Voters enacted a ballot proposition called Californians Against Cruelty, Cages and Fraud with 63% of the vote in 2018. It requires all “veal calves, breeding pigs and egg-laying hens” to be housed in cage-free environments with adequate floor space that allows them to “lie down, stand up, fully extend (their)... Read More »
Saint Junipero Serra, a Catholic priest of Spanish descent, was known as the “Father of California Missions.” As a result of his leadership, throughout the 18th century, missions spanned the area then known as New Spain, which was then part of Mexico. The City of Ventura, like other municipalities, honored... Read More »
Back in 1994, McDonald’s lost a products liability case after a 79-year-old woman spilled coffee in her lap and suffered second-degree burns. The case, which originally was set to cost the fast food giant $2.7 million, sparked a national debate about frivolous lawsuits and the need for tort reform. The... Read More »
A school shooting by one seventh grader against a classmate could expose school districts to liability for negligent supervision of a student who was allowed to bring a loaded firearm to school. A California Court of Appeal reversed a summary judgment ruling in favor of one of the nation’s largest... Read More »
The author Fatima Nacana once wrote, “Tardiness is a disrespectful, selfish and unprofessional act.” But a California Court of Appeal ruled it is not a reason to punish a defendant because his lawyer was late to court. The appellate court found that the trial judge abused her discretion when she... Read More »
As the busy summer vacation season approaches, prospects of air travel are once again worrisome. NBC News predicts “another season of flight disruptions.” AAA projects a 7% increase in travel over last year. CNN says, “This summer travel season could be one for the record books, especially at airports.” A... Read More »
It is a rare day in America when news of another tragic gun shooting does not headline the news. The clash between the Second Amendment and the right of states to pass aggressive gun laws rages on. One recent case, which upheld California’s right to impose mandatory prison sentences on... Read More »
When a long-term employee at a Catholic elementary school was fired, she sued her employer for age discrimination in violation of state law. The school claimed it was exempt from her suit because the law contained a “ministerial exception.” But was the plaintiff covered by the exemption? The trial court... Read More »
As COVID-19 conducted its killing rampage across the globe, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. became an anti-vaxxer who co-authored a book titled The Truth About COVID-19: Exposing the Great Reset, Lockdowns, Vaccine Passports, and the New Normal. The New York Times called Kennedy the “face of the vaccine resistance movement.” Instead... Read More »
A diabetes drug that could be linked to heart failure prompted over 250 state and federal lawsuits from across the country. The outcome of 13 of these cases was determined by the winner of a battle of the experts on the issue of causation. The drug companies won. Bristol Meyers-Squibb... Read More »
Five months before he died, Albert R. Pool’s (Albert) capacity to handle his financial affairs diminished. His nephew Christopher, an attorney, had earlier stepped in to help manage the family’s financial affairs. After Albert’s death, his daughter Kathy began investigating Christopher’s actions. Kathy and her two sisters did not like... Read More »
The question of whether insurance companies must pay for business losses incurred during the COVID-19 pandemic is repeatedly coming before the courts. Gambling casinos, like thousands of other businesses, ceased operations to protect their customers and employees from the virus. In a new twist to plaintiffs’ claims, one casino asked... Read More »
A section of the United States Code states that “no court shall have jurisdiction to review” orders from the Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS). Despite a compelling, heart-wrenching story and a demonstration of remarkable bravery, the Ninth Circuit found it had no subject matter jurisdiction to review a DHS decision... Read More »
Consumers looking for butter substitutes that are lower in fat and calories and less expensive than the real thing can find many choices at the grocery store. There are soft ones, whipped ones, liquid ones and spreadable stick ones. But one of them stands out, not necessarily because it is... Read More »
When Amazon visits a home or business to drop off a buyer’s latest purchase, the package may be delivered by either company employees or independent delivery persons, known as “Flex” drivers, who use their own cars when transporting merchandise. One “Flex” driver filed a putative class action suit against Amazon... Read More »
