Courts/Rulings & Lawsuits

Deputy D.A. is immune from liability for saying, falsely, man had been convicted

A lawyer who was a Los Angeles County deputy district attorney when he sent an email to a county code enforcement officer for the Department of Public Works reciting that a landowner had been adjudged guilty of misdemeanors in connection with operating an illegal dump site - although, in fact, the charges had been dismissed - could not be held liable for defamation in light of governmental immunity, the Court of Appeal held yesterday.

Metropolitan News-Enterprise

LA Times lawsuit over mayor's deleted texts sent back for a rewrite

A Superior Court judge ruled Wednesday that the LA Times must revise its petition seeking to force the city of Los Angeles to retain a range of electronic records, including text messages between public officials, for up to two years. Judge Maurice Leiter said he found the Times’ request too broad. Kelly Aviles, who represents the LA Times, suggested the newspaper would likely seek a writ from the state court of appeals, rather than amend its complaint.

Courthouse News Service

California Supreme Court mandates release of police drone footage

The California Supreme Court has dealt a significant blow to the City of Chula Vista’s efforts to shield police drone footage from public scrutiny, rejecting the city’s latest appeal in a case that pits law enforcement privacy concerns against public records access. In a decision reported by the San Diego Union-Tribune, the court upheld a lower ruling mandating the release of certain videos, potentially exposing the department to over $1 million in legal fees. 

HiTechEdge

Supreme Court will hear attorney fee reduction case

The court granted review in Cash v. County of Los Angeles to resolve a conflict in the case law about the degree of specificity a superior court must use when explaining a ruling to award less-than-requested attorney fees. The Second District, Division Five, Court of Appeal, in a 2-1 partially published opinion, affirmed a superior court ruling reducing attorney fees to a plaintiff who prevailed in a whistleblower retaliation employment case from a requested $735,310 to $455,546. 

At the Lectern

Judge could not hike sentence imposed five years earlier

The Court of Appeal for this district has declared that the Los Angeles Superior Court lacked fundamental jurisdiction in 2023 to boost the term of a man’s commitment to prison by nearly three years based on a judge’s recently discovered 2018 sentencing miscalculation. A botched sentence is not necessarily one that is “void” and therefore correctable at any time, it was held.

Metropolitan News-Enterprise

The Supreme Court could give immigration agents broad power to stop and question Latinos

This year's most far-reaching immigration case is likely to decide if immigration agents in Los Angeles are free to stop, question and arrest Latinos they suspect are here illegally. President Trump promised the "largest mass deportation operation" in American history, and he chose to begin aggressive street sweeps in Los Angeles in early June.

Los Angeles Times

Gang enhancements opinion filing Monday

On Monday morning, the Supreme Court will file its opinion in People v. Fletcher. When the court granted review in Fletcher in September 2023, it limited the issues to - “(1) Does Assembly Bill No. 333 amend the requirements for a true finding on a prior strike conviction (Pen. Code, §§ 667, subds. (b)-(i) & 1170.12, subds. (a)-(d)) and a prior serious felony conviction (Pen. Code, § 667, subd. (a)), or is that determination made on ‘the date of that prior conviction’? (See Pen. Code, §§ 667, subd. (d)(1) & 1170.12, subd. (b)(1).) 

At the Lectern

Judge gives ex-deputy bail

A former Los Angeles County sheriff's deputy convicted of violating a woman’s civil rights through excessive force won’t report to prison this week after a federal judge granted him bail. U.S District Judge Stephen V. Wilson said his rejection of the U.S. Department of Justice’s dismissal motion “presents a substantial question of law” that justifies allowing Trevor Kirk to stay out of custody as he appeals his civil rights criminal conviction to the 9th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals.

Legal Affairs and Trials with Meghann Cuniff

Conviction of Inglewood mayor's daughter upheld by appellate court panel

A state appeals court panel Monday upheld the conviction of Inglewood Mayor James Butts Jr.’s 39-year-old daughter on assault and conspiracy charges stemming from allegations that she masterminded an attack on her landlord in South Los Angeles more than nine years ago. The three-justice panel from California’s 2nd District Court of Appeal rejected Ashley Melissa Butts’ challenge to rulings made on four issues by Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Mildred Escobedo, along with the defense’s request to conditionally reverse her conviction and to direct the trial court to determine whether she should be granted mental health diversion.

