GUEST COLUMNS
Friday, December 13, 2024
Taxpayers can amend their returns to claim refunds for taxes paid on settlements now considered tax-free, with a special provision extending the deadline for 2020 and 2021 returns.
Biden's H-1B reform faces a tight deadline, with key changes to "specialty occupation" definitions and degree requirements, but critics warn it could limit access to global talent and innovation.
Thursday, December 12, 2024
Donald Trump's push for recess appointments and unilateral control over federal spending raises serious constitutional concerns, echoing historical lessons about the dangers of undermining legislative power.
Critical care insurance has become essential for college athletes, helping protect their NIL earnings and career prospects from injury, with sports insurance disability lawyers providing crucial guidance to navigate complex policies and claims.
Wednesday, December 11, 2024
California's insurance crisis, driven by wildfire risks and climate change, has led to soaring premiums and dwindling coverage options, but proposed reforms to ease rate approvals risk undermining decades of consumer protections without guaranteeing affordability or accessibility for homeowners.
California must remain vigilant as distant legal battles, such as Idaho's Attorney General Labrador's controversial stance criminalizing out-of-state abortion referrals, underscore the growing national trend toward restrictive abortion laws that challenge First Amendment protections and the right to medical autonomy.
Tuesday, December 10, 2024
President-elect Trump's pick of RFK Jr. to lead HHS hints at big changes, with his background as a consumer attorney and vaccine critic likely shaping debates on Big Pharma, food safety, and healthcare policy.
As the holiday season approaches, lawyers can
draw inspiration from cherished tales like
The Nutcracker, The Grinch,
and A Christmas Carol to reflect on their practice. By facing fears
head-on, shifting perspectives on materialism, and embracing community service,
attorneys can avoid risks, build stronger client relationships, and contribute
positively to their communities.
Monday, December 9, 2024
Reports from the Inspector General, NAMVETS, and UCLA highlight how harmful interactions between the Veterans Affairs Police Department (VAPD) and veterans--especially Black, homeless, and mentally ill individuals--create barriers to care, prompting calls to reduce policing and increase healthcare-focused solutions at VA facilities.
California's AB 2013, effective in 2026, mandates AI companies disclose their training data, tackling bias, copyright issues, and the "black box" problem. The law pushes for transparency, accountability, and ethical AI practices, setting a potential global standard.
Friday, December 6, 2024
The Supreme Court's ruling in Warner Chappell v. Nealy clarifies that copyright infringement plaintiffs can recover damages for all timely claims, even for infringements occurring beyond three years before the lawsuit, resolving years of legal uncertainty.
The Survivor Justice Tax Prevention Act seeks to exempt settlements for sexual abuse and assault from taxes, addressing long-standing ambiguities in tax law.
Thursday, December 5, 2024
The power of eminent domain has historically had a disparate impact on Black Americans and other minority groups. However, the discussion surrounding reparations has been a divisive topic, and it remains unclear whether the government will compensate Black Californians.
The trial court allowed Suffolk to present a jury instruction based on Public Contract Code section 1104, which bars public entities from shifting responsibility for plan accuracy to bidders. However, the Court of Appeal found that the instruction was irrelevant to a claim for breach of implied warranty of the correctness of plans and specifications.
Wednesday, December 4, 2024
Outsourcing legal and business affairs work can reduce overhead expenses, making it a cost-effective option, especially for startups and small businesses.
The rise of AI has led to numerous copyright lawsuits, highlighting the need for creative problem-solving in this emerging field.
Tuesday, December 3, 2024
The Hamlin court ruled that intestate heirs have a concrete interest in the estate and can challenge a trust, interpreting Probate Code ยง 17200 to allow broader standing.
Most appellate briefs are too long, with lawyers trying to use up as much of the 14,000-word limit as they can. A shorter brief might have a better chance of winning.
Wednesday, November 27, 2024
Federalism allows states and the federal
government to balance power and protect individual liberty, encouraging
citizens to seek protection from one government when oppressed by the other.
Monday, November 25, 2024
With Trump's 2017 tax cuts set to expire in 2025, Congress faces pivotal decisions that could reshape America's entire tax landscape.
California's complex web of rent control ordinances and tenant protection laws exposes landlords to significant liabilities, including treble damages and attorney's fees, particularly in bad-faith cases. Mediation offers a practical, cost-effective way to resolve disputes early, avoiding the financial risks and uncertainties of protracted litigation.
Wednesday, November 20, 2024
Senate Bill 824 prohibits insurers from canceling or nonrenewing policies for properties in or near wildfire-affected areas for one year after a state of emergency is declared.
The California Supreme Court is weighing EpicentRx, Inc. v. Superior Court, a case
that could let shareholders bring corporate misconduct claims before a
California jury. A ruling for shareholders would challenge the enforceability
of bylaws requiring such cases to be heard exclusively in Delaware's Court of
Chancery, blocking corporate defendants from dismissing these cases in
California courts.
