Courts/Rulings & Lawsuits | | |
Inglewood Police Department 'systematically' violated state public records law, judge rules
The Inglewood Police Department "systematically" violated state public records laws by disregarding requests for documents related to police misconduct, including fatal shootings, and must now post the information on its website, a judge has ruled. In 2021, the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California sued the department, alleging that it had not produced a single document in response to public records requests made nearly three years before.
Los Angeles Times
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Judge declines to dismiss restrictions on LAPD’s use of projectile launchers
A federal judge Monday declined to dismiss her previous order restricting the Los Angeles Police Department’s use of “less lethal” 40-millimeter projectile launchers against crowds at demonstrations. In her May 2021 order, U.S. District Judge Consuelo B. Marshall granted Black Lives Matter-Los Angeles’ request for a preliminary injunction, noting an increase in reports of LAPD officers pushing, striking and firing less-lethal weapons on crowds of protesters, including media covering demonstrations, without a dispersal order being given.
MyNewsLA
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Pat-down search not rendered unnecessary because detainee was handcuffed
It was not unreasonable for a police officer to conduct a pat-down search of a detained suspect who was in handcuffs, Div. Six of this district’s Court of Appeal declared yesterday, rejecting the contention that the appellant could not have posed a danger to officers while restrained. The search resulted in finding a handgun. Anthony Davis Williams subsequently pled no contest to being a felon in possession of a firearm but appealed from the denial by Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Mildred Escobedo of his suppression motion.
Metropolitan News-Enterprise
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Court order prevents LA coroner from releasing details of teen's body found in singer d4vd’s Tesla
Los Angeles police have blocked the county coroner's office from releasing details about the death of a teen girl whose body was found in the trunk of a car registered to the singer d4vd, the medical examiner's office said Monday. Celeste Rivas Hernandez was found dead on Sept. 8 in an impounded Tesla in Los Angeles just after her 15th birthday. Several news outlets reported the car belonged to d4vd, whose legal name is David Anthony Burke, 20.
Associated Press
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Federal appeals court halts implementation of California’s climate disclosure law
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit on Tuesday halted implementation of California’s Senate Bill 261, a law that requires business entities with revenues exceeding $500 million to publicly disclose their climate-related financial risks and countermeasures. Many utilities and energy companies were included in a preliminary list of businesses expected to comply with the state’s new climate disclosure rules.
Utility Dive
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Supreme Court calls for ‘balls and strikes’ to remedy trial court mishaps
In two unanimous rulings on Monday, the Supreme Court rebutted trial court decisions where the justices determined that judges had strayed too far from precedent. “To put it plainly, courts ‘call balls and strikes’; they don’t get a turn at bat,” the court wrote in a per curiam ruling - using a metaphor that Chief Justice John Roberts famously made during his confirmation hearings.
Courthouse News Service
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AP and Trump administration argue access case before federal appeals court; no ruling yet
The Associated Press and the Trump administration renewed their argument Monday over a president’s ability to limit media access to journalists he disagrees with, resuming a courtroom dispute with potential First Amendment implications that began last winter when the president announced that he had renamed the Gulf of Mexico.
Associated Press
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Judge erred in allowing plaintiffs to sue as ‘Doe’ and ‘Roe’
Adult plaintiffs in an action for defamation based on allegations of sexual misconduct were wrongly granted permission by a Los Angeles Superior Court judge to proceed pseudonymously, the Court of Appeal for this district held yesterday, declaring that “[t]he public has a fundamental interest in knowing the identities of parties to litigation in public fora.”
Metropolitan News-Enterprise
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Suspect in police chase wreck that killed officer could face 80 years in prison if convicted
An El Monte man was charged with two counts of murder Monday, accused of causing a fatal car wreck that killed two people last week, including an Alhambra police officer. Steven Zapata, 27, could face at least 80 years in prison if convicted of killing 28-year-old officer Alec Sanders and a second victim, 42-year-old Gabriela Moreno, according to a criminal complaint.
