GUEST COLUMNS
Thursday, November 13, 2025
A GOP lawsuit over California's new district maps tests whether the state's largest ethnic group -- Latinos -- can still qualify for voting protections despite their numbers but persistent political underrepresentation.
California's wildfire litigation is echoing the post-Katrina struggle over causation, with courts now facing the pivotal question of whether smoke damage counts as "direct physical loss" -- a decision that will shape recovery for years to come.
Wednesday, November 12, 2025
On Veterans Day, we honor Justice Buck Compton -- a Silver Star-winning D-Day hero, Band of Brothers paratrooper and longtime California Court of Appeal justice -- whose extraordinary life blended courage in war, dedication to public service and a commitment to the law.
Tuesday, November 11, 2025
As flu season sets in, even the most tireless lawyer must recognize when illness demands a pause -- because ethical duties don't take sick days.
Some fertility plaintiffs may endure painful follow-up procedures--yet still face taxes on settlements, depending on how claims are characterized and how the IRS views the loss.
Monday, November 10, 2025
Betting, branding and foreign financing were once unthinkable in college sports -- now they're on the table. Without a federal NIL framework, it's time for lawyers to step in.
A recent en banc decision by the Federal Circuit
in EcoFactor, Inc. v. Google LLC (2025) -- left standing by the U.S.
Supreme Court's denial of review -- has sparked widespread debate in the legal
community for significantly heightening the scrutiny of expert testimony under Daubert
and Federal Rule of Evidence 702, and for potentially shifting decision-making
power over patent damages from juries to judges.
Friday, November 7, 2025
Unlike the dot-com era, when women were largely sidelined, the AI boom offers a historic opportunity for women to lead by leveraging their judgment, communication, empathy and collaborative skills across industries.
California joins other states where partisan gerrymandering skews representation, disenfranchises voters and fuels political polarization and gridlock.
Thursday, November 6, 2025
UC San Diego's gutting of a scholarship once intended for Black students is just the beginning of a broader, deafening effort to further marginalize those already up against the odds.
In California, employers facing employee embezzlement can often recover stolen funds by acting quickly with discreet investigations, civil remedies like temporary restraining orders or writs of attachment, and, when appropriate, reporting the theft to law enforcement to preserve assets and pursue restitution.
Wednesday, November 5, 2025
Medical debt is a leading cause of consumer bankruptcy in the U.S., and attorneys play a critical role in guiding clients through Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 filings, evaluating timing, exemptions, and alternative remedies, while also considering recent protections such as California's SB 1061.
The disruptive potential of deepfakes in family law highlights the urgent need for legal and technological solutions to safeguard the integrity of evidence and uphold the principles of justice and fairness in custody disputes.
Tuesday, November 4, 2025
The rise of generative AI challenges traditional intellectual property laws by raising unresolved questions about who owns AI-generated content -- the developer, the user or no one -- forcing legal systems to adapt while grappling with fundamental questions about creativity, ownership and responsibility.
The SEC now allows mandatory arbitration in IPOs, reshaping litigation risk for public issuers, raising governance and insurance questions, and making expert, well-structured arbitration crucial for fair, efficient resolution of securities disputes.
Monday, November 3, 2025
As autonomous vehicle technologies advance--with investments growing 800% annually and market potential projected at $400 billion by 2035--the shifting landscape of manufacturer liability, insurance coverage, and evolving tort principles is creating a new era of complex commercial litigation and regulatory risk for the driverless ecosystem.
When clients don't pay, lawyers have options -- but ethical rules strictly limit how far they can go, what they can disclose and how they work with collection agencies.
Friday, October 31, 2025
Whether it's an unearned bonus or pay returned for other reasons, such as legal violations, you can often recoup the taxes -- though with the IRS, timing and details matter.
California's paid sick leave has evolved from three days for illness in 2015 to five days covering crime victimization, court appearances, domestic violence and bereavement, with more expansions coming in 2026.
Thursday, October 30, 2025
The Supreme Court is taking up two cases that could hold Cuba accountable for seizing American property -- an unexpected legal showdown with serious implications.
A $329 million verdict against Tesla for an autopilot-related death opens the floodgates to more lawsuits, exposing the company's overhyped self-driving claims and inferior safety systems compared to competitors like Waymo.
