California

  • September 10, 2026

    24 States Ink Deal With Feds In AmeriCorps Budget Cuts Case

    Two dozen states and the District of Columbia have reached a settlement with the Trump administration to stop the federal government from abruptly slashing funding for the national volunteer agency AmeriCorps in the future, the coalition of states announced Thursday.

  • September 10, 2026

    6 Major Insurance Bills On Newsom's Desk In Calif. 

    California lawmakers approved significant insurance bills in recent weeks, including legislation designed to establish standards for insurers handling smoke damage claims, increase claims handling transparency, and penalize insurers for untimely payments. Here, Law360 overviews six of the biggest insurance-related bills this session.

  • September 10, 2026

    Jay-Z Can't Undo Buzbee's Win In Rapper's Defamation Suit

    A California state appeals court has refused to revive claims that Texas attorney Tony Buzbee defamed and extorted music superstar Jay-Z by roping him into a sexual abuse suit against Sean "Diddy" Combs, saying the case was properly thrown out under California's free speech statute.

  • September 10, 2026

    USC Fights Uphill To Beat Claims It Fudged US News Ranking

    A California federal judge Thursday said he is unlikely to grant USC a win in a class action alleging it fudged data sent to U.S. News & World Report, saying he does not see why a plaintiffs' survey is inadmissible just because USC's expert could not replicate the results.

  • September 10, 2026

    Apple Watch Ban In Masimo ITC Patent Case Hits High Court

    Apple Inc. has told the U.S. Supreme Court that the Federal Circuit improperly "lowered the bar" for meeting the U.S. International Trade Commission's domestic industry requirement in patent disputes, by affirming a decision that the Apple Watch infringed Masimo Corp. patents.

  • September 10, 2026

    Dompé To Pay $32M Over Foundation Co-Pay Kickback Claims

    The U.S. arm of Italian pharmaceutical company Dompé Farmaceutici SpA has agreed to pay $32 million to resolve allegations that it contributed funds to patient assistance foundations to induce purchases of its prescription eye drops Oxervate, the U.S. Department of Justice announced Thursday.

  • September 10, 2026

    Apple Data Delay Stalling High 5 Casino App Deal, Player Says

    Apple is refusing to hand over data needed to notify class members and tally damages in a multimillion-dollar class action settlement to resolve allegations that High 5 Games harmed players by operating illegal casino-style mobile apps, the lead plaintiff told a Washington federal judge Wednesday.

  • September 10, 2026

    Calif. Certifies Gig Union To Represent Ride-Share Drivers

    A state agency has certified the California Gig Workers Union as the representative for hundreds of thousands of ride-share drivers working in California, according to a recent announcement posted by the agency.

  • September 10, 2026

    9th Circ. Clears Boeing Of Liability In Police Helicopter Crash

    The Ninth Circuit affirmed a ruling Wednesday tossing product liability litigation over a 2022 Huntington Beach Police Department helicopter crash that killed an officer and injured another, finding the victims' claims against Boeing and other aircraft-makers are time-barred under the General Aviation Revitalization Act's 18-year statute of repose.

  • September 10, 2026

    9th Circ. Seeks Calif. Justices' Input On USAA Rate Bias Row

    The Ninth Circuit on Thursday sought the California Supreme Court's input on a class action claiming that USAA discriminated against service members, certifying a question about whether the state insurance code prohibits insurers from charging lower-ranking military members who qualify as good drivers more than higher-ranking members who also qualify.

  • September 10, 2026

    Ex-Immigration Judge Sues For Retaliatory Termination

    A former immigration judge in California has sued Attorney General Todd Blanche, claiming she was fired after raising concerns about a spring 2025 directive ordering her and her colleagues to grant every motion to change venue filed by Immigration and Customs Enforcement trial attorneys.

  • September 10, 2026

    States Press Court To Block DOT's CDL Data Request

    A Virginia federal judge on Thursday questioned the Trump administration's claim that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's chief counsel wasn't speaking for the agency itself when she told a nationwide commercial driver database operator to either hand over millions of driver files or see its federal funding slashed.

  • September 10, 2026

    States Drop Suit Over HUD's Fair Housing Funding Changes

    A group of 16 states and the District of Columbia have agreed to drop their California federal court lawsuit accusing the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development of wrongfully seeking to cut off funding for fair housing enforcement targeting discrimination based on characteristics such as sexual orientation.

