California

  • October 05, 2026

    OpenAI's 'Astra' Name Causes 'Reverse Confusion,' Co. Says

    OpenAI's launch of Astra, its flagship AI model, threatens to make an earlier user of the name appear to be a copycat, a California software company claimed Monday in a federal trademark lawsuit.

  • October 05, 2026

    Starbucks' Protein Drinks Aren't Sugar-Free, Suit Says

    Starbucks customers filed a proposed class action in Washington federal court on Friday, accusing the coffee chain of trying to capitalize on the protein craze last year by launching a line of protein beverages labeled "sugar-free," even though they contain 13 to 21 grams of sugar per venti-size serving.

  • October 05, 2026

    Pepperdine Asks 9th Circ. For Another Shot At Netflix TM Suit

    Pepperdine University is urging the Ninth Circuit to revive its trademark suit over the "Waves" team name used in a Netflix sports comedy series starring Kate Hudson, arguing that the district court judge's approach, "would give the entertainment industry carte blanche to infringe trademarks at will."

  • October 05, 2026

    9th Circ. Pauses Rogoff's Return As Seattle US Atty

    The Ninth Circuit has put on hold a Washington federal judge's decision to reinstate Roger Rogoff as Seattle's top federal prosecutor, a post Rogoff held for less than an hour before he was fired by President Donald Trump.

  • October 05, 2026

    Justices Want SG's View On 3 Antitrust Cases

    The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday called for the solicitor general's view in antitrust cases involving hard drive component prices, allergy testing and treatment, and insulin products sold through a drug discount program.

  • October 05, 2026

    Justices Won't Hear Google Maps Antitrust Case

    The U.S. Supreme Court refused Monday to scrutinize a Ninth Circuit decision declining to revive a proposed antitrust class action from app makers accusing Google of locking out rival maps products.

  • October 05, 2026

    Justices Seek Trump Admin's Views In Escrow-Interest Fight

    The U.S. Supreme Court asked Monday for the Trump administration to weigh in as the justices consider taking up a set of cases challenging whether federally chartered banks are exempt from state laws requiring lenders to pay interest on homeowners' mortgage escrow accounts.

  • October 05, 2026

    Supreme Court Won't Hear Tribal Card Check Order Challenge

    The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday denied a Native American tribe's challenge to an arbitrator's decision requiring it to follow election rules in an agreement with a UNITE HERE local that the tribe said violated tribal law.

  • October 05, 2026

    Justices Seek Solicitor General's Views On Tribal River Claims

    The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday sought the solicitor general's views on whether Washington tribes can pursue damages against a Canadian mining company for alleged pollution to the Columbia River.

  • October 05, 2026

    Justices Won't Wade Into Netflix ERISA Document Fight

    The U.S. Supreme Court refused Monday to take up a Netflix employee health plan participant's challenge to a Ninth Circuit ruling that said contracts between Netflix and its health plan administrators weren't subject to disclosure under federal benefits law.

  • October 05, 2026

    Justices Vacate 9th Circ. Ruling On Noem's TPS Authority

    The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday granted the Trump administration's request to wipe out a Ninth Circuit decision that found former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem lacked the authority to vacate a temporary protected status extension for Venezuela.

  • October 05, 2026

    Justices Deny Zillow's Bid To Revisit Goldman Ruling

    The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday declined Zillow's invitation to revisit a 5-year-old ruling on class certification, allowing Zillow investors to proceed as a class on claims that they were duped about the company's now-shuttered home-buying business.

  • October 05, 2026

    ​​​​​​​High Court Won't Revisit Groff Religious Accommodation Test

    The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday declined an invitation by a group of Washington firefighters to clarify whether the court's landmark 2023 decision in Groff v. DeJoy requires employers accused of illegally denying religious accommodations to show that the workplace adjustments present an actual hardship.

  • October 03, 2026

    Up First At High Court: Climate Torts & Munitions Disposal

    The U.S. Supreme Court will begin its new term on Monday, when the justices consider whether state courts have the authority to hear climate change lawsuits that seek to hold fossil fuel companies liable for local damages caused by greenhouse-gas emissions and whether federal courts can hear constitutional challenges to veterans benefits laws.

  • October 02, 2026

    Uber Settles Bellwether In Sex Assault MDL Before Trial

    Uber Technologies Inc. settled with a Texas woman just ahead of opening statements in the third scheduled bellwether trial in multidistrict litigation over alleged sexual assaults by the ride-hailing company's drivers, her attorneys announced Friday.

