GUEST COLUMNS
Thursday, February 12, 2026
Last week, a 92-year-old driver may have mistaken the gas for the brake and crashed into Westwood's 99 Ranch Market, killing three and injuring several others, raising questions about driver age, potential medical emergencies, foreseeability, and insurance coverage.
As genomic testing becomes more accessible, defense counsel in mesothelioma cases are increasingly leveraging BAP1 and other genetic mutations to challenge asbestos causation theories and provide an alternative explanation for the disease.
Wednesday, February 11, 2026
A proposed California ballot initiative imposing a one-time 5% excise tax on billionaires' net worth has gained traction amid fiscal concerns and fairness debates, but would face significant legal and administrative challenges regardless of one's policy position.
Advanced vehicle technology and data are reshaping accident investigations, forcing personal injury attorneys to track system performance, human interaction and emerging liability issues in modern crash litigation.
Tuesday, February 10, 2026
AI-generated hallucinations are appearing in California court filings. When a decision rests on cases that don't exist, appellate review becomes impossible: You cannot judge the route when you cannot trust the map. California should recognize fabricated legal authority as per se reversible error, no prejudice analysis required.
Enacted 30 years ago through careful legislative deliberation, Section 230 remains the internet's strongest bulwark for free expression, protecting the services--and users--that make online speech possible.
Monday, February 9, 2026
Plaintiffs are deploying established negligence and product liability doctrines against AI developers in cases alleging chatbot interactions exacerbated mental health crises and failed to escalate warning signs.
Since 2019, South American Theft Groups have driven millions in losses across Los Angeles County, exploiting loopholes in California's Values Act (SB 54) that critics say unintentionally enable repeat offenders to evade deportation and reoffend.
Friday, February 6, 2026
A court-appointed receiver was supposed to stabilize a troubled Tenderloin building--now, 24 tenants, many elderly or non-English speaking, face eviction in a move that deepens the housing crisis.
SB 440 offers broader, more protective change order remedies for private works, providing a model to improve AB 626 before its sunset.
Thursday, February 5, 2026
Post-judgment interest on attorney fees is simple but sneaky: if the law makes fees automatic (like anti-SLAPP), the meter starts at judgment; if a judge must later decide entitlement, the clock doesn't start until the fee award.
In Vetter v. Resnik, the 5th Circuit held that copyright terminations under the U.S. Copyright Act allow authors to recapture worldwide rights--not just U.S. rights--creating potentially enormous implications for the music and broader copyright industries.
Wednesday, February 4, 2026
Patagonia's lawsuit against drag queen Pattie Gonia raises a familiar trademark question--but in a context where advocacy, performance and commerce collide, the stakes are anything but routine.
Private mediation in divorce cases allows parties to resolve disputes confidentially and efficiently, significantly reducing both the financial and emotional costs compared with traditional court proceedings while giving families control over outcomes.
Tuesday, February 3, 2026
Video used to speak for itself in court. Now, thanks to AI and digital manipulation, officers and their attorneys must be ready to prove it's telling the truth.
The Pasadena City Council's acceptance of a donated police tracking dog without scrutiny reflects a dangerous, well-documented pattern in which unreliable canine scent evidence--often amounting to junk science--has led to wrongful arrests and convictions, as shown by cases like Josh Connole's and others where dog alerts supplanted rigorous proof and nearly destroyed innocent lives.
Monday, February 2, 2026
Desegregation is not discrimination: Why the lawsuit against LAUSD distorts history, law and justice
The lawsuit claiming LAUSD's desegregation policies "harm white students" isn't just a misreading of the law--it's a distortion of constitutional history and civil rights jurisprudence.
Annual reporting isn't what it used to be--find out what's required and avoid an unpleasant surprise that could put your license at risk.
Friday, January 30, 2026
Leaving California can eliminate its 13.3% state income tax, but expatriating from the U.S. entirely triggers a costly "exit tax" on all your assets that can be difficult to avoid.
