A roundup of recent transactions and the California lawyers involved.
Intellectual Property
Turtles settlement could be as high as $99 million
By Steven Crighton
The amount ultimately depends on the result of appeals in California, Florida and New York. ...
Criminal
SoCalGas pleads guilty to misdemeanor in emotionally charged hearing over Porter Ranch
By Justin Kloczko
Southern California Gas Co. pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor charge Tuesday during an emotional hearing related to the Porter...
Law Practice
Bellwether Cravath, Swaine & Moore says year-end bonuses will be within the same range as last year
By Eli Wolfe
Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP announced its year-end bonus amount for associates on Tuesday; they will be within the same ra...
A hearing is underway in Orange County to determine whether the district attorney's office should be removed from a 10-year-ol...
Corporate
Alternative fee arrangements will grow in 2017, survey says
By Paula Lehman Ewing
As companies begin to consider business strategies for 2017, the use of alternative fee arrangements looms large as most chief...
Environmental
Citing new law, cities revive suits against Monsanto for water contamination
By Malcolm Maclachlan
Five California cities have reopened litigation against chemical manufacturer Monsanto Co. over water contamination. ...
Criminal
Review judge finds no bias in Massullo's handling of criminal case
By Phil Johnson
A bid by San Francisco Public Defender Jeff Adachi to remove Superior Court Judge Anne-Christine Massullo from a criminal case...
Incoming president Eric A. Handler feels that a return to the times when attorneys primarily got their MCLE credits from their...
California Courts of Appeal
Public defender wants incompetent defendants in treatment, not jail
By Meghann M. Cuniff
A writ petition to the 4th District Court of Appeal argues jail violates incompetent defendants' due process rights. ...
The plaintiff could not overcome protections of the Communications Decency Act. ...
General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer SynerMed Inc. (Monterey Park) ...
Litigation
Federal judge sides with EPA in lawsuit over pesticide
By Malcolm Maclachlan
A San Francisco federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit challenging the use of a type of pesticide that is allegedly killing mil...
As the recent Morera-Munoz case shows, I guess it's just a matter of which side you're on as to when it's "legal" to ...
Perspective
Prison construction, 'lock-'em-up' mentality is no longer the case
By Riley Guerin
Rather than just opposing Propositions 57, 36 and 47, why aren't California's district attorneys or law enforcement leaders de...
Litigation
In Apple discrimination lawsuit, Shegerian seeks sanctions against Hermle
By Matthew Blake
An ex-company lawyer's wrongful termination, age, and gender discrimination lawsuit against Apple Inc. has turned for now into...
The judge agreed to exclude nearly $900 million in investor claims, since most were based on alleged cash-only deals. ...
Litigation
Shell Oil Co. seeks indemnity from co-defendants Dole Food Co.
By Justin Kloczko
Shell Oil Corp. wants co-defendants in contamination case to pay more settlement money. ...
A roundup of recent transactions and the California lawyers involved.
The agency is initiating a voluntary employee separation program and considering tapping reserves to address the shortfall. ...
Corporate attorneys are optimistic after a sluggish year and a combative election. ...
Government
OC supervisors OK $400K for grand jury's outside counsel
By Meghann M. Cuniff
A former federal prosecutor and a law firm led by a former special counsel to the state attorney general are assisting an Oran...
U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit
Latest round opens in AG's attempt to get conservative nonprofits' donor lists
By America Hernandez
AG argued it has a right to annually blanket-collect names, addresses and donation amounts even without a complaint or charge....
Corporate
GCs fear internal tensions as Yates Memo builds prosecution momentum
By Paula Lehman Ewing
The memo celebrated its one-year anniversary this month with a $72 million non-prosecution agreement between JPMorgan Chase &a...
Litigation
Trucker organization asks judge to suspend air pollution requirement
By Malcolm Maclachlan
An organization representing truckers and other businesses has challenged the California Air Resources Board, claiming filters...
Los Angeles County Judge Philip Soto prioritizes children's schedules in his dependency court.
Attorney moves and promotions and new firms from around the state.
Criminal
9th Circuit overturns summary judgment in officer-involved shooting
By Joshua Seboldn
A police officer in Humboldt County will have to stand trial in the fatal shooting of a suspect who allegedly grabbed his trun...
California Courts of Appeal
Appellate court approves university sex assault punishment process
By Meghann M. Cuniff
In a surprise move, a unanimous 4th District Court of Appeal blessed a system used by a UC San Diego panel to punish a man acc...
Judges and Judiciary
ABA argues for expanded due process in civil sanctions hearings
By America Hernandez
In a U.S. Supreme Court case that could limit judicial discretion on attorney sanctions for bad faith, the American Bar Associ...