  • October 02, 2026

    Real Estate Recap: FAA Grants, DC Rent, REIT Merger Reax

    Catch up on this past week's key developments by state from Law360 Real Estate Authority — including a look at the top FAA grants for real estate projects last month, a potential apartment rent freeze in Washington, D.C., and activist objections to the IRT-Centerspace merger.

  • October 02, 2026

    Alphabet Hit With Investor Suit Over Gemini Release Lag

    Google CEO Sundar Pichai made it seem like the company's artificial intelligence model Gemini 3.5 Pro was on track for a successful launch, when in reality, it was delivering "disappointing training results," an investor alleged in a proposed class action filed Friday in California federal court.

  • October 02, 2026

    Live Nation Fights States' Latest Bid For Insight Into DOJ Deal

    Live Nation has fired back against the latest request in New York federal court by some state attorneys general seeking material related to Live Nation's midtrial antitrust settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice, arguing the states are seeking burdensome discovery, including communications between third parties and outside counsel.

  • October 02, 2026

    Cox Makes It Hard For Users To Cancel, Suit Says

    If you sign up for residential Cox cable, phone or internet service online, you'll be enrolled in a continually renewing plan that you can't cancel without calling in and going through a "burdensome process," according to a proposed class action targeting the company.

  • October 02, 2026

    Southern Glazer's Agrees To Pricing Limitations In FTC Deal

    Southern Glazer's Wine and Spirits agreed to pricing restrictions barring it from charging smaller stores more than large retailers to resolve the Federal Trade Commission's landmark, Biden-era price discrimination suit, according to an announcement made Friday.

  • October 02, 2026

    AGs, Enviros Sue Over Rollback Of Biden-Era Fuel Standards

    The Trump administration was hit with multiple suits by a coalition of 27 attorneys general and environmental groups Friday challenging the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's recent decision to roll back Biden-era fuel economy standards for passenger cars and light trucks.

  • October 02, 2026

    Thomson Reuters Hit With Antitrust Case Over 'Killer' AI Deal

    A California law firm has accused Thomson Reuters of violating antitrust law when it purchased artificial intelligence research tool Casetext for $650 million and then shuttered the platform to extinguish a rising competitor to its Westlaw service.

  • October 02, 2026

    Rivian Accused Of Denying Wash. Workers Breaks, OT Pay

    Electric vehicle maker Rivian broke multiple employment laws in Washington state and Seattle by failing to provide mandated meal and rest breaks, shorting workers on pay and failing to reimburse business expenses, according to a former employee's proposed class action filed Tuesday.

  • October 02, 2026

    Freshfields Adds 2 Capital Markets Partners

    Freshfields LLP has added two capital markets partners to its offices in Silicon Valley and New York, including one new hire and one promotion, a move that will bolster the firm's ability to advise companies and financial institutions on complex capital markets transactions.

  • October 02, 2026

    Barilla Beats False Ad Claims Over 'Italy's #1' Pasta Label

    Barilla America Inc. does not mislead noodle consumers about the sourcing of its ingredients by featuring the words "Italy's #1 Brand of Pasta" on its labels, a California federal judge ruled.

Expert Analysis

  • Money Transmission Issue Looms For Prediction Markets

    Author Photo

    The circuit split recently created by the Ninth Circuit's ruling in Kalshi v. Assad has implications reaching beyond gaming regulation as, depending on the ultimate characterization of prediction market event contracts, platforms may face differing obligations under federal and state money transmission laws, say attorneys at Manatt.

  • The Deep Split Over Mandatory Detention, And What's Next

    Author Photo

    The government’s mandatory detention policy for noncitizens who entered the U.S. without inspection has led to a spate of decisions this year, with nine circuits rejecting the government's reading of the Immigration and Nationality Act against two that have accepted it, making the issue ripe for U.S. Supreme Court review, says attorney Kemal Hepsen.

  • 9th Circ. Comet Ruling Spotlights Trade Secret Proof Burdens

    Author Photo

    The Ninth Circuit’s recent decision to vacate a $40 million verdict awarded to Comet Technologies in its trade secret dispute with XP Power underscores how the burden of proof differs between federal and state law, giving litigants a fresh perspective on several issues, including how a jury should be instructed, say attorneys at Cooley.

