California

Receiver Shakes Up CA Prison System

Lawsuits and legislative committees haven’t had quite the impact of the man named to be a federal health-care receiver for the California prison system. Robert Sillen was appointed last year as the result of a class action lawsuit that revealed 65 inmate deaths each year could be avoided by better…

Aug 27, 2007 6:52 PM CDT

Class Action Clash in Receipts Cases

Plaintiffs lawyers bringing class action lawsuits against companies for financial privacy violations are running into a roadblock, and his name is U.S. District Judge John Walter. The suits claim the companies printed too much credit card information on receipts in violation of the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act, the Recorder…

Aug 27, 2007 1:03 PM CDT

Nicole Richie Serves 82-Minute Sentence

Nicole Richie spent just 82 minutes in jail yesterday for driving under the influence of drugs. Authorities said the short sentence was the norm under guidelines adopted to reduce prison overcrowding, the Los Angeles Times (reg. req.) reports. Richie had told police who pulled her over in December that she…

Aug 24, 2007 1:16 PM CDT

Lindsay Lohan Jail Term: One Day

Actress Lindsay Lohan pleaded no contest today to seven misdemeanor counts of drunk driving and cocaine possession that arose from two separate arrests in May and July. In exchange, she was sentenced to two days in jail, but given credit for one day of time served, reports Reuters. She also…

Aug 23, 2007 11:16 PM CDT

Lohan Case Fizzles, But Bill Murray Comes to Fore

Despite dire predictions of a possible jail sentence after Lindsay Lohan was arrested for allegedly drinking and driving on a suspended license last month, the 21-year-old actress reportedly may not even face any felony charges. A decision hasn’t yet been announced, but Lohan—who reportedly may have been found with cocaine,…

Aug 22, 2007 10:18 PM CDT

Pedophile Order Is Invalid, Case Dropped

A California judge’s unusual order prohibiting a self-described pedophile from getting within 10 yards of the state’s children is invalid, according to Los Angeles prosecutors. But an attorney who persuaded a judge to issue the order earlier this month says the real problem is prosecutors looking for an excuse not…

Aug 22, 2007 3:37 PM CDT

Mexico, US Lawyers Trade Offices

In a new program at O’Melveny & Myers, an associate from the mega-firm has traded places for three months with a counterpart from a 22-lawyer Mexico City firm with an impressive client list. Although the imported lawyer won’t practice law in Los Angeles, he is learning about American culture and…

Aug 21, 2007 9:18 PM CDT

Pitts: Constitution Protects Pedophile

Jack McClellan is a reprehensible freak, says Leonard Pitts. A self-admitted California pedophile, McClellan puts parents on edge by talking publicly about how he likes to look at little girls. He’s also upset a California judge, who recently issued a temporary injunction ordering him to stay at least 10 yards…

Aug 21, 2007 5:15 PM CDT

Proposed Laws Target Abusive Bosses

Nobody wants to work for a jerk. But unless abusive bosses violate specific prohibitions, such as discriminating against someone because of race or gender, treating employees badly generally isn’t illegal. That could be changing, however. At least four states are considering legislation that would give workers a right to sue…

Aug 21, 2007 4:37 PM CDT

Lawyers Subpoenaed in KPMG Case

Two lawyers from Hogan & Hartson have been subpoenaed to provide information about their representation of a client who is suing KPMG for selling him improper tax shelters. KPMG sought the subpoenas last month for information from lawyers Prentiss Feagles, co-director of Hogan & Hartson’s tax practice, and Paul Rogers,…

Aug 21, 2007 11:27 AM CDT

Immigrant Activist Arrested, Deported

Updated: Immigration activist Elvira Arellano, a mother who sought refuge in a Chicago church for more than a year to keep from being separated from her U.S.-born son, was arrested Sunday in Los Angeles. Arellano left Chicago last week to take her immigrant rights demonstration on the road. Her 8-year-old…

Aug 19, 2007 11:13 PM CDT

Judge: Spector Lawyers Violated Rules

The judge in the ongoing Phil Spector murder trial has rebuked the music producer’s attorneys for a violation of discovery rules “so deliberate and so egregious” that it requires a remedy. Hence, Judge Larry Paul Fidler said Thursday, he is going to instruct the jury to take it into consideration…

Aug 17, 2007 7:36 PM CDT

ID Theft Ring Focused on Forbes 400

An alleged identity theft gang has been charged with attempting to steal more than $12 million from super-wealthy individuals, at least some of whom reportedly were on the Forbes 400 list. Run by a 24-year-old Russian immigrant, according to prosecutors and a New York County grand jury indictment, the ring…

Aug 17, 2007 6:33 PM CDT

Mistake Explanation Privileged, Qualcomm Lawyers Say

Lawyers for Qualcomm aren’t saying why they made discovery errors in litigation over cell phone patent rights. Transcripts from a July 26 hearing in San Diego show that Qualcomm is asserting attorney-client privilege in the case, the Recorder reports. A federal magistrate has ordered lawyers from two law firms to…

Aug 17, 2007 10:34 AM CDT

Shocking Case: Legal Team Tasers Client

Proceedings have been delayed in a California misdemeanor case in which the defense is claiming that police brutalized their client with a stun gun during his arrest at a shopping mall last year. That’s because the defense team is now being criminally investigated for allegedly violating human experimentation laws by…

Aug 16, 2007 9:01 PM CDT