California

  • September 30, 2025

    Alphabet Judge OKs $500M Investor Deal But Slashes Fee Ask

    A California federal judge gave final approval Tuesday to Google parent Alphabet Inc.'s $500 million settlement with investors to resolve claims that executives engaged in anticompetitive and monopolistic practices but granted just $37 million in fees for the plaintiffs' attorneys — less than half of the $80 million sought.

  • September 30, 2025

    US Worker Unions Slam 'Unlawful' Shutdown Firing Threats

    The American Federation of Government Employees and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees sued Tuesday over the Trump administration's threats to fire federal workers in the event of a government shutdown, arguing that the threats stray from historic practice and violate the law.

  • September 30, 2025

    9th Circ. Unwinds $312K Fees In Labor Suit Against Walmart

    While a former Sam's Club worker is entitled to fees for the $22,000 settlement of her individual labor claims against the chain and its parent Walmart, the Ninth Circuit on Tuesday vacated the $312,429 in fees and costs she was awarded by the lower court because it simply granted the fee award without sufficiently explaining why.

  • September 30, 2025

    Calif. Judge Bars Russia Suit In $1.3B Google Affiliate Fight

    A California federal judge has barred a former Russian Google affiliate from pursuing litigation in Moscow seeking a $1.3 billion judgment in a contract dispute with an Irish Google affiliate after the Russian company was a no-show in the litigation.

  • September 30, 2025

    Credit Suisse Aided Looting Of Tech Exec's Stock, Suit Says

    The co-founder of sensing-tech company Aeva Technologies says Credit Suisse provided "institutional cover" to conspirators who stole tens of millions of dollars in Aeva shares from him in what he described as a "calculated, multi-year orchestrated racketeering scheme," according to a suit filed Tuesday in New York federal court.

  • September 30, 2025

    9th Circ. Asked To Rethink Las Vegas Hotel Pricing Ruling

    A proposed class of Las Vegas casino-hotel guests told the Ninth Circuit in a rehearing en banc petition that the entire court must reconsider its prior ruling for their antitrust claims, which alleged that hotel operators and two hospitality software companies conspired to hike up hotel room prices.

  • September 30, 2025

    Waters Warns CFPB Furloughs Would Be 'Baseless,' 'Harmful'

    A senior Democrat in the U.S. House of Representatives is warning the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau not to use a looming government shutdown as a "pretext" to furlough employees at the agency, arguing that such an unpaid work stoppage would be unnecessary and dangerous.

  • September 30, 2025

    Jury Says Uber Was Negligent, But Not Liable For Sex Assault

    A California state jury found Tuesday that Uber was negligent with respect to safety measures it took to protect a passenger who says she was sexually assaulted by her driver, but ruled it isn't liable for damages in the high-profile bellwether trial because its negligence wasn't a substantial factor in causing her harm.

  • September 30, 2025

    Nevada Hospital Nets $510M Verdict In Staff Poaching Suit

    A Nevada hospital won a jury award of more than $510 million in its lawsuit accusing Universal Health Services of raiding its staff and swiping its trade secrets during the COVID-19 pandemic.

  • September 30, 2025

    Senate Bill Would Allow Claims Against AI Cos.

    A pair of senators unveiled a bill Tuesday that would classify artificial intelligence technologies as products under the law to allow consumers to sue if an AI product causes harm, an issue testing the courts as litigation targets AI-fueled chatbots.

  • September 30, 2025

    TPS Advocates Urge Justices Not To Disturb Lower Court Win

    An immigration advocacy organization has urged the U.S. Supreme Court not to halt a district court ruling that found unlawful the Trump administration's attempt to unwind temporary deportation protections for Venezuelans, saying the government had no basis for such emergency relief.

  • September 30, 2025

    Senate Bills Look To Return 2,000 Acres To California Tribes

    A pair of U.S. senators have introduced a trio of bills that will transfer 2,000 acres of land to three California tribes that the lawmakers say will bring more housing and protections for Indigenous spiritual connections associated with the properties. 

  • September 30, 2025

    NPR Fights CPB's $30M Grant Shift In Court

    A federal judge got assurances from Corporation for Public Broadcasting lawyers Tuesday that it won't commit $30 million to a new National Public Radio alternative for managing the public radio satellite system for at least the next month as he considers a motion from NPR for an injunction blocking the move indefinitely.