Los Angeles Times
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West Covina police officer charged with stealing cash during traffic stops
Felony charges have been filed against West Covina Police Officer Jose Garcia for allegedly stealing cash from motorists during traffic stops beginning in 2024. “Stealing from the very people you are sworn to protect is a profound betrayal of the badge,” Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman said. “When an officer turns routine traffic stops into opportunities for theft, for their own benefit, it corrodes public trust and endangers the integrity of our justice system.
L.A. County District Attorney’s Office News Release
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Latin musician DELAROSA was killed ambush-style in L.A. Three have now been charged
Three men have been charged with murder in the the ambush-style killing of Latin musician DELAROSA in Northridge over the weekend, Los Angeles County prosecutors announced. Maria De La Rosa, 22, known professionally as DELAROSA was shot to death inside a car with two other occupants early Saturday in Northridge when the suspects approached their parked car on Bryant Street near Tampa Avenue, demanded money and opened fire, authorities said.
Los Angeles Times
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Ex-LAPD officer staged police raid in $350,000 crypto heist, prosecutor says
One night last December, six men met at a home in the Hollywood Hills to plot a kidnapping, prosecutors say. Their alleged target was a 17-year-old operator of a cryptocurrency business. His abductors, authorities charge, included a felon with ties to Israeli organized crime and a former officer from the Los Angeles Police Department. Deputy Dist. Atty. Jane Brownstone on Friday disclosed details of the alleged kidnapping at bail hearings for the alleged gangster, Gabby Ben, and the former officer, Eric Halem.
Los Angeles Times
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Feds charge Diamond Bar man for menacing ‘Stop Asian Hate’ protestors
A Diamond Bar man was arrested Thursday on federal charges alleging that he disrupted a “Stop Asian Hate” rally in March, 2021 by deliberately running a red light, blocking the path of demonstrators lawfully using a crosswalk and yelling racial epithets at them - before calling the cops. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California secured a federal grand jury indictment against Steve Lee Dominguez, 56, on two counts of bias-motivated interference with federal protected activities, the Department of Justice announced Thursday.
Los Angeles Magazine
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A ride-hail driver crashed on a SoCal freeway. D.A. says they were set up by their passengers
A car crash on a Southern California freeway last year was a staged wreck to scam a ride-hail driver’s insurance company, authorities said Monday. On Nov. 23, 2024, a group of suspects ordered a ride-hail car that took them onto the 215 Freeway in San Bernardino, where John Murillo, 37, was driving another vehicle and intentionally collided with the ride-hail car, according to a California Department of Insurance news release.
Los Angeles Times
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CEO of L.A.-based childcare company and camp counselor charged with more than a dozen child sexual exploitation crimes
A federal grand jury today charged a childcare program CEO, camp counselor, and private babysitter in a 16-count indictment with using his positions of authority to sexually exploit at least six children he babysat. Miguel Adrian Gonzalez, 28, of West Los Angeles, is charged with two counts of obtaining custody of a minor with the intent to produce child pornography, seven counts of production of child pornography, two counts of distribution of child pornography, three counts of receipt of child pornography, and two counts of possession of child pornography.
U.S. Attorney’s Office Press Release
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LASD custodian accused of destroying evidence from his DUI arrest
Los Angeles County prosecutors charged a former Sheriff's Department evidence custodian with stealing and destroying evidence from his DUI arrest in 2024. Tommy Ray Trimble faces three felony counts for burglary, preparing false evidence and destroying government records, as well as a misdemeanor count of destroying evidence. He faces up to three years in prison if he's convicted as charged.
CBS LA
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Los Angeles man charged with 110 Freeway takeover
A Los Angeles man has been charged with shutting down the 110 Freeway in Downtown Los Angeles in 2023 to record a music video. “This was incredibly reckless behavior, all in search of a ‘viral moment’ on social media,” said Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman. “This past summer I announced that we’re partnering with law enforcement to crack down on and eliminate reckless street takeovers that can lead to death and other types of crimes that hurt our communities.”
L.A. County District Attorney’s Office News Release
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Los Angeles DA moves to drop charges against Torrance officers in fatal shooting of Black man
Los Angeles County Dist. Atty. Nathan Hochman moved to drop manslaughter charges Friday against two Torrance police officers who shot and killed a Black man in 2018, attempting to end a seven-year saga that saw the case rejected and then reexamined by three different elected prosecutors. Matthew Concannon and Anthony Chavez were indicted in 2023 for the shooting death of Christopher Deandre Mitchell, a 23-year-old car theft suspect who was in possession of an air rifle at the time he was killed.
