California

  • June 13, 2025

    McDonald's Inks Confidential Deal In $10B Race Bias Suit

    McDonald's has reached a confidential settlement with film and television executive Byron Allen's companies resolving a $10 billion suit claiming the fast food chain discriminates against Black-owned media companies in its advertising expenditures, according to an announcement made Friday.

  • June 13, 2025

    9th Circ. Allows ConocoPhillips Project To Proceed, For Now

    The Ninth Circuit on Friday held that the U.S. Bureau of Land Management must reconsider a small part of its approval for the controversial ConocoPhillips Willow oil and gas project, though it stopped short of vacating existing approvals for the Arctic energy development and allowed the project to proceed.

  • June 13, 2025

    State Dept. Layoffs Still Violate Injunction, Judge Says

    A California federal judge said Friday that planned staff reductions at the State Department would violate her injunction blocking President Donald Trump's executive order directing layoffs at federal agencies, saying she's not persuaded by the government's assertion that the department's reorganization was underway before the order.

  • June 13, 2025

    Social Media Addiction MDL Judge Picks Bellwether Trial Pool

    A California federal judge on Friday narrowed the pool of cases set for the first bellwether trials in sprawling multidistrict litigation by school districts and personal injury plaintiffs over claims social media is addictive, choosing six bellwether school districts in Maryland, Georgia, Kentucky, New Jersey, South Carolina and Arizona.

  • June 13, 2025

    Stewart Releases Flood Of Discretionary Denial Decisions

    The acting U.S. Patent and Trademark Office director issued more than a dozen discretionary denial decisions on Thursday and Friday, where she ruled largely in favor of the challenger, made clear that challenges to young patents have a huge advantage and brought in a denial based on assignor estoppel.

  • June 13, 2025

    Real Estate Recap: Builders' Hack, Korean Mezz, Hotel Angst

    Catch up on this past week's key developments by state from Law360 Real Estate Authority — including an inside look at California's Builder's Remedy, aggressive moves by South Korean mezzanine lenders, and why one BigLaw hospitality leader says hotels are "scared to death." 

  • June 13, 2025

    GM Can't Arbitrate Driver's Transmission Defect Suit

    General Motors can't rely on an arbitration clause contained in a purchase agreement between a plaintiff customer and a dealership to arbitrate his claims alleging GM made cars with a defective transmission, after a Michigan federal judge ruled Friday the clause doesn't cover GM, which wasn't a party to the contract. 

  • June 13, 2025

    Google Defeats $1.3B Contract Case Over Advertising Tech

    A California state jury has rejected a company's breach of contract case that accused Google of misappropriating information about its digital advertising technology to build similar products, ending the suit that had sought $1.3 billion in damages.

  • June 13, 2025

    Injunction Sought After J&J Unit's Catheter Antitrust Loss

    Innovative Health is seeking a permanent injunction that would ban Johnson & Johnson health tech unit Biosense Webster from conditioning the provision of cardiac mapping services on purchases of cardiac catheters, after Innovative Health netted a $442 million trial win on its antitrust claims.

  • June 13, 2025

    Apple Lets Crypto Fraud Schemes Onto App Store, Suit Says

    Apple has been hit with a class action in California federal court alleging it allows fraudulent cryptocurrency trading applications to exist and be available for download on its App Store, causing consumers to become victims of pig butchering and other trading scams.

  • June 13, 2025

    PetroSaudi Unit Liquidators Seek Pause In $380M Award Suit

    Liquidators seeking to establish control over a PetroSaudi unit that won a $380 million arbitral award asked a California federal judge to let them join U.S. Justice Department litigation targeting the award over ties to funds embezzled from a Malaysian sovereign wealth fund.

  • June 13, 2025

    9th Circ. Renews Copyright Claims In Software Cos. Fight

    A Ninth Circuit panel has partially revived an intellectual property dispute between software companies Cloanto Corp. and Hyperion Entertainment, ruling that the lower court erred in tossing Cloanto's copyright claims while correctly axing its breach of contract claim.

  • June 13, 2025

    Calif. State Bar Is Immune From Atty's ADA Suit, 9th Circ. Says

    The Ninth Circuit on Friday declined to revive an attorney's claims alleging the California State Bar violated the Americans with Disabilities Act by not granting extra time to respond to disciplinary action based on outstanding debt, finding the bar, as an arm of the state, is entitled to sovereign immunity.

