California

Catfight Over Neutering Bill

A bill requiring Californians to spay or neuter their pets has produced more response than any other measure before the state legislature this year. The Senate committee considering the bill has heard from nearly 20,000 pet owners and other interested parties, with slightly more favoring passage, the Los Angeles Times…

Jul 10, 2007 7:03 PM CDT

Mark Geragos Removed from CIA Case

Updated: A federal judge in San Diego has removed Mark Geragos from representing a defense contractor in a CIA fraud case, because the high-profile California defense lawyer refused to submit to background checks to obtain a security clearance. U.S. District Judge Larry Burns said yesterday that it was necessary to…

Jul 10, 2007 6:35 PM CDT

CA’s Asset Seizure Policy is Changing

In recent years, the California officials have increased the amount of money they spend to locate dormant assets that the government can seize. But they’ve decreased the amount of money they spend to notify owners first—to almost zero. As a result, even when owners could be located with relative ease,…

Jul 9, 2007 10:28 PM CDT

Grads: School’s Not Out for Summer

After three years of hard work, the nation’s newly graduated law students aren’t done with their studies yet. The vast majority are still buried in the books as they put in long hours preparing for the next major hurdle in their lives—the bar exam, typically held in July. That’s certainly…

Jul 9, 2007 8:27 PM CDT

First Banana Workers Get US Court Trial

It has been some 30 years since thousands of banana workers in Central America claim to have been exposed to carcinogenic pesticides on plantations there. Intended to kill worms infesting the roots of banana trees, the pesticides dripped from the leaves onto unprotected workers and leached into the water supply…

Jul 9, 2007 6:00 PM CDT

CA Attys Sue Over $100 K Average Pay

Contending that lawyers employed by the state of California make significantly less than those working in federal and local government jobs, a union representing 3,500 attorneys and hearing officers has sued Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. The June 29 action seeks the appointment of a special master by a Sacramento County Superior…

Jul 6, 2007 10:49 PM CDT

Agony of Defeat for Raiders

A California Supreme Court justice sounded something like the late sportscaster Howard Cosell in explaining why the Oakland Raiders will not get a retrial in a territorial rights suit against the National Football League. The trial judge had cited juror misconduct in granting a new trial but failed to clearly…

Jul 3, 2007 12:58 PM CDT

Draft Rule: CA Lawyers Must Tell Clients About Insurance

One in five California lawyers doesn’t have malpractice insurance–as clients would have to be told, under a proposed attorney ethics rule. A State Bar of California task force is proposing a rule that would require lawyers to disclose to new clients whether or not they have malpractice coverage, reports the…

Jul 2, 2007 7:21 PM CDT

Weiss, Lerach: No Deal to Plea Deal

Updated: Famed plaintiff securities lawyers Melvin Weiss and William Lerach reportedly have said no deal to a plea deal offered by federal prosecutors in a criminal kickbacks case against the New York City law firm Weiss founded and two partners there. The rejected plea deal, offered weeks ago in the…

Jun 28, 2007 9:14 PM CDT

Hospitals Accused of Patient Dumping

The Los Angeles city attorney has filed civil complaints against two California hospitals accused of dumping homeless patients in skid row. The complaints name Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center in Los Feliz and Methodist Hospital in Arcadia. The actions claim the motive was to save money, the Los Angeles Times reports.…

Jun 27, 2007 8:35 PM CDT

Will Nutty Law Result in Almond Capers?

Mike Braga doesn’t ordinarily think of himself as a potential lawbreaker. But the Madera, California, almond farmer will be faced with a legal dilemma as of Sept. 1. Either he stops selling unpasteurized almonds, except for any customers who might wish to buy organic almonds from a small farm stand,…

Jun 27, 2007 6:50 PM CDT

Spector Lawyer to Appeal to Top Court Judge’s Testify-or-Do-Time Ruling

A former defense lawyer for music producer and murder defendant Phil Spector will appeal to the California Supreme Court a trial judge ruling that she must testify in his case or face jail time for contempt. To accommodate Sara Caplan’s plan to do so, Superior Court Judge Larry Paul Fidler…

Jun 27, 2007 2:36 AM CDT

Sedgwick Buys Real Estate Boutique

Six lawyers from a San Francisco real estate boutique have merged with Sedgwick Detert Moran & Arnold, amping up the 350-lawyer defense and business firm’s real estate practice. Led by Jeffery Woo, the boutique specialized in representing landlords and real estate professionals, reports the San Francisco Business Journal. Sedgwick’s transactional…

Jun 26, 2007 9:42 PM CDT

Appeal of Contempt Ruling to No Avail; Will Phil Spector Lawyer Go to Jail?

A former defense lawyer for music producer and murder defendant Phil Spector may soon be headed for the slam. Sara Caplan had been held in contempt by the trial judge for refusing to testify about missing evidence she allegedly saw an expert collect from the murder scene, at Spector’s home…

Jun 26, 2007 1:17 AM CDT

Paris Hilton Prosecutor on Hot Seat Now

It isn’t just Paris Hilton who’s recently learned that the media spotlight can cast an unwelcome light on personal failings. Now the prosecutor in her case is taking his turn in the unpleasant glare. Rocky Delgadillo was tough on crime when he was attacking the two-tiered justice system that allegedly…

Jun 25, 2007 9:06 PM CDT