9th Circuit Court

‘Hottie’ Judge Kozinski Continues Joke in Press Release

Do looks count? Judge Alex Kozinski of the San Francisco-based 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals would like to think so, according to a press release with a tongue-in-cheek nod to his win in an unusual contest buried in the last paragraph. The press release announces the swearing-in ceremony for…

Nov 28, 2007 12:26 PM CST

Supreme Court Turns Down Welfare Search Case

The U.S. Supreme Court has refused to accept a case challenging a requirement that welfare recipients allow searches of their homes. The program, adopted in 1997 by the district attorney’s office in San Diego County, required unannounced home visits by the district attorney’s fraud investigators, SCOTUSblog reports. Those who refuse…

Nov 26, 2007 3:24 PM CST

Judge Bars Some Celebrex Claims

A federal judge has ruled that there is not enough evidence to prove the painkiller Celebrex causes heart attacks or strokes at the most common dosage. U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer of San Francisco ruled yesterday that the evidence linking a 200-milligram dose of the painkiller with such health problems…

Nov 20, 2007 11:25 AM CST

Barry Bonds Case Puts MLB on Trial

As baseball fans throughout the country found out that home-run king Barry Bonds had been federally indicted yesterday in a steroids-related perjury case, many wondered why the Giants slugger has now been seemingly singled out for prosecution. But they didn’t have to look far for some possible answers, according to…

Nov 17, 2007 12:38 AM CST

9th Circuit Applies State Secrets Privilege in Wiretap Case

In a ruling seen as a victory for the Bush administration, a federal appeals court has said that a warrantless wiretap case brought against the government by an Islamic charity cannot proceed, at least for now, because of the national security issues it raises. The three-judge appellate panel rejected the…

Nov 16, 2007 7:43 PM CST

Appeals Court Tosses SUV Emissions Standards

A federal appeals court has tossed new fuel economy standards for light trucks, saying the government failed to consider the economic impact of emissions that contribute to global warming. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals also said the government should explain why it set lower standards for light trucks,…

Nov 16, 2007 11:38 AM CST

Federal Judge Hit for ‘Unseemly Haste’ in Dismissing Case

A federal appeals court said Tuesday that U.S. District Judge Manuel Real acted with “unseemly haste” when he dismissed a case brought by a no-show lawyer with a good excuse. The lawyer, Stanley Raskin, received e-mail notice of a hearing even though there was no evidence he had agreed to…

Nov 15, 2007 11:28 AM CST

Appeals Court Orders Narrowed Relief in Whale Sonar Case

A federal appeals court is requiring the Navy to lessen the harm caused by its sonar to whales and other marine life. The San Francisco-based 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said a solution needs to be worked out before naval exercises begin in January off the coast of Southern…

Nov 14, 2007 7:05 PM CST

Bill Would Give 9th Circuit Another Judge—in 2009

Draft language in a pending courthouse security bill would give the San Francisco-based 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals an extra judge, but the seat wouldn’t be filled until President Bush leaves office. The bill would eliminate a vacant seat on the D.C. Circuit, in effect transferring the judgeship to…

Nov 14, 2007 12:51 PM CST

Judge to Decide Whether Pillsbury Should Give Up $4M-Plus Fee

A bankruptcy case involving alleged conflicts of interest by Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman has reinforced the need for disclosure. A San Jose, Calif., bankruptcy judge will consider whether the law firm should give up its $4 million-plus fees in the bankruptcy case of client SonicBlue following an investigation by the…

Nov 14, 2007 11:38 AM CST

Judge Allows $150M Irell & Manella Suit

A federal judge has refused to dismiss a $150 million lawsuit against Irell & Manella that reportedly resulted from an associate’s mistake. The prominent Southern California law firm must continue to defend the malpractice action, which was brought by Charter Communications Inc. over Irell’s alleged mishandling of a cable television…

Nov 2, 2007 5:38 PM CDT

Bratz Maker Splits With O’Melveny, Investigates Fees

The maker of the popular Bratz doll—sort of a Barbie alternative with attitude—has hired a new law firm to represent it in an upcoming trial after a dispute with O’Melveny & Myers. The underlying case involves claims by Barbie maker Mattel that the designer of the Bratz doll did his…

Nov 2, 2007 2:53 PM CDT

CA Judge: New Execution Regs Invalid

An effort to enact a new execution protocol in California that would put an end to a death penalty moratorium declared last year by a federal judge has suffered a setback. The protocol is invalid, a state judge has decided, because it was not created in compliance with the required…

Nov 2, 2007 12:39 AM CDT

Scary Halloween Story to Employers: Retaliation Case Award of $5.5M

In a wake-up call to employers in California who haven’t yet familiarized themselves with the legal requirements concerning discrimination complaints, a federal jury in San Francisco has awarded $5.5 million in compensatory and punitive damages to the plaintiff in a retaliation case. Kiran Pande, a former Chevron Corp. engineer, had…

Oct 31, 2007 12:32 AM CDT

Suit Contends Oracle Destroyed Discovery Docs

A shareholder lawsuit against Oracle Corp. alleges that hundreds of e-mails and financial records have not been turned over to plaintiffs. Documents in the case recently unsealed at the request of the National Law Journal include a motion for default judgment against the company as a sanction for document destruction,…

Oct 29, 2007 3:11 PM CDT