  • June 13, 2025

    OpenAI, Altman Slam Attempt To Block 'IO' Name

    OpenAI and its CEO Sam Altman have fired back at technology company IYO Inc.'s effort to bar their use of the IO Products Inc. name, arguing its claims are "insufficiently ripe" as the company hasn't provided evidence of the name being used in commerce or the likelihood of confusion.

  • June 13, 2025

    Calif. Residents Sue Over 'Pick 'Em' Fantasy Sports Contest

    A pair of San Francisco residents filed a proposed class action in California federal court against SidePrize LLC for allegedly telling customers its "Pick 'Em" daily fantasy sports contests are legal in the state when they are actually prohibited gambling operations.

  • June 13, 2025

    Nelson Mullins Adds Smith Gambrell's Korea Leader In LA

    Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP has hired the former leader of Smith Gambrell & Russell LLP's Korea practice to bolster its corporate, mergers and acquisitions, entertainment transaction, and other services.

  • June 13, 2025

    Cannabis Fund Seeks End Of $145M Mismanagement Suit

    An investment fund has decided to voluntarily dismiss its lawsuit against two California businessmen who allegedly squandered $145 million given to them by a now dead Russian billionaire to launch cannabis grow operations in the state.

  • June 13, 2025

    Judge Denies DOJ Bid To Shield Docs In TPS Removal Suit

    A California federal judge has agreed with a magistrate judge that the Trump administration must turn over documents pertaining to the removal of temporary protected status for Venezuelans and Haitians, holding that the documents are not covered by the executive branch's privilege.

  • June 13, 2025

    Oregon Takes Cannabis Labor Peace Row To 9th Circ.

    Oregon officials will appeal a federal judge's order barring enforcement of a voter-approved law that required licensed cannabis businesses to enter into labor peace pacts with their workers.

  • June 13, 2025

    2024 Patent Litigation: A Year In Review

    The Eastern District of Texas held onto its newly regained title as the busiest patent venue in the U.S., with nearly three times as many cases in 2024 as the once-dominant Western District of Texas. In addition, Patent Trial and Appeal Board filings bounced back after falling to a record low in 2023.

  • June 13, 2025

    Calif. AG Accuses Landlord Of Running 'Slum-Like' Empire

    California Attorney General Bob Bonta has sued a landlord with a multibillion-dollar real estate empire for allegedly flouting housing and tenant laws to an extensive degree, subjecting thousands of mostly low-income renters to inhumane living conditions with often "tragic results."

  • June 13, 2025

    Hemp Vape Maker Wants Out Of Buyer's Delta-9 THC Suit

    The maker of hemp-based electronic cigarettes under the Cake brand is asking a California federal judge to throw out a buyer's claim that the products illegally exceed federal thresholds for delta-9 THC content, saying his vague complaint doesn't meet pleading standards.

  • June 13, 2025

    Judge Blocks Trump Voting Order Requiring Citizenship Proof

    A Massachusetts federal judge on Friday blocked enforcement of what she called a likely unconstitutional Trump administration executive order requiring physical proof of citizenship to vote and invalidating ballots received after Election Day, saying the president lacks authority to override existing voting laws.

  • June 12, 2025

    Calif. Insurance Chief Probes State Farm's Wildfire Coverage

    California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara announced Thursday that he is launching an investigation into State Farm's handling of thousands of claims from the devastating Los Angeles-area wildfires, as complaints continue to grow.

  • June 12, 2025

    Kate Beckinsale Sues Over 'Dangerous' 'Canary Black' Set

    Kate Beckinsale has sued the producers of action-thriller film "Canary Black" over allegedly "unsafe and dangerous conditions" during filming that left her with "severe and debilitating injuries," according to an amended complaint filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court.

Expert Analysis

  • How Calif.'s Wildfire Insurance Crisis Might Affect Texas

    Author Photo

    Attorneys at Munsch Hardt examine the implications of California's wildfire insurance crisis for Texas, including potential shifts in coverage availability, regulatory differences and how the insurers in the second-largest U.S. state may react to a major wildfire event.

  • Calif. Antitrust Bill Could Alter Enforcement Landscape

    Author Photo

    If enacted, a recently proposed California bill that would strengthen the state’s antitrust law could signal a notable shift in the U.S. enforcement environment, but questions remain about the types of cases the state could pursue, whether other states will follow suit and more, say attorneys at DLA Piper.

