George Dennis Rounds was a model prisoner – the kind who totally turns his life around and becomes a character about whom a Hollywood studio could make an inspirational movie. After being convicted of second-degree murder of one step-uncle and attempted murder of another following an argument about money they... Read More »
A woman convicted of methamphetamine trafficking appealed her conviction by claiming that her electronic ankle monitor kept making audible beeping alerts during jury selection, thus telling the jury that she was “subject to government restraint.” She said the monitor’s noise prejudiced members of the jury against her. After she was... Read More »
The New York Times labeled Joseph Mercola, 67, “The Most Influential Speaker of Coronavirus Misinformation Online,” in a July 24, 2021 headline. Mercola is an osteopathic physician, now practicing in Cape Coral, Florida, whom researchers have called “a key figure in the ‘Disinformation Dozen,’ a group the Nonprofit Center for... Read More »
A medical manufacturer that makes a diabetic monitoring device misled consumers by misrepresenting the nature of the Terms of Use on its website. This deception caused users to avoid clicking on a link that would allow them to avoid mandatory arbitration. A California Court of Appeal ruled the Terms of... Read More »
Late one night in March 2020, Omar Herrera, 19, and a 17-year-old juvenile friend, identified as A.M., approached Manuel Sac Ajtzalam and a prostitute in the Mission District of San Francisco. Intending to rob them, the defendants got into an argument where punches were exchanged. Herrera was found guilty of... Read More »
Since the U.S. Gross Domestic Product estimates that businesses lost approximately $14 trillion during the COVID-19 pandemic, it is wise for every business to review its current insurance policies to ensure coverage in case of another health disaster. A recent California Supreme Court case provides guidance about what would and... Read More »
Andrew Ackerman lives in Texas. He has never lived in California and has no assets or contacts in the state. But he did post false and derogatory messages on social media about Akisha Petties, a Los Angeles model. They were enough to give California jurisdiction over him in a case... Read More »
The preemptory strike of A.W., a Black woman from the jury pool, was challenged by the defense in a case involving alleged sexual abuse of a child under 14. The trial judge ruled that discrimination was not established, and without giving reasons, ruled for the prosecution. He said he felt... Read More »
Carlos Ramirez went to work at the Golden Queen Mining Company (Queen Mining) in Mojave, California, as a “nonexempt hourly employee” who was hired to do electrical work in October 2022. When he was hired, he was given an employee handbook that contained an arbitration agreement. When his employment ended,... Read More »
Libel or defamation occurs when a false statement of fact is made that damages a person’s reputation. The outcome of a libel suit depends on how injured plaintiffs are classified into one of three categories –private figures, public figures and limited-purpose public figures. The level of proof necessary for recovery... Read More »
California enacted the Tanner Consumer Protection Law as a supplement to the state’s “Lemon Law” in 1970. The law gives consumers the right to either a refund or a new car if their vehicle cannot be repaired after a reasonable number of attempts. Although the law is over 50 years... Read More »
“It shall be unlawful for any person who has been convicted in any court of, a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year…to…possess…any firearm…” - Unlawful Acts, 18 U.S Code §922 (g) (1) But should it be? Stuart Duarte, a man with five California criminal convictions, all... Read More »
Prospective Juror Number 30 first filled out a 69-question form, which included four inquiries about her commitment to impartiality. During the following voir dire, she said “…it would be difficult to look at charges involving minors without being biased ”and that she”…probably . . . wouldn’t be a good juror.”... Read More »
Jesse Neaves drove his Lexus at 98.3 miles per hour, twice the speed limit, then rear-ended a car that was stopped at a traffic light. The collision killed two people who were both ejected from their car, and a jury found Neaves guilty of second-degree murder and assault with a... Read More »
Two students at the University of California, Riverside, were expelled for violating campus conduct and disciplinary rules designed to protect the health and safety of pledges who want to join fraternities. The students petitioned the University for reinstatement, claiming they were denied due process at their administrative hearing. The trial... Read More »
