Courts/Rulings & Lawsuits | | |
Ninth Circuit keeps block on DHS use of excessive force on journalists
A Ninth Circuit panel on Thursday rejected a bid by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to stay a preliminary injunction barring federal law enforcement from using excessive and indiscriminate force against journalists covering protests in Southern California.
Courthouse News Service
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Delay in getting warrant to search phone bars immunity
A divided panel of the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals held yesterday that a District Court judge properly denied qualified immunity to a police officer who waited 36 days to seek a search warrant of the defendant’s cellphone that had been seized after he was found driving, without a license, a vehicle containing a gun with a missing serial number.
Metropolitan News-Enterprise
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City not barred from issuing bonds for unfunded liabilities
The California Supreme Court held yesterday that the City of San José is not precluded by a so-called “pay-as-you-go” debt limitation enshrined in the state Constitution from financing unfunded liability in its employee retirement plans through the issuance of bonds without first seeking voter approval.
Metropolitan News-Enterprise
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Lifetime ban on contact with pets was imposed unlawfully as condition of probation
A woman who pled guilty to felony animal cruelty was improperly required, as a condition of probation, not to possess or have contact with pets for the rest of her life, Div. One of the First District Court of Appeal has held. The defendant, Renee Velvet Lewis, had struck a deal with the prosecution under which a no-pets condition would be in place throughout her term of probation.
Metropolitan News-Enterprise
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Ninth Circuit upholds conviction in Oakland courthouse murder tied to Boogaloo Bois
The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed on Friday the conviction and life sentence of an anti-government extremist who was involved in the drive-by killing of a federal security officer and the wounding of another in Oakland during the George Floyd protests in 2020.
Courthouse News Service
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Ninth Circuit lets X pursue international defamation cases against Media Matters
Elon Musk’s X can proceed with international litigation against media watchdog Media Matters after a Ninth Circuit panel reversed an anti-suit injunction issued by a lower court. The three-judge panel found on Friday that the lower federal court improperly blocked the litigation against Media Matters of America in Ireland because the company waived its right to invoke the forum selection clause in a California court.
Courthouse News Service
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US Court of Appeals upholds UCLA’s lease with Department of Veterans Affairs
UCLA’s 10-acre lease with the Department of Veterans Affairs, which includes Jackie Robinson Stadium, was upheld by the United States Court of Appeals Ninth Circuit on Tuesday. “Because we are reversing judgment on Plaintiffs’ charitable trust claim, we dismiss UCLA’s consolidated appeals as moot and vacate any injunctive relief with respect to UCLA’s lease and services,” said Judge Ana de Alba in the court’s opinion.
Daily Bruin
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A glamorous L.A. model targeted rich old men and young women for theft, accusers say
It was an invitation that lingerie model Amber Karis Bassick couldn’t refuse - a sun-filled hotel stay on the Spanish isle of Ibiza, paid for by her new friend Adva Lavie, a men’s magazine centerfold and social media influencer. “I thought that was really nice of her and sweet, and it’d be a lot of fun,” Bassick recalled of the offer.
DNYUZ
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Zack Scrivner to miss prison time after being granted mental health diversion
Outrage spread on street corners, across social media and throughout talk radio Friday as word spread that Scrivner escaped criminal prosecution and a prison sentence when a judge ordered mental health treatment. Scrivner was accused of sexually abusing a pre-teen girl, but despite those allegations, the Attorney General’s office never charged him with molestation crimes.
KGET
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Justice Department announces completion of civil rights reform agreement with Orange County District Attorney
Today, the Justice Department announced the successful completion of the Justice Department’s January 14, 2025 Agreement for the Sustainability of Custodial Informant Reforms with the Orange County District Attorney’s Office (OCDA) in California. Under the Agreement, OCDA sustained reforms to its policies, training, information systems, and auditing procedures regarding the use of confidential informants.
Office of Public Affairs Press Release
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'American Idol' exec killing case paused after suspect declared mentally incompetent
The criminal case involving the fatal shooting of longtime "American Idol" music supervisor Robin Kaye and her husband, musician Thomas Deluca, has been paused after a judge ruled that the suspect is not mentally competent to stand trial. A Los Angeles Superior Court judge ordered the accused, 22-year-old Raymond Boodarian, to be committed to a state hospital for treatment.