  • September 30, 2025

    CFPB Looks To Save Renewed Experian Credit Reporting Suit

    Consumer reporting agency Experian Information Solutions Inc. should not be allowed to escape certain Fair Credit Reporting Act allegations taking aim at its handling of consumer disputes, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has argued, asserting the parties made an "inadvertent mutual mistake" in leaving Experian's name off the parties' agreement to toll the CFPB's claims.

  • September 30, 2025

    Ford Says 'Reckoning' At Hand For Lemon Law Firms

    The Ford Motor Co. has urged a Los Angeles federal judge to keep alive a racketeering lawsuit alleging three law firms specializing in California's lemon law engaged in a "death-by-a-thousand-cuts" fraudulent billing scheme to bleed the automaker dry, arguing the firms' immunity claims don't hold up.

  • September 30, 2025

    IRS Penalty Case Tossed For Now Over Shifting Legal Claims

    A woman's shifting legal theories doomed her challenge to IRS penalties related to her delayed disclosure of a foreign inheritance, a California federal judge found, tossing the suit but allowing her to amend her complaint.

  • September 30, 2025

    Musk Escapes X Corp. Workers' Severance Suit In Del.

    A federal judge in Delaware has tossed 14 counts naming billionaire Elon Musk in a suit filed by six former X Corp. employees seeking severance benefits, with all but two dismissed with prejudice.

  • September 30, 2025

    Boeing, Rolls-Royce Get Suit Over Osprey Crash Trimmed

    A California federal judge has trimmed fraudulent misrepresentation and breach of contract claims out of a suit from the families of five U.S. Marines who died in the June 2022 crash of a V-22 Osprey aircraft, saying the complaint fails to meet pleading standards on those counts.

  • September 30, 2025

    AI Chipmaker's Valuation Soars To $8.1B After Funding Round

    Artificial intelligence infrastructure maker Cerebras Systems, advised by Latham & Watkins LLP, announced on Tuesday that it wrapped an oversubscribed Series G funding round after securing $1.1 billion of commitments, boosting the Sunnyvale, California-headquartered company's post-money valuation to $8.1 billion.

  • September 30, 2025

    Calif. Agency Fines Retailer $1.35M Over Data Privacy Lapses

    Rural lifestyle retailer Tractor Supply Co. will pay a record $1.35 million penalty and overhaul its data privacy practices to resolve the California privacy agency's claims that it failed to properly notify consumers and job applicants of their privacy rights, maintain adequate agreements with service providers and provide consumers with an effective way to stop the sharing and sale of their personal information, the regulator announced Tuesday.

  • September 29, 2025

    Visa Defeats Claims It Profited From Child Porn, For Now

    A California federal judge has thrown out allegations Visa knew about and profited from child pornography on Pornhub and other websites it worked with, though he gave the young woman who sued another opportunity to file an amended complaint.

  • September 29, 2025

    Meta Faces Sanctions Bid Alleging Co. Destroyed 'Taps' Data

    Personal injury plaintiffs have urged a California state judge to sanction Meta Platforms Inc. in coordinated litigation over claims social media harms young users' mental health, alleging Meta willfully destroyed crucial time‑stamped "taps" data that captures users' taps, scrolls and swipes on Facebook and Instagram.

  • September 29, 2025

    Newsom Signs AI Law Requiring Guardrails, More Disclosures

    California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday signed into law a bill that bolsters safety and disclosure requirements for artificial intelligence companies in the Golden State, a measure the governor said further establishes California as a leader in "safe, secure and trustworthy artificial intelligence."

  • September 29, 2025

    Meta Ducks Antitrust Suit As Economist's Opinions Excluded

    A California federal judge on Monday freed Meta from an antitrust lawsuit that accused it of monopolizing an asserted market for personal social networking, saying Facebook users failed to prove the existence of an antitrust injury, with or without help from an expert witness.

  • September 29, 2025

    YouTube Inks $24M Deal To End Trump's 'Censorship' Case

    YouTube has agreed to pay more than $24 million to settle a lawsuit that President Donald Trump filed after the video platform suspended his account following the 2021 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol over concerns he would incite further attacks, the parties told a California federal judge Monday.

Expert Analysis

  • Series

    Adapting To Private Practice: From US Attorney To BigLaw

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    When I transitioned to private practice after government service — most recently as the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia — I learned there are more similarities between the two jobs than many realize, with both disciplines requiring resourcefulness, zealous advocacy and foresight, says Zach Terwilliger at V&E.