Wednesday, October 29, 2025
In the unpublished decision, the California Court of Appeal ruled that a man living in a tent had no Fourth Amendment protection -- a sign of how courts are criminalizing poverty.
Part Two examines the proposed 2026 ballot initiatives targeting property and automobile insurance in California, including a Consumer Watchdog "Bill of Rights" and a modernized regulatory framework aimed at restoring competition. The coming election could once again place voters at the center of the state's insurance market policy.
Tuesday, October 28, 2025
On Oct. 11, California enacted SB 37 to crack down on misleading attorney advertising -- giving consumers the right to sue over deceptive ads and strengthening penalties for illegal solicitation.
Ballots, burn zones and bottom lines: How California voters have shaped the state's insurance market
California voters have long wielded influence over insurance regulation through ballot initiatives, from Proposition 103's sweeping reforms in 1988 to Proposition 213's 1996 limits on uninsured drivers' claims. This article explores the history and impact of these measures, setting the stage for the critical 2026 election.
Monday, October 27, 2025
Cash for keys agreements can offer landlords with properties in rent-controlled jurisdictions flexibility, but failure to follow local rules could cost them dearly.
Once limited mostly to defamation and media cases, California's anti-SLAPP statute (Code Civ. Proc. § 425.16) has expanded into nearly every corner of civil litigation -- from employment, family, and probate disputes to contract, real estate, and arbitration matters -- catching unprepared lawyers off guard and packing a powerful punch with fee-shifting, discovery stays, and immediate appeal rights that can turn a routine case into a high-stakes fight.
Friday, October 24, 2025
As more plaintiffs look to sell their legal claims, the quirky tax rules around such transfers make early tax advice crucial.
Jurors may apply the law as instructed, but rising ticket prices and advancing surveillance are shaping a new expectation: that venues take real responsibility for keeping concertgoers safe.
Thursday, October 23, 2025
A billion-dollar Los Angeles verdict over baby powder and mesothelioma underscores how junk science, aggressive trial lawyer advertising, and weak judicial gatekeeping are fueling an endless cycle of litigation that drives up costs, distorts justice, and undermines public trust in California's courts.
The allegations of widespread fraud in Los Angeles County sexual abuse claims demand immediate, independent action from experienced, unbiased plaintiffs' firms to protect real victims and restore integrity to the settlement process.
Wednesday, October 22, 2025
Businesses across industries are facing a surge in "Shine the Light" law requests under California Civil Code §1798.83, exposing those unprepared to respond to significant litigation risks and penalties despite compliance with newer privacy laws like the CCPA.
Amid "No Kings" protests over his authoritarian tactics, Trump's March 22 directive to punish lawyers challenging his policies looks less like reform -- and more like an effort to intimidate dissent.
Tuesday, October 21, 2025
The EPA's proposal to gut greenhouse gas reporting would sideline nearly all sectors, leaving a gaping hole in climate accountability until at least 2034.
The California Air Resources Board released a preliminary list of in-scope entities and draft guidance on the state's mandatory climate reporting requirements. Certain companies doing business in California will have to publicly post their first reports on or before Jan. 1, 2026, in accordance with the guidance.
Monday, October 20, 2025
Sen. Ted Cruz plans bipartisan legislation to curb government "jawboning" -- pressure on media or platforms to silence speech -- arguing that protecting free expression requires applying First Amendment principles evenly, no matter the politics.
Recent California legislation will enable municipalities -- and reviewing courts -- to conserve valuable resources and time during CEQA-related litigation.
Friday, October 17, 2025
Despite longstanding precedent affirming the public's right to access civil court proceedings, recent actions in Los Angeles courtrooms underscore the need to reaffirm a core principle: Public and press access to civil proceedings is a constitutional right -- one that has never been more vital.
Banksy's mural at London's Royal Courts of Justice highlights the complex legal landscape of the Visual Artists Rights Act, which grants authors of recognized visual art the 'right of integrity' to prevent destruction or alteration of their works, creating potential liability for building owners even when artworks are installed without permission.
Thursday, October 16, 2025
California personal representatives must
conduct diligent, country-specific searches to identify heirs abroad, since failure to do so can reopen estates, delay distributions, and expose fiduciaries to liability.
