California

Rest Easy: Plan for the Inevitable

Although lots of folks say they intend to plan for the inevitable, most don’t. Some 70 percent of Americans die without making a will or any other arrangement for distributing assets after their deaths—although, in some cases, that makes sense, reports the Los Angeles Times in a detailed article discussing…

Oct 29, 2007 3:28 PM 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

FedEx Fee Fight Heats Up

A fight is brewing over attorney fees claimed by two plaintiffs lawyers who sued FedEx Corp. for discrimination. The San Francisco lawyers represented clients who split off from a huge class action and won $4.5 million in damages, the Recorder reports. Now the fee fight is getting “nastier and nastier,”…

Oct 26, 2007 11:18 AM CDT

Merger Mania: From Small to BigLaw, Then Goodbye Job

When Berg & Parker, a 13-lawyer California boutique with a significant real estate practice, merged into 400-attorney Preston Gates & Ellis about three years ago, its attorneys had high hopes for their future with the Seattle-based national firm. But after Preston Gates merged with Kirkpatrick & Lockhart Nicholson Graham roughly…

Oct 25, 2007 6:47 PM CDT

Court Upholds Order Keeping Lawyer Away From Ex-Judge

A California lawyer will have to stay at least 100 yards away from the judge who handled his divorce under a restraining order upheld yesterday by an appeals court. Lawyer James Disney of Concord had appealed the order, contending it violated his freedom of speech and right to practice law,…

Oct 25, 2007 2:25 PM CDT

Another Partner Leaves Heller, Wants to Avoid Being ‘Cog’

Yet another partner is leaving Heller Ehrman, said to be experiencing a rough patch that led it to fire 65 support staffers. The latest to leave is corporate lawyer Kyle Guse. He will join McDermott Will & Emery, where he plans to take his biotech and tech clients, Legal Pad…

Oct 25, 2007 1:39 PM CDT

Client Conflict Disrupts Partner’s Move

An IP litigator who decided to switch firms experienced a bumpy landing because of a client conflict issue. Baker Hostetler’s James Doroshow planned to move to Los Angeles’ Manatt, Phelps & Phillips. But, according to the Recorder (sub. req.), a client put a kibosh on Doroshow’s firm choice. After some…

Oct 24, 2007 5:58 PM CDT

States to Sue US EPA Over Global Warming

More than a dozen states are readying a lawsuit that claims foot-dragging by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in the fight against global warming. The suit will claim the agency has failed to grant a waiver requested by California that would allow it to require reduced greenhouse emissions from cars,…

Oct 24, 2007 5:16 PM CDT

Heller Ehrman Loses Key Partners

Heller Ehrman has lost two “leading and loyal partners” in part of a continuing rough patch for the law firm known for its collegiality, the Recorder reports. Leaving the firm are Patricia Gillette, a co-chair of the firm’s labor and employment practice, and Jerry Marks, a securities litigator who is…

Oct 24, 2007 11:36 AM CDT

Coverage a Hot Issue After California Fires

Updated: The fires sweeping much of Southern California this week, causing, at last report, an estimated $500 million in insured losses, have made homeowner insurance coverage a hot issue. Although the language of one’s individual homeowner’s policy is critical, certain insurance coverage is often standard, according to the Los Angeles…

Oct 23, 2007 5:05 PM CDT

Wrong Numbers Ring Up Profits for Facebook, Suit Claims

An Indiana woman claims in a lawsuit that Facebook is profiting when its members mistakenly send text messages to incorrect cell phone numbers. Lindsey Abrams of Patriot, Ind., says she received Facebook messages on her new cell phone number that contained explicit language and disturbing remarks, the Associated Press reports.…

Oct 23, 2007 3:14 PM CDT

Investor Pleads Guilty in Milberg Probe

An 80-year-old Palm Springs investor who spent more than 50 years practicing law has pleaded guilty to charges he was paid about $2.6 million to be a lead plaintiff in securities class actions. Prosecutors are recommending home detention for the defendant, Seymour Lazar, because of his declining health and advancing…

Oct 19, 2007 2:59 PM CDT

Texas PI Practice Opens LA Office

A 28-lawyer Texas personal injury firm is establishing an outpost in Los Angeles. The Lanier Firm, founded by W. Mark Lanier in 1990, will initially focus three lawyers on its new LA office. They are: Lanier himself, who will head the office while continuing to practice in Houston, counsel Shepard…

Oct 18, 2007 5:16 PM CDT

61 Indicted in LA Neighborhood Race War

A race war between black and Latino street gang members in one South Los Angeles neighborhood has resulted in the federal indictment of more than 60 alleged Florencia 13 associates. They are accused of waging a race-based war against their African-American gang rivals, the East Coast Crips, in the unincorporated…

Oct 18, 2007 4:27 PM CDT

Democrats Have Lucrative Links to Milberg

Four Democratic presidential candidates have accepted campaign contributions from lawyers connected to Milberg Weiss since the securities class action firm was indicted on charges of paying kickbacks to lead plaintiffs. John Edwards, Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and Joseph Biden are among 26 Democrats who have accepted $150,000 in Milberg-related contributions,…

Oct 18, 2007 11:02 AM CDT