California

  • April 11, 2025

    OpenAI Says Co. Sought 'Open AI' TM After It Became Famous

    OpenAI has urged a California federal court to find that it holds senior, protectable trademark rights over a company called Open Artificial Intelligence, saying the entity "rushed" to register its name only after the ChatGPT developer began getting media attention about a decade ago.

  • April 11, 2025

    Ex-BofA Worker Seeks Class Status Over Unpaid PTO

    Bank of America applies the same nationwide policy of not paying unused vacation time when employees part ways with the company, a former lending officer said, urging a California federal court to grant her case class certification.

  • April 11, 2025

    Nikola Corp. Gets OK For $30M Arizona Factory Sale

    A Delaware bankruptcy judge Friday gave electric vehicle and hydrogen fueling technology maker Nikola Corp. the go-ahead to sell its Arizona factory and headquarters to electric carmaker Lucid Motors for $30 million.

  • April 11, 2025

    Off The Bench: A Wait On NIL Settlement, Done Deal In Soccer

    In this week's Off The Bench, the big NCAA name, image and likeness settlement still needs more work, a long-awaited settlement between U.S. Soccer and a prominent sports promotion company is completed, and a resolution of the conflict between Northwestern University and its football players is a step closer.

  • April 11, 2025

    Ex-Girardi CFO Gets 10 Years For 'Devastating' Fraud

    A California federal judge sentenced Girardi Keese's former chief financial officer to just over 10 years in prison Friday for aiding firm leader Tom Girardi's $15 million client theft scheme while also embezzling $6 million for himself, saying the two interrelated schemes "had devastating and far-reaching effects."

  • April 11, 2025

    Mich. Pot Co. Hits Vape Wholesalers With Antitrust Suit

    Redbud Roots Inc., which bills itself as Michigan's top craft cannabis cultivator, processor and supplier, is suing a group of vaporizer wholesalers, saying in the antitrust complaint that they have agreed to fix prices and keep competitors out of the market.

  • April 10, 2025

    Calif. FAIR Plan Denying Wildfire Smoke Coverage, Suit Says

    California's "insurer of last resort" has been illegally underpaying or denying smoke damage coverage to homeowners affected by January's Los Angeles-area wildfires, leaving property owners with uninhabitable homes and at risk of serious health issues related to toxin exposure, homeowners alleged in a complaint filed Thursday in California state court.

  • April 10, 2025

    IP Forecast: Novartis' Entresto Fight Heads To DC Circ.

    Novartis will go before the D.C. Circuit next week in the latest legal front in the drug giant's battle to stop generic versions of its blockbuster heart failure drug Entresto. Here's a look at that case — plus all the other major intellectual property matters on deck in the coming week.

  • April 10, 2025

    Jury To Hear Judge Had 48 Guns In Retrial Over Shooting Wife

    Jurors in the upcoming retrial of a California jurist accused of murdering his wife while intoxicated can hear that he had 48 firearms and thousands of ammunition rounds in his home, after the presiding judge ruled Thursday it was relevant to show he committed an intentional act he knew was inherently dangerous.

  • April 10, 2025

    9th Circ. Remands Challenge To Biden-Era Asylum Limits

    The Ninth Circuit on Thursday remanded a district court's 2023 vacatur of a Biden-era rule placing limits on asylum so that the lower court can address legal developments, but one circuit judge asserted that the remand was the latest move in an "ongoing game of Supreme Court keep-away."

  • April 10, 2025

    9th Circ. Open To Sending Invisalign Antitrust Suit To Trial

    Two Ninth Circuit judges appeared open on Thursday to reversing Align's summary judgment win against a pair of class actions accusing Invisalign of monopolizing the clear braces and teeth scanners market, with one judge saying there is a triable factual dispute and another judge doubting Align's interpretation of antitrust law.

  • April 10, 2025

    Netchoice Wants New Calif. Online Marketplace Law Blocked

    Big Tech trade group Netchoice LLC has asked a California federal court to block a new Golden State law requiring online marketplaces to collect information from third-party sellers and report those selling stolen goods, claiming the "onerous" measure will "impose unprecedented and unconstitutional burdens on widely used online services."

  • April 10, 2025

    Calif. Centers Used 'Body Brokers' In $10M Scam, BCBS Says

    Blue Cross Blue Shield of Oklahoma slammed two California recovery centers and their owners with a lawsuit Thursday, alleging they spearheaded a $10 million kickback scheme to employ "body brokers" to find Indigenous patients for substance treatment facilities where they went to appalling lengths to stop them from leaving.

