California

Suit Claims Dannon Overstates Yogurt Health Benefits

A proposed class action lawsuit contends that Dannon overstates the health value of its Activia and DanActive yogurts. The suit filed in Los Angeles federal court says Dannon’s own studies contradict its ad claims that the yogurts’ probiotics have been clinically proven to regulate digestion and improve the immune system,…

Jan 25, 2008 3:26 PM CST

Companies May Fire Medical Pot Users, Says Calif. High Court

The California Supreme Court has ruled that companies are not liable for firing users of medical marijuana. The court said in a 5-2 decision (PDF) that the Compassionate Use Act passed by voters in 1996 bars the state from criminalizing medical marijuana use but imposes no requirements on employers, the…

Jan 25, 2008 12:44 PM CST

Examiner Raps O’Melveny, Firm Apologizes for Discovery ‘Mishap’

O’Melveny & Myers says a discovery “mishap” is to blame for 700,000-plus missing e-mails in the bankruptcy of subprime lender New Century Financial Corp. The law firm apologized for the error even as it faced additional criticism from a bankruptcy examiner who said the law firm had not been forthright…

Jan 23, 2008 12:46 PM CST

Another New Ogletree Office Opens In San Francisco

A fast-growing Atlanta-based employment boutique is opening a new office in San Francisco, raiding two local law offices for top talent. Ogletree Deakins Nash Smoak & Stewart has lured Douglas Farmer from Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton to serve as managing partner of the new office, and Thomas McInerney has…

Jan 23, 2008 12:47 AM CST

Kasowitz Firm Makes Clear: We Fired Former IP Head

The former head of Kasowitz, Benson, Torres & Friedman’s intellectual property practice group reportedly didn’t jump ship to accept a job at a 52-lawyer New York City intellectual property boutique. Jeremy Pitcock was fired, his former firm says in a press release. Issued by name partner Daniel Benson, it states…

Jan 22, 2008 10:07 PM CST

Opinion Requires More Fact-Finding in Manuel Real Ethics Case

The U.S. Judicial Conference has upheld a censure of U.S. District Judge Manuel Real of Los Angeles for improper ex parte communications with a litigant and has remanded a second complaint for more fact-finding. Real was given a private reprimand in the second complaint for a pattern and practice of…

Jan 22, 2008 3:55 PM CST

Real Estate Agents Become a Tempting Legal Target as Home Prices Fall

A trial begins Monday of a San Diego woman’s claim that her real estate agent is to blame for failing to tell her she was overpaying for her home. The case could be the first of many brought by buyers as their homes drop in value below that of their…

Jan 22, 2008 12:49 PM CST

Actress Lindsay Lohan Sentenced to Work in Morgue

Actress Lindsay Lohan’s sentence in a recent misdemeanor drunken driving plea deal isn’t just the 84 minutes in jail she already served late last year. It also includes community service work stints in a morgue and a hospital emergency room, under a court program that seeks to impress drunken drivers…

Jan 18, 2008 4:51 PM CST

Nearly Naked Fashion Exec Claims Legitimate Business Purpose

A fashion industry executive who is about to face a sexual harassment trial largely focusing on his workplace attire—or lack thereof—claims there was a legitimate business purpose for appearing at meetings in his underwear, and, on occasion, even skimpier outfits. Because he worked as a fit model, and was designing…

Jan 17, 2008 8:25 PM CST

Homeless Man Sues Calif. Hospital Over Patient Dumping

A paraplegic man has filed a tort claim against a Southern California hospital, seeking damages for being dumped, without a wheelchair, on a local skid row in a condition in which he allegedly could not care properly for himself. The February incident, which was recorded on a nearby video camera…

Jan 17, 2008 7:42 PM CST

‘Seriously Misleading’ Affidavit Leads to Longer Sentence for Ex-Brocade CEO

A federal judge said yesterday he lengthened the sentence for the ex-CEO of Brocade Communications because he submitted a misleading affidavit. U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer of San Francisco added six months to Gregory Reyes’ sentence for backdating stock options because of the “seriously misleading” declaration, making the total sentence…

Jan 17, 2008 2:08 PM CST

San Diego OKs $750K Attorney Payment to Settle Cross Case

The city council of San Diego has agreed to pay a plaintiff’s lawyer $750,000 to settle his legal bill for representing an atheist in a lengthy lawsuit over the placement of a large cross on city land. The 6-2 vote doesn’t completely settle the 1989 constitutional case, however, according to…

Jan 17, 2008 12:57 AM CST

Ex-Brocade CEO Gets 21-Month Sentence for Options Backdating

A federal judge has sentenced the ex-CEO of Brocade Communications to 21 months in prison for backdating stock options. Gregory Reyes cried before receiving the sentence, the Associated Press reports. U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer also ordered Reyes to pay a $15 million fine, the Wall Street Journal reports (sub.…

Jan 16, 2008 7:02 PM CST

Bill to Create Domestic Offender Database Would Aid Daters

A California lawmaker has introduced a bill to create an online database of offenders convicted of domestic violence. People who want to check out potential people to date could access the database, the New York Times reports. Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, the Democratic majority whip, introduced the bill and is optimistic…

Jan 16, 2008 2:59 PM CST

Robert Blake Lawyer Argues for Reversal of $30M Verdict Due to Jury Misconduct

A lawyer for actor Robert Blake asked a California appeals court yesterday to overturn a $30 million damages verdict against him for his wife’s death. Lawyer M. Gerald Schwartzbach said his client did not get a fair trial because of jury misconduct, the Los Angeles Times reports. Court papers detailed…

Jan 16, 2008 1:32 PM CST