Los Angeles Times
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Sheriff deputies catch, arrest three involved in Burbank armed robbery
Los Angeles County Sheriff Deputies have arrested three suspects in connection with a robbery that occurred shortly after a traffic collision on November 16, 2025, near Third Street and Delaware Road. Burbank Police officers initially responded to the scene for a reported traffic collision around 10:46 p.m. When they arrived, those involved informed officers they had just been robbed. Investigators determined the victims were approached by two men who were not involved in the collision.
My Burbank
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Longtime RivCo prosecutor lands at district attorney’s office
A veteran Riverside County prosecutor will take the No. 2 spot at the District Attorney’s Office, following the retirement of another career litigator who served in the post for a decade. District Attorney Mike Hestrin on Thursday formally appointed Jared Haringsma as chief assistant district attorney. Haringsma takes the position previously held - until earlier this month - by John Aki, who retired after nearly a quarter century in the D.A.’s office.
MyNewsLA
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L.A. firefighters propose hike in sales tax to pay for new stations, equipment and more
Even before the Palisades fire had been extinguished, the city's fire department budget had become a topic of great scrutiny. Some accused Mayor Karen Bass of reducing fire department operations amid a budget crunch. But the budget actually increased after firefighters received raises and the city made additional investments in new firetrucks and other department purchases, Bass and her team said.
Los Angeles Times
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Appeals court upholds $1M penalty against Trump in lawsuit against Hillary Clinton
A federal appeals court has upheld a penalty of nearly $1 million against President Donald Trump and attorney Alina Habba, concluding they committed “sanctionable conduct” by filing a frivolous lawsuit against Hillary Clinton and former FBI Director James Comey. “Many of Trump’s and Habba’s legal arguments were indeed frivolous,” 11th Circuit Court of Appeals Chief Judge William Pryor Jr. wrote for a unanimous, three-judge panel, including Trump appointee Andrew Brasher and Biden appointee Embry Kidd.
Politico
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LAFD records show no sign of 'cold trailing' again at Lachman fire, as interim chief had claimed
The Times has obtained records that call into question the LAFD’s statements about how thoroughly firefighters mopped up the Jan. 1 Lachman fire in the days before it reignited into the Palisades fire. Then-Interim Fire Chief Ronnie Villanueva said that firefighters returned to the burn area on Jan. 3 - due to a report of smoke - and “cold-trailed” an additional time. A dispatch log shows that firefighters arrived at the scene that day and quickly reported seeing no smoke.
Los Angeles Times
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Document raises new questions about restrictions on Jan. 1 Lachman fire mop-up
As the Los Angeles Fire Department and California State Parks face mounting scrutiny over their handling of a small brushfire that reignited into the deadly Palisades blaze, a newly released document details the agencies' agreement on restricting how fires were fought and mopped up in some parts of Topanga State Park.
Los Angeles Times
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Sergeant tentatively settles harassment suit
A Los Angeles police sergeant has tentatively settled her suit against the city in which she alleged that after being injured on the job she was harassed and discriminated against by a supervisor. Sgt. Bridget Pickett’s Los Angeles Superior Court lawsuit alleged discrimination, retaliation, harassment and failure to take steps to prevent discrimination, harassment and retaliation. On Tuesday, Pickett’s attorneys filed court papers with Judge Rupert A. Byrdsong notifying him of a tentative resolution of the case that is subject to final approval by the City Council.
MyNewsLA
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LA Times ripped for Palisades Fire rebuild report after permit records tell a different story
The Los Angeles Times was ripped online after publishing a story saying a home had been “rebuilt” in the Pacific Palisades since the fire, despite records showing the permit was first submitted two months before the blaze broke out. The Times ran the piece Saturday under the headline, “The first home has been rebuilt in the wake of the Palisades Fire.” The story reported that a two-story showcase home by developer Thomas James Homes (TJH) had received its certificate of occupancy from Los Angeles County.
