GUEST COLUMNS
Tuesday, March 31, 2026
Existing insurance programs may provide coverage in some circumstances, but insurers are increasingly introducing exclusions and limitations aimed specifically at AI-related risks.
Entertainment transactional attorneys shape Hollywood deals to prevent disputes, but even well-intentioned agreements--like vague commission contracts or unclear rights-acquisition publicity carve-outs--can trigger costly conflicts if terms aren't carefully defined upfront.
Monday, March 30, 2026
CARE Court has gone from experiment to scoreboard, with counties now judged on filings, outcomes and their ability to turn court orders into real-world treatment.
As cross-border disputes involving China increase, U.S. counsel must recognize fundamental differences in discovery, judicial roles, evidentiary rules, precedent, timing and enforcement between U.S. and Chinese litigation systems.
Friday, March 27, 2026
Most law firm business plans fail not from poor strategy but from weak execution, including vague goals, limited partner buy-in, and disconnects among marketing, client service, and business development.
The IRS's new guidance on qualified production property (QPP) clarifies eligibility, allocation and recapture rules, giving taxpayers a significant opportunity to claim accelerated depreciation for property used in manufacturing, refining or production.
Thursday, March 26, 2026
Twenty years after Kelo v. City of New
London expanded eminent domain to include broad "public purpose," states
like Louisiana have pushed back with constitutional limits, as illustrated by
the recent rejection of a port authority's attempt to transfer condemned land
to a private developer.
Cybersecurity has always sounded like a thriller--and AI has just handed every would-be operative a new set of lethal capabilities to exploit the attack vectors and surfaces that make networks vulnerable.
Wednesday, March 25, 2026
The 9th Circuit puts ideology above women's privacy, forcing a Korean spa to abandon centuries-old traditions, religious beliefs and the safety of its patrons.
Every lawyer should know a few key tax rules that can shape what plaintiffs actually take home after a case resolves. Settlement wording, the claims involved and even how checks and Forms 1099 are issued can change the tax result.
Tuesday, March 24, 2026
In its complaint, the Personal Care Products Council argues that mandatory warnings for products containing diethanolamine constitute misleading compelled speech about risks not established in real-world product use.
California's new proposed PAGA rules aim to crack down on frivolous lawsuits, tighten notice requirements and give the state more oversight of settlements.
Monday, March 23, 2026
The guidance shows how Treasury intends to integrate the Trump Account program into the IRS's existing administrative framework rather than building an entirely new benefit-delivery system.
Courts already function largely online; completing the transition to a near-fully remote system would deliver meaningful cost savings while improving access, efficiency and convenience for the public.
Friday, March 20, 2026
In light of recent U.S. military action against Iran, this article analyzes the definition of war, the constitutional allocation of war powers between Congress and the President, and the War Powers Resolution and exceeded presidential authority.
With construction costs projected to stay high through 2026, developers can no longer depend on historical pricing or boilerplate contracts, particularly on high-rise and mixed-use projects where risk and feasibility are tightly linked.
Thursday, March 19, 2026
Education Code ยง 94874(i) unconstitutionally outsources California's core regulatory authority over degree-granting colleges to private federal accreditors, undermining state separation of powers and judicial accountability.
A quiet custody hearing in Orange County on Sept. 11, 2001, showed why the rule of law endures: courts judge conduct, not nationality, religion or the conflicts of nations.
Wednesday, March 18, 2026
A California appellate decision clarifies how courts interpret ambiguous insurance policy language, showing that a single undefined word can determine coverage and liability on complex construction projects.
Proposition 19 is reshaping many of California's most iconic cities and neighborhoods by eliminating the broad parent-to-child exclusion from property tax reassessment, a rule that governed intergenerational real property transfers for decades.
Tuesday, March 17, 2026
With financial backers playing an increasingly influential role in civil cases, AB 931 is designed to prevent plaintiffs from being puppeted by funders while preserving attorneys' independence.
California appellate court rules that collecting license plate data without a publicly posted privacy policy constitutes actionable "harm" under state law, exposing businesses to significant liability.
Monday, March 16, 2026
Assembly Bill 1680 proposes expanding the California FAIR Plan to offer more comprehensive homeowners coverage, but the economic challenges of implementing these reforms raise serious questions about their long-term viability.
California's Workplace Know Your Rights Act consolidates existing workplace notice requirements and adds new obligations, continuing California's longstanding practice of expanding the notices employers must provide to inform employees of their rights.
Friday, March 13, 2026
The assumption that metabolic health is a static backdrop in personal injury law no longer holds. Weight, diabetes, cardiovascular risk and inflammation, once facts in the record, are now variables that can change over the life of a case.
