GUEST COLUMNS
Friday, January 24, 2025
In a year that reshaped California trust and estate law, five pivotal cases from 2024 delivered significant changes with far-reaching implications for practitioners and clients alike.
Recent class action lawsuits targeting chocolate products revive questions about the use of embedded Proposition 65 allegations.
Wednesday, January 22, 2025
Despite efforts by Attorney General Rob Bonta and Secretary of State Shirley Weber to overturn Huntington Beach's voter identification law, the city may prevail due to its authority as a charter city to manage its own elections.
When representing a client while accepting payment from a third party, CRPC Rule 1.8.6 requires informed written consent, preservation of confidentiality, and unwavering commitment to the client's best interests to avoid ethical pitfalls and ensure compliance.
Friday, January 17, 2025
In the aftermath of recent fires, disaster victims face a flood of lawyer advertisements and events, highlighting both the vital role attorneys play in pursuing justice and the need for ethical, transparent, and well-resourced legal representation to truly prioritize victims' interests.
Jimmy Carter's legacy blends groundbreaking humanitarian efforts, like the Camp David Accords, with controversial positions on Israel, creating complex impact.
Wednesday, January 15, 2025
In the wake of the Southern California wildfires, property owners filing insurance claims should know California laws offer expanded coverage options, including combined dwelling/structure limits, relaxed personal property documentation, extended loss-of-use benefits, and protection against policy cancellations, with state and federal aid available for those uninsured or underinsured.
With financial fraud on the rise, consumers and legislators are expecting more from banks.
Monday, January 13, 2025
In 2024, the California Supreme Court clarified key insurance law issues, rejecting COVID-19 property damage claims, addressing continuous injury coverage, and reinforcing rules on ambiguity and policyholder expectations.
Friday, January 10, 2025
The California Court of Appeal's Leeper
decision empowers employers to compel arbitration of individual PAGA claims,
even in cases seeking only non-individual penalties, streamlining PAGA
litigation.
The Supreme Court's denial of petitions keeps the California Clean Air Act waiver intact, but California's vehicle regulation journey is about to get bumpier.
Wednesday, January 8, 2025
California's new 2025 legislation reforms summary judgment deadlines, unlawful detainer procedures, and triple net expense protections for "qualified commercial tenants."
When California state Sen. Scott Wiener introduced the nation's most ambitious AI safety bill last year, it became a flashpoint in the debate over how to govern artificial intelligence.
In Hernandez v. City of Stockton, the
California Court of Appeal ruled that a pedestrian's lawsuit was barred because
his government claim, which cited an "uplifted sidewalk," did not match the
actual condition--a hole from an empty tree well--highlighting the need for
precise claims against public entities.
Monday, January 6, 2025
Seasoned attorneys can bring out the best in their baby lawyers with these tips for understanding and guiding them through that overwhelming first year.
California law offers military and mental health diversion programs to help veterans accused of crimes access rehabilitation instead of prosecution, with recent expansions allowing felony-level military diversion starting Jan. 1, 2025.
Friday, January 3, 2025
Under President Joe Biden, the U.S. and Turkey, both seasoned practitioners of "back channel" diplomacy, achieved a remarkable diplomatic feat with the release of American hostages held in Russia. Yet, it seems the world remains largely unaware--or indifferent--to the achievement.
Monday, December 30, 2024
A Trump-Musk administration may end federal EV tax credits and emission regulations while California imposes stricter oversight of autonomous vehicles, creating jurisdictional conflicts over electric car policy in 2025.
California's new Corporate Climate Data Accountability Act mandates large businesses to report Scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions by 2027, pushing companies toward greater environmental transparency and supply chain collaboration.
Friday, December 27, 2024
The federal government often avoids taking
responsibility for actions that affect property owners, leading to prolonged
litigation. A recent case, Ideker Farms, LLC. v. United States,
highlights this issue
President-elect Donald Trump's recent interest in purchasing Greenland, met with mockery and Denmark's refusal to sell, has spurred speculation about possible U.S. annexation, with legal experts citing historical precedents and military considerations as potential justification despite anticipated legal and cultural challenges.
