California

Prop 8 Judge Advises Lawyers to Lighten Up

The federal judge who struck down California’s ban on gay marriages has some advice for lawyers: Sometimes you believe in your clients too much. Speaking to the Alameda County Bar association, U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker said lawyers should remember every case has at least two sides, according to the…

Jan 14, 2011 2:46 PM CST

No-Nonsense Calif. Federal Judge Tapped for Ariz. Shooting Trial

A federal judge in California with experience in death-penalty trials has been tapped to preside over the trial of the suspect in the Tucson, Ariz., shooting spree that left six people dead and 14 injured. U.S. District Judge Larry Alan Burns of San Diego is known as a no-nonsense judge…

Jan 14, 2011 12:56 PM CST

New Calif. Law Lets Individuals Rent Cars to Strangers, Via ‘Green’ Nonprofit

Tempting though it might be to pick up a few bucks by letting a friend or acquaintance rent your car in tough economic times, doing so runs the risk of invalidating your personal auto insurance policy and being held responsible for an accident. But a new California law that took…

Jan 12, 2011 5:06 PM CST

Michael Jackson Doc to Be Tried for Involuntary Manslaughter in Singer’s Death

At the conclusion of a preliminary hearing, a Los Angeles Superior Court judge today ordered the personal physician for Michael Jackson to stand trial for involuntary manslaughter in the world-famous pop singer’s 2009 death. After hearing testimony that Dr. Conrad Murray, 57, violated the standard of care by giving Jackson…

Jan 12, 2011 1:23 AM CST

In ‘Social Network’ Sequel, Appellate Panel Grills Lawyer for Twins Seeking More Facebook Millions

A federal appeals court panel in San Francisco today grilled both sides in a battle between Facebook co-founder Mark Zuckerberg and upscale identical twins who claim he stole the idea for the now-renowned social networking site from them. The dispute was settled in 2008 for $65 million, as noted in…

Jan 11, 2011 11:11 PM CST

Lawyer Accused of Having Sex with Teens, at Home and Outside Disneyland; Videotapes Found

A California lawyer has been accused of having sex with two teens, at his home and, in one instance, in the parking lot of Disneyland. Irvine real-estate lawyer Matthew Christopher Tye, 31, was arrested on Wednesday, according to the Orange County Register, KABC and the OC Weekly’s NavelGazing blog. The…

Jan 7, 2011 3:46 PM CST

Law Firm Leverages Oops E-Mail Sent to Opponent to Win ‘Eye-Popping’ Protective Order

A law firm retained by a group of California engineers to help protect them against potential interference after they established their own shop accidentally sent confidential e-mail to the group’s ex-employer, Arcadis, when an autocomplete function filled in an old e-mail address. At Arcadis, the computer system automatically forwarded the…

Jan 6, 2011 8:42 PM CST

Judge Nixes Jury’s Drug Convictions of Anna Nicole Smith’s Boyfriend and Lawyer

Launched with much fanfare last year by California’s then-attorney general, a high-profile trial of three professionals criminally charged for allegedly helping celebrity and “known addict” Anna Nicole Smith obtain prescription drugs before her death of an accidental overdose has now almost entirely fizzled out. Superior Court Judge Robert Perry today…

Jan 6, 2011 8:02 PM CST

Police Post Photos Thought to Belong to 1968 Murder Victim on Facebook, Get New Leads

Police in California are using Facebook to get new leads in an unsolved 1968 murder in which the victim was never identified. Police in Huntington Beach posted photos from a purse found about a quarter mile away from the crime scene along with a composite sketch of the victim, according…

Jan 6, 2011 1:47 PM CST

Toyota Proclaims Victory, Says Arbitrator Ruled Ex-Counsel Must Pay $2.6M for Whistle-Blowing

A former in-house lawyer for Toyota Motor Corp. has been ordered by an arbitrator to pay the automaker $2.5 million plus $100,000 in punitive damages for publicly revealing confidential information, according to a company press release. Although attorney Dimitrios Biller portrayed himself as a whistle-blower informing the public about his…

Jan 5, 2011 9:59 PM CST

Controversial Civil Rights Lawyer, Fearless Critic of Federal Judges, Is Disbarred After Convictions

A controversial civil rights lawyer who didn’t hesitate to criticize federal judges and others has been disbarred after his convictions for tax evasion, bankruptcy fraud and money laundering. Known for his representation of victims of police brutality and Guantanamo Bay detainees, Stephen Yagman, 66, had gotten into trouble by failing…

Jan 5, 2011 12:14 AM CST

9th Circuit Asks Calif. Supreme Court If Prop 8 Backers Have Standing in Same-Sex Marriage Appeal

When a federal judge in San Francisco struck down a voter-approved state ban on same-sex marriage last year, then-Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and then-Attorney General Jerry Brown declined to appeal. So backers of the ballot initiative stepped in to do so. Now the federal appeals court to which they have taken…

Jan 4, 2011 11:33 PM CST

Calif. Supremes Allow Cops to Search Cellphone Without Warrant

Police may search a suspect’s cellphone after an arrest without first obtaining a warrant, the California Supreme Court has ruled. The 5-4 decision found that police had the authority to search text messages on a phone in the pocket of Gregory Diaz, arrested on suspicion of selling Ecstasy to an…

Jan 4, 2011 2:41 PM CST

Suit Says Law Firm Holiday Party Ended at Bikini Bar, Where Partner Bought Worker a Lap Dance

A former investigator at Glancy Binkow & Goldberg has sued the California law firm, contending that a fraternity-like atmosphere subjected her to a hostile work environment. Among other allegations, Ashlee Ilewicz, who worked at the firm 14 months before being fired, says founding partner Lionel Glancy took employees to a…

Dec 30, 2010 11:57 AM CST

Dead at 54, ‘Ivory Queen of Soul’ is Also Known for Recording Contract Law Clarification

A rare success on the rhythm and blues charts as a white woman singing for Motown Records, Teena Marie died yesterday at her California home, apparently of natural causes. She was 54 years old. In addition to popular and critically acclaimed songs such as Square Biz, released in 1981, and…

Dec 28, 2010 3:02 PM CST