GUEST COLUMNS
Tuesday, January 20, 2026
The start of a new year offers a timely reminder: maintaining perspective is essential for attorneys and firm leaders working to build meaningful, sustainable practices amid ongoing professional demands.
Long before today's trade wars, tariff disputes helped shape the legal definition of art--forcing courts to draw lines between culture and commerce.
Friday, January 16, 2026
For Iranians, U.S. foreign policy isn't just unpredictable--it's dangerous, as shifting statements and unclear signals from Washington can raise hopes, trigger crackdowns and leave people vulnerable.
While FEHA already provides for fee recovery, an offer to compromise remains a powerful, underutilized tool that can bolster plaintiffs' leverage, efficiency and positioning throughout litigation.
Thursday, January 15, 2026
SB 37 redefines "truthful and not misleading" for an era when AI, vendors and influencers often blur the line between real legal advice and digital impersonation.
Five 2025 appellate rulings that trusts and estates practitioners need to know, from reformation petitions and elder abuse liability to demurrer deadlines and will revocation requirements.
Wednesday, January 14, 2026
As multimillion-dollar payouts for police violence, infrastructure failures and civil rights violations surge, California's public liability funds are straining under risks their original designs never envisioned.
A series of antitrust defeats has left the NCAA unable to enforce its own eligibility rules, fueling a bidding war for top athletes that threatens to destroy non-revenue sports programs. Federal legislation may be the only way to preserve college athletics.
Tuesday, January 13, 2026
California's highest court will decide in Bring Back the Kern v. City of Bakersfield whether a statutory duty to protect fish under Fish & Game Code ยงย 5937 must be tied to the Constitution's "reasonable use" requirement before a violation can be found.
In Paglia & Associates Construction
v. Hamilton, a homeowner's critical Yelp reviews and blog posts about her
contractor led to a libel lawsuit. The 2nd District Court of Appeal ruled the
litigation privilege doesn't extend to public social media complaints--only to
communications made within official proceedings.
Monday, January 12, 2026
After years of attempts, California has amended the Elder Abuse and Dependent Adult Civil Protection Act to let judges lower the evidentiary bar in cases involving spoliation.
Federal contractors are supposed to give hiring preferences to veterans, but the Department of Labor lets them off the hook.
Friday, January 9, 2026
The Trump administration is already deploying GenAI to second-guess physicians' determinations of medical necessity for seniors' treatments, shifting Medicare toward cost-driven care over clinician judgment.
California's 2026 carryout bag law closes the thick plastic loophole but still relies on outdated material categories instead of lifecycle performance metrics to guide sustainable packaging policy.
Thursday, January 8, 2026
Britain's control of Iran's oil industry in the 20th century was technically successful but politically catastrophic. The lessons from that failure offer crucial insights for anyone considering U.S. engagement in Venezuela's oil sector today.
The IRS's new Trump Accounts could reshape early-life investing, offering families a flexible, long-term savings tool that blends retirement-style benefits with child-focused incentives.
Wednesday, January 7, 2026
Netflix's $72 billion bid for Warner Bros. Discovery tests the limits of antitrust enforcement in the streaming era--and reveals how media giants are adapting to regulatory scrutiny.
California's bail system crisis isn't the result of recent reforms--it stems from courts refusing to follow constitutional requirements that have existed since 1849.
Tuesday, January 6, 2026
At the intersection of Saticoy Street and Topanga Canyon Boulevard in Canoga Park, a newly rebuilt crosswalk tells a troubling story about how well-intentioned compliance initiatives can quietly make streets less safe.
By declining review in Kennedy
Commission, the California Supreme Court let stand a ruling that sharpens a
pivotal question: how far, and how fast, can the state compel charter city
housing compliance?
Monday, January 5, 2026
Friday, January 2, 2026
Alford and Pena expose a
split over emergency takings: One court says the Fifth Amendment always
requires compensation, the other leans on history, leaving the Supreme Court to
resolve the clash.