A new proposed rule would reinstate weighted factors for determining independent contractor status under the FLSA, giving employers a more predictable framework than the Biden-era totality-of-the-circumstances approach.
Thursday, March 12, 2026
In California's 2026 gubernatorial race, the eight-way Democratic field and only two Republicans creates a real possibility of a Republican shut-out--where both General Election slots go to the GOP for the first time in 20 years.
Courts have long confined intentional
interference with expected inheritance to situations lacking a probate remedy.
In Halperin v. Halperin, California narrows that path even further,
reinforcing probate as the primary forum for inheritance disputes.
Wednesday, March 11, 2026
Proper planning in legal settlement agreements about IRS Form 1099 reporting--what forms will be issued, to whom, and in what amounts--can prevent disputes and avoid unintended tax consequences for plaintiffs and their attorneys.
The Supreme Court's pending decisions in West
Virginia v. B.P.J. and Little v. Hecox will clarify the federal
standard under Title IX governing transgender student participation in
athletics, but because the cases arise from preliminary injunctions and states
retain authority to enact their own protections, schools will likely continue navigating
a patchwork of federal requirements, state laws, and compliance obligations.
Tuesday, March 10, 2026
AB 1897 would rewrite California's Mentally Disordered Offender law by lowering the standard for civil commitment from "substantial danger" to a mere "threat," making it easier to extend confinement long after prison sentences end.
A recent 5th Circuit decision clarified that for federal self-employment tax purposes, a "limited partner" is defined by state-law limited partnership status rather than the partner's level of day-to-day business participation, potentially reshaping how partnerships approach tax planning.
Monday, March 9, 2026
Tax practitioners must prioritize ethical duties and thorough research over timing and efficiency concerns when advising clients, regardless of the circumstances.
When an AI agent hires a gig worker to photograph equipment in a warehouse and the worker breaks an ankle, who is the employer? When it sends a stranger into an occupied apartment, who authorized the entry? RentAHuman.ai is live. The legal questions are not hypothetical.
Friday, March 6, 2026
Casual emails, recycled opinions, and unchecked client facts can turn routine tax advice into Circular 230 violations, penalties, malpractice claims and career-ending discipline.
The crumbling infrastructure of federal courthouses is not merely a crisis of bricks and mortar but a profound human tragedy that undermines the constitutional promise of a fair and accessible legal system and underscores the urgent need for reform.
Thursday, March 5, 2026
ABA Formal Opinion 518 limits mediators from advising on a party's "best interest," making opening demands, mediator choice and strategic persuasion more crucial than ever.
President Donald Trump and his administration have escalated efforts to challenge court decisions, call for judges' impeachment and undermine the independence of the federal judiciary.
Wednesday, March 4, 2026
Twelve states have sued HHS, CMS, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and others over Executive Order 14168, arguing that conditioning federal funding on compliance with a binary-only sex policy improperly attempts to amend Title IX, exposes grant recipients to False Claims Act liability, and forces states and organizations to navigate contested legal and financial risks.
When California attorneys learn they are the target of a State Bar OCTC investigation, they should strongly consider retaining specialized discipline defense counsel, as compressed prefiling timelines, limited discovery and nonnegotiable discipline standards can put both their license and livelihood at serious risk.
Tuesday, March 3, 2026
California's recent e-bike laws read as a buyer-beware cautionary tale: Once a device is "out-of-class," it is a motor vehicle--not a bike--triggering impoundment, forfeiture and liability for parents
Kratom and 7-OH products have been on shelves for years, but as sales pick up, the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control issues a warning: sell them in ABC-licensed premises and face administrative disciplinary proceedings, including suspension or revocation of the license.
Monday, March 2, 2026
The Civil Rights Act never created disparate impact liability, yet agencies embedded it across American life. President Trump now seeks to rein in that overreach and restore the law's original meaning.
Many view California as a leader in tenant protections, but its primary unsafe-housing statute remains frozen in 1985, trapping renters in a futile "notice and cure" loop. California must modernize this outdated law.
