California

Dreier Forms Sports Marketing Affiliate

Dreier is launching a sports marketing and consulting affiliate, in conjunction with the law firm’s sports practice. Dreier Sports Opportunities Group will be headed by attorney Don Gibson, a former major league baseball executive, the firm reports in a press release. The Santa Monica, Calif.-based affiliate “will assist athletes and…

May 14, 2008 3:30 PM CDT

Legal Dispute Escalates With Craigslist Countersuit Against EBay

Web classified company Craigslist has filed a countersuit against eBay that claims the auction company interfered with its business operations and infringed its trademark after acquiring a minority stake in Craigslist. The suit was filed just two weeks after eBay sued Craigslist executives claiming they improperly sought to dilute eBay’s…

May 14, 2008 1:30 PM CDT

Judge Advises Colonoscopy-Averse Lawyers to ‘Get Over It’

A judge says he dreaded his first colonoscopy with the same kind of trepidation reserved for requests for a tax audit and scary parts of the movie Alien. “I’m not talking here about your basic, ordinary garden-variety bar exam dread,” writes Judge William Bedsworth of the California Court of Appeal…

May 13, 2008 1:20 PM CDT

Prosecutors May Stay on Cases Despite Role in Fictionalized Crimes, Court Says

The California Supreme Court has refused to kick two prosecutors off pending cases over alleged conflicts of interest caused by their participation in fictionalized portrayals of crimes. In one of the rulings, the court said “only an actual likelihood of unfair treatment, not a subjective perception of impropriety” warrants removal…

May 13, 2008 10:49 AM CDT

Tough Times for Expert Witnesses Sued By Own Clients for Negligence

It may soon be harder to find experts to testify as witnesses in civil litigation if a trend toward allowing their own clients to sue them for negligence continues. Courts in California and Utah recently recognized the validity of such suits in cases concerning, respectively, a real estate appraisal and…

May 12, 2008 8:48 PM CDT

Man Opens Fire in Fla. Courthouse, is Killed By Sheriff’s Deputies

An unidentified man brought a semiautomatic weapon into a St. Petersburg, Fla., courthouse lobby today and opened fire before being shot and killed by two Pinellas County sheriff’s deputies. One deputy was wounded when a bullet hit his radio microphone and grazed his shoulder, Jim Bordner, a sheriff’s department spokesman,…

May 7, 2008 9:59 PM CDT

6 San Diego State Frats Suspended After Massive Drug Bust

After the arrest of 75 students and 21 others in a massive drug bust centered on San Diego State University, the school has suspended six fraternities pending a further investigation of their role. Authorities said some frat members dealt drugs openly, and an affidavit contends that drug profits may have…

May 7, 2008 8:47 PM CDT

75 Students, 21 Others Arrested in San Diego State Drug Bust

A six-month investigation sparked by the overdose death of a student has resulted in the arrest of 96 people allegedly involved in a San Diego State University-centered drug operation. Seven fraternity houses were reportedly infiltrated during the investigation. “Agents allegedly discovered evidence of widespread drug-dealing among some fraternity members,” writes…

May 6, 2008 9:02 PM CDT

More States Weigh Early Prison Release Programs to Save Money

Several states are considering programs to release inmates from jail early and save the cost of imprisonment. Between 1987 and last year, states increased college spending by 21 percent, in inflation adjusted-dollars, and corrections spending by 127 percent, the Washington Post reports. Now many cash-strapped states are looking to pare…

May 5, 2008 4:43 PM CDT

Bomb Explodes Outside San Diego Courthouse

A pipe bomb exploded outside the federal courthouse in San Diego early yesterday, shattering the front window. No one was injured, the San Diego Union-Tribune reports. The courthouse will be closed today. The bomb was apparently placed outside the front door and detonated at about 1:40 a.m. Authorities said a…

May 5, 2008 10:27 AM CDT

Six Lawyers Boomerang to Holland & Knight

Six trusts and estates lawyers are rejoining Holland & Knight after leaving the firm several years ago for Luce Forward. Leading the group are partners Bruce Ross and Sean Higgins, who will be joining Holland & Knight’s Los Angeles office, the National Law Journal’s Legal Pad blog reports. Ross has…

May 2, 2008 5:03 PM CDT

Appeals Court Says Lawyer’s Ad Seeking Plaintiffs Wasn’t Defamatory

A California appeals court has ruled that a lawyer’s ad seeking potential class-action plaintiffs did not defame a company mentioned in the solicitation. The ad said owners of wood decks using galvanized screws made by three companies might be entitled to compensation or free repairs, the Recorder reports. The lawyer…

May 2, 2008 4:28 PM CDT

Backdating Derivative Suit Names Wilson Sonsini

A derivative suit that targets Brocade Communications for backdating includes the company’s law firm as a defendant. The suit claims Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati committed legal malpractice by giving its approval to backdated stock options, the Recorder reports. The suit also claims the law firm gave bad advice on…

May 2, 2008 12:35 PM CDT

Jury Mulls Whether Private Investigator Wiretapped Celebrities

Jurors in Los Angeles began deliberations yesterday in the prosecution of private eye Anthony Pellicano, accused of illegally gathering information and wiretapping celebrities such as Garry Shandling and Keith Carradine. Charges against Pellicano include racketeering, conspiracy, wire fraud, identity theft and bribery, the Los Angeles Times reports. Four co-defendants are…

May 2, 2008 11:53 AM CDT

Celebrity Domestic Case: Dennis Rodman

One of basketball’s best-known badly behaved professional players has been charged in a California domestic violence case. Former NBA star Dennis Rodman was arrested at a Century City hotel last night and booked today for allegedly hitting an unidentified woman. He was released on $50,000 bail, reports the Los Angeles…

May 1, 2008 10:05 PM CDT