The 2025 California Legislative Session enacted major reforms to the state's cannabis and hemp laws -- including new hemp regulations, a temporary cannabis tax cut, tighter controls on online sales, and faster approval for substance research -- marking one of the most significant overhauls of the industry since legalization.
Wednesday, October 15, 2025
In California trust litigation, determining whether a settlor's mental ability meets the lower testamentary standard or the higher contractual one often decides who controls an estate -- and the outcome of the entire case.
Class actions in California are high-stakes, complex and slow -- demanding strategy, persistence, and careful management to deliver real results.
9th Circuit Judge Mark J. Bennett
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NEWS
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General News
Thursday, November 13, 2025 |
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| A new VA report found the West Los Angeles campus earns far below market value from third-party leases, supporting Judge David Carter's ruling that the agreements violate the West LA Leasing Act. | |
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General News
Thursday, November 13, 2025 |
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| A federal judge in San Jose will hear Baron App Inc.'s bid for a temporary restraining order against OpenAI over the Sora app's use of the term "cameo," as both sides trade accusations over trademark infringement, dilution and fair use. | |
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General News
Thursday, November 13, 2025 |
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| The new rules that kick in next year for health savings accounts may make the plans more attractive, as Americans consider their insurance options for 2026. | |
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General News
Wednesday, November 12, 2025 |
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| The Trump administration plans to propose new oil and gas drilling off the California coast for the first time in roughly four decades, according to three people briefed on the matter. | |
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General News
Wednesday, November 12, 2025 |
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| SoftBank, the Japanese technology giant, has staked its future on artificial intelligence. | |
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General News
Wednesday, November 12, 2025 |
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| Just like television and film shoots, commercial production in Los Angeles has plummeted. | |
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General News
Tuesday, November 11, 2025 |
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| The ruling cements Alcon's acquisition of Village Roadshow's remaining film assets, including rights tied to Mad Max, The Matrix, and Joker franchises. | |
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General News
Tuesday, November 11, 2025 |
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| After nearly three weeks of trial, jurors unanimously sided with Cedars-Sinai, finding no evidence of age or ethnic bias in the hospital's decision to terminate the plaintiff. | |
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General News
Tuesday, November 11, 2025 |
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| California YIMBY, an organization founded eight years ago to promote housing construction in response to an ever-increasing gap between demand and supply, held a victory party in San Francisco recently. | |
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General News
Monday, November 10, 2025 |
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| The justices reversed an appellate ruling that found the law violated the First Amendment. The court held that the restriction regulates discriminatory conduct that 'incidentally' affects speech. | |
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General News
Monday, November 10, 2025 |
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| After months of shaking hands with Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and pledging to take artificial colors out of candy and drinks, food company executives are done playing nice. | |
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General News
Monday, November 10, 2025 |
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| An attorney representing three female college athletes and a Liberty University student told an Oakland federal judge the NCAA's $2.8 billion settlement over athlete compensation discriminates against women in non-revenue generating sports, arguing it pressures schools to cut women's teams and funnels almost all money to men's sports. | |
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General News
Friday, November 7, 2025 |
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| Republican voters, candidates and the state GOP sued to block Proposition 50, alleging California's new congressional map unconstitutionally favors Hispanic voters through race-based redistricting violating the 14th and 15th Amendments. | |
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General News
Friday, November 7, 2025 |
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| Tung, a former clerk to Justices Antonin Scalia and Neil Gorsuch, succeeds Judge Sandra S. Ikuta; his addition does not change the court's partisan makeup. | |
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General News
Friday, November 7, 2025 |
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| California employers will face a significantly more complex leave and accommodation landscape beginning on January 1, 2026. | |
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General News
Thursday, November 6, 2025 |
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| San Francisco public defender's report 470 unrepresented cases since May due to lawyer shortages, rising felony and misdemeanor caseloads, as judge holds hearings addressing constitutional and staffing concerns. | |
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General News
Thursday, November 6, 2025 |
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| California Rural Legal Assistance sued the state over redacted bird flu records, seeking unredacted information on quarantined dairies amid a multi-year avian flu outbreak threatening public health and agricultural workers. | |
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General News
Thursday, November 6, 2025 |
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| There have been calls to tax the rich ever since there have been taxes. One idea, though, arouses particularly fevered reactions: a tax on wealth, not just paychecks. | |