File photo
U.S. Magistrate Judge Susan van Keulen
U.S. Magistrate Judge Susan van Keulen
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NEWS
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Tuesday, March 31, 2026 |
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| A federal magistrate judge allowed key Mountain West claims against the Pac-12 to proceed over school departures, dismissing fraud allegations but sustaining unjust enrichment and interference claims. | |
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Tuesday, March 31, 2026 |
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| Earlier this month, Zillow began allowing certain brokerages to display listings before they officially hit the market under a new feature called Zillow Preview. | |
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Tuesday, March 31, 2026 |
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| The Commission on Judicial Performance disciplined 13 judges in 2025 and pursued more cases against retired or departing jurists. | |
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Tuesday, March 31, 2026 |
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| Former Ben & Jerry's chair Anuradha Mittal sued Unilever, alleging a sham investigation and defamatory statements led to her removal after political disputes tied to the board's Gaza ceasefire stance. | |
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Monday, March 30, 2026 |
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| A judge allowed investors to proceed as a class in a securities case against NVIDIA tied to cryptocurrency-related disclosures, finding reliance could be resolved on a classwide basis. | |
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Monday, March 30, 2026 |
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| The jury wrote 97 of the 98 figures in black ink, but one number -- the damages amount for plaintiffs who sold on Aug. 9, 2022 -- was written in blue. | |
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Monday, March 30, 2026 |
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| Most older adults don't have long-term care insurance, and a big reason may be that they don't understand the limits of their regular health coverage. | |
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Friday, March 27, 2026 |
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| AI was supposed to help tech companies boost productivity and cut costs. But it has also created an expensive new status game, known as "tokenmaxxing," among AI-obsessed workers who are desperate to prove how productive they are. | |
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Friday, March 27, 2026 |
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| U.S. District Judge Rita F. Lin appointed experienced plaintiffs' counsel and pushed parties to begin discovery in parallel Lyft case. | |
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Friday, March 27, 2026 |
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| Assemblymember Ash Kalra proposed $45 million to address staffing shortages as defense offices warn of breaking point. | |
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Thursday, March 26, 2026 |
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| The public defender's office has claimed unsustainable workloads prevented it from accepting the new clients as it threatened their constitutional due process rights. | |
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Thursday, March 26, 2026 |
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| Measures targeting private equity influence and attorney misconduct cleared a key committee, as trial lawyers prepare for a high-stakes ballot battle with Uber. | |
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Thursday, March 26, 2026 |
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| Problems plague a pandemic relief program that could end up costing taxpayers more than policymakers anticipated. | |
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Wednesday, March 25, 2026 |
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| A jury's securities fraud finding against Elon Musk is drawing attention for its novel theory, potential chilling effect on executive speech and unusual split verdict on liability and intent. | |
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Wednesday, March 25, 2026 |
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| California Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero called for increased court funding and remote access and signaled a potential clash with federal immigration enforcement agencies in her annual State of the Judiciary address. | |
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Wednesday, March 25, 2026 |
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| Following rivals like Amazon and OpenAI, Microsoft is upgrading its artificially intelligent assistant to track your health. There are benefits and risks to consider. | |
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Tuesday, March 24, 2026 |
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| President Donald Trump has directed that most federal payments be issued electronically, including tax refunds. Last year nearly 10 million people got their refund via a paper check. | |
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Tuesday, March 24, 2026 |
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| A Sonoma County judge ruled SMART owns its rail corridor in fee and may operate a bike and pedestrian path as an ancillary use, rejecting neighboring landowners' claims. | |
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Tuesday, March 24, 2026 |
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| Settlement resolves claims Google stored and used unintended voice recordings; final approval hearing set for October. | |
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Monday, March 23, 2026 |
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| A proposed DOJ rule would pause state bar investigations of federal lawyers while the department reviews complaints first, reviving a decades-old fight over ethics enforcement, federal power and accountability questions. | |
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Monday, March 23, 2026 |
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| A union complaint filed with state regulators accuses Waymo of allowing unaccompanied minors in driverless vehicles, raising potential violations of CPUC rules and possible court review of any decision. | |
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Monday, March 23, 2026 |
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| Like other chatbots, AI agents can make mistakes. And because these mistakes might involve sending email messages or editing files, they can wreak havoc. | |
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Friday, March 20, 2026 |
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| Why emotional readiness and financial planning go hand in hand | |
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Friday, March 20, 2026 |
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| Sole survivor of a fatal Cybertruck crash sues Tesla, alleging electronic door failures trapped occupants. Complaint cites product defects, prior incidents and seeks damages as cases consolidate. | |
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Friday, March 20, 2026 |
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| Farm argues state agency cannot enter private land for project testing without prior authorization and funding. | |
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Thursday, March 19, 2026 |
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| Proposals would mandate disbarment for illegal client solicitation and restrict investor control over legal decisions | |
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Thursday, March 19, 2026 |
