Courts/Rulings & Lawsuits | |
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U.S. Supreme Court hears oral argument in reverse sex discrimination case
On February 26, 2025, the United States Supreme Court entertained oral argument in Ames v. Ohio Department of Youth Services, a case that centered on whether a plaintiff who is a member of a majority group must meet a higher burden - namely, showing supporting “background circumstances” - in establishing a prima facie case of discrimination under Title VII.
Proskauer
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Whiz kid offered Google job out of high school but got rejected by 16 colleges - now he’s suing for discrimination
With just two offers of admission out of 18 schools, Nan became convinced that his whiz kid must have been discriminated against - and decided to take the schools who rejected his son to court. “There’s nothing more un-American than this,” Nan said of the alleged discrimination his son faced. “I don’t really think [these schools] give a damn about the damage they’re doing to these kids.”
New York Post
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C.A. declines to answer if ‘sugar baby’ deal counts as dating
Div. Five of this district’s Court of Appeal has upheld a five-year restraining order imposed on a man under the civil harassment statute contained in the Code of Civil Procedure, declining to address whether the so-called “sugar baby” arrangement between the parties qualified as a “dating relationship” under the Family Code.
Metropolitan News-Enterprise
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Court of Appeal upholds limits on pensionable pay of former union president
In Serrano v. California Public Employees Retirement System, the Third District Court of Appeal unanimously upheld the CalPERS Board’s exclusion of certain compensation paid to a member for serving as the president of his employee union. This case, the first to interpret Government Code section 3558.8, held that Section 3558.8 does not require retirement systems to include all pay received while on leave for service to a labor union in retirement allowance calculations.
JD Supra
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Expungement of conviction doesn’t bar use of DUI as basis for firing employee
The expungement of a drunk driving conviction did not preclude the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation’s use of the offense as a basis for firing a parole agent, the Court of Appeal for this district held yesterday. In an unpublished opinion by Acting Presiding Justice Kenneth Yegan, Div. Six affirmed Ventura Superior Court Judge Mark S. Borrell’s denial of a petition for a writ of mandate sought by the discharged employee, Patrick Barber.
Metropolitan News-Enterprise
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Supreme Court likely to shoot down Mexico's $10B lawsuit against US gun makers
The Supreme Court on Tuesday appeared likely to block a historic $10 billion lawsuit against U.S. gun makers as both conservative and liberal justices raised concerns about allowing the government of Mexico to hold firearm manufacturers liable for cartel violence south of the border. Federal law grants broad immunity to the gun industry, in part to protect companies from costly litigation that could drive them out of business.
ABC News
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C.A. affirms rejection of discrimination claim against boxing board over referee choices
Div. Five of this district’s Court of Appeal has held, in a 2-1 decision, that summary judgment was properly granted to the California State Athletic Commission, which regulates boxing in an action alleging that the board selected white referees for championship matches instead of the plaintiffs - Black and Latino Hall of Fame judges - on the basis of race, finding that the agency is not a “business.” as required by the governing civil rights statute.
Metropolitan News-Enterprise
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US judge halts Trump administration's calls for mass firings at agencies
A California federal judge on Thursday temporarily blocked the Trump administration from ordering the U.S. Department of Defense and other federal agencies to carry out the mass firings of thousands of recently hired employees. U.S. District Judge William Alsup in San Francisco said during a hearing that the U.S. Office of Personnel Management lacked the power to order federal agencies to fire any workers, including probationary employees who typically have less than a year of experience.
Reuters
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30 L.A. County probation officers indicted over 'gladiator fights' at juvenile halls
Thirty officers from the Los Angeles County Probation Department have been indicted on criminal charges after an investigation into allegations they allowed - and in some cases encouraged - fights between teens inside the county's juvenile halls. An indictment unsealed late Monday afternoon contains 71 counts of child abuse, conspiracy and battery against 30 probation officers for their alleged roles in a series of fights that took place between July and December 2023.