Tuesday, November 19, 2024
As AI technology impacts the court reporting industry, the risks--ranging from bias to security concerns--highlight why human court reporters are still essential for delivering accurate, reliable, and trustworthy legal transcripts.
Monday, November 18, 2024
Hochman's "hard middle" platform may allow federal agencies and prosecutors in the region to focus on broader, more complex matters, potentially incentivizing the U.S. Attorney's Office to increase its focus on major cases and corporate wrongdoing, including financial crimes and those impacting America's financial systems.
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Danny Masterson
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NEWS
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General News
Friday, December 13, 2024 |
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| U.S. Behavioral Health Plan, California is accused of denying plaintiff Ryan Matlock's addiction rehabilitation coverage in contravention of his doctor's assessment. After his treatment stopped, he overdosed and died. The company succeeded in getting the case to arbitration. | |
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General News
Friday, December 13, 2024 |
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| Los Angeles judge previously denied an anti-SLAPP motion from Warner Bros. on the condition that Dan Schneider submit a declaration denying the claims of the documentary "Quiet on Set" under penalty of perjury, which he has now done. | |
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General News
Friday, December 13, 2024 |
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| President-elect Donald Trump has said little about the specifics of how he would carry out the promised largest deportation effort in U.S. history. But immigration experts say it would be nearly impossible to execute without some critical assistance, particularly from jails and prisons. | |
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General News
Friday, December 13, 2024 |
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| California's card rooms lost a costly legislative fight this year as they sought to kill a bill that would allow their competitors, tribal casinos, to sue them. | |
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General News
Thursday, December 12, 2024 |
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| Authorities uncovered many cases involving victims who paid thousands of dollars for immigration services that were never delivered. | |
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General News
Thursday, December 12, 2024 |
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| The motion followed a unanimous jury verdict in October for a plaintiffs' class who claimed Cognizant - founded in India - had corporate practices in place that terminated their job applications because they were not of Indian descent. | |
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General News
Wednesday, December 11, 2024 |
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| Former attorney Tom Girardi does not remember anything about his month-long jury trial or guilty verdict, his counsel claimed in a sentencing position brief filed Friday. | |
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General News
Wednesday, December 11, 2024 |
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| San Diego County Superior Court Judge Rebecca S. Kanter, a longtime federal prosecutor, was nominated to fill the vacancy left by Senior U.S. District Judge William Q. Hayes. | |
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General News
Tuesday, December 10, 2024 |
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| Despite contentions from the former agent, Lorenzo Robert Savage III, that McLane Bednarski & Litt LLP partner David S. McClane included bad faith allegations against him based on a purported friendship with then-attorney Tom Girardi, the judge found McLane and his client had a reasonable basis to pursue the claims. | |
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General News
Tuesday, December 10, 2024 |
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| Attorneys for the hospitals claim Molina Healthcare's payments were not "reasonable and customary," the standard applied when calculating out of contract costs for patient care. | |
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General News
Monday, December 9, 2024 |
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| Gen Z's "desire to do social good" and mistrust of large corporations makes them likely to rule in favor of plaintiffs in cases involving employment law or personal injury, attorneys say. | |
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General News
Monday, December 9, 2024 |
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| Most experts agree that a light regulatory touch in internet businesses that was envisioned by the Clinton administration and then largely modeled by governments around the world was crucial to the creation of the online world that we live in today. But they also say that approach is unlikely to be adopted for the AI generation for reasons both political and economic. | |
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General News
Friday, December 6, 2024 |
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| A former Northrop Grumman worker claims the aerospace giant required off-the-clock work and denied its employees proper breaks. | |
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General News
Friday, December 6, 2024 |
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| Kaedian LLP partner Katherine C. McBroom and Los Angeles attorney Ian M. Wallach filed a federal civil complaint against those involved in their client's arrest in San Bernardino County and five-year prosecution. | |
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General News
Thursday, December 5, 2024 |
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| In denying his bid for a new trial on the grounds his mental competency had deteriorated during the proceedings, the judge focused on how he presented himself when he voluntarily testified as the last witness in his defense. | |
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General News
Thursday, December 5, 2024 |
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| The California Department of Education "violated the mandate" of the Education Code with its denial of funding to a Los Angeles charter school, Judge James C. Chalfant wrote. | |
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General News
Wednesday, December 4, 2024 |
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| In his Nov. 25 ruling, Judge Jonathan L. Rosenbloom found that Melya Kaplan used millions of dollars from the trust for personal benefit and her non-profit, Voice for the Animals. The funds were used to buy property and pay rent, among other things, the ruling said. | |
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General News
Wednesday, December 4, 2024 |
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| The use of tracking codes by Meta and Google meant those companies received identifying information about patients using AIDS Healthcare foundation's websites, according to a lawsuit filed in Los Angeles. | |
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General News
Tuesday, December 3, 2024 |
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| Sentinel Peak Resources says the bill's author intended to target any "low production well" in California that was within 3,200 feet of a sensitive receptor. But in August, AB 2716 was amended to focus solely on the Inglewood Field in the Baldwin Hills Conservancy. | |