Daily Caller
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Urine in bags, reports of violence at reopened LA County juvenile hall, testimony reveals
Young people at the newly reopened Barry J. Nidorf Juvenile Hall are once again urinating in bags, plastic gloves and the corners of their rooms because there is not enough staff to escort them to the restroom overnight, according to court testimony. That exact issue contributed to the state’s decision to close Nidorf in 2023 and was supposed to have been resolved when Los Angeles County consolidated that same year at Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall, where more rooms have sinks and toilets installed.
Pasadena Star News
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Voters are feeling glum. L.A. County may need them to fix its bureaucratic screw-up
L.A. County voters are fuming. Two out of three think the county is headed in the wrong direction. Four out of five feel its leaders are closely connected to “big money interests, lobbyists, and developers,” and the same fraction felt county supervisors were effective “only some of the time” - or not at all. How to turn things around? Seven out of ten agreed the county government needed “major reform.”
Los Angeles Times
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End of watch for Burbank K-9: What we know about Spike the police dog
Just days after celebrating his fourth birthday, Spike the K-9 has lost his life after being shot by a gunman, the Burbank Police Department said Sunday. The suspect, who tried to run away from police during a traffic stop off the 5 Freeway on Buena Vista Street Saturday night, fired multiple rounds, with at least one bullet striking the police department's beloved K-9.
NBC4
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Woman arrested after video shows dog being thrown over fence in plastic bag in Anaheim
A woman has been arrested after a shocking video showed a small dog being thrown over a fence in Anaheim. According to the Anaheim Police Department, 30-year-old Tyler Thompson was arrested and charged with felony animal cruelty. Surveillance video shared by the University Veterinary Center on Glenoaks Avenue shows the dog inside a plastic bag being tossed over a fence, landing in the backyard area of the clinic early in the morning on Wednesday, Nov. 12.
ABC7
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How a flashy lawyer and an alleged Canadian drug lord may have taken down an FBI witness
Months before an FBI witness was gunned down in broad daylight, a Toronto-area lawyer allegedly advised his client: "if you kill this witness, the case will be dismissed”. Speaking to media on Wednesday, US attorney Bill Essayli alleged that this advice, between lawyer Deepak Paradkar and Ryan Wedding, a former Olympic snowboarder who ended up on the FBI's most wanted list for allegedly running a sprawling drug trafficking empire, helped trigger a series of events that led to a key federal witness being gunned down at a restaurant in Medellín, Colombia.
BBC
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Simi Valley man arrested for having a dagger, linked to slashed tires, police say
Authorities have arrested a man for allegedly slashing tires from nearly a dozen cars parked along the same street of Simi Valley, police said Saturday. Officers with the Simi Valley Police Department initially responded to Cochran Street near Tapo Street Friday morning after receiving several reports of vandalism to vehicles. Surveillance video from one home captured a man, wearing a beanie and dark jacket, walking westbound on Cochran Street at around 9 p.m. Thursday and deflating the tires on the roadway as well as those from cars parked in driveways.
NBC4
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Long Beach father, stepmom arrested on suspicion of torturing, killing 14-month-old daughter
A California father and stepmother have been arrested for torture and murder in the death of a 14-month-old girl, police said. Officers responded to a local hospital regarding a possible child abuse incident on Nov. 7. The 14-month-old had been unresponsive and had signs of trauma, according to the Long Beach Police Department. Detectives were notified later that the child was on life support and would not survive.
ABC7
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Dublin Law wins $50 million defamation award for philanthropist Laura Perlmutter, wife of former Marvel Chairman-CEO Ike Perlmutter
After more than a decade of litigation, prominent Palm Beach residents Ike and Laurie Perlmutter have prevailed in their case against Florida neighbor Harold Peerenboom for civil conspiracy, abuse of process, and defamation, resulting in a $50 million verdict for Laura Perlmutter. The jury also awarded damages for loss of enjoyment of life to the Perlmutters.