MyNewsLA

California Appeals Court reinforces that insurer failure to investigate potential bases for coverage outside the pleadings can constitute bad faith

In the recently published case Bartel v. Chicago Title Insurance Company, a California appellate court reaffirmed longstanding California law on insurers’ broad duty to defend even in the face of complicated underlying facts, finding that failure to investigate all potential avenues for coverage amounted to bad faith as a matter of law.

JD Supra

Appellate court upholds decision to dismiss charges against Silverado, company leaders

A California appellate court has upheld a judge’s previous decision to dismiss criminal charges against Silverado and several of its leaders. CEO Loren Shook, along with company leaders Jason Russo and Kim Butrum, previously faced more than a dozen felony counts of elder endangerment and violation causing death. Irvine, California-based Silverado also faced charges.

Senior Housing News

Apparent sole participant may file new resentencing petition

The Court of Appeal for this district has granted an inmate 30 days within which to file a new resentencing petition even though the record below reveals that he was the sole participant in a slaying attempt, rendering him ineligible for relief under Penal Code §1172.6, with Justice Anne H. Egerton saying she concurs “with the remand to the trial court, but with considerable reluctance” and setting forth questions to which she said there are no available answers.

Metropolitan News-Enterprise

Delta Air Lines to settle jet fuel dumping lawsuit for nearly $80 million

Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines agreed to pay nearly $80 million to settle a lawsuit over a jet dumping fuel above Los Angeles in 2020. Channel 2 Action News reported in January 2020 when a Delta flight headed to Shanghai experienced engine trouble and dumped its fuel before returning to Los Angeles International Airport. A group of LA natives and business owners entered a class-action lawsuit, represented by X-Law Group in LA, against the airline seeking damages.

WSBTV.com

Man charged with attempted murder in AR 15 and stabbing attack at Canoga Park mall

A 29-year-old man accused of firing rounds from a high-powered rifle before stabbing a woman at the Westfield Topanga Mall in Canoga Park was charged Monday with attempted murder and other crimes. Shayne Suffern also was charged with kidnapping and possession of an assault weapon in the terrifying attack outside a Cheesecake Factory at the west San Fernando Valley mall. Suffern was carrying an AR-15 rifle, 200 rounds of ammunition and 13 fully loaded 40-round magazines, according to investigators.

NBC4

Massive Home Depot crime ring pulled off more than 600 SoCal thefts, D.A. says

For years, a sophisticated retail crime ring plundered Home Depots across Southern California, pulling off more than 600 thefts and netting an estimated $10 million worth of merchandise without consequences - until now, authorities said. On Tuesday, the Ventura County district attorney's office announced the filing of a 48-count criminal complaint against nine alleged key players in what Home Depot says is the largest targeted theft ring in the business' history.

Los Angeles Times

Parents of Cabazon baby missing for almost two weeks charged with murder

The parents of a 7-month-old toddler reported missing earlier this month in San Bernardino County were charged Tuesday with his alleged murder in Riverside County. Jake Mitchell Haro, 32, and Rebecca Renee Haro, 41, of Cabazon were arrested last week following a San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department investigation into the disappearance of Emmanuel Haro. Along with murder, the defendants are charged with filing a false police report, which is a misdemeanor.

City News Service

Ex-CA Superior Court judge charged with sex assault, coverup

A former California Superior Court judge has been charged with sexually assaulting two court employees, then trying to cover up the misconduct. Adolfo Corona, 66, was charged Thursday by a federal grand jury in Fresno in a five-count indictment that includes allegations of sexual assault, making false statements to cover up the assault and obstructing an investigation into his purported sexual assault of another woman in his chambers, the U.S. Department of Justice said in a news release.

KTLA

Rapper Lil Nas X charged in altercation with LAPD officers on Studio City street

Rapper Lil Nas X was charged Monday in connection with an early morning altercation with a police officer on a Studio City street. The 26-year-old "Old Town Road" rapper, whose legal name is Montrero Hill, was charged with three counts of battery with injury on a peace officer and resisting executive officer in the complaint filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court.