As states wage an escalating redistricting arms race, the only way to stop politicians from handpicking their voters is a national ban on partisan gerrymandering that puts independent mapmakers -- not self-interested lawmakers--in charge.
Wednesday, December 31, 2025
Witnesses tell your client's story but mishandling them can write them out of your case entirely. From who you can contact to what documents you can accept, here's what California lawyers need to know about witness communication ethics.
Enlarging the House by 150 members and the Senate by 21 could make Congress more representative, reduce district distortion and restore closer connections between lawmakers and constituents.
Tuesday, December 30, 2025
Understanding the neutral's perspective can help practitioners achieve better outcomes.
Constructive receipt determines when income is considered taxable, focusing on whether you have an unrestricted right to payment, even if you don't actually receive it.
Monday, December 29, 2025
To counterbalance a federal judiciary dominated by former executive branch lawyers who defer to presidential power, the Senate should require that for every judge nominated with senior executive experience, another must have substantive legislative branch experience.
Combat veterans carry invisible battlefields of trauma; while the justice system once punished their symptoms, veteran treatment courts now prioritize healing, restore dignity, reduce recidivism and offer paths to redemption.
Friday, December 26, 2025
In 2025, NIL rights transformed college sports, boosting athlete pay, fueling school revenue and reshaping recruitment--benefiting all divisions while normalizing a market worth more than $2 billion.
As the Supreme Court moves to expand presidential power by subordinating independent agencies to executive prerogatives, a proposed statute would restore congressional authority by creating expert advisory agencies that develop bipartisan legislation for fast-track congressional votes.
Tuesday, December 23, 2025
Trump's new "Gold Card" immigration program offers wealthy foreign nationals an expedited green card in exchange for a $1 million non-refundable payment to the U.S. government, igniting controversy over wealth-based access to residency.
President Trump's executive order is not legalization, but a procedural step that underscores just how far federal cannabis policy remains from meaningful reform.
Monday, December 22, 2025
A new Second District Court of Appeal decision dismantles the Patterson exception, easing the burden on defendants and restoring common sense to the workers' comp treatment authorization process.
Two recent federal actions--one administrative, one judicial--highlight the sharp limits of executive and court-based cannabis reform, reinforcing that only Congress can resolve the deep constitutional conflicts at play.
9th Circuit Judge Milan D. Smith Jr.
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NEWS
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Tuesday, January 20, 2026 |
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| Gov. Gavin Newsom's budget proposal includes no money for a fund formed last year to boost the state's local newsrooms, casting doubt on whether a heralded effort to help California journalists will amount to anything and how serious Newsom is about supporting the struggling industry. | |
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Tuesday, January 20, 2026 |
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| A Los Angeles County jury began a damages-only trial Thursday as cannabis businesses allege the 2017 Thomas Fire and subsequent debris flows destroyed their greenhouses and forced them to shut down. | |
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Tuesday, January 20, 2026 |
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| Judge Eumi K. Lee criticized both sides for missing multiple deadlines, including Tesla's months-late answer to an amended complaint, and set a January deadline for the parties to explain why sanctions shouldn't apply. | |
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Tuesday, January 20, 2026 |
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| While delivering his final State of the State address and proposing his final state budget last week, Gov. Gavin Newsom clearly sought to neutralize an issue that has haunted his political career for more than two decades and could torpedo his hopes of becoming president: homelessness. | |
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Tuesday, January 20, 2026 |
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| In the first case of its kind to reach the Supreme Court, justices directed the 3rd District Court of Appeal to reconsider sanctions over a brief containing fabricated citations in a criminal case. | |
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Friday, January 16, 2026 |
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| When the broader housing market feels unpredictable, homeowners may look to refresh their current home instead of relocating. | |
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Friday, January 16, 2026 |
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| A geochemist testifying for Prologis in a lawsuit over a 2021 "rotten egg" odor in Carson told jurors the smell came from disturbed channel sediments--not a warehouse fire. Plaintiffs challenged his conclusions and compensation during cross-examination. | |
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Friday, January 16, 2026 |
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| The petition seeks to compel Wolfire Games to comply with an arbitrator-issued subpoena, testing statutory changes that expanded arbitrators' authority to obtain third-party discovery. | |
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Thursday, January 15, 2026 |
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| Plaintiffs claim significant economic losses, while Edison contests the extent and recoverability of the damages. | |
