California

  • October 16, 2026

    Judge Delays Plan Disclosure Hearing For SF Archdiocese

    A California bankruptcy judge on Friday agreed to postpone a hearing on the Archdiocese of San Francisco's Chapter 11 disclosure statement by nearly two weeks after insurers said they need more time to examine plan revisions made in response to their objections.

  • October 16, 2026

    Balancing The Scales: Criminal Appeals, Sentencing Rules

    The Second Circuit has been ordered to take another look at a murder-for-hire conviction in light of the high court's new miscarriage-of-justice exception for criminal appeal waivers, and the top courts in Pennsylvania and Michigan will look at the retroactivity of new sentencing rules. Here, Law360 highlights access to justice stories arising from litigation, verdicts and judgments you may have missed.

  • October 16, 2026

    FTC Can Bring Debt Relief Scam Suit Before Jury

    A California federal judge has ruled that the Federal Trade Commission can bring its case against a telecommunications company over its marketing voicemails before a jury.

  • October 16, 2026

    Super Micro Board Sued Over Alleged China Diversions

    A Super Micro Computer shareholder hit company directors and officers with a derivative suit accusing them of enabling an alleged scheme that sent artificial intelligence tech to Chinese companies in violation of export controls, misleading investors and harming the company.

  • October 16, 2026

    States Win 1st OK Of $400M Sandoz Generic Price-Fixing Deal

    A Connecticut federal judge granted preliminary approval Friday to a $400 million settlement between a coalition of states, Sandoz Inc. and its subsidiary Fougera Pharmaceuticals Inc. over allegations of generic drug price-fixing and market allocation, setting aside $280 million as restitution.

  • October 16, 2026

    Contradictory Contract Dooms Pot Co.'s Injunction Bid

    A California state judge has rejected a cannabis genetics company's bid for an injunction against a former business partner in a contract dispute, saying the contract's self-contradictory provisions make it unclear that the company is entitled to retrieve its cannabis strains.

  • October 16, 2026

    9th Circ. Won't Rethink $2B Devas Arbitral Award Confirmation

    The Ninth Circuit said Friday it will not disturb a unanimous three-judge panel's decision to enforce a $2 billion arbitral award issued to a satellite communications company, rejecting the award debtor's petition for a rehearing by the full court.

  • October 16, 2026

    EpicentRx, Ex-Secretary Clash In Del. Over 5th Contempt Bid

    EpicentRx's former corporate secretary urged the Delaware Chancery Court on Friday to impose a partial default judgment against the biotechnology firm and appoint a receiver, arguing it has continued to ignore advancement and contempt orders. Meanwhile, the company countered that those remedies would be disproportionate to what it says is ultimately a dispute over unpaid money.

  • October 16, 2026

    Paul Hastings, Kirkland Guide Proofpoint's $6.3B Varonis Buy

    Thoma Bravo portfolio company Proofpoint has agreed to acquire data security software provider Varonis Systems Inc. in an all-cash deal valued at about $6.3 billion, with Paul Hastings LLP advising Varonis and Kirkland & Ellis LLP representing Proofpoint.

  • October 16, 2026

    Google Users' $85M Fee Ask Stalls Over 'Utterly Lacking' Bill

    A California federal judge on Thursday rejected an $85 million attorney fee request following a $700 million settlement in a consumer-led case against Google, ruling that counsel's submitted billing records are "utterly lacking in information demonstrating what work was done and for what purpose," while granting leave to amend the request.

  • October 16, 2026

    Jenner & Block Adds Ex-National Security Prosecutor In SF

    A former federal prosecutor who started her legal career with the U.S. Department of Justice has left the public sector to join Jenner & Block LLP's San Francisco office.

  • October 16, 2026

    Gap Workers In Wash. Sue Over Unpaid OT, Missed Breaks

    Gap and Athleta were hit with a proposed class action in Washington state court alleging that the retail giants failed to pay hourly employees with overtime wages and also failed to ensure that they took the meal and rest breaks they were entitled to.

  • October 16, 2026

    She Has A Point: Munger Tolles' Carolyn Luedtke

    Munger Tolles & Olson LLP partner Carolyn Hoecker Luedtke has been great at providing sound judgment during trade secret litigation between top artificial intelligence companies, according to Jessica Kaempf of Fenwick & West LLP.