Grok has become a hub for AI-generated sexual exploitation, prompting California officials to investigate its failure to prevent the creation of deepfakes and child pornography.
Thursday, January 29, 2026
As parents let teens ride solo in autonomous vehicles, the real legal question isn't rule-breaking--it's whether companies can avoid responsibility when they knowingly allow foreseeable risks.
Lululemon is now tackling dupe culture on two fronts--challenging lookalikes in court while using a new trademark strategy to curb how competitors talk about them online.
Wednesday, January 28, 2026
As AI hype accelerates, a wave of "AI washing" securities lawsuits--alleging companies overstated or misrepresented their AI capabilities--highlights the need for careful, fact-based disclosures, forward-looking safe-harbor language and proactive risk management to mitigate litigation exposure.
Canadian securities regulators have introduced sweeping reforms to strengthen capital markets amid U.S. trade tensions, expanding capital-raising limits, streamlining IPO requirements and broadening investor participation--creating conditions for continued growth in 2026.
Tuesday, January 27, 2026
Proposed federal evidence rule would require AI-Generated evidence to meet same standard as expert witnesses.
The California Supreme Court recognizes the public's right under the California Public Records Act to enforce proper public agency behavior.
Monday, January 26, 2026
In 2025, California courts and the Department of Insurance clarified that
"direct physical loss or damage" from fires and smoke--including invisible or
microscopic damage--can qualify for coverage under insurance policies, building
on the precedent set in Another Planet Entertainment v. Vigilant Insurance.
The fatal shooting of Renee Good by an ICE agent in Minneapolis violated the
Fourth Amendment's ban on unreasonable seizures, yet federal doctrines like
qualified immunity and the fading Bivens remedy leave victims without
real redress.
Friday, January 23, 2026
More than a year after the Eaton and Palisades fires, many families still cannot rebuild because insurers quietly shortchange total-loss claims by delaying, minimizing or withholding benefits they owe.
California has finally delivered broad tax relief for wildfire settlements--but new legal definitions and shifting requirements mean many victims must still tread carefully to secure their exclusions.
Thursday, January 22, 2026
McConaughey is trademarking 'Alright, alright, alright'--and himself--to fight AI deepfakes before they fight him.
The Trump administration's most consequential norm-breaking act may be its sidelining of senior JAG officers and targeting of Senator Mark Kelly for restating the bedrock rule that service members must obey only lawful orders.
Wednesday, January 21, 2026
Long before today's trade wars, tariff disputes helped shape the legal definition of art--forcing courts to draw lines between culture and commerce.
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.
Tuesday, January 20, 2026
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.
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.
Friday, January 16, 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.
Thursday, January 15, 2026
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.
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.
Wednesday, January 14, 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.
Tuesday, January 13, 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.