Music Times
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Glendale doctor charged with filing $45M fraudulent Botox claims to Medicare
A Glendale physician is accused of defrauding Medicare by deceitful claims for Botox injections and falsifying medical records, the U.S. Justice Department announced Thursday. A federal grand jury has indicted Dr. Violetta Mailyan for submitting more than $45M in fake Medicare claims although the Botox injections were not medically necessary or never provided, according to the DOJ.
NBC4
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How private investors stand to profit from billions in L.A. County sex abuse settlements
Walking out of a Skid Row market, Harold Cook, 42, decides to play a game. How long after opening YouTube will it take for him to see an ad asking him to join the latest wave of sex abuse litigation against Los Angeles County? “I can literally turn my phone on right now, something’s going to pop up,” said Cook, opening the app.
Los Angeles Times
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California is banning masks for federal agents. Here’s why it could lose in court
A series of immigration raids across California in 2025 had one thing in common: Most of the federal agents detaining people wore masks over their faces. In January, the state of California and its largest county will ban law enforcement officers from covering their faces, with a few exceptions, putting local and state police at odds with masked immigration agents.
CalMatters
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LA County can’t keep up with drug treatment demand inside jails
Los Angeles County is struggling to keep up with a rising demand for opioid addiction medications within its jails, forcing it to place more than 800 inmates on waitlists for treatment in October and November. As of Dec. 18, the number of inmates waiting for medication-assisted treatment (MAT) has come back down to 357, according to the county, but substance abuse treatment experts say the two-month surge and the hundreds still on the list today are evidence of the desperate need for more investment in the potentially life-saving program.
Orange County Register
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Santa Ana failed to prevent retaliation against former police manager, jury finds
A jury has awarded former Police Administrative Manager Rita Ramirez $2.9 million after she sued the city, alleging retired Santa Ana Police Chief David Valentin unlawfully retaliated against her for refusing to pick sides between two feuding police factions.
Voice of OC
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Confirmation sought of arbitrator ruling in prosecutor’s whistleblower case
The city of Los Angeles is asking a judge to confirm an arbitrator’s ruling awarding no damages to a veteran prosecutor who alleged retaliation for complaining about the safekeeping of digital evidence by his office’s criminal branch. The City Attorney’s Office also is requesting that Judge Teresa Beaudet dismiss Deputy City Attorney David Bozanich’s Los Angeles Superior Court lawsuit, which alleged whistleblower retaliation and was sent to binding arbitration by the judge in March.
MyNewsLA
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The WalMart of public defense: How justice gets sold to the lowest bidder in rural California
For three years, the fate of poor people accused of crimes in San Benito County lay in the hands of attorneys who barely spoke with their clients and seldom filed legal motions on their behalf. While defendants asked them to contest the prosecution’s evidence, to interview witnesses, to do anything, really, to challenge law enforcement’s narrative of the crime, they ushered almost all of them to plea deals instead, averaging just one jury trial for every 1,500 cases.
CalMatters
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Times Investigation: LAFD report on Palisades fire was watered down, records show
For months after the Palisades fire, many who had lost their homes eagerly awaited the Los Angeles Fire Department’s after-action report, which was expected to provide a frank evaluation of the agency’s handling of the disaster. A first draft was completed by August, possibly earlier.
Los Angeles Times
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A Montclair councilman was found liable for sexual harassment. He refuses to resign
A judge found Montclair Councilman Ben Lopez civilly liable for sexual harassment this week for subjecting two current male city employees to repeated unwanted sexual advances, according to court documents and interviews. But despite repeated calls from city leaders and residents for his resignation, Lopez has given no indication he plans to step down.
Los Angeles Times
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County to expand use of digital mental health platform
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors has approved a plan to broaden use of a state-funded digital mental health platform aimed at young people, as officials look for additional ways to address rising mental health needs among adolescents and young adults. In a Nov. 18 vote, the board backed a motion directing county departments to increase awareness of Soluna, a free online wellness app available to California residents ages 13 to 25.
