California

Calif. DA Dismisses Misdemeanor and Drug Charges in Exchange for DNA

A district attorney in Orange County, Calif., is agreeing to dismiss some misdemeanor and drug charges against defendants if they provide a DNA sample. Courtroom observers have dubbed the program “spit and acquit,” the Daily Journal reports (sub. req.). Orange County District Attorney Tony Rackauckas is using the program to…

Apr 15, 2009 1:52 PM CDT

Judge Considers Whether Ex-Brobeck Partners Had Right to Clients

Lawyers involved in the bankruptcy of Heller Ehrman were in court Monday to watch arguments in a case involving the duties of 10 former partners at Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison. At issue is whether the Brobeck partners and their new law firms must pay the firm’s creditors for taking Brobeck…

Apr 14, 2009 11:13 AM CDT

Thieves Take High-End Home Decor

In the latest real-estate-related scam, burglars in upscale communities on the West Coast reportedly are stealing expensive furniture and decorator items from vacant upscale homes. One group of suspects in such capers, for instance, allegedly had stockpiled some $250,000 in high-end home swag when nabbed by authorities in Southern California…

Apr 14, 2009 1:00 AM CDT

Phil Spector Convicted of 2nd-Degree Murder in Actress’s Death at His L.A. Home

After an estimated 30 hours of deliberation, a Los Angeles jury has found famed music producer Phil Spector guilty of second-degree murder in the shooting death of 40-year-old actress Lana Clarkson at his home in 2003. The guilty verdict is a significant victory for prosecutors: An earlier mistrial reportedly ended…

Apr 13, 2009 9:51 PM CDT

Jenner & Block Raids Kirkland to Open in Calif., Is Growing in All Offices

Jenner & Block is opening a new office Los Angeles, putting at the helm two litigation partners lured from the local office of Kirkland & Ellis. The new LA outpost is the first office west of the Mississippi River for the nationally known law firm. Meanwhile, despite the difficult economy,…

Apr 13, 2009 9:05 PM CDT

Mel Gibson & Wife of 28 Years to Divorce

Actor Mel Gibson’s low-profile wife of 28 years filed a high-profile divorce suit late last week. Robyn Gibson filed suit in Los Angeles Superior Court, seeking custody of the couple’s one nonadult child, spousal support and attorney fees, reports the Dish Rag blog of the Los Angeles Times. She has…

Apr 13, 2009 6:56 PM CDT

Fertility Docs’ Partnership Dispute Involves Phony Patient Claims

At least one female private detective had an ultrasound exam of her uterus and ovaries. Meanwhile, a physician submitted his own sperm sample to a medical rival. It was all part of a hard-fought six-year legal battle between competing fertility specialists who once a lucrative partnership together, reports the Los…

Apr 13, 2009 6:24 PM CDT

Calif. Lawyer Killed, Girlfriend Arrested

A California lawyer was found dead at his home by Oakland police late Friday, and his live-in girlfriend has now been arrested on suspicion of shooting Michael Porcella, 36. Rennie Pratt, 28, a barber, is being held without bail, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. “Every little dinner, every kind of…

Apr 13, 2009 4:57 PM CDT

Car Crash that Killed Angels Pitcher Also Claimed Law Student’s Life

Prosecutors are meeting today to discuss whether to file murder charges against the driver of a minivan that crashed into a car early yesterday, killing Los Angeles Angels rookie pitcher Nick Adenhart along with two others, including a law student. Police Lt. Kevin Hamilton said the minivan driver, Andrew Gallo,…

Apr 10, 2009 3:34 PM CDT

MoFo Accused of Charging ‘Staggering’ Attorney Fees

A suit filed by a former client claims Morrison & Foerster charged a staggering $4.8 million in attorney fees for its defense in a patent infringement suit, while failing to provide adequate representation. The suit was filed by Ecast Inc., an Internet digital entertainment company, the Daily Journal reports (sub.…

Apr 10, 2009 11:03 AM CDT

$3M Settlement By LA Hospital Over Woman Who Died Untreated in ER

A $3 million settlement proposal has been accepted by the children of a Los Angeles woman who died untreated in a hospital emergency room in 2007 as she writhed in pain on the floor and family members unsuccessfully sought help by calling 911. One factor that may have promoted the…

Apr 9, 2009 11:45 PM CDT

Calif. AG: State Bar Staffer Stole $675K to Pay for ‘Spa Treatments’ & ‘Fancy Hotels’

California’s attorney general filed seven criminal charges this week against the Sharon Elyce Pearl, alleging she embezzled $675,000 from the State Bar of California over an eight-year period. Pearl, who as director of real property for the bar was responsible for building management, is believed to have kept two sets…

Apr 9, 2009 10:59 AM CDT

Minority-Owned Midwest Firm Expands to LA and Phoenix

Expanding on earlier growth, a 20-year-old minority-owned commercial law firm based in Milwaukee is adding 10 lawyers and opening new offices in Los Angeles and Phoenix. Gonzalez Saggio & Harlan is essentially acquiring a nine-lawyer minority firm in Los Angeles, Atkins & Evans, to open its office there, according to…

Apr 6, 2009 10:14 PM CDT

Attorney With LA Firm Fined $102K—Plus 200 Pro Bono Hours

NOTE: The sanctions described here against Deborah Klar, Teri Pham and the law firm Liner Grode Stein Yankelevitz Sunshine Regenstreif & Taylor were vacated, in effect, in April 2010 by U.S. District Judge Philip M. Pro. A federal magistrate judge in Nevada has not only fined an attorney formerly with…

Apr 6, 2009 9:09 PM CDT

Why Iowa Decision Allowing Gay Marriages Will Be Hard to Overturn

A decision by the Iowa Supreme Court last week striking down the state’s ban on same-sex marriages will be more difficult to overturn by voters than a similar court decision in California. The Iowa decision held gays’ right to marry was protected by the equal protection clause of the state…

Apr 6, 2009 11:48 AM CDT