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Mark Lanier of Lanier Law Firm
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NEWS
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General News
Thursday, February 12, 2026 |
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| A university employee was catastrophically injured when a driver who acknowledged taking medications and smoking marijuana crossed double yellow lines and struck her vehicle. Jurors found the defendant acted with malice and within the scope of his employment, opening the door to punitive damages and corporate liability. | |
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General News
Thursday, February 12, 2026 |
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| Making healthy financial decisions, such as saving for retirement, paying down credit card debt, and refinancing your mortgage can set you up for long-term financial success. | |
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General News
Thursday, February 12, 2026 |
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| A federal judge allowed unjust enrichment claims over allegedly defective MacBook batteries to continue, dismissing fraud, warranty and California consumer law claims while granting plaintiffs limited leave to amend pleadings. | |
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General News
Wednesday, February 11, 2026 |
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| A $5 million malpractice suit was dismissed for improper venue, as San Mateo County attorney seeks fees and accuses a former client of unpaid bills and abusive litigation tactics. | |
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General News
Wednesday, February 11, 2026 |
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| A Republican proposal to charge higher fees on mortgages for service members and veterans -- adding, in some cases, $1,000 or more to the cost of the loan -- is being scaled back in the face of significant opposition from veterans' groups and lenders. | |
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General News
Wednesday, February 11, 2026 |
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| A federal judge certified multiple purchaser and reseller classes in an antitrust lawsuit alleging Juul's partial merger with Altria unlawfully reduced competition in the e-cigarette market. | |
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General News
Tuesday, February 10, 2026 |
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| Arizona jury finds Uber liable under apparent-agency theory for driver's alleged rape of passenger, awards $8.5 million, but rejects negligence, design-defect and punitive-damage claims. | |
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General News
Tuesday, February 10, 2026 |
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| Workplace investigations are a balancing act | |
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General News
Tuesday, February 10, 2026 |
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| Justice Department announcements of two new denaturalization petitions underscore how infrequently the government seeks to strip citizenship, immigration lawyers say, despite Trump-era pledges to expand the practice. | |
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General News
Monday, February 9, 2026 |
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| The general bewilderment that bedevils the economic mandarins these days was captured by a recent World Bank note: "Global Growth Defies Expectations." | |
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General News
Monday, February 9, 2026 |
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| A federal judge appointed Susman Godfrey's Rohit Nath and Keller Rohrback's William Dreher as co-lead counsel in authors' class action accusing Apple of using pirated works to train its AI model. | |
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General News
Monday, February 9, 2026 |
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| Stanford Law professor Jeffrey L. Fisher has argued 50 cases before the U.S. Supreme Court, brings a track record of landmark constitutional victories in digital privacy, confrontation rights and racial justice. | |
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General News
Monday, February 9, 2026 |
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| Many California Sikhs built livelihoods in the trucking industry. Thousands suddenly just lost their licenses. | |
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General News
Friday, February 6, 2026 |
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| Closing arguments ended in the Phoenix bellwether trial, with the plaintiff's counsel urging a $144 million verdict against Uber for alleged rape, while the defense argued unforeseeable alleged conduct by an independent contractor driver does not make the company liable. | |
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General News
Friday, February 6, 2026 |
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| After 12 years of litigation, San Francisco Union Square Hilton agreed to a $12 million class settlement proposing to resolve claims it withheld mandatory banquet service charges from servers and bussers. | |
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General News
Friday, February 6, 2026 |
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| Yann LeCun argues that the technology industry will eventually hit a dead end in its AI development -- after years of work and hundreds of billions of dollars spent. | |
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General News
Thursday, February 5, 2026 |
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| Kevin Clune succeeds longtime president Joan Graff as head of Legal Aid at Work, pledging impact litigation, immigrant worker protections, and system reforms while inheriting a strong financial foundation statewide. | |
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General News
Thursday, February 5, 2026 |
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| Food delivery, which skyrocketed during the pandemic as a practical necessity, has become even more entrenched in the years since as a convenience, an everyday alternative to cooking or eating out. | |
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General News
Thursday, February 5, 2026 |
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| A San Francisco judge awarded former Farella lawyer Neil Goteiner $47,000 in fees after his dismissal from a malpractice lawsuit brought by the International Swim League and its founder entities. | |
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General News
