Cheryl Miller

June 26, 2008 | Law.com

California Attorney General Jerry Brown sued Countrywide Financial Corp. and its top officers June 25, accusing the lending giant of pushing unwitting homebuyers into risky loans that resulted in thousands of defaults and foreclosures. Brown is seeking an injunction barring Countrywide employees from "making any untrue or misleading statements" during future sales, plus damages of $2,500 for each time a company agent had engaged in deception or other unfair business practices. The complaint also asks for unspecified damages for Countrywide borrowers.

By Cheryl Miller

4 minute read

December 12, 2005 | Law.com

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Friday nominated his former legal affairs secretary to an appeal court position.

By Cheryl Miller

3 minute read

March 17, 2009 | The Recorder

Licensed court reporters, like Stephanie Grossman, say they are losing out to unlicensed competitors who can offer rebates and other gifts to staffers booking depositions. One lawmaker is listening.

By Cheryl Miller

5 minute read

November 24, 2009 | The Recorder

In a case that brought amici filings from trial lawyers and the insurance industry, a Fourth District panel says damages should be based on what was billed, not what an HMO actually paid.

By Cheryl Miller

3 minute read

April 02, 2007 | Law.com

State-funded stem cell research could solve medical mysteries, but California's efforts to secure affordable access to any resulting drugs -- and a cut of any profits -- are only raising "what-ifs" for bioscience firms. Attorneys say current legislation staking a state claim to $3 billion in future bond-funded stem cell research is vulnerable to challenge. And their clients, some of the state's largest bioscience companies, don't like the bill's proposed 25 percent state take on net licensing revenues.

By Cheryl Miller

5 minute read

November 01, 2007 | The Recorder

Deborah Winegard, brought on by the California Medical Association this summer, is part of a string of recent consumer-advocate hires.

By Cheryl Miller

6 minute read

December 17, 2009 | Law.com

California Judges Association President Michael Vicencia said Tuesday that unless the state's Judicial Council takes control of decisions involving salary-setting and pay raises for employees of the Administrative Office of the Courts, particularly those in upper management, judges should keep their salary deferrals local. Vicencia's actions followed an unusually heated opening to Tuesday's Council meeting where Vicencia, a council member, questioned pay increases given to approximately 80 employees since 2007.

By Cheryl Miller

4 minute read

February 10, 2011 | Legaltech News

Projected costs for a case management system for the California judiciary have ballooned to $1.9 billion amid poor planning and lack of oversight, according to a state auditor's report. While agreeing with many of its recommendations, judicial leaders continued to defend the system as a necessary tool for unified court operations.

By Cheryl Miller

5 minute read

October 23, 2006 | Law.com

Legal scholars are expressing doubts about a lawsuit that claims Democratic candidate Jerry Brown is ineligible to hold the office of California attorney general. Republicans from five counties sued Brown and five elections officials, asking a judge to block the counting of any votes cast for the current Oakland, Calif., mayor. The suit comes with the general election less than three weeks away and Republican AG candidate Chuck Poochigian trailing Brown by double digits in recent published polls.

By Cheryl Miller

5 minute read

July 09, 2010 | Corporate Counsel

A pro se litigant took on Toyota and won when the 9th Circuit held that her business's domain names did not infringe on the auto giant's trademark. A trial court injunction barring use of the word Lexus in the family business's website address was overbroad, the federal appeals court found.

By Cheryl Miller

4 minute read