Orange County Reporter
Thursday, February 12, 2026
GUEST COLUMNS

Wednesday, February 11, 2026

Last week, a 92-year-old driver may have mistaken the gas for the brake and crashed into Westwood's 99 Ranch Market, killing three and injuring several others, raising questions about driver age, potential medical emergencies, foreseeability, and insurance coverage.
As genomic testing becomes more accessible, defense counsel in mesothelioma cases are increasingly leveraging BAP1 and other genetic mutations to challenge asbestos causation theories and provide an alternative explanation for the disease.

Monday, February 9, 2026

AI-generated hallucinations are appearing in California court filings. When a decision rests on cases that don't exist, appellate review becomes impossible: You cannot judge the route when you cannot trust the map. California should recognize fabricated legal authority as per se reversible error, no prejudice analysis required.
Enacted 30 years ago through careful legislative deliberation, Section 230 remains the internet's strongest bulwark for free expression, protecting the services--and users--that make online speech possible.

Friday, February 6, 2026

Since 2019, South American Theft Groups have driven millions in losses across Los Angeles County, exploiting loopholes in California's Values Act (SB 54) that critics say unintentionally enable repeat offenders to evade deportation and reoffend.
Plaintiffs are deploying established negligence and product liability doctrines against AI developers in cases alleging chatbot interactions exacerbated mental health crises and failed to escalate warning signs.

Wednesday, February 4, 2026

Post-judgment interest on attorney fees is simple but sneaky: if the law makes fees automatic (like anti-SLAPP), the meter starts at judgment; if a judge must later decide entitlement, the clock doesn't start until the fee award.
In Vetter v. Resnik, the 5th Circuit held that copyright terminations under the U.S. Copyright Act allow authors to recapture worldwide rights--not just U.S. rights--creating potentially enormous implications for the music and broader copyright industries.

Monday, February 2, 2026

Video used to speak for itself in court. Now, thanks to AI and digital manipulation, officers and their attorneys must be ready to prove it's telling the truth.
The Pasadena City Council's acceptance of a donated police tracking dog without scrutiny reflects a dangerous, well-documented pattern in which unreliable canine scent evidence--often amounting to junk science--has led to wrongful arrests and convictions, as shown by cases like Josh Connole's and others where dog alerts supplanted rigorous proof and nearly destroyed innocent lives.

Friday, January 30, 2026

Annual reporting isn't what it used to be--find out what's required and avoid an unpleasant surprise that could put your license at risk.
The lawsuit claiming LAUSD's desegregation policies "harm white students" isn't just a misreading of the law--it's a distortion of constitutional history and civil rights jurisprudence.

Wednesday, January 28, 2026

Lululemon is now tackling dupe culture on two fronts--challenging lookalikes in court while using a new trademark strategy to curb how competitors talk about them online.
As parents let teens ride solo in autonomous vehicles, the real legal question isn't rule-breaking--it's whether companies can avoid responsibility when they knowingly allow foreseeable risks.

Monday, January 26, 2026

Proposed federal evidence rule would require AI-Generated evidence to meet same standard as expert witnesses.
The California Supreme Court recognizes the public's right under the California Public Records Act to enforce proper public agency behavior.

Friday, January 23, 2026

In 2025, California courts and the Department of Insurance clarified that "direct physical loss or damage" from fires and smoke--including invisible or microscopic damage--can qualify for coverage under insurance policies, building on the precedent set in Another Planet Entertainment v. Vigilant Insurance.
The fatal shooting of Renee Good by an ICE agent in Minneapolis violated the Fourth Amendment's ban on unreasonable seizures, yet federal doctrines like qualified immunity and the fading Bivens remedy leave victims without real redress.

Wednesday, January 21, 2026

The Trump administration's most consequential norm-breaking act may be its sidelining of senior JAG officers and targeting of Senator Mark Kelly for restating the bedrock rule that service members must obey only lawful orders.
McConaughey is trademarking 'Alright, alright, alright'--and himself--to fight AI deepfakes before they fight him.

Friday, January 16, 2026

For Iranians, U.S. foreign policy isn't just unpredictable--it's dangerous, as shifting statements and unclear signals from Washington can raise hopes, trigger crackdowns and leave people vulnerable.
While FEHA already provides for fee recovery, an offer to compromise remains a powerful, underutilized tool that can bolster plaintiffs' leverage, efficiency and positioning throughout litigation.

Wednesday, January 14, 2026

A series of antitrust defeats has left the NCAA unable to enforce its own eligibility rules, fueling a bidding war for top athletes that threatens to destroy non-revenue sports programs. Federal legislation may be the only way to preserve college athletics.
As multimillion-dollar payouts for police violence, infrastructure failures and civil rights violations surge, California's public liability funds are straining under risks their original designs never envisioned.

SAG-AFTRA and Writers Guild members on strike in Los Angeles on Sept. 26, 2023. (Mark Abramson/New York Times)

NEWS

General News

Wednesday, February 11, 2026

Jurors heard dueling openings in the first bellwether trial accusing Meta and Google of designing addictive platforms that harmed a child, with the defense arguing her mental health struggles stemmed from a troubled home, not social media use.
General News

Wednesday, February 11, 2026

Making healthy financial decisions, such as saving for retirement, paying down credit card debt, and refinancing your mortgage can set you up for long-term financial success.
General News

Wednesday, February 11, 2026

A special effects studio sued Paramount and Spyglass, alleging the Ghostface mask infringes its original design, while the studios countered with a lawsuit arguing the claims are untimely and aimed at leveraging the upcoming "Scream 7" release.
General News

Monday, February 9, 2026

The 9th Circuit en banc held immigration judges must conduct a case-specific inquiry into whether severe traffic can constitute "exceptional circumstances," overruling part of a 2021 precedent and remanding a family's removal case to the BIA.
General News

