GUEST COLUMNS
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 California must modernize this outdated law.
Friday, February 27, 2026
Military toughness helps in uniform but hurts in court, leaving veterans underrepresented and penalized in personal injury claims.
While federal copyright disputes have drawn the most attention, they are only the beginning; practitioners should anticipate a broad range of novel AI litigation waiting in the wings.
Thursday, February 26, 2026
Scientists and companies are using the microgravity of low Earth orbit to develop drugs in ways impossible on Earth, creating new opportunities and legal challenges for space-based biotechnology and its regulation.
As private and government activity in orbit expands, clarity in patent strategy is increasingly necessary, and recent U.S. policy shifts reflect a more innovation-focused approach to space-sector IP.
Wednesday, February 25, 2026
When a demand letter becomes a "claim": examining a novel offensive use of New York's anti-SLAPP law--and why the same strategy would fail in California.
In a 6-1 decision, the California Supreme Court considered whether an arbitration agreement that was nearly impossible to read can be enforced--and clarified how illegibility factors into contract formation and unconscionability analysis.
Tuesday, February 24, 2026
Billie Eilish's Grammy remark wasn't
about land titles. It was about moral standing in the face of a deeply unjust
immigration system.
California's new mobilehome laws strengthen tenant protections, modernize notices and impose stricter disaster-response obligations for parks and public agencies.
Monday, February 23, 2026
The entertainment industry is at the forefront of innovative claims arising from the intersection of media and generative AI technologies, and as these cases begin to settle on their own and with the help of mediators, they are drawing new lines in the sand while establishing novel licensing frameworks.
Legislation intended to promote affordable housing by limiting community associations' enforcement, collection, and maintenance powers often backfires, forcing compliant homeowners to subsidize non-compliant neighbors, shoulder higher costs and face greater safety and insurance risks.
Friday, February 20, 2026
Fueled by advertising deregulation from the Supreme Court of the United States, high-volume "plantation" law firms rely on mass-marketing and industrial intake systems that prioritize profit and scale over ethics, supervision and meaningful client representation.
Candlestick Park was more than cold and windy. It was built on insider deals, political maneuvering and a grand jury probe that went nowhere -- leaving taxpayers in the cold while the Giants cashed in.
Thursday, February 19, 2026
The California Court of Appeal recently held that staffing companies are not "laborers" under Civil Code section 8024 and cannot claim against public works payment bonds, while confirming that prevailing parties are entitled to attorneys' fees regardless of whether the bond is for a state or local project.
Remote car rentals aren't responsible for checking if a customer is sober--negligent entrustment requires proof the driver was known to be unfit.
Wednesday, February 18, 2026
For decades, legal research rested on the scarcity of authoritative information; general-purpose AI now places that assumption under pressure by changing how experienced lawyers test, refine and pressure-check legal reasoning.
H.R. 3699 would broadly block state and local governments from most forms of energy regulation --potentially disrupting electrification efforts, safety rules, wildfire protections and utility cost oversight.
Tuesday, February 17, 2026
Who decides when a smoke-contaminated home is safe? Right now, it's the insurance company.
In California courtrooms, companies that tightly control branded delivery operations increasingly deny responsibility after serious crashes, stepping aside as "brokers" in a practice known as liability laundering.
Friday, February 13, 2026
Although the IRS generally presumes litigation recoveries are ordinary income, damages in some defamation cases--particularly those involving harm to professional reputation or goodwill--may qualify for capital gain or basis recovery.
California's 2026 employment law updates impose new operational obligations affecting records, pay data, leave coordination and training, requiring employers to realign policies and internal systems now.
Thursday, February 12, 2026
The IRS issued Notice 2025-69 to guide taxpayers on claiming the new OBBBA deductions for qualified tips and qualified overtime compensation on 2025 returns, providing transitional rules for reconstructing amounts when forms do not separately report them.
California employers are facing a sweeping new set of employment law changes in 2026 that expand employee rights around wages, pay equity and contracting, making early compliance planning essential.
Wednesday, February 11, 2026
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.
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.
Tuesday, February 10, 2026
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.
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.
Monday, February 9, 2026
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.
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.
Friday, February 6, 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.