Los Angeles Times
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Suspect in brutal assault on 63-year-old Sawtelle woman pleads not guilty
A man suspected of hitting a young child before breaking into the west Los Angeles home of a 63-year-old woman, physically attacking and sexually assaulting her, pleaded not guilty to criminal charges in the case Thursday. Ishmail Bangura, 33, allegedly attacked a child at an apartment complex in the west LA neighborhood of Sawtelle and then broke into a woman's home and attacked her on Feb. 27, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office.
KCAL News
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Current, former employees allegedly stole over $36K from CSU Long Beach
One current and one former employee of California State University Long Beach have been accused of stealing about $36,560 from the school’s athletics department, officials announced Monday. Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said the two employees allegedly worked together to submit fraudulent time sheets to CSULB, certifying hundreds of hours of nonexistent work in 2022.
KTLA
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Justice Department launches investigation into antisemitism allegations at UC campuses
The Department of Justice has launched an investigation to determine whether the University of California has permitted antisemitism on its campuses. According to a statement released Wednesday, the Federal Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism announced it has opened a civil pattern or practice investigation into UC under the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
ABC7
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Court-ordered audit finds major flaws in L.A.'s homeless services
Homeless services provided by the city of Los Angeles and the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority are disjointed and lack adequate data systems and financial controls to monitor contracts for compliance and performance, leaving the system vulnerable to waste and fraud, an audit ordered by a federal judge has concluded.
Los Angeles Times
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Former L.A. firefighter union treasurer under scrutiny over car purchase
A former labor leader for Los Angeles firefighters is under scrutiny for buying a union car at an alleged discount - and then reporting an even lower sale price to the state to avoid paying taxes, two people with knowledge of the transactions told The Times. Domingo Albarran Jr., a former Los Angeles Fire Department captain who served as treasurer of the United Firefighters of Los Angeles City, reported to the Department of Motor Vehicles that he purchased the 2017 Chevrolet Malibu from the union for $500 in December 2022.
Los Angeles Times
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Menendez brothers re-sentencing sparks controversy: DA Hochman opposes clemency as Newsom weighs parole options
On March 20th and 21st 2025 are the dates that are now set for the Menendez brothers re-sentencing hearing at the Van Nuys Court House. It is anticipated that both of the Menendez brothers are going to be present at this hearing. Now we have California Governor Gavin Newsom talking about granting clemency for both of the Menendez brothers.
CityWatch LA
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County counsel accuses commission of ‘grandstanding’
Los Angeles County’s Office of County Counsel has accused the Civilian Oversight Commission - a nine-member panel created by the Board of Supervisors in 2016 to help facilitate accountability within the Sheriff’s Department - of having “lost its focus” and engaging in “grandstanding” and “divisiveness,” shooting off its rhetorical attack in a press release relating to an on-going dispute over the independence of the committee.
Metropolitan News-Enterprise
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Despite arrest, no-contact order, court admission, water polo star continues to compete and teach
Lucca van der Woude is one of American water polo’s brightest Olympic prospects. He is also an admitted sex offender. Van der Woude, 17, admitted in Los Angeles County Juvenile Division Court on Nov. 7 to committing aggravated sexual battery on two younger male Harvard-Westlake students between Sept. 1, 2022, and Dec. 20, 2023, according to previously unreported Los Angeles County Juvenile Court, Los Angeles County Probation Department and U.S. Center for SafeSport documents obtained by the Southern California News Group.
Orange County Register
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Fired former LAFD Chief Kristin Crowley loses appeal
The former Chief of the Los Angeles Fire Department Kristin Crowley, who was abruptly fired two weeks ago by Mayor Karen Bass, lost her bid to be reinstated Tuesday after a contentious City Council special meeting that ended in a 13-2 vote. A majority of L.A.'s City Council backed Bass, who had traveled to Ghana on a diplomatic mission days before a series of deadly wildfires exploded in and around Los Angeles.
