California

9th Circuit Rejects ‘Cowering Attorneys’ Claim as Reason to Boot Judge from Case

A federal appeals court has rejected a claim that U.S. District Judge Manuel Real should be booted from the resentencing of a conspiracy defendant because lawyers are too afraid of the judge to press their case vigorously. The San Francisco-based 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled yesterday that Real…

Sep 11, 2008 11:33 AM CDT

‘Suspicious’ Death of Ex-Lawyer Accused of Embezzling $1M from Calif. Clients

A once-prominent California lawyer who resigned his bar membership earlier this year rather than face disciplinary charges for allegedly embezzling $1 million from clients has been shot and killed in what a police official described as a “suspicious” death. Franklin Cibula, whose age is given as 66 or 67, was…

Sep 10, 2008 7:12 PM CDT

Most Big Calif. Firms Pay Associates $160K to $265K in Lockstep

Most California law firms responding to a new poll by the Recorder pay their associates lockstep compensation that begins at $160,000. The “vast majority” of the 17 law firms that responded to the survey (PDF) increased pay to $210,000 for fourth-year associates and $265,000 for seventh years, the Recorder story…

Sep 10, 2008 4:26 PM CDT

Judge: Broadcom Co-Founder’s Plea Deal Suggests Justice is for Sale

A federal judge in Santa Ana, Calif., has tossed a plea deal that involved a hefty fine but no jail time in the backdating case against Broadcom co-founder Henry Samueli. U.S. District Judge Cormac Carney said the deal creates the impression that “justice is for sale,” the Daily Journal reports…

Sep 9, 2008 11:54 AM CDT

William Lerach in Prison Lockdown for Alleged Football Tickets Offer

Former lawyer William Lerach, serving time for paying kickbacks to lead plaintiffs in securities class actions, is now accused of offering another kind of incentive, this time to a prison guard: his San Diego Chargers season tickets. Lerach has been moved to administrative segregation where he is locked up for…

Sep 9, 2008 11:04 AM CDT

Last-Minute Will Change By ‘Brockovich’ Lawyer OK’d in Calif.

Edward Masry, the crusty plaintiffs lawyer who supervised paralegal Erin Brockovich, famously handed her a $2 million bonus check at the end of the 2000 movie telling the story of their work on an environmental case that settled for $333 million. But in real life, Masry’s wife of 14 years…

Sep 8, 2008 7:06 PM CDT

Will Calif. Supreme Court Provide Bar Data for Controversial Study?

Seeking to pursue a controversial study about the effectiveness of law school affirmative action programs, researchers have sued the State Bar of California for access to 30 years of examination records. They are now asking the state supreme court to compel the bar association to turn over the bar exam…

Sep 8, 2008 5:10 PM CDT

Knobbe Martens Starts 46 Associates, Attorney Roster Now at 248

With the addition of 46 new associates this week, Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear has now become the biggest law firm in Orange County, Calif. It will now have 170 attorneys there, compared to 152 at Rutan & Tucker, a business firm based in Costa Mesa which has long been…

Sep 8, 2008 3:31 PM CDT

Culvahouse’s Power Would Be Cut in Third Term as O’Melveny Chair

The policy committee at O’Melveny & Myers is recommending that A.B. Culvahouse be elected to a third term as chairman—but that some of his powers be shared with the committee. The recommendation was chronicled in a memo obtained by the Daily Journal (sub. req.). The firm needs “new structures to…

Sep 8, 2008 12:43 PM CDT

LA Airport Increases Security After Elevator Mechanic’s Smuggling Arrest

After news that a 20-year elevator mechanic at Los Angeles International Airport allegedly smuggled more than a dozen illegal immigrants into the U.S., the airport is tightening its security measures. Authorities say Roberto Amaya Canchola, 53, “smuggled in at least 15 illegal immigrants, including two with criminal records who had…

Sep 5, 2008 4:22 PM CDT

Weil Gotshal IP Associate Takes On Much Tougher Job

As a third-year associate at Weil Gotshal & Manges, intellectual property attorney Okey Onyejekwe obviously isn’t afraid of hard work. But he’s taking on a much tougher challenge for the next three months, when he will be serving in Iraq with his Air Force Reserve unit, reports the Am Law…

Sep 5, 2008 12:52 AM CDT

Culvahouse Likely to Keep Job as O’Melveny Chairman

It’s been a difficult few weeks for the chairman of O’Melveny & Myers, Arthur “A.B.” Culvahouse. He’s facing a five-way race to retain his job as law firm chairman, and he’s taken some hits for work outside the law firm vetting John McCain’s vice presidential candidates. Now comes word that…

Sep 4, 2008 5:31 PM CDT

KSR Patent Ruling Protects Bra Makers and Comcast

A U.S. Supreme Court ruling last year making it easier to invalidate patents is having an impact in the Northern District of California and even in the plaintiff-friendly Eastern District of Texas. The ruling in KSR International Co. v. Teleflex Inc. said an invention is not entitled to a patent…

Sep 4, 2008 12:32 PM CDT

L.A. City Council Offers $500K Bounty for Unknown Serial Killer

Seeking to put a stop to a serial killer that authorities say has been operating in the Los Angeles area for some 23 years, the L.A. City Council today approved a $500,000 reward fund. It will pay up to $200,000 to any individual who provides information leading to the conviction…

Sep 3, 2008 9:46 PM CDT

Make That 37 Partners Who Have Left Heller Ehrman This Year

With the departure of two San Francisco Bay area attorneys for other law firms, the total number of partners who have left Heller Ehrman this year now reportedly tallies at least 37. Trademark lawyer Harold Milstein is the seventh Heller partner to join Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton this year,…

Sep 3, 2008 7:33 PM CDT