Courtesy photo
Alexander K. Robinson of Robinson Zermay LLP in Los Angeles
Alexander K. Robinson of Robinson Zermay LLP in Los Angeles
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NEWS
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General News
Wednesday, March 4, 2026 |
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| One name is conspicuously absent from the ever-growing roster of large-scale adoptions of generative AI in K-12 and higher education: New York City, the biggest school system in the United States. | |
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General News
Wednesday, March 4, 2026 |
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| CalPERS accepts trial court judgment but challenges attorney fees and scope of retirees eligible for relief. | |
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General News
Wednesday, March 4, 2026 |
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| Isaac Castellanos alleges that he was struck in the right eye by a projectile fired from 60 to 90 feet away. | |
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General News
Tuesday, March 3, 2026 |
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| Regulators dismissed with prejudice claims that Vidul Prakash failed to account for $20 million in warranty liabilities after discovery evidence supported the company's accounting. | |
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General News
Tuesday, March 3, 2026 |
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| With ICE activity rising and California expanding worker protections, employment lawyers urge businesses to prepare for enforcement visits and ensure they meet new notice and training requirements. | |
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General News
Tuesday, March 3, 2026 |
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| A federal judge ruled that a man's conversations with Anthropic's Claude chatbot were not protected by attorney-client privilege, even though he had used the chatbot to prepare to talk with lawyers. | |
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General News
Monday, March 2, 2026 |
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| There are ways to file your tax return at no charge, using government or commercial options. | |
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General News
Monday, March 2, 2026 |
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| Opt-out providers sued Blue Cross Blue Shield in Northern California, alleging affiliates continue anticompetitive market allocation and boycott practices despite a 2024 $2.7 billion settlement, violating federal antitrust laws. | |
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General News
Monday, March 2, 2026 |
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| InterDigital sued in February 2025 alleging that Disney's streaming services, including Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+, infringe five patents related to video encoding and user interface technology. | |
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General News
Friday, February 27, 2026 |
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| The boxing champion claims a prior civil suit over alleged finder's fee was fabricated and pursued without probable cause. | |
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General News
Friday, February 27, 2026 |
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| A federal judge dismissed a putative class action alleging Pacific Bell underpaid training differentials, ruling the claims were preempted by federal labor law and barred for failure to exhaust grievance procedures. | |
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General News
Friday, February 27, 2026 |
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| Planning for lasting retirement income requires a thoughtful strategy, especially with factors like longevity, market volatility and evolving lifestyle needs in play. | |
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General News
Thursday, February 26, 2026 |
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| U.S. District Judge Rita F. Lin dismissed xAI's trade secrets lawsuit against OpenAI, finding no plausible allegations of inducement or misuse, but granted leave to amend the complaint by March 17. | |
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General News
Thursday, February 26, 2026 |
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| Environmental studies and real estate experts agree that a mature tree near your home can boost its value by 3% to 15%. | |
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General News
Thursday, February 26, 2026 |
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| New fee cap effort draws comparisons to MICRA's long-contested caps of medical damages. | |
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General News
Wednesday, February 25, 2026 |
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| The U.S. tech industry has stubbornly refused to shift where it gets most of its chips, which power things like smartphones, laptops and the giant data centers that run artificial intelligence. | |
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General News
Wednesday, February 25, 2026 |
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| A YouTube engineering vice president told a Los Angeles jury the platform optimizes for user value, not addiction, as plaintiffs in coordinated social media litigation claim its design fueled compulsive use and harmed a young user's mental health. | |
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General News
Wednesday, February 25, 2026 |
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| A San Francisco judge granted leave to amend a wrongful death complaint filed by the parents of former OpenAI employee Suchir Balaji, finding their claims against the apartment owner could potentially be cured by additional factual allegations. | |
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General News
Tuesday, February 24, 2026 |
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| Since Ring's Super Bowl ad aired, instead of a victory lap, Jamie Siminoff has been on an apology tour. | |
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General News
Tuesday, February 24, 2026 |
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| Kaiser Foundation Health Plan sued 10 insurers, alleging wrongful denial of coverage for most of its $556 million Medicare fraud settlement and seeking to recover $95 million in policy limits. | |
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General News
Tuesday, February 24, 2026 |
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| During a Sacramento hearing, U.S. District Judge Dale A. Drozd pressed attorneys on whether California's attorney general is a proper defendant and whether AB 130 can be applied retroactively. | |
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General News
Monday, February 23, 2026 |
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| High electricity costs and cold temperatures can make heating through the cold season with a heat pump more expensive than using a gas furnace. | |
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General News
Monday, February 23, 2026 |
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| A federal judge challenged DivX's theory that Netflix induced patent infringement by continuing operations after being sued, as attorneys sparred over alleged copying and the scope of streaming technology claims. | |
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General News
Monday, February 23, 2026 |