  • September 10, 2026

    Judge Won't Touch Verdict In Blood Collection Patent Case

    A Delaware federal judge has denied a bid from medical equipment maker Kurin for a new trial after a jury found it owed Magnolia Medical $1.6 million for infringement of three patents covering blood culture collection products, saying the jury's verdict was not the product of confusion or a miscarriage of justice.

  • September 10, 2026

    $270M Medi-Cal False Claims Scheme Nets 30-Year Sentence

    An Orange County man with multiple prior fraud convictions has been sentenced in California federal court to 30 years in prison for his role in a $270 million Medi-Cal prescription drug scam, which he orchestrated while awaiting sentencing in a separate tax evasion case, prosecutors said. 

  • September 10, 2026

    9th Circ. Calls Foul On Judge's NCAA Five-Year Rule Injunction

    The NCAA's five-year eligibility limit may be a commercial rule subject to antitrust scrutiny, but a Nevada federal judge improperly blocked it to let a college baseball player keep playing with little evidence it constrained competition, the Ninth Circuit has said.

  • September 10, 2026

    DOJ Urges High Court To Revisit 9th Circ.'s Bar Of Nev. US Atty

    The Justice Department has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to revisit a recent Ninth Circuit ruling disqualifying the Trump administration's top federal prosecutor in Nevada, calling it a decision that imposes "ongoing confusion" in the executive branch.

  • September 10, 2026

    Cold Brew Equipment Co. Owner Must Hand Over Assets

    The founder and minority owner of a cold brew equipment company has agreed to hand over passwords, customer information, software and other company assets to its majority owner in a dispute over control of the business following a 2024 acquisition, according to a Colorado state court filing.

  • September 10, 2026

    Tax Court Nod To Income Approach Props Easement Valuation

    The IRS has been adversarial toward taxpayers using what is known as the income approach to value conservation easements, but the method's legitimacy was significantly reinforced by the U.S. Tax Court in a recent decision that endorsed the use of the method to value a Los Angeles-area donated property.

  • September 10, 2026

    1st Circ. Keeps USPS Ballot Mail Rule Blocked For Midterms

    The First Circuit on Thursday rejected a request from the U.S. Postal Service to lift a Massachusetts federal judge's order blocking new mail ballot requirements that the appellate court said would create "chaos and widespread disenfranchisement" just weeks before the November midterm elections.

  • September 10, 2026

    Reed Smith Continues Private Capital Growth With Two Hires

    Reed Smith LLP announced two new hires to its private capital team on Wednesday as the firm continues rapidly expanding the platform.

  • September 10, 2026

    Akerman Brings On Troutman Debt Finance Pro In LA

    Akerman LLP announced Thursday it has added an experienced debt finance attorney from Troutman Pepper Locke LLP to its corporate practice group in Los Angeles.

  • September 09, 2026

    Nektar CEO Opens Door To Finance Questions In Eli Lilly Trial

    Nektar Therapeutics failed Wednesday to block evidence of its financial condition from entering into a California federal trial over a failed deal to codevelop its drug Rezpeg with Eli Lilly, after its CEO's testimony on cross-examination prompted the judge to allow the evidence for impeachment purposes.

  • September 09, 2026

    Deckers Denied New Trial On Ugg Boot Design Patent Validity

    A California federal judge denied Deckers Outdoor Corp.'s bid for a new trial over the validity of its design patent for its Ugg Classic Ultra Mini Boot, finding no error in submitting a question of indefiniteness to a jury.

  • September 09, 2026

    Defunct Tax Startup CEO Charged In $13.3M Investor Fraud

    The CEO of a defunct tax-compliance startup has been arrested on fraud charges based on allegations she defrauded investors out of more than $13 million by lying about her credentials and her company's revenues, the U.S. Department of Justice said Wednesday.

Expert Analysis

  • Illinois Audit Law Will Make AI Clauses Actually Enforceable

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    A law recently enacted in Illinois creates a first-in-the-nation requirement for artificial intelligence developers to undergo annual audits, providing objective standards that can be incorporated into private contracts and addressing the problem of defining responsible AI use, says William Tanenbaum at Moses & Singer.