  • October 15, 2026

    Trump Admin Sues Calif. For 'Likely Undocumented' Voter Info

    The U.S. Department of Justice on Thursday asked a California federal court to order the state to turn over 20,000 voter records, claiming those voters are "likely noncitizens" while Gov. Gavin Newsom called it a "sad, desperate attempt" to suppress voters ahead of the midterms.

  • October 15, 2026

    Feds Say Co. Skirted Rules To Buy, Resell 7K Beyonce Tickets

    A California technology company has for years used unlawful tactics to buy up millions of tickets to popular events and concerts, including Beyonce's 2023 Renaissance tour, to resell them and rake in millions of dollars, the Federal Trade Commission and U.S. Department of Justice alleged Thursday.

  • October 15, 2026

    Baby Food Cos. Get ADHD, Autism Claims Cut From MDL

    A California federal judge granted summary judgment on Wednesday to baby food manufacturers including Gerber and Walmart, ruling that children diagnosed with autism and ADHD had no admissible expert evidence showing that lead and arsenic in the products caused their conditions.

  • October 15, 2026

    Google Beats T-Shirt Co.'s Suit, Amazon Still Facing IP Claims

    An Ohio federal judge overseeing a T-shirt seller's separate intellectual property lawsuits accusing Google and Amazon of copyright infringement issued diverging rulings Wednesday, saying Weekend Warrior Clothing can pursue claims against Amazon over its "Merch on Demand" service, while tossing claims that Google advertised infringing shirts.

  • October 15, 2026

    9th Circ. Orders New Murder Trial Over Juror Mental Crisis

    The Ninth Circuit on Thursday vacated a man's convictions for a slaying on the waters off California's coast, saying the trial court should have declared a mistrial after dismissing a juror who experienced a mental health crisis during deliberations.

  • October 15, 2026

    California Judge Grants Discovery In Cannabis Debt Dispute

    An investor and a cannabis license holder will have to rework their lawsuit accusing a couple of scheming to steal majority ownership in a Los Angeles dispensary by creating $3.4 million in "phantom debt," a California state court judge ruled.

  • October 15, 2026

    OptumHealth Can't Get Out Of PBM Cases In Opioid MDL

    The healthcare delivery arm of UnitedHealth Group's Optum division can't escape bellwether cases alleging pharmacy benefit managers contributed to the opioid epidemic, an Ohio federal judge ruled Thursday, finding a recent Sixth Circuit decision didn't alter the court's jurisdiction over related state-law claims.

  • October 15, 2026

    Optum Sued Over 'Junk Fees' For Online COBRA Payments

    Optum Financial on Wednesday was hit with a proposed class action in California federal court alleging it tacks on sham, unavoidable $20 "junk fees" when customers pay online for healthcare benefits administered through COBRA, which they don't know about until checkout. 

  • October 15, 2026

    Toyota Must Face Minivan Defect Warranty Suit, Judge Says

    A California federal judge has largely allowed Toyota minivan drivers to proceed with their proposed class action alleging Toyota didn't repair defective second-row seat rails for months, ruling they sufficiently pled the warranty's purpose failed since it didn't repair or replace the parts within a reasonable time frame. 

  • October 15, 2026

    Calif. Asks DC Judge To Void EPA's 'Unlawful' Waiver Moves

    California has asked a D.C. federal judge to void the Trump administration and congressional Republicans' "manifestly unlawful" use of the Congressional Review Act to make Clean Air Act waivers for the Golden State subject to rescission by lawmakers.

  • October 15, 2026

    Nunes Loses 2nd Circ. Appeal In Defamation Case

    The Second Circuit has upheld a New York federal judge's August 2025 dismissal of former U.S. Rep. Devin Nunes' defamation suit against NBCUniversal over a 2021 Rachel Maddow broadcast.

  • October 15, 2026

    Dog Hotel Accused Of Denying Pay For Off-Clock Work

    A dog hotel chain failed to pay workers for time spent waiting to clock in, assisting customers and working through meal breaks, according to a proposed class action in California state court.

Expert Analysis

  • Hims & Hers Suit Spotlights Health Data-Sharing Privacy Risks

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    Regulators' complaint against telehealth company Hims & Hers alleging deceptive practices serves as a reminder that the privacy principles developed under consumer protection laws and predating omnibus statutes remain in force, and sensitive data governance continues to be a crucial component of compliance, say attorneys at Venable.