Los Angeles Magazine
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LA motions for court order against zoo nonprofit for alleged misuse of $50M
The city of Los Angeles is seeking a court order preventing a Los Angeles Zoo nonprofit established more than 60 years ago to help the city operate and develop the attraction from taking $50 million in surplus funds meant to benefit the zoo and use it instead for the nonprofit’s own benefit or interests.
MyNewsLA
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Lawsuit over who can open a SoCal surf school raises public space questions
Jason Murchison wants his office to be the beach, the ocean waves his classroom. The longtime surf instructor filed a lawsuit in January against Newport Beach, arguing the town’s permitting system creates a monopoly in the city and he has no fair chance to start a surf school. The city, in turn, says its process for selecting surf schools is similar to other recreational businesses that operate throughout the city, and a vetting process is needed to ensure that people pass background checks and other requirements before doing business in town.
Boston Herald
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Ninth Circuit correctly rules that dating app isn’t liable for matching users
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit correctly held that Grindr, a popular dating app, can’t be held responsible for matching users and enabling them to exchange messages that led to real-world harm. EFF and the Woodhull Freedom Foundation filed an amicus brief in the Ninth Circuit in support of Grindr. Grindr and other dating apps are possible thanks to strong Section 230 immunity.
EFF
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California Supreme Court issues statement on February Bar Exam
The California Supreme Court on Tuesday issued the following statement about the administration of the February 2025 California Bar Examination: “The court is deeply concerned by the troubling reports of technical failures, delays, and other irregularities in last week’s administration of the February 2025 California Bar Examination. The court regrets this situation and apologizes for the disappointment, stress, and frustration experienced by some applicants.”
Supreme Court of California News Release
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California Supreme Court appoints new members to commission on judicial performance
The California Supreme Court has appointed two new members to the Commission on Judicial Performance, an independent state agency responsible for investigating complaints of judicial misconduct or incapacity and for disciplining judges. Effective March 1, the court appointed to the commission Judge Kimberly Merrifield, of the Superior Court of Butte County, and Justice Julia C. Kelety, of the Court of Appeal, Fourth Appellate District, Division One (San Diego).
Supreme Court of California News Release
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LA County and two cities sue SoCal Edison over damage from deadly Eaton Fire
Pasadena, Sierra Madre and Los Angeles County on Wednesday announced that they had filed separate lawsuits in L.A. County Superior Court against Southern California Edison for its alleged role in the deadly Eaton Fire. The lawsuits accuse SoCal Edison’s equipment of starting the fire in Eaton Canyon, citing reports that the utility filed with the California Public Utilities Commission that a “fault was detected” at or near the same time.
LAist
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Los Angeles police chief takes over in a period of uncertainty and mixed signals
Jim McDonnell is a cop. That’s hardly a surprise. He is, after all, the newest chief of the Los Angeles Police Department, one of the nation’s most storied, emulated and criticized law enforcement agencies - celebrated by Dragnet, torn to pieces by the beating of Rodney King. But not all LAPD chiefs are cops at their core. Bill Bratton, chief from 2002 to 2009, was a political leader, trained in law enforcement but distinguished most by his command of the city’s power structure.
CalMatters
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‘LA in a Minute' host concerned with police response following home break-in
An LA social media personality is speaking out after his home was burglarized Saturday night, expressing his frustration with the police response. Evan Lovett, the podcast host and personality behind L.A. in a Minute, says he had arrived from his son's little league game around 9 p.m. to find that his back door was shattered and several items were missing. Lovett then called the police, where he was surprised by the response to his emergency call.
NBC4
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LA’s Budget: A $400 million shortfall
At Tuesday’s meeting of the Budget and Finance Committee of the Los Angeles City Council, the City Administrative Officer said that the 2025-26 budget will begin with a budget imbalance of $400 million unless corrective is taken. This shortfall will increase when there is an honest accounting for liability claims related to legal settlements and judgments, the impact of the wildfires, and required contributions to the depleted Reserve Fund.
