California Case Law News

Judge Keeps Injunction in Place on President's Order Against Sanctuary Cities

2017-07-14T17:15:29Z

Attorney General Jeff Sessions did not help President Trump's case against sanctuary cities that is playing out in San Francisco. On Wednesday, Sessions gave a speech claiming sanctuary cities have more violent crime on average than those cities that...

CA Supreme Court: Voters Did Not Amend 3 Strikes Law

2017-07-07T13:00:03Z

Californians approved Prop. 47 to reduce sentences for certain drug and theft crimes and to allow some prisoners to petition for lesser sentences after convictions.But that proposition did not change the Three Strikes Reform Act under Prop. 36, which voters...

Judge Blocks Law Against High-Capacity Gun Magazines in California

2017-07-03T12:57:39Z

A federal judge has stopped a voter-approved law that would have forced gun owners to surrender magazines that hold more than 10 bullets. Californians voted Prop. 63 into law last year, outlawing the high-capacity magazines, requiring background checks of...

SpaceX Survives 'Contractor' Suit

2017-06-21T18:58:02Z

A California appeals court said a construction company has no "contractor" claims against SpaceX because the company was not licensed. Phoenix Pipeline Mechanical performed services for the private aerospace business, but it was not licensed for construction work. The...

Oakland Settles Police Sex Scandal

2017-06-02T12:58:49Z

The Oakland City Council approved a settlement to pay nearly $1 million to a former prostitute who alleged that a parade of police officers used her for sex, including times when she was a minor. Jasmine Absulin, formerly known...

How to Hone Your Persuasion Techniques and Tactics

2017-05-24T12:58:32Z

From memos to moot court, law school students are trained in the art of persuasion. Unfortunately, much of that art goes to seed upon graduation, or is reserved only for the biggest case filings or court appearances. While some attorneys...

California Courts at High Risk for Quake Damage

2017-05-23T20:00:14Z

This is not a script for a disaster movie; it's just a script for disaster. According to the California Judicial Council's Court Facilities Advisory Committee, scores of courthouses pose a high or very high risk of falling apart in...

Governor Likes Budget the Way It Is, Chief Justice Not so Much

2017-05-16T13:10:28Z

Gov. Jerry Brown has released a revised California budget, and it does not include new money for the courts. State Supreme Court Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye is not impressed. "Under this proposed budget, trial courts receive a little more...

California Supreme Court Confirms Day of Rest

2017-05-09T17:57:55Z

The California Supreme Court said employees are guaranteed a day of rest for each workweek, although employees may choose to work the seventh day. There is an exception for employees who work shifts of six hours or less, the...

Airbnb Settles San Francisco Suit

2017-05-03T12:59:37Z

Airbnb has settled a suit with San Francisco, and will require people to register with the city when they rent-out their homes through the company's website. The company, which lists rental lodgings in 65,000 cities worldwide, agreed to share...

Mayweather Wins a Round Against His Ex at California Appeals Court

2017-04-27T18:15:04Z

Floyd Mayweather, Jr., who holds the second-best record in American boxing history, has won a round against his ex-girlfriend. But the fight is not over. Shantel Jackson will get another shot at the title holder, who still faces claims...

Mastering California's Anti-SLAPP Law

2017-04-25T12:57:52Z

California's anti-SLAPP statute can be one of the most powerful tools in a civil litigator's toolbox. The law is meant to counteract "strategic lawsuits against public participation" such as libel claims against a coworker who opens up an internal...

California Men's Only College Can Admit Women

2017-04-18T21:57:34Z

Opening the rarest opportunity for college-bound women in America, a state appeals court said a tiny all-men's college in California may now accept women. Deep Springs College, the smallest college in the United States, had been open to men...

San Diego's Pension Reform Plan Upheld

2017-04-17T18:58:31Z

In a win for San Diego voters, a state appeals court turned back public employees' claims to make the city pay for their pensions. Public employee unions had demanded the mayor and city council meet and confer about Proposition...

Will Sanctuary Laws Divide the Nation, Starting With California?

2017-04-12T12:57:05Z

The California Senate passed a controversial sanctuary law, essentially directing local law enforcement not to report illegal immigrants to federal authorities. The sanctuary law, which is headed to the Assembly and then the governor's desk for signature, may become...