Monday, February 9, 2026

Workplace investigations are a balancing act
General News

Monday, February 9, 2026

A Northern District judge declined to hold insurance broker John Marques in contempt after his lawyer said a serious medical condition prevented compliance with post-judgment discovery in an SEC action tied to the $170 million EquiAlt real estate fraud.
General News

Friday, February 6, 2026

Proposed class actions allege a 2025 breach exposed sensitive client data at Wisner Baum, prompting negligence claims, privacy law allegations, and disputes over cybersecurity practices, delayed notice, and resulting harms.
General News

Friday, February 6, 2026

The general bewilderment that bedevils the economic mandarins these days was captured by a recent World Bank note: "Global Growth Defies Expectations."
General News

Friday, February 6, 2026

A man hit in the eye by a rubber bullet during a Los Angeles protest sued the city and police, alleging civil rights violations after officers dispersed a demonstration he said he was photographing peacefully.
General News

Friday, February 6, 2026

Many California Sikhs built livelihoods in the trucking industry. Thousands suddenly just lost their licenses.
General News

Wednesday, February 4, 2026

A federal judge paused litigation over Michael Avenatti's seized private jet and related insurance proceeds, deferring to an automatic bankruptcy stay as multiple creditors battle over millions of dollars.
General News

Wednesday, February 4, 2026

Food delivery, which skyrocketed during the pandemic as a practical necessity, has become even more entrenched in the years since as a convenience, an everyday alternative to cooking or eating out.
General News

Wednesday, February 4, 2026

Disgraced Orange County judge Jeffrey Ferguson, convicted of murdering his wife, says Judge Eleanor Hunter presided over a "fundamentally unfair trial."
General News

Monday, February 2, 2026

Metro Verde's lead developer, John Moscato, decided four years ago that, whenever feasible, his company would no longer install natural gas lines for heating, hot water or cooking.
General News

Monday, February 2, 2026

U.S. home prices surged to new highs in 2025 even as seller profits slipped and affordability pressures deepened, according to a year end report released Thursday by the real estate data firm Attom.
General News

Monday, February 2, 2026

A federal judge signaled she will again deny preliminary approval of an $8 million antitrust settlement against Sony, citing unresolved plaintiff claims and concerns over paying the class in PlayStation store credits.
General News

Monday, February 2, 2026

The California Supreme Court left intact rulings that state election law preempts local charter provisions regulating access to the polls.
General News

Friday, January 30, 2026

The settlement requires expanded inspections and enforcement protocols for rental housing affected by wildfire debris. The deal follows the Eaton Fire and clarifies landlords' remediation duties under new state law.
General News

Friday, January 30, 2026

Insurance industry representatives told California lawmakers that the FAIR Plan is becoming the default option for too many homeowners, warning that low rates and loose eligibility are driving explosive growth and threatening the plan's long-term stability.
General News

Friday, January 30, 2026

If you're wondering how to keep yourself financially on track in the face of these competing demands, the following strategies may help.
General News

Friday, January 30, 2026

Brixton Capital purchased The Quad at Whittier
General News

Wednesday, January 28, 2026

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg is expected to testify Feb. 9 as the first jury trial over alleged addictive social media design moves forward, with a Los Angeles judge urging efficiency while resolving scheduling, evidentiary and jury logistics.
General News

Wednesday, January 28, 2026

The effects of lowering rates beyond a level that is appropriate for the economy are complicated, and not entirely positive.
General News

Wednesday, January 28, 2026

Corporate legal leaders from Robinhood, Coherent, Peloton, and Edward Jones said U.S. regulatory uncertainty is slowing blockchain and digital asset innovation, particularly in areas such as tokenization, payments, and market infrastructure, while Europe moves ahead.
General News

Monday, January 26, 2026

Ian Rambarran assumes operational leadership of the San Diego-based law firm as founder John Klinedinst focuses on strategy and growth.
General News

Monday, January 26, 2026

California faces a half-dozen existential issues that threaten the state's future economic and social wellbeing, and they have persistently defied attempts to resolve them over the last 25 years.
General News

Monday, January 26, 2026

A Los Angeles judge questioned whether Pasadena's anticipatory breach claims against UCLA fit the Rose Bowl agreement's narrow arbitration clause, taking under submission whether the dispute belongs in court or arbitration.
General News

Wednesday, February 11, 2026

It has been just 26 months since some of the most grueling strikes in Hollywood history came to an end. Now comes the possibility that it will happen all over again.
General News

Monday, February 9, 2026

Bankruptcy partner Aram Ordubegian will lead ArentFox Schiff's Los Angeles office, aiming to grow the roster from 75 to 100 attorneys as longtime managing partner Aaron Jacoby steps aside after 10 years.
General News

Friday, February 6, 2026

Austin Beutner, a Los Angeles civic leader who has run the city's school system and major daily newspaper, said Thursday that he was dropping out of the mayor's race after suffering profound grief from the sudden death of his 22-year-old daughter.
General News

Wednesday, February 4, 2026

The Pasadena Jewish Temple and Center claims Edison's failures caused the Eaton Fire, which destroyed its sanctuary and campus, displaced 400 families and prompted a lawsuit seeking damages and safety reforms.
General News

Monday, February 2, 2026

The ruling addresses 19 felony charges and highlights research showing pretrial incarceration causes harm without improving public safety.
General News

Friday, January 30, 2026

More than 30 physicians, public health organizations argue youth plaintiffs face measurable harms from fossil fuel policies
General News

Wednesday, January 28, 2026

The lawsuit accuses U.S. Border Patrol agents of making unconstitutional stops and arrests in the Central Valley.
General News

Monday, January 26, 2026

On Friday, Darren Walker, 66, was named president and CEO of Anonymous Content.