CityWatch LA
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LA County supervisors seek more detailed plan on spending freeze
The Board of Supervisors on Tuesday requested that Los Angeles County CEO Fesia Davenport and the County Counsel’s Office provide a more detailed plan on a hiring and spending freeze. The thousands of buildings destroyed in the January wildfires have impacted property tax revenues, and recovery efforts have led to higher spending that is expected to also impact the 2025-26 budget.
HeySoCal
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Trump administration antisemitism task force says it will visit UCLA, USC
The Department of Justice announced Friday that a federal “task force to combat antisemitism” would visit 10 U.S. college campuses as part of investigations into allegations of antisemitic incidents, including three California institutions roiled by pro-Palestinian protests last spring. The department said the task force, which is looking into “allegations that the schools may have failed to protect Jewish students and faculty members from unlawful discrimination,” would go to UCLA, USC and UC Berkeley.
Los Angeles Times
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Over $300K worth of stolen merchandise recovered in MacArthur Park
Authorities recovered more than $300,000 worth of stolen merchandise Wednesday night during a retail theft bust in MacArthur Park. The Rampart Burglary detectives, in collaboration with Rampart Vice, served a search warrant at a storefront on 6th Street and Alvardo Street. Detectives there found thousands of dollars worth of stolen goods being stored. The stolen items came from retailers like CVS, Walgreen, Ross, TJ Max and Target, according to police.
NBC4
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What is predatory towing, and how do you protect yourself? (Video)
While most towing companies are reputable, there is a warning on unlicensed predatory towers that prey on drivers when they are most vulnerable. Reporting for TODAY, NBC’s Vicky Nguyen shares how to protect yourself from being scammed.
Today
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Burglars drop cash, handbags while fleeing Bel-Air break-in
Police are searching for two suspects involved in a burglary at a home in the Bel-Air neighborhood of Los Angeles early Monday morning. The incident was reported just after 1 a.m. in the 15400 block of Milldale Drive. Video showed what appeared to be hundreds of dollars in stolen cash that was dropped on the street along with several high-end bags during the getaway.
KTLA
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Hollywood Hills neighbors raise concerns about homeless encampment fires
A KCAL News investigation has found a troubling connection between the county's homeless population and a growing number of fire-related instances in recent years. The news comes in the wake of a devastating January that saw several large wildfires erupt, including the Palisades and Eaton fires that combined to torch tens of thousands of acres, destroy thousands of homes and kill more than two dozen people.
KCAL News
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Bass aides were warned of growing fire danger before she flew to Ghana.
The day before Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass left for Ghana, her aides received an email from the city's Emergency Management Department warning of a "high confidence in damaging winds and elevated fire conditions occurring next week." The mayor nevertheless went on the trip, attending the Ghanaian president's inauguration, as well as a U.S. Embassy cocktail party, on Jan. 7, the day the Palisades fire broke out.
Los Angeles Times
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Erratic wildfire performance puts LA Mayor Karen Bass in a political hole
We may be seeing the meltdown of one of California’s highest ranking public officials, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass. Ever since wildfires began sweeping through Los Angeles County neighborhoods, Bass has been a day late and a dollar short, as the old saying goes, in response. It began with the embarrassing fact that when fires erupted, Bass was thousands of miles away in Ghana, attending the inauguration of the country’s new president.
CalMatters
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With eye on Trump, Newsom declares California emergency for forest fires
California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Saturday will announce a state of emergency to clear forests of flammable brush - a dramatic move as temperatures rise and the threat of more wildfires grows that also appears aimed at mollifying President Donald Trump and Republicans. Newsom’s action, first reported by POLITICO, would suspend the state’s environmental and coastal-area regulations, both of which Trump and his GOP allies vigorously pilloried as major roadblocks to clearing burn-prone areas of the Golden State.
