California

Donald Trump Name Sells Condos, But Is He Liable for Failed Project?

Donald Trump’s famous name helped developers of a high-rise condominium project along the Pacific Ocean in Baja Mexico collect some $32 million in deposits from prospective buyers, including a number of Southern California residents. But when the project failed, many were stunned to find out that Trump only licensed his…

May 5, 2009 6:31 PM CDT

Calif. Lawyer Couple Shot and Killed; Brother of One Victim Is Suspect

Two California lawyers who were longtime companions were shot and killed yesterday, and police intend to charge the brother of one of the victims with homicide. Dead are Daniel Lyons, 55, a senior partner who handled insurance defense cases at the Fresno law firm of McCormick, Barstow, Sheppard, Wayte &…

May 5, 2009 11:19 AM CDT

Gloria Allred Sues ‘Octomom,’ Alleges Possible Child Labor Violations

Celebrity attorney Gloria Allred has filed a petition seeking the appointment of a guardian to protect the financial interests of octuplets born to Nadya Suleman. In addition to filing the Orange County Superior Court suit on behalf of former child actor and child labor advocate Paul Petersen, Allred has also…

May 4, 2009 10:48 PM CDT

To Solve More Rape Cases, Government Needs to Test Backlog of DNA Evidence

When a 43-year-old legal secretary was raped in her home in Los Angeles a decade ago, a Los Angeles police detective had a gut feeling that a repeat offender was the perpetrator. To reduce an expected one-year delay in getting DNA evidence from the crime analyzed, Detective Tim Marcia personally…

May 1, 2009 7:48 PM CDT

Running for Election Requires Attorney to Disclose Client List, Law Dean Says

Should a lawyer running for election as city attorney have to disclose to the public a list of the clients he represented in private practice? There’s only one answer to that question: Yes, writes Erwin Chemerinsky, dean of the new law school at the University of California at Irvine, in…

May 1, 2009 6:56 PM CDT

LA Insurance Adjuster a Suspect in Dozens of Murders Dating to 1970s

A 72-year-old California insurance adjuster was charged earlier this month with murdering two elderly women in the 1970s. But authorities say he is a suspect in as many as 28 more. They say John Floyd Thomas Jr. is tied by DNA evidence to a few victims in two separate waves…

Apr 30, 2009 11:28 PM CDT

Morgan Lewis Health Regulatory Practice Lures More Sonnenschein Lawyers

Morgan Lewis & Bockius is adding two health care partners and five associates from the Washington, D.C., office of Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal to its attorney roster. They include Scott Memmott, who was formerly a vice-chair of Sonnenschein’s national health care practice group. That brings the total tally of Sonnenschein…

Apr 29, 2009 10:07 PM CDT

O’Melveny Associate & UCLA Student Win 9th Circuit Immigration Appeal

Finding that a legal United States resident who served four years in the Navy had exhausted her administrative remedies, the San Francisco-based 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has derailed a government effort to deport her over a California criminal conviction. The appellate ruling (PDF) in favor for Maria Gemma…

Apr 29, 2009 9:28 PM CDT

Is Associate Worth $450 Hourly? Fee Cited in Latham Dispute

Updated: Century Indemnity Co. says a charge of $450 an hour for an “unlicensed” associate at Latham & Watkins is excessive, as were other legal fees charged by the law firm in a toxic tort case. The insurer is asking a Los Angeles court to compel arbitration in the fee…

Apr 22, 2009 1:18 PM CDT

New Twist in Banana Workers Case, as Dole Lawyer Claims 10-Year Fraud

In startling courtroom contentions today that reportedly received support from one opposing lawyer and the trial judge, an attorney for Dole Fresh Fruit Co. claimed a 10-year fraud underlies at least some allegations that workers on Nicaraguan banana plantations were rendered sterile by exposure to a pesticide there. Lawyers in…

Apr 21, 2009 11:23 PM CDT

Sheppard Mullin Lures Lawyers Away from Bigger Firms

At a time when legal jobs are difficult to find, Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton is hiring several partners from larger law firms. On Monday, the firm announced it is hiring corporate partner Brian Weimer from Latham & Watkins and real estate partner Pamela Westhoff from DLA Piper, the National…

Apr 21, 2009 1:45 PM CDT

Calif. Judge Accused of Skipping Out of Work Agrees to Resign

A California judge accused of routinely leaving work early—often before noon—has agreed to resign and accept a public censure. It’s not the first time that the judge, Christopher Sheldon of Riverside County, has been accused of skipping work. In 1998, the Commission on Judicial Performance issued a public admonishment saying…

Apr 17, 2009 3:33 PM CDT

Reed Smith Lawyer Makes Calif. List of Delinquent Taxpayers

A tax lawyer at Reed Smith in San Francisco has made California’s list of its top 250 delinquent taxpayers. Legal Pad reports that the lawyer, Jim Kleier, shares a spot on the list with singer Dionne Warwick and the comic Sinbad. California claims Kleier owes more than $440,000 in income…

Apr 17, 2009 2:17 PM CDT

Enterprising UCLA Offers Skills Training for Jobless 1st-Years

So many law firms have deferred the start date for entering first-year associates that a number reportedly are having difficulty finding jobs at nonprofit organizations. But at least one law school is now offering another alternative for newly minted attorneys without a place to start work. The University of California…

Apr 16, 2009 6:55 PM CDT

Bad Hair, Harmonious Jury Helped Tip Scales of Justice Against Phil Spector

Now that the dust is settling on Phil Spector’s second-degree murder conviction this week, experts are pondering why a celebrity defendant whose initial trial ended in a deadlocked jury in 2007 didn’t beat the rap this time around. No less an authority than the London Times may have part of…

Apr 16, 2009 1:02 AM CDT