California

Real Estate Agents Become a Tempting Legal Target as Home Prices Fall

A trial begins Monday of a San Diego woman’s claim that her real estate agent is to blame for failing to tell her she was overpaying for her home. The case could be the first of many brought by buyers as their homes drop in value below that of their…

Jan 22, 2008 12:49 PM CST

Actress Lindsay Lohan Sentenced to Work in Morgue

Actress Lindsay Lohan’s sentence in a recent misdemeanor drunken driving plea deal isn’t just the 84 minutes in jail she already served late last year. It also includes community service work stints in a morgue and a hospital emergency room, under a court program that seeks to impress drunken drivers…

Jan 18, 2008 4:51 PM CST

Nearly Naked Fashion Exec Claims Legitimate Business Purpose

A fashion industry executive who is about to face a sexual harassment trial largely focusing on his workplace attire—or lack thereof—claims there was a legitimate business purpose for appearing at meetings in his underwear, and, on occasion, even skimpier outfits. Because he worked as a fit model, and was designing…

Jan 17, 2008 8:25 PM CST

Homeless Man Sues Calif. Hospital Over Patient Dumping

A paraplegic man has filed a tort claim against a Southern California hospital, seeking damages for being dumped, without a wheelchair, on a local skid row in a condition in which he allegedly could not care properly for himself. The February incident, which was recorded on a nearby video camera…

Jan 17, 2008 7:42 PM CST

‘Seriously Misleading’ Affidavit Leads to Longer Sentence for Ex-Brocade CEO

A federal judge said yesterday he lengthened the sentence for the ex-CEO of Brocade Communications because he submitted a misleading affidavit. U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer of San Francisco added six months to Gregory Reyes’ sentence for backdating stock options because of the “seriously misleading” declaration, making the total sentence…

Jan 17, 2008 2:08 PM CST

San Diego OKs $750K Attorney Payment to Settle Cross Case

The city council of San Diego has agreed to pay a plaintiff’s lawyer $750,000 to settle his legal bill for representing an atheist in a lengthy lawsuit over the placement of a large cross on city land. The 6-2 vote doesn’t completely settle the 1989 constitutional case, however, according to…

Jan 17, 2008 12:57 AM CST

Ex-Brocade CEO Gets 21-Month Sentence for Options Backdating

A federal judge has sentenced the ex-CEO of Brocade Communications to 21 months in prison for backdating stock options. Gregory Reyes cried before receiving the sentence, the Associated Press reports. U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer also ordered Reyes to pay a $15 million fine, the Wall Street Journal reports (sub.…

Jan 16, 2008 7:02 PM CST

Bill to Create Domestic Offender Database Would Aid Daters

A California lawmaker has introduced a bill to create an online database of offenders convicted of domestic violence. People who want to check out potential people to date could access the database, the New York Times reports. Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, the Democratic majority whip, introduced the bill and is optimistic…

Jan 16, 2008 2:59 PM CST

Robert Blake Lawyer Argues for Reversal of $30M Verdict Due to Jury Misconduct

A lawyer for actor Robert Blake asked a California appeals court yesterday to overturn a $30 million damages verdict against him for his wife’s death. Lawyer M. Gerald Schwartzbach said his client did not get a fair trial because of jury misconduct, the Los Angeles Times reports. Court papers detailed…

Jan 16, 2008 1:32 PM CST

Lawyer for ‘Judge Alex’ Faces Tough Time in Supreme Court

The lawyer for a TV judge “seemed stunned and weary” after a tough U.S. Supreme Court argument yesterday, his seventh appearance before the court, Legal Times reports. Eric Brunstad Jr. has developed an impressive Supreme Court practice from his offices at Bingham McCutchen in Hartford, Conn., but the justices “hammered…

Jan 15, 2008 4:40 PM CST

Investments Stop Calif. High Court From Hearing Lockheed Case

Because four of seven justices on the California Supreme Court own stock in Lockheed Martin or companies that provided related materials, they can’t hear an appeal involving several dozen workers who say they were injured by chemical exposure. The case is the talk of the state appellate bar, but Chief…

Jan 15, 2008 12:51 AM CST

Big Brother is Watching ... in the Barnyard

Seeking to help prevent widespread outbreaks of animal illness that can affect humans, such as avian flu and mad cow disease, federal officials are in the fledgling stages of implementing a national identification program. Eventually, it will require many farmers to register and microchip individual animals among their livestock, and…

Jan 14, 2008 5:33 PM CST

The Case of Judge Alex and the Preston-Change-O Arbitration Contract

The case of the TV judge billed as “tall, dark and judgmental” heads to the U.S. Supreme Court today for a ruling on whether his dispute with a former manager should go to a private arbitrator. “Judge Alex” as Alex Ferrer is known, contends California law requires initial issues in…

Jan 14, 2008 1:41 PM CST

Losing Lockstep: Luce Forward Bases Associate Pay on Practice Area, Hours

Luce, Forward, Hamilton & Scripps has ditched lockstep pay for associates in favor a 14-level compensation system based on practice area and hours worked. Under the system, first-year associates can earn from $145,000 for 1,950 hours to $165,000 for 2,100 hours, the Recorder reports. The flexibility means that a third-year…

Jan 14, 2008 11:35 AM CST

New Counselor at DA’s Office is Friendly, Furry, Wags Tail a Lot

When children who have been sex crime victims come to the Yolo County, Calif., district attorney’s office, they are often frightened and hesitant to trust adults. So the office chose someone they thought would especially appeal to children when selecting the newest addition to its staff of child abuse counselors—a…

Jan 12, 2008 12:15 AM CST