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| This March has been especially harsh, and no corner of the country seems to have been spared the chaotic weather. | |
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Thursday, March 19, 2026 |
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| Judicial officials cite gaps in tracking outcomes as lawmakers debate funding and rising workloads. | |
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Wednesday, March 18, 2026 |
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| In a 2025 survey of 1,040 people by the Identity Theft Resource Center, 80% said they had received at least one breach notice in the previous 12 months. | |
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Wednesday, March 18, 2026 |
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| A putative federal class action claims Elon Musk's xAI failed to implement standard AI safeguards, allowing its Grok model to generate explicit deepfake images of minors. | |
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Wednesday, March 18, 2026 |
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| Twenty-seven judges say the opinion's language "makes us sound like juveniles, not judges" in dispute over transgender access to Korean spa. Judge Lawrence VanDyke agreed but said the language was necessary because the court's majority opinion avoided what the case was about. | |
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Tuesday, March 17, 2026 |
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| A federal judge said OpenAI's lawyers can question Elon Musk about his financial incentive to sue the company when the high-profile fraud case goes to trial in April, while also setting limits on evidence ranging from Musk's political activity to alleged drug use. | |
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Tuesday, March 17, 2026 |
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| Speaking during California International Arbitration Week in San Francisco, Cedric Chao said the world's two largest economies are increasingly moving toward economic "decoupling," a shift that will influence how companies structure contracts, resolve disputes and select arbitration venues. | |
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Tuesday, March 17, 2026 |
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| AI tools struggle to follow complex procedures perfectly, and errors can accumulate as a task becomes more complex. | |
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Monday, March 16, 2026 |
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| Although plenty of smart appliances like dishwashers, coffee makers and smoke detectors flooded the market, interest in the idea of an automated household never took off. | |
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Monday, March 16, 2026 |
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| A strike by Solano County public defenders refusing new cases may soon halt criminal hearings, as critics warn too few private attorneys exist to represent indigent defendants during ongoing contract negotiations. | |
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Monday, March 16, 2026 |
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| A former Morgan Stanley banker testified Elon Musk paused his Twitter acquisition after the company failed to provide requested data supporting its bot estimates, as plaintiffs claim the post intentionally depressed stock. | |
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Friday, March 13, 2026 |
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| BART's future is dire. Its ridership cratered during the pandemic and remains less than half of what it once was. | |
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Friday, March 13, 2026 |
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| The Senate on Thursday overwhelmingly passed the largest piece of housing legislation in 36 years. | |
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Friday, March 13, 2026 |
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| Judge Harry Dorfman ruled that San Francisco Public Defender Manohar Raju ignored a lawful order to accept new indigent clients despite claims the office lacks resources. | |
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Monday, March 30, 2026 |
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| Gov. Gavin Newsom signed legislation on Thursday changing a California holiday named after Cesar Chavez to "Farmworkers Day." | |
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Friday, March 27, 2026 |
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| A jury found managing agents ratified misconduct by failing to act on reports of sexual assault by a nurse later convicted in multiple cases. | |
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Thursday, March 26, 2026 |
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| A federal judge excluded settlement evidence in a securities case against remaining defendants, raising questions about how jurors will apportion liability without referencing parties who already resolved claims. | |
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Wednesday, March 25, 2026 |
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| A San Francisco judge allowed a malpractice lawsuit against Withers Bergman LLP to proceed, rejecting arguments that claims over failed real estate investment advice were barred by the statute of limitations. | |
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Tuesday, March 24, 2026 |
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| San Francisco jury finds Tesla CEO misled investors during $44 billion Twitter deal. | |
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Monday, March 23, 2026 |
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| U.S. Magistrate Judge Sallie Kim found triable issues over whether a former BlackBerry executive was fired for reporting alleged harassment, allowing key retaliation claims to proceed while dismissing others. | |
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Friday, March 20, 2026 |
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| Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers plans daily jury instructions limiting liability theories as the first federal social media addiction bellwether trial approaches, while ruling on evidentiary disputes and potential testimony from tech executives. | |
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Thursday, March 19, 2026 |
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| A federal judge dismissed Musi's $10 million lawsuit against Apple and sanctioned its attorneys, finding a central allegation lacked factual support after discovery in the Northern District of California. | |
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Wednesday, March 18, 2026 |
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| A San Francisco judge allowed most claims in Inflect's lawsuit against Solana to proceed, dismissing only a quantum meruit claim while rejecting arguments that Inflect lacked standing to enforce the contract. | |
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Tuesday, March 17, 2026 |
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| The State Bar alleges newly produced internal communications show the testing vendor privately doubted its ability to administer the February 2025 bar exam before widespread technical failures disrupted the test. | |
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Monday, March 16, 2026 |
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| A unanimous appellate panel found several provisions of the Age-Appropriate Design Code Act too vague to enforce but declined to halt the entire law. | |
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Friday, March 13, 2026 |
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| Two class actions filed in Northern California claim Meta's AI-enabled smart glasses secretly capture and transmit video for AI training, raising new privacy and consumer protection questions. | |