NBC4

Prosecutors link LA contract to Smartmatic 'slush fund' as voting tech firm battles Fox in court

Smartmatic, the elections-technology company suing Fox News for defamation, is now contending with a growing list of criminal allegations against some of its executives - including a new claim by federal prosecutors that a “slush fund” for bribing foreign officials was financed partly with proceeds from the sale of voting machines in Los Angeles.

Associated Press

California district attorney resigns after ex-client says he sold him meth for years

The district attorney of Mariposa County, the home of Yosemite National Park, abruptly resigned last week after a local newspaper handed the county sheriff a trove of text messages that allegedly show the attorney buying methamphetamine dozens of times from a Merced man he previously prosecuted and defended in separate cases. 

SF Gate

2 charged with murder in car-to-car shooting on 57 Freeway in Diamond Bar

Two men were charged with murder recently after a car-to-car shooting on the 57 Freeway in Diamond Bar two years ago killed one man and seriously injured another person. Richard Pedroza, 28, of Alhambra and Daniel Rios, 26, of La Habra were charged with one count each of murder with special circumstances and two counts each of attempted murder, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office announced.

San Gabriel Valley Tribune

Policy/Legal/Politics

L.A. County judge admonished for 'jokes' about shooting people, bias from bench

The Commission on Judicial Performance on Thursday publicly admonished Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Enrique Mongolia for bias and inappropriate comments from the bench - including several remarks about “shooting” people. In 2023, the judge threatened to shoot a defense attorney for speaking too loudly with a colleague while Monguia heard another matter. 

Daily Journal

Torrance Police Department to overhaul policing policies after racist text scandal

More than five years after two Torrance police officers’ spray-painting of a swastika symbol on an impounded car opened a can of worms, the police department has reached an "enforceable" agreement with the California Department of Justice, officials announced Thursday. The new agreement between the state and Torrance police aims to reform the department’s policing policies and practices while improving officer accountability, Attorney General Rob Bonta said. 

NBC4

Superior Court of Los Angeles County to deliver record on appeal transcripts electronically in Civil, Family Law and Probate appeals beginning Sept. 8, 2025

Beginning Sept. 8, 2025, the Superior Court of Los Angeles County will serve the record on appeal, both the clerk’s and reporters’ transcripts, electronically to attorneys in Civil, Family Law, and Probate appeals, pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure section 1010.6. Attorneys will no longer be required to submit the Request for Electronic Delivery of Record on Appeal and Notice of Electronic Delivery Address form for Civil, Family Law, and Probate appeals to receive an electronic copy of the clerk’s and court reporters’ transcripts.  

LA Superior Court News Release

LA council delays decision on $5M more for law firm in homelessness lawsuit

The Los Angeles City Council decided Wednesday to delay its decision on a request to pay $5 million more to a big law firm representing the city in a long-running federal legal settlement over its response to the region’s homelessness crisis. Instead, the Council referred the request from L.A. City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto to the city's Budget and Finance Committee for further consideration.

LAist

Trump orders could target 'cashless bail' cities from D.C. to L.A.

President Trump took executive action Monday threatening to cut federal aid to cities and counties that offer cashless bail to criminal defendants, a move that could place Democratic jurisdictions throughout the country under further financial strain. Trump's first executive order specifically targeted the practice of cashless bail in the District of Columbia, where the president has sent National Guard troops to patrol the streets.

Los Angeles Times

The Menendez brothers were denied parole. These are the factors that are keeping them behind bars

Erik and Lyle Menendez were denied parole by a California board this week after decades in prison for killing their parents in 1989 at their Beverly Hills mansion. During two days of hearings, the brothers were each questioned by panels of two commissioners and asked to speak with complete candor on the abuse they suffered in childhood, their mindsets leading up to and after the murders and various prison transgressions.

Associated Press

Erik Menendez describes parents' murders in newly released audio from parole hearing

Eyewitness News and ABC News obtained an audio recording from Erik Menendez's parole board hearing through a public records request on Friday. The board denied him parole on Thursday. Menendez and his brother Lyle Menendez were convicted of first-degree murder in 1996 during a retrial and sentenced to life in prison without parole. After a years-long battle, the Menendez brothers were resentenced to 50 years to life with the possibility of parole.

