California

Prop 8 Supporters Cite Judge’s Same-Sex Relationship in Motion to Set Aside His Ruling

Sponsors of California’s Proposition 8 referendum banning gay marriages contend the federal judge who struck down the law should have recused himself because of a 10-year same-sex relationship. In a motion to set aside the verdict, sponsors of the initiative say former Chief U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker of San…

Apr 26, 2011 11:29 AM CDT

Lindsay Lohan Gets 120-Day Jail Sentence for Violating Probation

Although Lindsay Lohan hasn’t yet been criminally convicted of a misdemeanor theft charge concerning a California jeweler’s $2,500 necklace, a state court judge determined Friday that the conduct violated the actress’ probation in an earlier driving-under-the-influence case. Rejecting a defense argument that Lohan didn’t intend to take the necklace, Los…

Apr 25, 2011 7:01 PM CDT

King & Spalding Drops DOMA Defense; Clement Resigns in Protest, Takes Matter to Bancroft

Apparently bowing to political pressure, King & Spalding has dropped its representation of the Republican-led U.S. House of Representatives in defense of a controversial federal law banning recognition of same-sex marriages. In response, partner Paul Clement, a former U.S. Solicitor General, has resigned from the firm in protest, saying that…

Apr 25, 2011 5:15 PM CDT

In Win for Lindsay Lohan, Judge Reduces Necklace-Theft Charge to Misdemeanor; Gov’t Vows Appeal

In a worst-case scenario, Lindsay Lohan could have been taken to jail today after a preliminary hearing in a necklace-theft case, if a probation violation was found concerning an earlier driving-under-the-influence case, the Associated Press reported. But instead, in a win for the troubled actress, a Los Angeles judge reduced…

Apr 22, 2011 6:23 PM CDT

Unusual Tattoo Gets Gang Member Convicted of First-Degree Murder in Cold Case

It’s standard practice in Los Angeles for authorities to take photographs of the bare chests of suspected gang members when they are arrested for relatively minor offenses. Records of their tattoos may be useful identification tools in subsequent crimes. And, for those who spray graffiti around the city, it’s not…

Apr 22, 2011 5:07 PM CDT

Mattel Loses Latest Bratz Doll Trial, Owes MGA $88M, Possibly Trebled

A verdict has been reached by a federal jury in a copyright infringement case filed by Barbie manufacturer Mattel Inc. over MGA Entertainment’s popular Bratz dolls. In a major reversal of fortune for Mattel, which won a $100 million award in an earlier trial of the same case and had…

Apr 21, 2011 6:38 PM CDT

Judge Freezes Assets of ‘Tax Lady’ Attorney, Appoints Receiver to Run Her $25M Law Firm

A California judge apparently hasn’t yet decided how to handle the state attorney general’s call for a lawyer known as the “tax lady” to be jailed for contempt of court. However, Sacramento County Superior Court Judge Shelleyanne Chang did freeze the assets of attorney Roni Deutch yesterday and appoint a…

Apr 21, 2011 5:11 PM CDT

Calif. AG Says ‘Tax Lady’ Attorney Should Be Jailed for Shredding Documents, Failing to Repay $435K

Updated: The state attorney general is calling for a California attorney known as the “tax lady” to be jailed for contempt of court, contending that Roni Deutch shredded as many as 2.7 million documents and failed to pay clients refunds totaling $435,000 in violation of a court order in a…

Apr 21, 2011 12:26 AM CDT

Post-Settlement Word War Looms Between Law Firm and Taco Bell, Which Plans Ad Seeking Apology

Although a law firm and Taco Bell Corp. have reached an undisclosed settlement concerning a would-be class action filed over the fast-food chain’s description of some of the items on its menu, a war of words continues. Taco Bell is now planning a new national ad campaign in which it…

Apr 20, 2011 7:24 PM CDT

Graffiti Exhibit in LA Is Magnet for Taggers and Cops; At Least One Famous Street Artist Detained

An exhibit of graffiti at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles is intended to bring public attention to what some view as exciting—albeit illegal in a number of settings—and cutting-edge works. But in a development that museum officials say they anticipated, the exhibit has apparently drawn some of…

Apr 20, 2011 6:35 PM CDT

Transgender Inmate Asks Appellate Court to Require Calif. to Pay for Sex-Change Operation

An appellate court is poised potentially to make California the first state in the nation to require prisons to provide sex-change surgery for at least some inmates who seek the operation. The issue is complex, as a Los Angeles Times article explains. While some transgender inmates who consider themselves female…

Apr 19, 2011 11:55 PM CDT

Meckler Opens New Office in San Francisco, Brings in 11 New Lawyers, Including 6 from Long & Levit

Meckler Bulger Tilson Marick & Pearson announced in a press release today that it is opening a new office in San Francisco. Headed by Julia Molander, who joins the Meckler firm from Sedgwick, the new office will also include a six-lawyer team from Long & Levit and four other attorneys…

Apr 18, 2011 11:01 PM CDT

Appeals Court Nixes $650K Legal Fees Award, Says Parties Never Mutually Agreed to Arbitrate

At first, it was former clients of Glaser Weil Fink Jacobs & Shapiro who wanted binding arbitration to settle a dispute over the legal fees they were charged. Then, after the Los Angeles law firm rejected the written offer from art gallery owners George and Esther Goff, it changed its…

Apr 18, 2011 10:29 PM CDT

Woman Sues Match.com, Wants Screening for Sexual Predators

A Los Angeles entertainment executive has filed suit against Match.com, asserting that the site should start screening members for sexual predators. The unidentified woman, who says she was sexually assaulted by a fellow dating site member, also plans to seek a temporary injunction barring the site from signing up more…

Apr 15, 2011 4:11 PM CDT

Barry Bonds Convicted of Obstruction, Jury Split on Three Perjury Charges

Corrected: Home-run champion Barry Bonds was convicted of obstruction of justice yesterday by a federal jury in San Francisco, but the jury was split on three perjury charges related to his alleged use of steroids while playing on Major League Baseball teams. A holdout juror apparently saved him from a…

Apr 14, 2011 12:26 PM CDT