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General News
Tuesday, December 3, 2024 |
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| The settlement brings to a close years of litigation between the company and women who said they were systematically paid less than their male counterparts. | |
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General News
Monday, December 2, 2024 |
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| The rock singer, whose real name is Brian Warner, sued actress Evan Rachel Wood in 2022 over public allegations of abuse made by the actress and her associate, Ilma Gore. | |
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General News
Monday, December 2, 2024 |
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| In October, City Administrative Officer Matthew W. Szabo released a report indicating that the city has exceeded its planned expenditures for the current year by $215.96 million, with the largest overage attributed to escalating liability claims. | |
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General News
Monday, December 2, 2024 |
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| "The case has statewide implications because the court rulings allowed local government to evade the debt limit law by agreeing to pay the debt in full, after being caught violating the Constitution," Michael J. Aguirre said. | |
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General News
Friday, November 29, 2024 |
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| The jury found that the school had been negligent in its supervision of the student on the playground. | |
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General News
Wednesday, November 27, 2024 |
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| Advocates on both sides of the legal and political divide have accused each other of flipping Title IX on its head when it comes to the issue of allowing transgender athletes to compete in women's sports. | |
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General News
Wednesday, November 27, 2024 |
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| The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that Heard's insurer had not breached its duty to defend the actress in her defamation dispute with ex-husband Johnny Depp. | |
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General News
Monday, November 25, 2024 |
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| A trade secrets complaint accuses the executives of taking the business to their new employer, BMO Wealth Management. | |
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General News
Monday, November 25, 2024 |
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| Alyssa D. Bell, who represents Mark Ridley-Thomas, told a 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals panel that her client was trying to avoid the appearance of nepotism, but said his actions do not support a bribery conviction. | |
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General News
Monday, November 25, 2024 |
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| Attorneys representing the VA in a dispute with homeless veterans have pointed to department officials' testimony before a congressional committee to bolster its claims that budget constraints would limit its ability to construct housing in West LA. | |
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General News
Monday, November 25, 2024 |
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| The groups argue that the project will undermine the state's climate goals and grow the county's polluting oil and gas industry. They also claim that the proposed site won't work because it is full of old wells that will leak carbon back into the atmosphere. The project is one of six carbon storage facilities California Resources Corporation has planned for the Central Valley. | |
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General News
Friday, December 13, 2024 |
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| Masterson, known for roles in the TV sitcoms "That 70s Show" and "The Ranch," was found guilty by a jury on two counts of rape following a retrial in May 2023. | |
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General News
Thursday, December 12, 2024 |
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| A federal judge Tuesday temporarily blocked what would be the biggest grocery store merger in U.S. history, siding with the Federal Trade Commission in its lawsuit seeking to halt the deal. | |
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General News
Wednesday, December 11, 2024 |
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| While the two defendants had tried to promote the Loop Industries stock and keep values afloat, there was no evidence that they had lied, U.S. District Judge Cynthia Bashant said when granting motions to dismiss the indictments. | |
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General News
Monday, December 9, 2024 |
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| The complaints state that the company's founders knew they would never be able to deliver homes for resale to the plaintiffs when they took thousands of dollars in franchise fees. | |
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General News
Friday, December 6, 2024 |
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| Sober living facility Ohio House failed in its disparate treatment claim targeting Costa Mesa's zoning ordinances. | |
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General News
Thursday, December 5, 2024 |
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| Nathan Hochman said he rejects extreme policies on both sides of the pendulum, such as mass incarceration and "decarceration" policies "that predetermine that certain crimes and certain criminals would not be prosecuted without a regard to the facts of the law." | |
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General News
Wednesday, December 4, 2024 |
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| The company's attorneys, who asked the judge to reverse the jury's October verdict, filed a brief Friday replying to the plaintiffs' opposition to a motion for judgement according to law. | |
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General News
Tuesday, December 3, 2024 |
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| U.S. District Judge Anthony J. Battaglia found Temu's arbitration agreement is reasonably enforced, and he stayed the case pending arbitration, with the exception of the plaintiffs' request for public injunctive relief. | |
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General News
Friday, November 29, 2024 |
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| The agent says a costume designer had no cause to include him in a federal lawsuit that primarily targets Erika Girardi, an entertainer, simply because the agent was purportedly friends with then-attorney Tom Girardi. | |
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General News
Wednesday, November 27, 2024 |
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| In the multidistrict lawsuit that was initiated in 2015, StarKist Co. and several related companies were accused of fixing the price of packaged tuna products. A partial $16.2 million settlement was reached in 2022 between defendants Chicken of the Sea International and its parent company. | |