  • 4 Paths To AI Safety Coordination Amid Antitrust Debate

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    Frontier artificial intelligence companies have more room for collective safety work than the debate over an antitrust waiver suggests, with several existing avenues providing different degrees of protection and oversight, says Evan Miller at V&E.

  • 'Demon Hunter' IP Suit Highlights Reverse Confusion Perils

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    A metal band named Demon Hunter's recently filed lawsuit against Netflix, alleging that consumers mistakenly believe it to be connected to the "KPop Demon Hunters" movie, provides a useful vehicle for examining the reverse confusion doctrine and its practical implications, say attorneys at Troutman Pepper.

  • How Calif. Privacy Bill Could Change CIPA Tracking Cases

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    If California Gov. Gavin Newsom signs S.B. 690, the bill could materially reduce the leverage behind a pen-register-only claim or demand, so California Invasion of Privacy Act website tracking claims should not be evaluated the same way they were six months ago, says Alexandra Samofalova at Spencer Fane.

  • 5th Circ. Embedding Decision Could Recast Copyright Claims

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    The Fifth Circuit's decision in Emmerich v. Particle Media addresses decades of ambiguity surrounding whether embedded content can constitute copyright infringement, potentially affecting how defense counsel fight against such claims, say attorneys at Greenberg Glusker.

  • How Cos. Can Avoid Infant Product False Advertising Suits

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    As lawsuits proliferate over products marketed for infant use and sold at a premium that are identical to cheaper general-use products, manufacturers should review related product lines, and scrutinize contextual cues that may contribute to the overall message received by consumers, say attorneys at Chamberlain Hrdlicka.

  • 9th Circ. Ruling Raises Bar For Arbitration Pacts Via Email

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    The Ninth Circuit's recent holding in Rickes v. Thermo Fisher that the mere delivery of an email doesn't establish an employee's assent to the arbitration agreement underscores that rollout processes should both give employees notice of the agreement and create evidence of their assent, say attorneys at Sullivan & Cromwell.

  • How GCs Can Assess The Risks Of Emerging AI Laws

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    Amid a swirl of momentous legislative activity aimed at regulating artificial intelligence, general counsel must return to first principles when determining whether new laws will apply and whether the company’s use could cause regulators to subject it to additional regulation, say attorneys at WilmerHale.

  • How FTC's $20B Amazon Suit May Shake Up Ad Enforcement

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    Gonzalo Mon at Kelley Drye discusses the significance of the Federal Trade Commission's recent suit against Amazon for allegedly overcharging advertising customers more than $20 billion, the company's potential defenses, and the context of rapidly evolving digital advertising technology.

  • 9th Circ. Ruling Marks New Chapter In Risk Factor Tug-Of-War

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    The Ninth Circuit's recent dismissal of a securities fraud class action against SunPower is the latest in a growing line of cases addressing whether, if ever, a company's risk factor disclosures can give rise to potential liability, an area where the law remains unsettled, say attorneys at Alston & Bird.

  • Meta Deal Highlights Advisory Jury Issues, Litigation Risk

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    The $17 billion settlement of youth safety claims brought against Meta offers lessons for all consumer-facing companies because the court made the rare move of empaneling an advisory jury and the case was built on what the company learned from its own studies, says Mark Morgan at McCarter & English.

  • What State AI Election Laws Mean For The 2026 Midterms

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    In the absence of federal rules governing artificial intelligence in elections and no consensus emerging across state laws, campaigns, their vendors and AI developers must address the risks associated with outdated rules written for other problems, says Matthew Shapanka at Covington.

  • Series

    Law School's Missed Lessons: Cultivating Good Judgment

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    Law schools generally overlook the role that solid judgment skills play in real-world practice, but attorneys can bridge the gap by strengthening their abilities to assess a case’s strengths and weaknesses, develop and execute effective strategies, and provide clear recommendations to clients, says Manny Caixeiro at Venable.

  • Responding To State Packaging Law Uncertainty

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    As states roll out new packaging and recycling mandates, companies face expanding compliance duties and a growing wave of constitutional challenges that offer key lessons for managing regulatory risk, say attorneys at Crowell & Moring.

  • CMS Rule, DOJ Probes Deepen Gender Care Compliance Risk

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    The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' final rule restricting Medicaid funding for hospitals that provide gender-affirming care is likely to face immediate litigation, but the CMS rulemaking is already working alongside U.S. Department of Justice's enforcement campaign to create operational risk for providers, say attorneys at Arnall Golden.

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