Wednesday, February 4, 2026 |
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| President Donald Trump's proposed one-year 10% cap on credit card interest rates doesn't appear imminent. But there may be steps you can take to lower your rate while paying down card balances. | |
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General News
Wednesday, February 4, 2026 |
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| A federal judge weighed competing bids for lead counsel in the Roblox child exploitation MDL, signaling concern that multiple leaders or steering committees could hinder efficiency and delay progress proceedings. | |
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General News
Wednesday, February 4, 2026 |
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| A San Francisco judge coordinated 13 lawsuits accusing OpenAI's ChatGPT of causing severe mental health harms, despite objections from one plaintiffs' lawyer, setting up a complex proceeding to address shared discovery and legal issues. | |
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General News
Tuesday, February 3, 2026 |
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| Metro Verde's lead developer, John Moscato, decided four years ago that, whenever feasible, his company would no longer install natural gas lines for heating, hot water or cooking. | |
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General News
Tuesday, February 3, 2026 |
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| U.S. home prices surged to new highs in 2025 even as seller profits slipped and affordability pressures deepened, according to a year end report released Thursday by the real estate data firm Attom. | |
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General News
Tuesday, February 3, 2026 |
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| Music publishers allege Anthropic trained its Claude AI model using pirated lyrics and sheet music, reviving copyright claims after a prior lawsuit and a landmark federal ruling on AI training and fair use. | |
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General News
Tuesday, February 3, 2026 |
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| Jurors heard closing arguments on whether Southern California Edison caused millions in cannabis business losses from the Thomas Fire or only limited, provable damages tied directly to smoke and debris. | |
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General News
Monday, February 2, 2026 |
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| If you're wondering how to keep yourself financially on track in the face of these competing demands, the following strategies may help. | |
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General News
Monday, February 2, 2026 |
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| The case centers on whether a $200,000 loan was part of a True Up calculation or a separate obligation due at the sale of the firm in 2023. | |
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General News
Monday, February 2, 2026 |
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| Shareholder activism remains elevated, with activists increasingly pushing for M&A and other strategic changes, prompting companies to engage shareholders early, plan proactively and respond thoughtfully rather than react defensively. | |
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General News
Friday, January 30, 2026 |
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| After last-minute settlements by TikTok and Snap, Meta and Google moved forward with jury selection in the first Los Angeles Bellwether trial alleging social media platforms harm minors' mental health. | |
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General News
Friday, January 30, 2026 |
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| Initial public offerings in the U.S. rose in 2025, boosted by medical supply distributor Medline Inc., and attorneys expect another increase this year, even if much-anticipated offerings by San Francisco AI companies such as Anthropic PBC and OpenAI Inc. do not happen. | |
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General News
Friday, January 30, 2026 |
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| Gavin Newsom's relationship with legislators has always been more transactional than collaborative. | |
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General News
Thursday, January 29, 2026 |
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| Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg is expected to testify Feb. 9 as the first jury trial over alleged addictive social media design moves forward, with a Los Angeles judge urging efficiency while resolving scheduling, evidentiary and jury logistics. | |
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General News
Thursday, January 29, 2026 |
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| The effects of lowering rates beyond a level that is appropriate for the economy are complicated, and not entirely positive. | |
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General News
Thursday, January 29, 2026 |
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| Corporate legal leaders from Robinhood, Coherent, Peloton, and Edward Jones said U.S. regulatory uncertainty is slowing blockchain and digital asset innovation, particularly in areas such as tokenization, payments, and market infrastructure, while Europe moves ahead. | |
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General News
Wednesday, January 28, 2026 |
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| Google and Epic urged a federal judge to modify an Android app store injunction, but the FTC and Microsoft warned proposed changes could undermine competition and preserve Google's market power. | |
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General News
Wednesday, January 28, 2026 |
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| A Democratic lawmaker is pushing a proposal to speed up $10 billion in funding for climate programs more than a year after voters approved Proposition 4, the state's biggest investment yet to combat climate change. | |
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General News
Wednesday, January 28, 2026 |
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| A California Court of Appeal revived claims by more than 100 renters, holding tenants may sue landlords for background-check disclosure violations under state law even without proving they suffered actual harm. | |
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General News
Wednesday, January 28, 2026 |