  • Opinion

    Shareholder Derivative Litigation Needs A Better Framework

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    Uncoordinated, multiforum shareholder derivative litigation is a growing issue for corporate defendants that have little to no recourse for organizing and consolidating actions, but several commonsense steps should be utilized to preempt such disputes, say attorneys at Sullivan & Cromwell.

  • Occupier Contract Strategies For Locking In Expansion Rights

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    In a market defined by record-setting demand, shrinking availability and rising rents, large commercial office occupiers must treat expansion space planning as a strategic priority, including by auditing existing rights, understanding the competitive landscape within their buildings and exploring creative lease provisions, says Josh Winefsky at HSF Kramer.

  • How State, Local Rules Are Expanding Debt Collection Reach

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    Consumer protection rules recently enacted by several states signal that the rules of debt collection are being rewritten at a pace that should command the attention of every creditor, servicer, debt buyer, collection agency and collection law firm operating across state lines, says Weldianne Scales at Reed Smith.

  • 2 AI Washing Rulings Apply Familiar Securities Fraud Rules

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    Two recent federal court decisions to allow AI washing complaints to proceed begin to clarify the line between nonactionable optimism and actionable misstatements by framing the core issue as not overstating the promise of artificial intelligence, but misrepresenting the current state of a company's products, say attorneys at WilmerHale.

  • A New Regulatory Environment For PE In Calif. Healthcare

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    The California Office of Health Care Affordability's proposed revisions to its cost and market impact review regulations, amid broader state scrutiny of private equity-backed healthcare arrangements, represent a qualitative shift in California's regulatory posture toward institutional healthcare investment, say attorneys at Ropes & Gray.

  • CFIUS' Mandate Misses Foreign Risk In Project Subcontracts

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    Recent calls for the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States to review equity transactions like the Paramount Skydance-Warner Bros. deal miss a consequential oversight gap — CFIUS' inability to review the subcontracting layer of U.S. infrastructure projects, says Thibaut Giret at Alstef Group.

  • AI Governance Tips For Avoiding Securities Suits

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    A recent securities class action in California federal court against lending platform Upstart highlights how statements about artificial intelligence are increasingly being scrutinized not only by regulators, but also by shareholders, meaning companies should ensure oversight frameworks keep pace with the technology, say attorneys at Akerman.

  • How Cos. Can Prep For Ultra-Processed Food Legal Risks

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    A wave of litigation and government scrutiny directed against ultra-processed foods is now gaining momentum, following patterns seen previously in other industries — and food companies that recognize those patterns early will be better positioned to manage the increasing risks, say attorneys at Arnold & Porter.

  • Series

    Bass Fishing Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    Landing a trophy striped bass and closing a big deal both require cultivating the patience to finesse — not force — your way to desired outcomes, changing course when your old approach isn’t working and learning from the ones that got away, says Jon Ruiss at Alston & Bird.

  • Roundup

    The Most Talked-About Supreme Court Decisions Of 2026

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    This term, 11 U.S. Supreme Court decisions quickly became hot topics among Law360's guest writers.

  • Pregnancy Bias Suits Highlight EEOC's Expanding Reach

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    Recent U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission suits show that enactment of the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act has drawn scrutiny to a wider range of employment decisions and an increasing focus on individual decisions as indicators of whether an employer's policies comply with evolving federal requirements, say attorneys at Krevolin Horst.

  • Series

    Calif. Banking Brief: All The Notable Legal Updates In Q2

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    The year's second quarter brought several noteworthy financial services developments to California, including activity around a commercial finance oversight bill, the former Consumer Financial Protection Bureau head's appointment to lead a new consumer agency, and a ruling reinforcing viable bank-fintech partnerships, say attorneys at Manatt.

  • What Ex-CFPB Head's Calif. Role May Foretell For Oversight

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    California Gov. Gavin Newsom's selection of former Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Director Rohit Chopra to lead a new consumer agency signals tougher state financial services oversight, especially for fintechs, as well as heightened enforcement activity and larger penalties, say attorneys at WilmerHale.

  • Justices Stand On Statutory Specifics In Cisco And Landor

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    With its June 23 decisions in Cisco Systems Inc. v. Doe and Landor v. Louisiana Department of Corrections and Public Safety, the U.S. Supreme Court doubled down on the critical point that the statute invoked in a federal claim must authorize a private lawsuit and the remedy sought, says Patrick Judd at Phelps Dunbar.

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