California

  • October 16, 2026

    Balancing The Scales: Criminal Appeals, Sentencing Rules

    The Second Circuit has been ordered to take another look at a murder-for-hire conviction in light of the high court's new miscarriage-of-justice exception for criminal appeal waivers, and the top courts in Pennsylvania and Michigan will look at the retroactivity of new sentencing rules. Here, Law360 highlights access to justice stories arising from litigation, verdicts and judgments you may have missed.

  • October 16, 2026

    FTC Can Bring Debt Relief Scam Suit Before Jury

    A California federal judge has ruled that the Federal Trade Commission can bring its case against a telecommunications company over its marketing voicemails before a jury.

  • October 16, 2026

    Super Micro Board Sued Over Alleged China Diversions

    A Super Micro Computer shareholder hit company directors and officers with a derivative suit accusing them of enabling an alleged scheme that sent artificial intelligence tech to Chinese companies in violation of export controls, misleading investors and harming the company.

  • October 16, 2026

    States Win 1st OK Of $400M Sandoz Generic Price-Fixing Deal

    A Connecticut federal judge granted preliminary approval Friday to a $400 million settlement between a coalition of states, Sandoz Inc. and its subsidiary Fougera Pharmaceuticals Inc. over allegations of generic drug price-fixing and market allocation, setting aside $280 million as restitution.

  • October 16, 2026

    Contradictory Contract Dooms Pot Co.'s Injunction Bid

    A California state judge has rejected a cannabis genetics company's bid for an injunction against a former business partner in a contract dispute, saying the contract's self-contradictory provisions make it unclear that the company is entitled to retrieve its cannabis strains.

  • October 16, 2026

    9th Circ. Won't Rethink $2B Devas Arbitral Award Confirmation

    The Ninth Circuit said Friday it will not disturb a unanimous three-judge panel's decision to enforce a $2 billion arbitral award issued to a satellite communications company, rejecting the award debtor's petition for a rehearing by the full court.

  • October 16, 2026

    EpicentRx, Ex-Secretary Clash In Del. Over 5th Contempt Bid

    EpicentRx's former corporate secretary urged the Delaware Chancery Court on Friday to impose a partial default judgment against the biotechnology firm and appoint a receiver, arguing it has continued to ignore advancement and contempt orders. Meanwhile, the company countered that those remedies would be disproportionate to what it says is ultimately a dispute over unpaid money.

  • October 16, 2026

    Paul Hastings, Kirkland Guide Proofpoint's $6.3B Varonis Buy

    Thoma Bravo portfolio company Proofpoint has agreed to acquire data security software provider Varonis Systems Inc. in an all-cash deal valued at about $6.3 billion, with Paul Hastings LLP advising Varonis and Kirkland & Ellis LLP representing Proofpoint.

  • October 16, 2026

    Google Users' $85M Fee Ask Stalls Over 'Utterly Lacking' Bill

    A California federal judge on Thursday rejected an $85 million attorney fee request following a $700 million settlement in a consumer-led case against Google, ruling that counsel's submitted billing records are "utterly lacking in information demonstrating what work was done and for what purpose," while granting leave to amend the request.

  • October 16, 2026

    Jenner & Block Adds Ex-National Security Prosecutor In SF

    A former federal prosecutor who started her legal career with the U.S. Department of Justice has left the public sector to join Jenner & Block LLP's San Francisco office.

  • October 16, 2026

    Gap Workers In Wash. Sue Over Unpaid OT, Missed Breaks

    Gap and Athleta were hit with a proposed class action in Washington state court alleging that the retail giants failed to pay hourly employees with overtime wages and also failed to ensure that they took the meal and rest breaks they were entitled to.

  • October 16, 2026

    She Has A Point: Munger Tolles' Carolyn Luedtke

    Munger Tolles & Olson LLP partner Carolyn Hoecker Luedtke has been great at providing sound judgment during trade secret litigation between top artificial intelligence companies, according to Jessica Kaempf of Fenwick & West LLP.

  • October 15, 2026

    Trump Admin Sues Calif. For 'Likely Undocumented' Voter Info

    The U.S. Department of Justice on Thursday asked a California federal court to order the state to turn over 20,000 voter records, claiming those voters are "likely noncitizens" while Gov. Gavin Newsom called it a "sad, desperate attempt" to suppress voters ahead of the midterms.

