role in guiding clients through Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 filings, evaluating timing, exemptions, and alternative remedies, while also considering recent protections such as California's SB 1061.
The disruptive potential of deepfakes in family law highlights the urgent need for legal and technological solutions to safeguard the integrity of evidence and uphold the principles of justice and fairness in custody disputes.
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U.S. District Judge David O. Carter
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NEWS
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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, November 26, 2025 |
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| The U.S. economy in 2025 is split in two: Everything tied to artificial intelligence is booming. Just about everything else is not. | |
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General News
Wednesday, November 26, 2025 |
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| Close-knit legal and behavioral health networks may be helping rural counties implement California's new mental health court more quickly than major metros. | |
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General News
Wednesday, November 26, 2025 |
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| Plaintiffs' attorneys are increasingly sidestepping arbitration by filing so-called "headless" PAGA cases that omit individual claims -- a strategy that has produced a sharp split among California's appellate courts. Now the state Supreme Court has stepped in on its own motion to resolve whether workers may pursue non-individual PAGA claims without filing on their own behalf. The outcome could reshape labor litigation and invite renewed scrutiny from the U.S. Supreme Court. | |
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General News
Tuesday, November 25, 2025 |
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| A group of prominent law professors has asked the state high court to probe a Nevada County prosecutor's alleged use of AI-generated citations, saying such errors pose grave risks to defendants and the integrity of judicial decisions. | |
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General News
Tuesday, November 25, 2025 |
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| Advocates claim the EPA's delays on state air quality plans have allowed dangerous ozone pollution to persist in the West Mojave Desert and Denver region. Their suit seeks court-enforced action after years of inaction. | |
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General News
Tuesday, November 25, 2025 |
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| Mortgages are not the only factor keeping many Americans out of the market, though the still-high rates do play a role. But so does a lack of new construction in much of the country, which is keeping home prices high. | |
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General News
Monday, November 24, 2025 |
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| The company's challenge to Wachtell Lipton's fee for enforcing Elon Musk's Twitter purchase ended abruptly Wednesday with a dismissal filed with prejudice. | |
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General News
Monday, November 24, 2025 |
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| San Francisco has, to the surprise of many and the continuing aggravation of a few, become "Waymo-pilled." | |
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General News
Monday, November 24, 2025 |
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| Innovation Technologies Partners sued Hulu, alleging infringement of eight patents covering targeted advertising, data collection, digital rights management, and streaming controls. Hulu defeated similar claims in 2024 in a patent challenge by Piranha Media. | |
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General News
Friday, November 21, 2025 |
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| In a typical year, more than 100,000 Medicaid patients depend on the emergency department at Martin Luther King Jr. Community Hospital in South Los Angeles, in a predominantly Hispanic and Black community where residents have high rates of diabetes, heart failure and pneumonia. | |
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General News
Friday, November 21, 2025 |
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| Jurors found Equinox discriminated against a trainer with a hip condition, awarding him $32.2 million in one of this year's largest punitive awards in a disability case. | |
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General News
Thursday, November 20, 2025 |
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| Finding extensive California contacts and rejecting reliance on the fiduciary shield doctrine, Judge David A. Hoffer held that nonresident Xponential executives must answer franchise-related claims in Orange County. | |
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General News
Thursday, November 20, 2025 |
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| Ford argued for the right to use discovery from its federal RICO suit in related state lemon law cases, but a magistrate judge declined, limiting use and restricting access to confidential documents. | |
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General News
Thursday, November 20, 2025 |
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| Elected officeholders come and go, but the Capitol has a permanent substructure of men and women who do the real, if often hidden, business of retail politics. | |
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General News
Wednesday, November 19, 2025 |
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| Defense firms and medical providers hit back at Uber's federal racketeering, filing motions to dismiss based on anti-SLAPP, litigation privilege, Noerr-Pennington immunity and alleged failure to plead fraud with particularity. | |
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General News
Wednesday, November 19, 2025 |
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| Judge Samantha P. Jessner signaled she may allow narrow firefighter depositions to preserve fading memories in litigation over the Lachman and Palisades fires, despite the city's push to keep discovery fully paused. | |
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General News
Wednesday, November 19, 2025 |
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| Home heating costs are expected to outpace inflation this winter. | |
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General News
Tuesday, November 18, 2025 |
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| With thousands of policyholders alleging delays and inadequate payments after major January fires, L.A. County Counsel has demanded answers from State Farm about its claim-handling practices, joining a widening set of legal and regulatory challenges confronting the insurer. | |
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General News
Tuesday, November 18, 2025 |
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| With jury selection complete, attorneys for Prologis, its tenant businesses, and 24 plaintiffs laid out sharply differing accounts of whether improperly stored hand sanitizer caused the foul-smelling gas release that blanketed Carson and surrounding communities in 2021. | |
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General News
Tuesday, November 18, 2025 |
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| Gov. Gavin Newsom spent much of 2023 and 2024 on a crusade against high gas prices, accusing refiners of gouging motorists. | |
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General News
Monday, November 17, 2025 |
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| A federal judge indicated claims against Live Nation and Ticketmaster over the Eras Tour ticket fiasco may proceed to trial, tentatively denying parts of their dismissal motion after extensive antitrust and fraud arguments. | |
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General News
Monday, November 17, 2025 |
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| Bass is vulnerable. Public and private polls place her approval rating somewhere in the low 40s, against a disapproval rating in the high 40s -- which means she's about 10 points under water, a danger zone for an incumbent. | |
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General News
Monday, November 17, 2025 |
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| A San Francisco judge threatened to appoint a discovery referee as PG&E and the plaintiff traded accusations of discovery abuse, including alleged withholding of 10,000 documents, during a contentious wrongful-death lawsuit hearing. | |
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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. | |
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General News
Wednesday, November 26, 2025 |
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| Los Angeles, Santa Monica and L.A. County face mounting litigation, pension and budget pressures that raise the prospect of Chapter 9 "debt adjustment," recalling earlier California municipal insolvencies and reforms curbing costly filings. | |
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General News
Tuesday, November 25, 2025 |
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| Mounting wildfire liabilities, sexual-assault settlements, revenue losses and soaring legal payouts have intensified concerns that Los Angeles, L.A. County or Santa Monica could face insolvency and contemplate the once-unthinkable step of Chapter 9 bankruptcy. | |
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General News
Monday, November 24, 2025 |
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| L.A. County won dismissal of Alex Villanueva's defamation claims after a judge ruled the action arose entirely from protected activity and lacked evidence of actual malice. | |
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General News
Friday, November 21, 2025 |
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| A federal judge signaled he may hold Los Angeles in contempt for failing to meet settlement reporting obligations on homelessness. Plaintiffs argue the city withheld data, while the city insists it made significant progress. | |
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General News
Thursday, November 20, 2025 |
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| Larry Summers, the former Treasury secretary, will step down from the board of artificial intelligence startup OpenAI, he and the company said Wednesday. | |
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General News
Tuesday, November 18, 2025 |
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| With thousands of plaintiffs alleging Edison's power lines sparked the January Eaton Fire, Judge Laura Seigle has mandated year-end production of core liability discovery, escalating pressure on the utility as it defends its out-of-court settlement program and fights requests for privileged engineering assessments. | |
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General News
Monday, November 17, 2025 |
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| Keker, Van Nest & Peters filed a pro bono class action alleging unconstitutional, inhumane conditions at ICE's California City Detention Facility, claiming failures in medical care, basic needs and attorney access. | |