  • April 10, 2025

    Online Advertising Co. Is Sued Over Use Of Tracking Cookies

    Digital advertising firm PubMatic Inc. engaged in vast and unauthorized tracking of the online lives of "hundreds of millions of Americans," which it later shared and sold to third parties, violating state and federal privacy laws, according to a proposed class action filed in California federal court.

  • April 10, 2025

    Calif. Rep's Bill Would Shield Farmers From Retaliatory Tariffs

    A California congressman on Thursday introduced a bill in the U.S. House aiming to curb the authority of President Donald Trump to impose new or additional duties on agricultural products from countries that are major agricultural trade partners with the United States.

  • April 10, 2025

    Pa. Family Blames Fatal House Fire On Prosthetic Arm Battery

    The surviving family members of a house fire that killed two people are suing prosthesis manufacturers Liberating Technologies Inc. and Ossur Americas Inc. and related companies in Pennsylvania state court, claiming the battery in a prosthetic arm that was being charged during the night started the fire.

  • April 10, 2025

    Soulja Boy's Ex-Assistant Wins $4.25M At Trial Over Abuse

    A jury in California state court held Thursday that the rapper known as Soulja Boy must pay $4.25 million for physically and sexually abusing his live-in personal assistant for nearly two years, according to the plaintiff's counsel.

  • April 10, 2025

    Oracle Wins Bid To Keep Trade Secret Case Out Of Arbitration

    Oracle doesn't have to arbitrate its trade secret case against a former employee accused of absconding to a rival with confidential information related to enterprise resource planning applications, after a California federal judge said Wednesday he signed a proprietary information contract that says such issues could be litigated in court.

  • April 10, 2025

    Israel's NSO Faces April Damages Trial For WhatsApp Hacking

    A California federal judge on Thursday nailed down details of an April 28 jury trial to determine the amount of damages Israeli spyware-maker NSO Group owes Meta for hacking into 1,400 WhatsApp users' devices, refusing to seal the proceedings and expressing frustration at the amount of discovery withheld by the parties, particularly NSO.

  • April 10, 2025

    Fairplay Urges FTC To Investigate Meta Over Kids' VR Privacy

    A nonprofit organization that works to curb child-targeted marketing asked the Federal Trade Commission on Thursday to look into whether Meta Platforms is violating the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act by allowing kids under the age of 13 to access its "Horizon Worlds" virtual reality platform and collecting their personal information.

  • April 10, 2025

    Texas Group Seeks Halt Of Trump Admin Border Cash Order

    A Texas trade group has urged a federal judge to immediately block the Trump administration's order singling out cash-moving businesses along the southwest border for heightened anti-money laundering reporting, saying the order is unjustified and discriminates against businesses that serve predominately Latino immigrant communities.

  • April 10, 2025

    Manufacturer Says Insurers Owe $3.4M For Warehouse Theft

    An anime merchandise manufacturer is seeking to recover over $3.4 million from its insurers for business personal property and business income that was lost after its warehouse was robbed, telling a California federal court that a majority of its claim hasn't been paid.

  • April 10, 2025

    NSO Hack Needed Apple's Calif. Servers, Foreign Journos Say

    Counsel for a group of El Salvador-based journalists urged the Ninth Circuit on Thursday to revive a lawsuit accusing Israeli spyware maker NSO Group of hacking their iPhones, saying the case belongs in California federal court because the alleged attacks relied on Apple's servers within the Golden State.

  • April 10, 2025

    Live Nation Cites Amazon's Win In Urging Nix Of Antitrust Suit

    An attorney for Live Nation Entertainment and Ticketmaster urged a California federal judge Thursday to rethink his tentative opinion to keep alive an antitrust case alleging monopolization of the concert ticketing market, saying the judge did not consider a recent Ninth Circuit decision in favor of Amazon that "maps 100%" to the case.

  • April 10, 2025

    Holmes Seeks Full 9th Circ. Review Of Theranos Fraud Appeal

    Convicted Theranos Inc. founder Elizabeth Holmes has asked the Ninth Circuit for en banc review of a panel's decision to affirm her criminal fraud conviction and 11-year prison sentence, saying problems with the opinion included a "time-warping relevance theory."

Expert Analysis

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

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    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

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    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

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    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

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    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

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    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

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    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

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    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

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    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

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    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

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    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

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    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

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    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

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    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

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    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

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    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.

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