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| Corporate bankruptcies have hit their highest level in 15 years, and while attorneys do not see the large-scale filings that occurred during the Great Recession, they are expecting another increase in 2026. | |
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General News
Tuesday, January 27, 2026 |
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| Ian Rambarran assumes operational leadership of the San Diego-based law firm as founder John Klinedinst focuses on strategy and growth. | |
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General News
Tuesday, January 27, 2026 |
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| California faces a half-dozen existential issues that threaten the state's future economic and social wellbeing, and they have persistently defied attempts to resolve them over the last 25 years. | |
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General News
Tuesday, January 27, 2026 |
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| A Los Angeles judge questioned whether Pasadena's anticipatory breach claims against UCLA fit the Rose Bowl agreement's narrow arbitration clause, taking under submission whether the dispute belongs in court or arbitration. | |
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General News
Monday, January 26, 2026 |
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| Google urged Judge Richard Seeborg to decertify a privacy class after a $425 million verdict, arguing the lead plaintiff's testimony undermines the claim that users uniformly found the data collection highly offensive, the applicable legal standard. | |
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General News
Monday, January 26, 2026 |
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| Former Optrics lead counsel Herbert Terreri settled malpractice claims for at least $1.75 million, denying wrongdoing, as pending good-faith settlements leaving Cloud9 Discovery as the sole remaining defendant. | |
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General News
Monday, January 26, 2026 |
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| A surge of anti-government protests swept Iran this month, leading to civilian casualties and prompting President Donald Trump to hint that he was considering military intervention. Somehow, it was also a betting opportunity. | |
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General News
Thursday, February 12, 2026 |
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| Jurors heard dueling openings in the first bellwether trial accusing Meta and Google of designing addictive platforms that harmed a child, with the defense arguing her mental health struggles stemmed from a troubled home, not social media use. | |
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General News
Wednesday, February 11, 2026 |
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| An Arizona jury award of $8.5 million against Uber strengthened passenger sex assault claims, attorneys say, as federal judges consolidated 17 Lyft sexual assault lawsuits into a Northern California multidistrict litigation. | |
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General News
Tuesday, February 10, 2026 |
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| Judge Vince Chhabria questioned authors' late effort to add a contributory copyright claim against Meta, saying the theory appeared available earlier and may reflect a strategic do-over. | |
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General News
Monday, February 9, 2026 |
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| Former state attorney Anthony Tartaglio is running to unseat San Francisco Superior Court Judge Michelle Tong, citing public criticism of her record as judicial challenges continue to rise statewide. | |
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General News
Thursday, February 5, 2026 |
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| A federal judge said an antitrust challenge to Altria's stake in Juul should go to trial, rejecting summary judgment while expressing skepticism about plaintiffs' Clayton Act claims over acquired "assets" in his tentative order. | |
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General News
Wednesday, February 4, 2026 |
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| A federal judge ordered the Court of Master Sommeliers-Americas to produce internal investigative records in a lawsuit by former students alleging a rigged 2018 wine-tasting exam and a leadership coverup of cheating and sexual misconduct. | |
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General News
Tuesday, February 3, 2026 |
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| Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero said federal immigration authorities have appeared at at least 17 California courthouses in the past year, prompting courts to expand remote proceedings and seek guidance, while the Supreme Court prepares to address a growing backlog of Racial Justice Act appeals. | |
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General News
Monday, February 2, 2026 |
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| Two cannabis companies are seeking more than $20 million in damages from the 2017 Thomas Fire. Edison acknowledges liability but contends any losses tied to the utility are far lower than the plaintiffs claim. | |
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General News
Friday, January 30, 2026 |
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| A proposed federal class action claims the San Francisco Giants misled fans by advertising low ticket prices online and adding mandatory fees at checkout, a practice now barred under California's Honest Pricing Law. | |
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General News
Thursday, January 29, 2026 |
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| The lawsuit accuses U.S. Border Patrol agents of making unconstitutional stops and arrests in the Central Valley. | |
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General News
Tuesday, January 27, 2026 |
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| New judge Araceli Martinez-Olguin signaled Anthropic's $1.5 million author settlement may proceed, weighing a special master, opt-out deadline issues, and next steps after Judge Alsup's retirement without significant additional delays. | |
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General News
Monday, January 26, 2026 |
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| The 4th District Court of Appeal panel decision will have significant fiscal and structural implications as counties confront a rising volume of postconviction claims. | |