Palisades News
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Feds sue DC over ban on most assault rifles
The Justice Department sued the District of Columbia on Monday, challenging its ban on a wide variety of commonly used semiautomatic firearms like the AR-15, arguing the rules “trample” the Second Amendment rights of citizens. The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, picks up on a long-running campaign against the local D.C. Council’s stringent gun regulations that began in 2003.
Courthouse News
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Entire department response to LA Times regarding oversight
The Department is subject to oversight from multiple entities, including the Civilian Oversight Commission, the Office of the Inspector (OIG), outside monitors of lawsuits and settlement agreements, and a federal court. The Department regularly responds to requests for information and documentation from each of these entities and attempts to do so in a timely manner.
Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department
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Author of LAFD Palisades fire report declined to endorse final version, called it ‘highly unprofessional’
The author of the Los Angeles Fire Department's after-action report on the Palisades fire declined to endorse it because of substantial deletions that altered his findings, calling the edited version "highly unprofessional and inconsistent with our established standards.”
Los Angeles Times
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Four times as many: Shootings by LAPD officers far outpace L.A. County deputies
Shootings by Los Angeles police officers have increased dramatically this year, prompting Mayor Karen Bass to issue a statement Friday that said she is “deeply concerned” and seeking an explanation. LAPD officers have fired their weapons in 46 incidents so far this year - killing 14 people and wounding 23 others - a roughly 70% increase compared with 2024 and the highest annual shooting total by the department since 2015.
Los Angeles Times
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Man accused of illegally towing ICE vehicle during raid found not guilty
A South Los Angeles tow truck driver has been found not guilty of federal charges after being accused of towing a government vehicle used by ICE during an immigration arrest earlier this year. Bobby Nuñez, 33, was charged with theft of government property and faced up to ten years in prison before a jury found him not guilty on Friday.
ABC7
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Residents up in arms as abandoned RVs sprawl across their streets as sewage and trash pile up on sidewalks
Tensions are erupting in a California community where residents are being plagued by rows of abandoned RVs which they claim are responsible for a surge in crime and sewage in the streets. Los Angeles' Lincoln Heights has been plagued for years by deserted and broken-down motor homes crowding both sides of the street and sidewalks, leaving behind pools of wastewater and ever-growing mountains of trash, according to KABC News
Daily Mail
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West LA Armory housing project draws pushback, legal questions
A proposed interim housing project at the West LA Armory is facing pushback from nearby residents and veteran housing advocates, who say they still have unanswered questions about safety, oversight and legality. Los Angeles County plans to convert an underutilized parking lot at the West LA Armory into a 167-bed interim housing site for people experiencing homelessness.
Spectrum News1
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Why is the deal between LA28 and the city late?
Los Angeles is in high-stakes talks over what city services the private Olympics organizing committee will pay for during the Olympic Games, and negotiations have dragged nearly three months past a deadline to make a deal. Why it matters: City funds could hang in the balance. The 2028 Olympics are intended to be privately financed, and an existing city agreement with LA28 states that the Olympics organizers, not L.A., will pay for extra costs for public services in support of the Games.
LAist
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Fallen K-9 inspires new ballistic vest designed to protect police dogs in the line of duty
Jack wasn't just a K-9 officer, he was a partner. Three years ago this week, Jack, a Belgian Malinois, was shot and killed by a barricaded suspect in Gardena while serving with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Special Enforcement Bureau. Deputy Stephen Williams, Jack's handler, says the dog's final act of service saved lives.
ABC7
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Man hospitalized after Los Angeles County deputy opens fire in Bassett
A man is in the hospital after being shot by a deputy following a disturbance call at a business in Bassett. Investigators say the shots were fired in the 500 block of Workman Mill Road, just south of Baldwin Park, shortly before 6 p.m. on Sunday. Deputies were initially called to the area just after 5:30 p.m. for a person reportedly refusing to leave a business. At some point, a deputy opened fire.
ABC7
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9 public safety issues raised by Eaton, Palisades fires - and what’s been done about them
Several factors affected how first responders battled the Palisades and Eaton fires, two of the most devastating wildfires in California history. Such factors ranged from the amount of staff deployed to basic communication among agencies and to the public. Those factors also impacted the evacuation of tens of thousands of people from their homes in the Pacific Palisades, Malibu, Altadena and its surrounding areas.