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General News
Wednesday, November 5, 2025 |
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| A court ruling this summer canceled a President Joe Biden-era federal effort to remove medical debt from credit reports. | |
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General News
Wednesday, November 5, 2025 |
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| A federal lawsuit filed in San Jose claims AB 715's vague language equates criticism of Israel and Zionism with antisemitism, chilling classroom speech and violating the First Amendment. | |
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General News
Wednesday, November 5, 2025 |
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| Prosecutor Ana Gonzalez challenged Public Defender Manohar Raju's claims of an emergency over staff shortages, while Judge Harry Dorfman warned against personal attacks. | |
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General News
Tuesday, November 4, 2025 |
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| Two cases in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California -- with one now moving to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals -- will provide key tests of the state's efforts to fill the void left as the new administration steps back from enforcing federal labor protections. | |
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General News
Tuesday, November 4, 2025 |
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| As Gov. Gavin Newsom ramps up what appears to be a 2028 White House bid, a mainstay of his pitch during television interviews and social media appearances is California's economy. | |
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General News
Tuesday, November 4, 2025 |
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| The federal appeals court panel on Friday ordered a San Jose magistrate judge to reinstate a jury's trade secrets misappropriation verdict in favor of EchoSpan Inc. after he wiped it out in post-trial motions by defendant Medallia Inc. last year. | |
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General News
Monday, November 3, 2025 |
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| U.S. District Judge William H. Orrick said the law firm violated a court order that barred LinkedIn research on potential jurors, warning that future violations could bring far steeper penalties. | |
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General News
Monday, November 3, 2025 |
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| Los Angeles struggles to balance its humane responses to addiction and homelessness with its more instant but often less durable alternatives -- police action. | |
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General News
Monday, November 3, 2025 |
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| Southern California Edison finalized its Eaton Fire settlement plan, doubling eligible properties to 18,000, expanding coverage beyond the fire perimeter, increasing compensation, and revising procedures to streamline out-of-court claims. | |
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General News
Friday, October 31, 2025 |
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| Santa Ana agreed to pay $550,000 to settle a federal lawsuit by nonprofit Share Our Selves, which accused the city of using zoning laws to block a downtown clinic for low-income residents. | |
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General News
Friday, October 31, 2025 |
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| Baron App Inc., which operates the celebrity video platform Cameo, sued OpenAI in San Francisco federal court, alleging that OpenAI's Sora app infringes on its trademark by using the same "Cameo" name for an AI-generated video feature. | |
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General News
Friday, October 31, 2025 |
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| One of the most important aspects to consider while preparing for your new arrival is how your financial habits, responsibilities and goals might change. | |
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General News
Thursday, October 30, 2025 |
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| Retired U.S. Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy reflected on his Sacramento roots, his landmark rulings, and encounters with figures from Vladimir Putin to the plaintiff in Chadha during a McGeorge School of Law talk. | |
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General News
Thursday, October 30, 2025 |
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| Well, sports fans, how about this scenario -- long-time frenemies Gavin Newsom and Kamala Harris facing off for the Democratic Party's presidential nomination three years hence? | |
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General News
Thursday, October 30, 2025 |
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| California Attorney General Rob Bonta on Tuesday approved OpenAI's restructuring plan, allowing its for-profit arm to operate as a public benefit corporation after securing concessions on safety and charitable oversight. | |
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General News
Wednesday, October 29, 2025 |
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| A San Francisco judge said she will approve a $65 million settlement resolving a class action accusing World Financial Group of misclassifying 380,000 sales agents and running a pyramid-style recruiting scheme. | |
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General News
Wednesday, October 29, 2025 |
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| The cryptocurrency trading platform is asking a San Francisco federal judge to dismiss or transfer a breach of contract lawsuit to New York, citing a revised user agreement that includes a forum selection clause. | |
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General News
Wednesday, October 29, 2025 |
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| Cal State, the largest U.S. university system with 460,000 students, recently embarked on a public-private campaign -- with corporate titans including Amazon, OpenAI and Nvidia -- to position the school as the nation's "first and largest AI-empowered" university. | |
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General News
Tuesday, October 28, 2025 |
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| Justices instead approved only installment-payment clarifications, adopted (with modifications) cross-state license recognition for military personnel and spouses, and appointed Pasadena Assistant City Attorney Alison R. Worthington to the State Bar Court. | |