ABC7

Will federal security grants require synagogues to cooperate with ICE? Concerns are running high

With $274 million in federal security grants about to go up for grabs, dozens of progressive Jewish groups and several synagogues say they are boycotting the program. In an open letter launched last week, they said they can’t accept the strings attached to the money, despite the risk of being targeted with violence. The letter comes in response to new requirements that grantees support federal immigration enforcement and avoid programs advancing diversity introduced earlier this year by the Department of Homeland Security.

Jewish Telegraphic Agency

Southern California

Law firm that sent L.A. a big bill in homeless case wants $5 million more for its work

The high-powered law firm that racked up big bills working to keep the city of Los Angeles from losing control over homeless programs is now looking to increase its contract by $5 million. City Atty. Hydee Feldstein Soto has asked the City Council to increase the city's contract with Gibson Dunn & Crutcher to $5.9 million, up from the $900,000 approved three months ago.

Los Angeles Times

LA County reports significant improvement in wait times and conditions at a troubled jail complex

Los Angeles County officials are reporting significant improvements in wait times and conditions at a county jail facility that has been plagued by a number of issues in recent years. For the last six months, the Inmate Reception Center at the downtown L.A. jail complex has been in compliance with court requirements that incarcerated people wait no longer than 24 hours in the facility. According to the county Sheriff’s Department, some 120,000 people are processed into and out of the county jail system there each year.

LAist

There's no shelter space left for families, LA homeless agency says in draft memo

The L.A. region’s homeless services agency has been crafting a message for family services providers on how to deliver bad news to families experiencing homelessness: Due to funding cuts, they’re out of housing. Programs to help families move into permanent housing also have been cut. In a draft memo from July obtained by LAist, the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority has been working with providers on language to share with families seeking assistance: Shelters are full.

LAist

Public Safety

LAPD busts major burglary ring, seizes arsenal of weapons, officials say

Los Angeles police last week arrested eight members of what they are calling a prolific burglary crew they said was responsible for nearly 100 break-ins across the city, authorities announced Monday. "This crew, which had victimized families and businesses, is no longer a threat to our neighborhoods," Mayor Karen Bass said at a press conference Monday.

ABC News

Los Angeles police bust bandit towing operation

Police in Los Angeles are taking off the gloves and finally really doing something about the bandit towing problem. One of the biggest movements came when LAPD descended on an operation, recovering 140 stolen cars after the victims were duped, reports KTLA. Bandit towing is a practice where unauthorized tow trucks will arrive on the scene of a minor crash and offer to tow a vehicle for a rather cheap fee, or maybe even for free. 

The Auto Wire

When a 911 call comes in California, a drone might arrive before police do

When a 911 call for police comes in the western reaches of Oceanside, there’s a chance that the first emergency responder to reach the scene will be a drone. Oceanside is rolling out what is known as a “drone as first responder” program. It’s a 13-month test run, paid for with a state grant. Under the program, when an emergency call for help comes in, police can scramble and get a drone up before officers arrive at the scene.

San Diego Union-Tribune

The rise of assistant patrol drones in law enforcement

Imagine you’re driving down the road when a police officer pulls you over. You stop on the shoulder and nervously wait. Within moments, a drone with flashing red and blue lights circles your vehicle, illuminating the interior with a floodlight. The drone then instructs you to roll down your window, place your hands on the steering wheel, and wait for an officer to approach. Soon, an officer arrives and completes the traffic stop, all while the drone hovers nearby, recording the entire interaction.

Police1

Everything we know about the killing of an ‘American Idol’ music supervisor and her husband

On July 14, officers with Los Angeles Police Department were called to conduct a welfare check at a home in Encino. Inside, they found two people dead - Robin Kaye, a longtime music supervisor for American Idol, and her husband, Thomas Deluca. The pair had been shot and killed several days earlier, with authorities later determining that Kaye and Deluca sustained their fatal injuries on July 10. 