Politico
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LA wildfires: What text messages sent to and from LA fire chief during blaze show
Late at night on Jan. 6, Los Angeles Emergency Management Department General Manager Carol Parks sent a text message wishing Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Kristin Crowley a happy new year. “It's my first opportunity to send this Public Safety leadership text,” Parks wrote. “Wishing it could have been on a blue sky day, but duty now calls.”
ABC News
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Convictions/Pleas/Sentences | |
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Torrance man convicted in rioting case tied to former SoCal-based white supremacist group
A Torrance man once tied to a what federal prosecutors and civil rights groups have described as a now-defunct white supremacist group in Southern California was convicted Tuesday of federal rioting charges. Robert Boman was found guilty by a jury in downtown Los Angeles of federal charges including conspiracy to violate the Anti-Riot Act and rioting, becoming the last defendant to be convicted in the federal case linked to the so-called Rise Against Movement.
KCAL News
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Jury convicts man for racist rally violence after federal judge rejects guilty plea
A federal jury in Los Angeles on Tuesday convicted a man of rioting and conspiracy for violence at political rallies in a seven-year-old case that a previous judge twice dismissed. Robert Edward Boman, 31, left the courthouse with his girlfriend after the jury verdict and is to return on Aug. 1 for sentencing. He testified in his defense on Monday and told jurors he didn’t plan to attack people when he went to rallies in 2017 with friends.
Legal Affairs and Trials with Meghann Cuniff
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LA woman sentenced to 5 years in prison for $2.3 million COVID loan scheme and falsely seeking nearly $1.3 million in pandemic tax credits
A woman from the Mid-City area of Los Angeles was sentenced to 60 months in federal prison for fraudulently obtaining more than $2 million in COVID-19 government loans and to submitting false claims in an unsuccessful effort to secure from the IRS nearly $1.3 million in pandemic-related tax credits, the Justice Department announced today.
U.S. Attorney’s Office Press Release
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Santa Maria investment advisor pleads guilty to defrauding elderly clients out of more than $2 million
A Santa Barbara County investment advisor pleaded guilty today to stealing approximately $2.25 million from elderly clients of her investment advisory business - some of whom were receiving end-of-life care. Julie Anne Darrah, 52, of Santa Maria, pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud. She remains free on $50,000 bond. Darrah ran a Santa Maria-based investment advisory business called Vivid Financial Management Inc. (VFM).
U.S. Attorney’s Office Press Release
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Hollywood woman found guilty of running tech-savvy drug delivery business that caused three near-fatal fentanyl overdoses
A Hollywood woman was found guilty by a jury today of running a tech-savvy drug delivery business that employed drivers - including a part-time actor - and resulted in three near-fatal fentanyl overdoses. Mirela Todorova, 36, a.k.a. “Mimi,” was found guilty of one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances resulting in serious bodily injury, one count of distribution of fentanyl, three counts of distribution of fentanyl resulting in serious bodily injury, one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine, one count of possession with intent to distribute MDMA (Ecstasy), and one count of making false statements to federal investigators.
U.S. Attorney’s Office Press Release
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Joseph Wambaugh, LA cop who wrote ‘The Onion Field’ and other bestsellers, dies at 88
Joseph Wambaugh, who wrote the gripping, true-crime bestseller “The Onion Field” and numerous gritty but darkly humorous novels about day-to-day police work drawn from his own experiences as a Los Angeles police officer, has died at 88. A family friend, Janene Gant, told The New York Times that Wambaugh died Friday at his home in Rancho Mirage, California, and the cause was esophageal cancer.
AP
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Jewelry designer accuses L.A. celebrity attorney in 'fraud' lawsuit over unpaid fees
When the jewelry company Alex and Ani sought to redefine its product line in 2023, executives turned to L.A.-based designer Pamela Love. Along with her own eponymous brand, Love had worked with J. Crew, Shinola and Top Shop. At Alex and Ani, she would be “creative director" for about $21,000 per month, plus royalties.
Los Angeles Times
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