  • Attorneys Using AI May Have Ethical Duty To Redact Docs

    Author Photo

    The trajectory of legal ethics guidance in recent years strongly suggests that as redaction technology becomes more accessible, the failure to use it when uploading highly confidential materials into artificial intelligence tools will become increasingly difficult to defend as reasonable, say attorneys at Lewis Brisbois.

  • Minn. Ruling Expands Insureds' Right To Independent Counsel

    Author Photo

    If upheld on appeal, a recent decision by a Minnesota appellate court — Fabyanske Westra Hart & Thomson v. Western National Mutual Insurance — will give Minnesota policyholders a stronger basis to demand independent counsel when an insurer accepts a defense under a reservation of rights, say attorneys at Stoel Rives.

  • OpenAI Deal Highlights AI Hiring Risks In PERM Process

    Author Photo

    The U.S. Department of Justice's recent settlement of allegations that OpenAI discriminated against U.S. applicants for positions connected to the permanent labor certification process underscores that employers providing or using artificial intelligence must align their recruitment practices with their overlapping compliance obligations, say attorneys at Duane Morris.

  • State AI Safety Laws Raise New Liabilities For Healthcare Cos.

    Author Photo

    Healthcare and life science companies using third-party artificial intelligence tools should pay particular attention to the changing state-level legal landscape, where the rollout of multiple AI safety laws is introducing both new compliance obligations and potential consumer protection liabilities, say attorneys at McDermott.

  • Series

    Juggling And Unicycling Make Me A Better Lawyer

    Author Photo

    Because I juggle (sometimes with fire) and ride the unicycle, friends and family used to joke that I should join the circus, but I pursued the practice of law instead and learned that my hobbies benefit my profession in several important ways, says Morgan Eddy at Smith Currie.

  • AI Note-Taking Suits May Fill Gap In Privacy Law Structure

    Author Photo

    A recent class action against Granola joins other pending lawsuits against AI note-taking providers, highlighting the legal uncertainty surrounding these tools, but there are practical steps companies using "invisible" AI services can take to mitigate risk, including conducting inventories and reviewing access permissions, say attorneys at Barnes & Thornburg.

  • How 'Swap' Fight Underpins Prediction Market Enforcement

    Author Photo

    As courts around the country grapple with whether, and under what circumstances, event contracts qualify as swaps, federal enforcement authority hangs in the balance, with implications for companies that need to manage compliance risks during this period of legal uncertainty, say attorneys at Debevoise.

  • FDA Closeout Letter Suggests Relaxing Stance On Wearables

    Author Photo

    The U.S. Food and Drug Administration's recent decision not to pursue enforcement action against Whoop's wearable blood pressure tracker, read together with guidance released earlier this year, suggests a softer shift in the FDA's approach to regulating wearables, say attorneys at Arnold & Porter.

  • How Rogue AI May Shape Corporate Liability, Responsibility

    Author Photo

    Recent artificial intelligence cyber incidents offer a window into how companies deploying autonomous systems should document risk controls even when systems exceed their intended boundaries, as jurors may treat unexpected AI conduct as foreseeable evidence of inadequate safeguards, says Jorge Monroy at Verdict Insight Partners.

  • The State Of Prediction Market Litigation After 9th Circ. Ruling

    Author Photo

    The Ninth Circuit's recent decision in Kalshi v. Assad gives state regulators significant appellate backing to enforce state gaming laws over prediction markets, creating a direct split with the Third Circuit that will likely lead to Supreme Court review of the question, say attorneys at Arnold & Porter.

  • Meta Layoff Suit Serves As Early Test Of AI Bias Claims

    Author Photo

    A lawsuit in California federal court alleging that Meta's use of artificial intelligence in recent layoffs negatively affected employees on protected leave provides insight for plaintiffs about what evidence to preserve and how to build these discrimination claims, says Manny Starr at Frontier Law Center.

  • Series

    Ballet Makes Me A Better Lawyer

    Author Photo

    A lifetime of learning and performing ballet taught me that success — whether in dance or practicing law — comes only through hours of thorough preparation, boundless energy and relentless effort, says Sharon Katz-Pearlman at Greenberg Traurig.

Want to publish in Law360?


Submit an idea

Have a news tip?


Contact us here
Can't find the article you're looking for? Click here to search the California archive.