  • October 15, 2026

    Feds Say Co. Skirted Rules To Buy, Resell 7K Beyonce Tickets

    A California technology company has for years used unlawful tactics to buy up millions of tickets to popular events and concerts, including Beyonce's 2023 Renaissance tour, to resell them and rake in millions of dollars, the Federal Trade Commission and U.S. Department of Justice alleged Thursday.

  • October 15, 2026

    Baby Food Cos. Get ADHD, Autism Claims Cut From MDL

    A California federal judge granted summary judgment on Wednesday to baby food manufacturers including Gerber and Walmart, ruling that children diagnosed with autism and ADHD had no admissible expert evidence showing that lead and arsenic in the products caused their conditions.

  • October 15, 2026

    Google Beats T-Shirt Co.'s Suit, Amazon Still Facing IP Claims

    An Ohio federal judge overseeing a T-shirt seller's separate intellectual property lawsuits accusing Google and Amazon of copyright infringement issued diverging rulings Wednesday, saying Weekend Warrior Clothing can pursue claims against Amazon over its "Merch on Demand" service, while tossing claims that Google advertised infringing shirts.

  • October 15, 2026

    9th Circ. Orders New Murder Trial Over Juror Mental Crisis

    The Ninth Circuit on Thursday vacated a man's convictions for a slaying on the waters off California's coast, saying the trial court should have declared a mistrial after dismissing a juror who experienced a mental health crisis during deliberations.

  • October 15, 2026

    California Judge Grants Discovery In Cannabis Debt Dispute

    An investor and a cannabis license holder will have to rework their lawsuit accusing a couple of scheming to steal majority ownership in a Los Angeles dispensary by creating $3.4 million in "phantom debt," a California state court judge ruled.

  • October 15, 2026

    OptumHealth Can't Get Out Of PBM Cases In Opioid MDL

    The healthcare delivery arm of UnitedHealth Group's Optum division can't escape bellwether cases alleging pharmacy benefit managers contributed to the opioid epidemic, an Ohio federal judge ruled Thursday, finding a recent Sixth Circuit decision didn't alter the court's jurisdiction over related state-law claims.

  • October 15, 2026

    Optum Sued Over 'Junk Fees' For Online COBRA Payments

    Optum Financial on Wednesday was hit with a proposed class action in California federal court alleging it tacks on sham, unavoidable $20 "junk fees" when customers pay online for healthcare benefits administered through COBRA, which they don't know about until checkout. 

  • October 15, 2026

    Toyota Must Face Minivan Defect Warranty Suit, Judge Says

    A California federal judge has largely allowed Toyota minivan drivers to proceed with their proposed class action alleging Toyota didn't repair defective second-row seat rails for months, ruling they sufficiently pled the warranty's purpose failed since it didn't repair or replace the parts within a reasonable time frame. 

  • October 15, 2026

    Calif. Asks DC Judge To Void EPA's 'Unlawful' Waiver Moves

    California has asked a D.C. federal judge to void the Trump administration and congressional Republicans' "manifestly unlawful" use of the Congressional Review Act to make Clean Air Act waivers for the Golden State subject to rescission by lawmakers.

  • October 15, 2026

    Nunes Loses 2nd Circ. Appeal In Defamation Case

    The Second Circuit has upheld a New York federal judge's August 2025 dismissal of former U.S. Rep. Devin Nunes' defamation suit against NBCUniversal over a 2021 Rachel Maddow broadcast.

  • October 15, 2026

    Dog Hotel Accused Of Denying Pay For Off-Clock Work

    A dog hotel chain failed to pay workers for time spent waiting to clock in, assisting customers and working through meal breaks, according to a proposed class action in California state court.

  • October 15, 2026

    NYC Comptroller Urges Anthropic To Ease Risks Before IPO

    New York City Comptroller Mark Levine is urging Anthropic PBC to pause plans for an initial public offering it says could value the company at $2 trillion, calling on the business to first resolve concerns over the technology's governance, safety and development pace.

Expert Analysis

  • Occupier Contract Strategies For Locking In Expansion Rights

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    In a market defined by record-setting demand, shrinking availability and rising rents, large commercial office occupiers must treat expansion space planning as a strategic priority, including by auditing existing rights, understanding the competitive landscape within their buildings and exploring creative lease provisions, says Josh Winefsky at HSF Kramer.