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Tom Girardi outside federal court in Los Angeles in 2024. Photo: Ricardo Pineda
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NEWS
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General News
Friday, January 24, 2025 |
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| Angry residents blamed Karen Bass for the fires not just in Pacific Palisades, which is part of her city, but Altadena, which isn't. | |
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General News
Friday, January 24, 2025 |
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| Tustin City Councilman Lee K. Fink, who also chairs Brower Law Group's Business Litigation Department, pleaded guilty to misdemeanor battery after a heated altercation during a home tour. Captured on a Ring camera, the incident could lead to further professional scrutiny from the State Bar of California. | |
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General News
Friday, January 24, 2025 |
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| The landlord is Greater Cornerstone Baptist Church, and the plaintiffs say they are its congregants. The lawsuit also names the pastor. | |
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General News
Wednesday, January 22, 2025 |
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| President Donald Trump is moving to restructure the nation's energy future to block any transition away from fossil fuels. And he is testing the boundaries of presidential power to do it. | |
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General News
Wednesday, January 22, 2025 |
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| Trump and Republicans in Congress say they plan to eliminate most of the federal aid for electric cars and trucks and reverse emissions rules, raising doubts about the future of such vehicles and the billions of dollars that automakers have invested to design and build them. | |
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General News
Wednesday, January 22, 2025 |
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| The lawsuits claim negligence - wrongful death and survival action; and violation of Public Utilities Code Sec. 2106. Both say the utility's corporate culture puts profits over safety. No cause of the fire has been determined yet. | |
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General News
Friday, January 17, 2025 |
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| As much of Los Angeles smolders, wind warnings return and fire crews stand guard, scientists say almost unprecedented climatic conditions throughout Southern California led up to the disaster. | |
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General News
Friday, January 17, 2025 |
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| In response to devastating wildfires across Los Angeles and Ventura counties, law enforcement officials have unveiled two critical initiatives: a Joint Regional Fire Crimes Task Force and proposed legislation to strengthen penalties for looting and disaster-related crimes. With 25 lives lost and over 12,000 structures destroyed, authorities aim to hold offenders accountable and restore trust within impacted communities. | |
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General News
Friday, January 17, 2025 |
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| Bankers traditionally cloak themselves as a risk-averse bunch, and given the questions about the future for interest rates, deal making and the geopolitical world, their optimism about what's ahead is noteworthy. | |
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General News
Friday, January 17, 2025 |
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| As multiple wildfires continue to incinerate homes and displace tens of thousands of people in Los Angeles County, experts worry about the long-term effects the fires will have on the state's already dire homelessness crisis. | |
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General News
Friday, January 17, 2025 |
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| An eight-year federal investigation into constitutional violations in Orange County's custodial informant practices concludes with a settlement between the DOJ and the District Attorney's Office. | |
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General News
Wednesday, January 15, 2025 |
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| An eviction moratorium like that enacted during the Covid-19 pandemic is one of the measures being suggested as reports emerge of rental price gouging in the week following the fires. | |
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General News
Wednesday, January 15, 2025 |
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| Ex-Mayor Constance Boardman and former Planning Commissioner Mark Bixby want to nullify a controversial settlement between Huntington Beach and Pacific Airshow LLC, alleging it constitutes an unlawful gift of public funds. | |
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General News
Wednesday, January 15, 2025 |
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| At the stroke of midnight on Dec. 31, Earth finished up its hottest year in recorded history, scientists said. | |
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General News
Monday, January 13, 2025 |
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| Common Living, which paired up roommates, filed for bankruptcy protection following the pandemic. | |
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General News
Monday, January 13, 2025 |
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| Personal finance courses, offered mostly as electives, are sprouting up at public and private colleges nationwide and getting a boost from a new initiative by Stanford University. | |
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General News
Monday, January 13, 2025 |
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| U.S. District Judge Michelle Williams Court scheduled the hearing for Jan. 17. | |
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General News
Friday, January 10, 2025 |
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| Vaughn joined Procopio from Stowell, Zeilenga, Ruth, Vaughn & Treiger LLP, where he was a founding partner. | |
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General News
Friday, January 10, 2025 |
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| A Los Angeles judge dismissed privacy invasion claims against Hill, Farrer & Burrill LLP for a 2022 data breach, citing lack of evidence of intentional disclosure or special relationship. | |
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General News
Wednesday, January 8, 2025 |
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| The class action lawsuit claims the company engages in "drip pricing" and false advertising, misleading customers about delivery fees. | |
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General News
Wednesday, January 8, 2025 |
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| The court rejected the city's claims of confidentiality. | |
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General News
Monday, January 6, 2025 |
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| Following the misuse of COVID-19 relief funds by the former county supervisor, state lawmakers and county officials have introduced reforms to strengthen ethics, transparency and accountability in government contracting and discretionary fund management. | |
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General News
Friday, January 24, 2025 |
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| The charges against Girardi relate to settlement money for relatives of people killed in an Indonesian plane crash. | |
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General News
Wednesday, January 22, 2025 |
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| Attorneys offer practical help to fire victims, say it is not meant to attract clients. | |
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General News
Friday, January 17, 2025 |
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| Los Angeles City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto announced charges against two men for curfew violations in Pacific Palisades, implemented to prevent looting and protect public safety amid devastating wildfires. Additional measures include a crackdown on price gouging and the formation of a Joint Regional Fire Crimes Task Force to address wildfire-related crimes. | |
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General News
Wednesday, January 15, 2025 |
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| The blaze in the Altadena area has destroyed thousands of structures and caused widespread devastation. | |
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General News
Monday, January 13, 2025 |
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| The blazes come after years of reform efforts meant to lessen fire damage and prop up the state's insurance markets. | |
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General News
Friday, January 10, 2025 |
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| Los Angeles successfully demurred against claims that it unlawfully approved a luxury hotel project, leading to the demolition of affordable housing. Judge Chalfant ruled the complaint was not timely served on necessary parties. | |
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General News
Wednesday, January 8, 2025 |
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| Amendments to the original complaint that initiated the now-consolidated civil liability action were filed on Friday. | |
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General News
Monday, January 6, 2025 |
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| Justin Baldoni's $250M lawsuit against the New York Times may not impact the paper but could deter smaller media, experts warn. The case stems from actress Blake Lively's harassment claims against Baldoni during the making of "It Ends With Us." | |