Southern California News Group
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Mother crashes into fleeing burglars after they attempted to break into Sherman Oaks home
A mother in Sherman Oaks made a frantic dash to confront burglars attempting to break into her home while her children were inside with their grandmother, leaving the family shaken and fearful for their safety. The incident occurred Saturday afternoon while the couple was out, leaving the grandmother to watch the children.
KTLA
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California to crack down on extreme speeding on highways
In an effort to crack down on excessive speeding and prevent deadly vehicle collisions, the California State Transportation Agency announced a pilot program Monday to immediately review drivers cited for driving more than 100 mph. The state transportation agency is working with the Department of Motor Vehicles and California Highway Patrol on the initiative known as Forwarded Actions for Speeding Tickets, or FAST.
City News Service
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Simi Valley teen arrested for attempted murder after December 8 stabbing on Tapo Canyon Road
A 17-year-old from Simi Valley has been booked on a charge of attempted murder in connection with a Dec. 8, 2025, stabbing on Tapo Canyon Road. On Dec. 8, around 5:29 p.m., officers were dispatched to a reported stabbing in the 2900 block of Tapo Canyon Road stated a press release from the Simi Valley Police Department.
KEYT
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Immigrant truck drivers in limbo as feds deny California effort to reissue licenses
Thousands of immigrant drivers whose commercial driver’s licenses are set to expire next month were left bewildered and disappointed when news spread that California was planning on reissuing the licenses - only to learn federal regulators had not authorized doing so. Amarjit Singh, a trucker and owner of a trucking company in the Bay Area, said he and other drivers were hopeful when word of California's intentions reached them.
Los Angeles Times
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Fullerton’s CalPERS violations were real: The city’s response is the bigger story
When I published an article detailing CalPERS’ determination that the City of Fullerton unlawfully employed multiple retirees, the City’s response was not to dispute the facts publicly, but to escalate the matter elsewhere. The City Council’s closed session agenda referenced an appeal titled: “In the Matter of the Appeal of Post Retirement Employment of Eddie R. Manfro, Cindy J. Collins, Gregory J. Pfost and Jeffrey W. Collier, Respondents, and the City of Fullerton, Respondent.”
Fullerton Observer
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Northern California city to reform police after racist texts scandal
A Northern California city whose police department came under national scrutiny after it was revealed that some officers shared racist and sexist texts, used excessive force and falsified records has reached a settlement agreement to implement a series of reforms, officials announced Friday.
Associated Press
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How a violent police academy drill has been tied to deaths and injuries across the country
When recruits were repeatedly punched and tackled during a role-playing exercise at the Texas game wardens academy last year, they were taking part in a longstanding police training tradition that critics say should be retired. By the end of the day, at least 13 of the cadets reported injuries. At least two concussions. A torn knee. A bloody nose. A broken wrist. Two would need surgery. One would resign in protest. Another quit even before the drill.
Associated Press
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El Sereno man pleads no contest to murder charge in 15-month-old son's death
An El Sereno man pleaded no contest Thursday to second-degree murder in connection with his 15-month-old son's death just over 4 1/2 years ago. Jose Juan Herrera, now 38, was immediately sentenced to 15 years to life in state prison, according to Assistant Head Deputy District Attorney Jonathan Hatami. The plea was entered in a downtown Los Angeles courtroom hours after a Jan. 29 trial date was set for Herrera.
City News Service
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Whistleblower retaliation suit yields penalties, not damages
A District Court judge erred is dismisssing an action for whistleblower retaliation as time-barred, the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals held Friday, anticipating that that if confronted with the issue, the California Supreme Court would decide that the onr-year statute of limitation applicable to tort damages does not apply.
Metropolitan News-Enterprise
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Prof punished over land acknowledgment joke vindicated by court decision: ‘Not going to be silenced’
A professor who refused to bow to activist progressives and parrot land acknowledgements has scored a major First Amendment legal victory - after a years-long battle. “I’m not going to be silenced. I’m not going to let them intimidate me,” professor Stuart Reges, 67, told The Post. In 2022, University of Washington administrators encouraged Reges to include a land acknowledgement on his computer science syllabus.
New York Post
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