  • How State, Local Rules Are Expanding Debt Collection Reach

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    Consumer protection rules recently enacted by several states signal that the rules of debt collection are being rewritten at a pace that should command the attention of every creditor, servicer, debt buyer, collection agency and collection law firm operating across state lines, says Weldianne Scales at Reed Smith.

  • 2 AI Washing Rulings Apply Familiar Securities Fraud Rules

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    Two recent federal court decisions to allow AI washing complaints to proceed begin to clarify the line between nonactionable optimism and actionable misstatements by framing the core issue as not overstating the promise of artificial intelligence, but misrepresenting the current state of a company's products, say attorneys at WilmerHale.

  • A New Regulatory Environment For PE In Calif. Healthcare

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    The California Office of Health Care Affordability's proposed revisions to its cost and market impact review regulations, amid broader state scrutiny of private equity-backed healthcare arrangements, represent a qualitative shift in California's regulatory posture toward institutional healthcare investment, say attorneys at Ropes & Gray.

  • CFIUS' Mandate Misses Foreign Risk In Project Subcontracts

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    Recent calls for the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States to review equity transactions like the Paramount Skydance-Warner Bros. deal miss a consequential oversight gap — CFIUS' inability to review the subcontracting layer of U.S. infrastructure projects, says Thibaut Giret at Alstef Group.

  • AI Governance Tips For Avoiding Securities Suits

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    A recent securities class action in California federal court against lending platform Upstart highlights how statements about artificial intelligence are increasingly being scrutinized not only by regulators, but also by shareholders, meaning companies should ensure oversight frameworks keep pace with the technology, say attorneys at Akerman.

  • How Cos. Can Prep For Ultra-Processed Food Legal Risks

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    A wave of litigation and government scrutiny directed against ultra-processed foods is now gaining momentum, following patterns seen previously in other industries — and food companies that recognize those patterns early will be better positioned to manage the increasing risks, say attorneys at Arnold & Porter.

  • Series

    Bass Fishing Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    Landing a trophy striped bass and closing a big deal both require cultivating the patience to finesse — not force — your way to desired outcomes, changing course when your old approach isn’t working and learning from the ones that got away, says Jon Ruiss at Alston & Bird.

  • Roundup

    The Most Talked-About Supreme Court Decisions Of 2026

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    This term, 11 U.S. Supreme Court decisions quickly became hot topics among Law360's guest writers.

  • Pregnancy Bias Suits Highlight EEOC's Expanding Reach

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    Recent U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission suits show that enactment of the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act has drawn scrutiny to a wider range of employment decisions and an increasing focus on individual decisions as indicators of whether an employer's policies comply with evolving federal requirements, say attorneys at Krevolin Horst.

  • Series

    Calif. Banking Brief: All The Notable Legal Updates In Q2

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    The year's second quarter brought several noteworthy financial services developments to California, including activity around a commercial finance oversight bill, the former Consumer Financial Protection Bureau head's appointment to lead a new consumer agency, and a ruling reinforcing viable bank-fintech partnerships, say attorneys at Manatt.

  • What Ex-CFPB Head's Calif. Role May Foretell For Oversight

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    California Gov. Gavin Newsom's selection of former Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Director Rohit Chopra to lead a new consumer agency signals tougher state financial services oversight, especially for fintechs, as well as heightened enforcement activity and larger penalties, say attorneys at WilmerHale.

  • Justices Stand On Statutory Specifics In Cisco And Landor

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    With its June 23 decisions in Cisco Systems Inc. v. Doe and Landor v. Louisiana Department of Corrections and Public Safety, the U.S. Supreme Court doubled down on the critical point that the statute invoked in a federal claim must authorize a private lawsuit and the remedy sought, says Patrick Judd at Phelps Dunbar.

  • Immigration Ruling Maps Alternative To Universal Injunctions

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    A Rhode Island federal court's decision in Dorcas International Institute of Rhode Island v. USCIS vacating policies that froze key immigration adjudications for nationals of 39 countries, and paused asylum applications altogether, suggests how practitioners might press for the Administrative Procedure Act's bad faith exception to record review and seek vacatur as a viable alternative to universal injunctions, says Kemal Hepsen at Mandamus Lawyers.

  • A Potential Turning Point For Short-And-Distort Claims

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    A California federal jury's conviction of Andrew Left signals that the historically blurry line between securities fraud and legitimate criticism of companies is growing clearer, and that there is a viable recourse against so-called short-and-distort campaigns intended to create a false impression of the market, say attorneys at Baker McKenzie.

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