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Thursday, January 15, 2026 |
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| China is rolling out fleets of autonomous delivery trucks, experimenting with flying cars and installing parking lot robots that can swap out your EV's dying battery in just minutes. | |
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Thursday, January 15, 2026 |
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| CoStar Group alleges Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan LLP created an impermissible conflict by representing competitor CREXi while simultaneously representing CoStar in another case. CoStar's motion seeks to disqualify the firm from the Central District litigation. | |
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Wednesday, January 14, 2026 |
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| A San Francisco hospital already facing two wrongful death lawsuits is now being sued for whistleblower retaliation after a former employee says he was fired for raising patient safety concerns. | |
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Wednesday, January 14, 2026 |
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| Plaintiffs' attorneys are seeking court approval of a $100 million settlement resolving securities claims that PG&E misled investors about its wildfire safety practices, following a sharp stock decline tied to major California fires. | |
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Wednesday, January 14, 2026 |
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| Most Americans say they have a financial resolution for 2026, according to a survey from the investment firm Vanguard, even though about three-quarters conceded that they fell short of their saving and spending goals last year. | |
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Tuesday, January 13, 2026 |
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| Two years ago, Internal Revenue Service officials announced an ambitious plan to fix a gaping hole in federal tax law enforcement. | |
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Tuesday, January 13, 2026 |
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| A federal judge consolidated 13 Salesforce data breach class actions in Northern California, streamlining claims over alleged negligent data security after a Kentucky court denied multidistrict litigation. | |
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Tuesday, January 13, 2026 |
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| Proposal by Sen. Tom Umberg seeks to codify ethical rules for attorneys' use of generative artificial intelligence | |
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Monday, January 12, 2026 |
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| A San Francisco federal judge raised concerns about widespread fraudulent claims in a YouTube biometric data settlement, questioning whether legitimate class members were excluded after administrators rejected hundreds of thousands of submissions. | |
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Monday, January 12, 2026 |
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| Complaint says a vacant building became public nuisance and contributed to a break-in. | |
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Friday, January 9, 2026 |
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| Sonoma County urged a federal judge to sanction plaintiffs' counsel, alleging an unnecessarily lengthy first amended complaint violated Rule 11, delayed proceedings, and advanced frivolous claims over senior evictions tied to code enforcement. | |
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Friday, January 9, 2026 |
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| It's been one year since the fires. California has raised wages for incarcerated firefighters and made the Growlersburg Fire Camp program permanent. | |
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Friday, January 9, 2026 |
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| Before his arraignment, Nick Reiner's private defense counsel withdrew, and he is now represented by a public defender in the double-murder case. | |
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Thursday, January 8, 2026 |
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| The dispute centers on whether states may probe alleged lobbying and corruption as part of a Tunney Act review of the $14 billion deal. | |
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Thursday, January 8, 2026 |
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| The Legislature reconvened after a 114-day recess, Gov. Gavin Newsom renewed his nascent campaign for president and the dozen or so men and women who covet his job continued to seek ways to reach a so-far-uninterested electorate. | |
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Wednesday, January 7, 2026 |
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| President Donald Trump raised the taxes that the United States charges on imports last year to levels not seen in a century. | |
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Wednesday, January 7, 2026 |
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| Senior U.S. District Judge Charles R. Breyer denied Uber's request to delay bellwether trials and challenge a political ad campaign, siding with plaintiffs who argued the ads are protected speech. | |
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Wednesday, January 7, 2026 |
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| Arguing a motion to dismiss, Prager University contended that Facebook ID data cannot be decoded by an ordinary person, but Judge Mark C. Scarsi questioned how that standard holds up in an era of artificial intelligence. | |
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Tuesday, January 6, 2026 |