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General News
Tuesday, October 28, 2025 |
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| With more interest rate cuts a possibility, it may be a good time to lock in current rates in your savings, if you haven't already. | |
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General News
Tuesday, October 28, 2025 |
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| Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero also bemoaned California's budget challenges and the ongoing shortage of judges, especially in San Bernardino and Riverside counties. | |
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General News
Monday, October 27, 2025 |
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| Author Tasha Alexander alleges Apple trained its 'Apple Intelligence' model using her books without permission. | |
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General News
Monday, October 27, 2025 |
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| Many financial institutions are offering interest-free loans, fee waivers, deferred payments and other forms of temporary relief to help keep workers afloat while the political gridlock drags on. | |
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General News
Monday, October 27, 2025 |
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| Several liberal judges issue sharp dissents as the appeals court lets stand a stay of a San Francisco judge's order stopping the use of federalized National Guard troops in Los Angeles. | |
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General News
Thursday, November 13, 2025 |
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| The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled that California may pursue damages and injunctive relief against tribal officials accused of violating a federal tobacco law, rejecting their claims of personal immunity. | |
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General News
Wednesday, November 12, 2025 |
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| U.S. District Judge Dale Fischer on Monday blasted Los Angeles city leaders over alleged discovery abuses in a homeless encampment case. She was the second federal judge in three days to make the threat. | |
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General News
Tuesday, November 11, 2025 |
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| Los Angeles' public defense network faces a chain of strain as the Alternate Public Defender's Office declines dozens of homicide cases, forcing private conflict panel attorneys and the county budget to absorb the impact. | |
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General News
Monday, November 10, 2025 |
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| A Los Angeles judge ruled social media giants must face jury trials over claims their platforms harmed young people's mental health, marking a major step in nationwide litigation. | |
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General News
Friday, November 7, 2025 |
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| San Francisco Superior Court Judge Harry Dorfman questioned was told he can order private attorneys to represent indigent defendants amid an alleged shortage of public defenders and conflict panel lawyers for criminal cases. | |
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General News
Thursday, November 6, 2025 |
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| The high court heard arguments Tuesday over whether an arbitration agreement that a job applicant couldn't realistically read is unenforceable--even if its terms are fair. Justices appeared skeptical of a lower court's ruling favoring a car dealership, focusing on whether the contract's illegibility made it unconscionable. | |
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General News
Wednesday, November 5, 2025 |
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| Judges Patrick J. Bumatay and Lawrence J.C. VanDyke dissented Friday from the 9th Circuit's refusal to revisit a case upholding criminal penalties created by Interior Department regulations. They argued that only Congress--not the executive branch--has constitutional authority to define crimes. | |
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General News
Monday, November 3, 2025 |
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| California and other states are seeking to challenge the Justice Department's approval of the Hewlett Packard Enterprise-Juniper merger, alleging political interference and calling for an evidentiary hearing under the Tunney Act. But the Justice Department and Hewlett Packard Enterprise argued this week that the states had no right to intervene. | |
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General News
Friday, October 31, 2025 |
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| Los Angeles County Judge Lawrence P. Riff approved mechanisms to distribute billions in settlements compensating thousands of survivors of sexual abuse in county-run juvenile facilities, advancing implementation of historic agreements. | |
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General News
Thursday, October 30, 2025 |
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| Two insurer groups are challenging a deal in the Sacramento Diocese bankruptcy allowing four sexual abuse cases to proceed, in a hearing that could influence similar disputes nationwide. | |
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General News
Wednesday, October 29, 2025 |
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| Oil giant argues SB 253 and SB 261 compel speech and conflict with federal securities rules. A prior challenge by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce failed to win an injunction. | |
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General News
Tuesday, October 28, 2025 |
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| U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers of Oakland urged attorneys general to use AI for jury instruction analysis in a Social Media Addiction MDL, criticized "gamesmanship," and moved the first bellwether trial to Oakland. | |
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General News
Monday, October 27, 2025 |
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| Engineer Dan Sargent, backed by Sam Altman and Jony Ive, seeks dismissal of a trade secrets lawsuit from iyO Inc., claiming any alleged disclosures were protected speech under California's anti-SLAPP law. | |