  • Rebuttal

    Forced Litigation Funding Disclosure Threatens Patent Rights

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    A recent Law360 guest article argued that courts should adopt stronger disclosure requirements for third-party litigation funding, but rather than enabling fairness or transparency, such measures would only undermine patent holders' access to capital and weaken their ability to assert valid patent rights, says Anup Misra at Curiam Capital.

  • The Ins And Outs Of Consensual Judicial References

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    As parties consider the possibility of judicial reference to resolve complex disputes, it is critical to understand how the process works, why it's gaining traction, and why carefully crafted agreements make all the difference, say attorneys at Pillsbury.

  • How Focus On Menopause Care Is Fueling Innovation, Access

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    Recent legislative developments concerning the growing field of menopause care are creating opportunities for increased investment and innovation in the space as they increase access to education and coverage, say attorneys at Kirkland.

  • Calif. Digital Assets Proposal Provides Only Partial Clarity

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    Recently proposed regulations under California's Digital Financial Assets Law answer some important questions about the new regime, particularly regarding its interaction with the state's money transmission law, but many key compliance questions remain, say attorneys at Stinson.

  • Opinion

    The BigLaw Settlements Are About Risk, Not Profit

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    The nine Am Law 100 firms that settled with the Trump administration likely did so because of the personal risk faced by equity partners in today's billion‑dollar national practices, enabled by an ethics rule primed for modernization, says Adam Forest at Scale.

  • What Gene Findings Mean For Asbestos Mesothelioma Claims

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    Recent advances in genetic research have provided substantial evidence that significant numbers of malignant mesothelioma cases may be caused by inherited mutations rather than asbestos exposure — a finding that could fundamentally change how defendants approach personal injury litigation over mesothelioma, say David Schwartz at Lumanity and Kirk Hartley at LSP Group.

  • State Tort Claims May Help Deter Bribes During FCPA Pause

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    As the U.S. pauses Foreign Corrupt Practices Act enforcement, companies that lose business due to competitors' bribery should consider using state tortious interference suits to expose corruption, deter illegal practices and obtain compensation for commercial losses, says Jason Manning at Levy Firestone.

  • 4 States' Enforcement Actions Illustrate Data Privacy Priorities

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    Attorneys at Wilson Elser examine recent enforcement actions based on new consumer data privacy laws by regulators in California, Connecticut, Oregon and Texas, centered around key themes, including crackdowns on dark patterns, misuse of sensitive data and failure to honor consumer rights.

  • Series

    Brazilian Jiujitsu Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    Competing in Brazilian jiujitsu – often against opponents who are much larger and younger than me – has allowed me to develop a handful of useful skills that foster the resilience and adaptability necessary for a successful legal career, says Tina Dorr of Barnes & Thornburg.

  • Birthright Ruling Could Alter Consumer Financial Litigation

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    The U.S. Supreme Court’s upcoming decision about the validity of the nationwide injunctions in the birthright citizenship cases, argued on May 15, could make it much harder for trade associations to obtain nationwide relief from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's enforcement of invalid regulations, says Alan Kaplinsky at Ballard Spahr.

  • Signed, Sealed, Deleted: A Look At The California Delete Act

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    The California Delete Act, proposed Delete Request and Opt-Out Platform regulations, and California Privacy Protection Agency enforcement raise a number of compliance considerations — even for data brokers that have existing deletion processes in place, say attorneys at Hunton.

  • And Now A Word From The Panel: A Rare MDL Petition Off-Day

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    In an unusual occurrence in the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation's history, there are zero new MDL petitions scheduled for Thursday's hearing session, but the panel will be busy considering a host of motions regarding whether to transfer cases to eight existing MDL proceedings, says Alan Rothman at Sidley.

  • Energy Order Brings Risks For Lenders And Borrowers Alike

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    A recent executive order directing the attorney general to submit a report next month with recommendations for halting enforcement of state laws the administration says are hampering energy resources presents risks for lenders and borrowers using state-generated carbon credits, but proactive steps now can help insulate against adverse consequences, say attorneys at Faegre Drinker.

  • Customs Fraud Enforcement In The Age Of Tariffs

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    In the wake of the Trump administration’s new approach toward tariffs, two recent Justice Department developments demonstrate aggressive customs fraud enforcement, with the DOJ emphasizing competitive harm to American businesses, and signaling that investigations will likely involve both civil and criminal enforcement tools, say attorneys at Bernstein Litowitz and London & Naor.

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