  • Series

    Performing Stand-Up Comedy Makes Me A Better Lawyer

    Author Photo

    Whether I’m delivering a punchline on stage or a closing argument in court, balancing stand-up comedy performances and my legal career has demonstrated that the keys to success in both endeavors include reading the room, landing the right timing and making an impact, says attorney Rebecca Palmer.

  • Bias Suit Shows WNBA Growing Pains On Court And In Court

    Author Photo

    A newly filed disability discrimination and retaliation lawsuit against the Los Angeles Sparks is the latest in a series of employment discrimination disputes filed by WNBA professionals, highlighting teams' obligation to meet elevated workplace expectations and the league's role in facilitating an inclusive work environment, say attorneys at Michelman & Robinson.

  • Unpacking The Illicit E-Cigarette Crackdown By State AGs

    Author Photo

    A bipartisan coalition of attorneys general for nine states and the District of Columbia announced a coordinated effort to curb illicit electronic cigarette sales, illustrating the rising prominence of state attorneys general using consumer protection laws to address issues of national scope, especially when federal efforts prove ineffective, say attorneys at Troutman.

  • Investor Essentials For Buying Federally Owned Property

    Author Photo

    Investors and developers can take advantage of the Trump administration's plan to sell government-owned real estate by becoming familiar with the process and eligible to bid, and should prepare to move quickly once the U.S. General Services Administration posts the list of properties for sale, say attorneys at Holland & Knight.

  • Series

    Adapting To Private Practice: From SEC To BigLaw

    Author Photo

    As I adjusted to the multifaceted workflow of a BigLaw firm after leaving the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, working side by side with new colleagues on complex matters proved the fastest way to build a deep rapport and demonstrate my value, says Jennifer Lee at Jenner & Block.

  • The Revival Of Badie Arbitration Suits In Consumer Finance

    Author Photo

    Plaintiffs have recently revived a California appellate court's almost 30-year-old decision in Badie v. Bank of America to challenge arbitration requirements under the Federal Arbitration Act, raising issues banks and credit unions in particular should address when amending arbitration provisions, say attorneys at Orrick.

  • How Trump's Crypto Embrace Is Spurring Enforcement Reset

    Author Photo

    The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's recent willingness to step away from ongoing enforcement investigations and actions underscores the changing regulatory landscape for crypto under the new administration, which now appears committed to working with stakeholders to develop a clearer regulatory framework, say attorneys at Sheppard Mullin.

  • Making The Case For Rest In The Legal Profession

    Author Photo

    For too long, a culture of overwork has plagued the legal profession, but research shows that attorneys need rest to perform optimally and sustainably, so legal organizations and individuals must implement strategies that allow for restoration, says Marissa Alert at MDA Wellness, Carol Ross-Burnett at CRB Global, and Denise Robinson at The Still Center.

  • What Trump's Order Means For The Legal Status Of IVF

    Author Photo

    An executive order signed by President Donald Trump last month signals the administration's potential intention to increase protections for in vitro fertilization services, though more concrete actions would be needed to resolve the current uncertainty around IVF access or bring about a binding legal change, says Jeanne Vance at Weintraub Tobin.

  • Cross-Border Lessons In Using Hague Evidence Convention

    Author Photo

    Recent case law demonstrates that securing evidence located abroad requires a strategic approach, including utilization of the Hague Evidence Convention and preparation to justify your chosen evidence-gathering path, say attorneys at Fish & Richardson.

  • 4 Ways Women Attorneys Can Build A Legal Legacy

    Author Photo

    This Women’s History Month, women attorneys should consider what small, day-to-day actions they can take to help leave a lasting impact for future generations, even if it means mentoring one person or taking 10 minutes to make a plan, says Jackie Prester, a former shareholder at Baker Donelson.

  • Navigating The Growing Thicket Of 'Right To Repair' Laws

    Author Photo

    An emerging patchwork of state laws on the right to repair creates tensions with traditional intellectual property and competition principles, so manufacturers should plan proactively for legal disputes and minimize potential for rival third-party repairs to weaponize state laws, say attorneys at Reed Smith.

  • Unpacking First Consumer Claim Under Wash. Health Data Act

    Author Photo

    The first consumer class action claim filed under Washington's My Health My Data Act, Maxwell v. Amazon.com, may answer questions counsel have been contending with since the law was introduced almost a year ago, if the court takes the opportunity to interpret some of more opaque language, say attorneys at Polsinelli.

Want to publish in Law360?


Submit an idea

Have a news tip?


Contact us here
Can't find the article you're looking for? Click here to search the California archive.