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| People entering a house party might expect to see a rack overflowing with shoes by the door. Lately, people entering some startup offices might, too. | |
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Tuesday, January 6, 2026 |
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| Flannery Associates resolves claims against Solano County landowners Paul and William Dietrich | |
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Tuesday, January 6, 2026 |
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| Attorneys warn Uber-backed ballot initiative could limit recovery for autonomous vehicle crash victims, as Waymo expands freeway operations and Uber pursues RICO claims against personal injury lawyers and medical providers. | |
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Monday, January 5, 2026 |
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| Elon Musk's xAI sued the state of California, arguing AB 2013 forces disclosure of proprietary AI training data, violating trade secret protections, free speech rights and the Fifth Amendment. | |
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Monday, January 5, 2026 |
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| Legal analysts warn the initiative could face challenges under U.S. and California Constitutions. | |
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Monday, January 5, 2026 |
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| Millions of borrowers have fallen behind on their federal student loans, and the government is preparing to take aggressive steps to collect in 2026. | |
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Friday, January 2, 2026 |
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| Few life milestones are as emotionally and financially transformative as becoming a parent. While this chapter is often filled with deep joy, it can also bring new worries as each stage of parenthood can present fresh challenges. | |
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Friday, January 2, 2026 |
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| Courts in 2025 advanced AI copyright law, backing fair use for training models while leaving market harm, licensing and authorship questions unresolved as lawsuits, settlements and appeals continue nationwide broadly. | |
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Friday, January 2, 2026 |
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| Consumer Attorneys of California urged a federal court to reject Uber's injunction bid, arguing a campaign ad about alleged driver assaults is protected political speech amid a heated fight over a 2026 ballot initiative. | |
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Friday, January 16, 2026 |
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| The state told a divided 9th Circuit panel that its Age-Appropriate Design Code Act is a business regulation aimed at protecting children, not a content-based restriction triggering heightened First Amendment scrutiny. | |
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Thursday, January 15, 2026 |
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| The hearing follows months of dispute over overburdened attorneys in the San Francisco Public Defender's Office and the declaration of "unavailable" days. | |
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Wednesday, January 14, 2026 |
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| AB 1554 would pave the way for sweeping changes to how wildfire losses are paid, based on a state report due this spring. | |
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Tuesday, January 13, 2026 |
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| Judicial branch sees funding boost as critics warn governor's projections are overly optimistic | |
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Monday, January 12, 2026 |
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| Larry Page and Sergey Brin are cutting some ties with the state where they made their fortunes. | |
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Friday, January 9, 2026 |
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| AB 1544 follows incidents in which journalists were barred from immigration court proceedings, raising questions about state authority over federal courts. | |
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Thursday, January 8, 2026 |
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| The tie-up with Turner Boyd Seraphine adds 12 lawyers and establishes another West Coast office for Thompson Hine. | |
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Wednesday, January 7, 2026 |
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| CAOC-backed committees report massive fundraising totals as title and summary approvals allow competing ballot measures to move toward signature gathering. | |
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Tuesday, January 6, 2026 |
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| The 9th Circuit affirmed summary judgment finding "Top Gun: Maverick" did not infringe a journalist's article that was the basis for the original film. The panel held that shared depictions of Navy training were unprotected facts rather than copyrightable expression under law. | |
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Monday, January 5, 2026 |
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| A steep drop in PTAB institutions under revised PTO procedures has raised questions about the future of inter partes review and revived practices common before the America Invents Act. | |
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Friday, January 2, 2026 |
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| For decades, residents in the rural north have longed for a political earthquake that would cleave their region out of California and allow them to create their own fabled "State of Jefferson" with conservatives in Southern Oregon. | |