Dublin Law News Release
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Facing legal pressure, glock revamps pistols to prevent machine gun conversions
In September, two men outside a Walmart in Indianapolis allegedly shot three members of the same family with converted Glock pistols. A thumbnail-size device called a switch had effectively turned the weapons into machine guns, enabling them to fire as many as 20 bullets per second. One victim was hit in his hand, abdomen, legs, and chest. His brother suffered two gunshot wounds; his cousin, 11. All three survived.
The Trace
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New CA youth gun law closes loopholes for some, doors for others
One bad decision as a teenager could cost young Californians more than a decade of career opportunities under a new firearms law taking effect in January. Assembly Bill 383, authored by Republican Assemblywoman Laurie Davies and signed into law in October, extends firearm restrictions to juveniles adjudicated for certain offenses.
CapRadio
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Judge slams California for allowing off-road vehicles at Oceano Dunes
A federal judge agreed with environmentalists and found the California Department of Parks and Recreation violates the U.S. Endangered Species Act by allowing dune buggies to kill and injure threatened snowy plovers at Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area. U.S. District Judge Anne Hwang in Los Angeles granted summary judgment to the Center for Biological Diversity, which sued State Parks five years ago to curtail the use of off-road vehicles in the dunes and on the beach at the 1,500-acre recreational area on the Central Coast.
Courthouse News Service
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The scandal hangover in Sacramento
When the biggest California politics scandal in years detonated in Sacramento, Gavin Newsom was thousands of miles away in the Brazilian Amazon. The Democratic governor, fresh off a gerrymandering victory that supercharged his presidential prospects, intended to spend the week after Proposition 50’s commanding win touting California’s climate leadership on the international stage.
Politico
| | Convictions/Pleas/Sentences/Parole | | |
Actor linked to deaths of LA model, her friend gets probation and community service
An actor charged in connection with the 2021 deaths of a model and her friend in Los Angeles was sentenced Monday to community service and probation. Brandt Osborn was charged with being an accessory after the fact. He pleaded no contest in court and was sentenced to two years of formal probation and 480 hours of community service.
ABC7
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Jury finds man guilty of murdering estranged wife in Simi Valley
A Ventura County jury deliberated just three hours Nov. 21 before finding Zarbab Ali guilty of the murder of Rachel Castillo, his estranged wife and the mother of his two young children. The 12 jurors also found true three of the four special circumstances in the case: first-degree murder, use of a deadly weapon and murder by means of lying in wait. The latter special allegation elevates the sentence Ali will face to life without the possibility of parole.
Ventura County Star
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Teens sentenced in hate crime attack outside Simi Valley movie theater
The three minors charged with hate crimes in a parking lot assault at the Simi Valley Regal Cinema in August have all been sentenced, the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office announced Friday. “Hate crimes will not be tolerated in Ventura County,” District Attorney Erik Nasarenko said. “We sought justice for our victims and accountability for the offenders that reflected the seriousness of these crimes. Multiple months of custody in a locked juvenile facility underscores the seriousness of their crimes.”
KTLA
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California telehealth company leaders convicted in $100M Adderall scheme
Ruthia He, founder and CEO of Done, has been convicted of a $100 million Adderall distribution and health care fraud scheme alongside David Brody, its clinical president, according to federal court records. The conviction was by a federal jury in the Northern District of California, and the scheme enabled access to over 40 million pills. Done is a California-based digital health company that provides care for patients with ADHD.
KSBW
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A sheriff, a billionaire, a tinge of scandal. California governor’s race packs drama, uncertainty
The race for California governor features former presidential wannabes, a county sheriff, two women who could become the first female to hold the office, House members current and former, an ex-Cabinet secretary and at least one billionaire with another in the wings. The contest has been singed by scandal and witnessed one campaign nearly melt down. And it hasn’t officially started yet.
Associated Press
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Fox loses bid to pause Smartmatic defamation case in wake of charges against voting machine company
A New York state judge on Monday morning denied Fox’s motion to pause the $2.7 billion defamation lawsuit brought by voting machine company Smartmatic until newly filed federal corruption charges against the voting technology company are handled. “I don’t find that there’s good cause for a stay,” New York State Supreme Court Justice David B. Cohen said Monday, ruling against Fox’s request to halt proceedings in Smartmatic’s 2021 civil defamation case until the federal indictment is resolved.
Courthouse News Service
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