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| A federal judge in Los Angeles dismissed a putative class action accusing PepsiCo and Frito-Lay of unlawfully favoring large grocery chains over small convenience stores, ruling that the plaintiffs' Robinson-Patman Act claims lack a workable class framework but granting leave to amend. | |
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General News
Friday, February 20, 2026 |
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| Judge David O. Carter criticized the City of Los Angeles and homeless advocates for prolonging a dispute over a court-appointed data monitor, urging them to reach agreement and avoid further public expense in ongoing oversight litigation. | |
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General News
Friday, February 20, 2026 |
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| If you had to ask whose forehead was plastered on a billboard along San Francisco's Route 101 last month, you were clearly not in the startup world. | |
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General News
Thursday, February 19, 2026 |
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| Here are some strategies for paring down your monthly or annual expenses, digital and otherwise. | |
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General News
Thursday, February 19, 2026 |
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| The proposed agreement, filed for preliminary approval in St. Louis, is designed to resolve both current and future claims from individuals alleging they developed Non-Hodgkin lymphoma from the glyphosate-based herbicide. | |
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General News
Thursday, February 19, 2026 |
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| In Colorado, historically a hub of coal mining, legislators are planning to give drivers a $2,000 discount on new electric vehicles, more than double the current amount offered by the state. | |
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General News
Wednesday, February 18, 2026 |
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| As the country grapples with a housing shortage, Irvine's model has gained a new appeal. | |
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General News
Wednesday, February 18, 2026 |
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| An African American-led development team sued Los Angeles and former councilmember Kevin de León, alleging officials sabotaged a $1.2 billion downtown project in retaliation for condemning a 2022 racist recording scandal. | |
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General News
Wednesday, February 18, 2026 |
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| Over the past few months, amid the rows and rows of rail cars in various stages of production, the newest Amtrak trains have finally begun rolling onto the tracks. | |
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General News
Tuesday, February 17, 2026 |
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| Recent developments have many wondering what a smart security camera or doorbell does, who has access to the video they take -- and what homeowners can do to secure their own data. | |
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General News
Tuesday, February 17, 2026 |
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| A California appellate panel rejected Avon's challenges to expert testimony and found sufficient evidence its talc products contained asbestos linked to Rita-Ann Chapman's mesothelioma. | |
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General News
Tuesday, February 17, 2026 |
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| The California attorney general said he would investigate whether evacuation delays in West Altadena's historically Black community were influenced by race, age or disability discrimination. | |
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General News
Wednesday, March 4, 2026 |
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| A taxpayer sued Los Angeles County, alleging supervisors secretly approved a $2 million payout to Chief Executive Officer Fesia Davenport in violation of the Brown Act after voters made her position elective. | |
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General News
Tuesday, March 3, 2026 |
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| In the Social Media Cases trial, Judge Carolyn B. Kuhl warned of a possible media gag order after an apparent violation of her no-juror-contact rule occurred in Los Angeles County Superior Court. | |
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General News
Monday, March 2, 2026 |
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| State courts face $21 billion in construction needs and $5 billion in deferred maintenance as funding shortfalls persist. | |
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General News
Friday, February 27, 2026 |
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| A therapist testified that "social media addiction" is not a formal diagnosis and stopped short of blaming Instagram for a teen's anxiety, as jurors weigh causation in a landmark design-defect trial. | |
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General News
Thursday, February 26, 2026 |
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| Mortgage rates have fallen below 6% for the first time in more than three years, offering a glimmer of hope that a frozen housing market may be set to thaw. | |
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General News
Wednesday, February 25, 2026 |
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| SB 875 would streamline San Francisco's path to public power, but critics warn it could trigger legal challenges, higher rural rates and broader market consequences. | |
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General News
Tuesday, February 24, 2026 |
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| States and the federal government are at odds over how to regulate AI. | |
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General News
Monday, February 23, 2026 |
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| The City of Malibu has sued the state, Los Angeles and other agencies over the devastating Palisades Fire, alleging dangerous conditions of public property, public nuisance and inverse condemnation, and seeking to recover extensive public and economic losses. | |
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General News
Friday, February 20, 2026 |
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| Mark Zuckerberg defended Instagram's age limits and design choices, disputing claims the platform intentionally addicted minors for profit. | |
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General News
Thursday, February 19, 2026 |
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| A half-dozen senior executives at Southern California Edison and its parent company will lose an estimated $2 million in bonuses as a result of the devastating Eaton fire near Los Angeles last year, the electric utility said Wednesday. | |
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General News
Wednesday, February 18, 2026 |
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| A federal judge considers certifying a class action alleging UNOS and Cedars-Sinai used race-based kidney function calculations that delayed Black patients' transplant wait times and harmed thousands nationwide. | |
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General News
Tuesday, February 17, 2026 |
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| A federal judge found Los Angeles altered and fabricated sanitation records in a homeless encampment lawsuit, issuing terminating sanctions on liability and citing willful misconduct and bad faith. | |