Rolling Stone

Outlawing misdemeanors? Ask California how that worked out

This incident could happen at any Walgreens in San Francisco: A man strolls into the store walks over to the hair display, grabs an armful of shampoo bottles, and simply walks out the door. He felt no need to rush, had no fear, and didn't bother looking back. Instead of actually doing something, people stood by and recorded the scene on their phones, shaking their heads; they knew nothing would happen, as he'd simply disappear into the crowd.

PJ Media

Former UC Berkeley professor sues, says she was denied job because she is Israeli

A former UC Berkeley visiting professor is suing the UC Board of Regents after alleging that her application to return was denied due to her Israeli nationality. Filed Wednesday in Alameda County Superior Court, the lawsuit claims that dance professor Yael Nativ was the victim of discrimination and failure to prevent discrimination under California law. She is represented by law firm Oliver & Schreiber PC, as well as The Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law, or Brandeis. 

The Daily Californian

Four ways ICE is training new agents and scaling up

Immigration and Customs Enforcement is an agency inside the Department of Homeland Security that is integral to President Donald Trump’s vision of carrying out the mass deportations he promised during the campaign. Deportation officers within a unit called Enforcement and Removal Operations are the ones who are responsible for immigration enforcement. 

Associated Press

Appeals court says Pa. mail ballots can’t be thrown out over misdated envelopes

Mail-in ballots that Pennsylvania voters submit without proper dates on the return envelope may not be discarded, a federal appeals court ruled Tuesday, the latest twist in an years-long legal fight over mail voting rules in the battleground state. Pennsylvania election officials have rejected thousands of votes in recent years under a state law that requires voters to handwrite a date on the outer envelope when voting by mail. 

Politico

Border Patrol agent accused of drunkenly attacking Long Beach police is found dead at home

A U.S. Border Patrol agent who was arrested on suspicion of drunkenly fighting Long Beach police last month was found dead in a Riverside County home on Friday, law enforcement officials said. Isaiah Hodgson, 29, was found dead about 12:45 p.m. in a home in the 25000 block of Avocet Circle in an unincorporated area of Hemet, the Riverside County Sheriff's Department said in a statement.

Los Angeles Times

Richard J. Donovan officials investigating the death of an incarcerated person as a homicide

California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) officials are investigating the Aug. 21, 2025, death of an incarcerated person at Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility (RJD) as a homicide. On Aug 16, 2025, at approximately 6:15 a.m., staff responded to a cell fight between Jerry Elliott and Aikane Matias. When staff arrived, they found Elliott unresponsive in the cell.

CDCR News Release

Convictions/Pleas/Sentences/Parole

California man pleads guilty for role in $15.9M COVID-19 fraud scheme

A California man pleaded guilty yesterday for his role in a scheme to defraud the Small Business Administration (SBA) out of $15.9 million in loans through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) programs. “The defendant orchestrated a scheme where he worked with purported business owners to submit dozens of loan applications to steal millions of dollars of COVID-19 relief funds,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division.

Office of Public Affairs Press Release

Attorney General Bonta announces 18-year prison sentence for defendant in investment fraud scheme

California Attorney General Rob Bonta today announced the sentencing of Alma Perez for her role in perpetrating an investment fraud scheme that defrauded victims of their retirement savings and inheritance funds. The scheme resulted in a loss of more than $735,000 from five victims over the course of several years.

Attorney General Bonta Press Release

Ex-conwoman returns to lock-up after pleading guilty to identity theft

An ex-con with convictions for fraud dating back almost 30 years was sentenced Wednesday in downtown Los Angeles to three years behind bars for possessing personal identifying information and mail that did not belong to her. Maria Christina Hendricks, 53, whose last address outside of custody was in San Diego County, pleaded guilty in May 2023 to possession of unauthorized access devices and aggravated identity theft, papers filed in L.A. federal court show.

MyNewsLA

Thoughts on the lawsuit against Prop. 50

As I have been asked about my thoughts regarding the legislative process challenges to the redistricting legislative package, I prepared this brief article in response. Being the legislative geek that I am, as well as teaching the course “Lawmaking in California” for the past decade at my law school alma mater, this is a fascinating case study. As many are aware, on Monday, August 25, a lawsuit was filed in the California Supreme Court by several legislators and voters.

California Globe