Paul Elias

July 10, 2007 | Law.com

Uri Geller became a 1970s superstar and made millions with an act that included bending spoons, seemingly through the power of his own mind. Now, however, the online video generation is getting bent out of shape over his behavior. Geller's tireless attempts to silence his detractors have extended to Google Inc.'s popular video-sharing site YouTube, landing him squarely in the center of a debate over controlling copyrights amid the volume of video and music clips flowing freely on the Internet.

By Paul Elias

6 minute read

March 15, 2000 | Law.com

The Securities and Exchange Commission weighed in on a raging securities litigation case pending before the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that will probably define exactly who can serve as a lead plaintiff. And just as important: who can serve as the lead counsel. "This may be the first court of appeals decision to address the lead plaintiff provisions," reads the amicus curiae brief sent to the court.

By Paul Elias

3 minute read

February 28, 2006 | Law.com

The financial future of California's $3 billion human embryonic stem cell research institute went on trial Monday as taxpayer groups tried to block the state-funded research. Two lawsuits seek to invalidate the law that created the California Institute of Regenerative Medicine, which is authorized to hand out an average of $300 million in research grants annually. The lawsuits claim the agency violates a constitutional mandate that the state control spending of taxpayer dollars.

By Paul Elias

3 minute read

July 06, 1999 | Law.com

Handing technology companies and others a huge victory in their running battle with plaintiffs' attorneys, the 9th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals on Friday made it much more difficult for disgruntled shareholders to sue corporations when their stock price drops. The divided court ruled that in order to sue for stock fraud, plaintiffs must show that corporate officers were "deliberately reckless" in making optimistic financial forecasts, even when those forecasts turn out to be severely wrong.

By Paul Elias

5 minute read

May 07, 2003 | Law.com

Researchers around the world are racing to patent the SARS virus and its genetic material, rekindling criticism of laws that allow people to claim intellectual property rights on living things. Nonprofit and government agencies say their applications are intended to keep the SARS work in the public domain, while private companies contend patents will protect their research and development, and possibly lead to drug royalties.

By Paul Elias

4 minute read

January 20, 2000 | Law.com

The California Supreme Court agreed to decide whether a gun manufacturer can be held responsible for Gian Luigi Ferri's infamous and deadly shooting rampage in the offices of San Francisco's Pettit & Martin nearly seven years ago. The court will review a controversial state appellate court ruling that allowed Ferri's victims to sue gun maker Navegar Inc. for negligence. It was the first appellate court to rule against gun makers on criminal misuse of a firearm.

By Paul Elias

4 minute read

November 04, 1999 | Law.com

A 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals panel did not make clear whether it was willing to resurrect former prosecutor George Lee's defamation suit against San Francisco District Attorney Terence Hallinan and Deputy DA Libby Liu. But one thing was certain: Senior Judge David Thompson was none too pleased with the salacious behavior of Lee and Liu after a night of drinking at the Inn Justice bar, across the street from the Hall of Justice.

By Paul Elias

4 minute read

March 16, 2000 | Law.com

What constitutes a photograph in the digital age? The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals answered that question this week. Judge Alex Kozinski, writing for the majority, said photographs are routinely altered on computers before publication but are still called photographs. "Even before the advent of computers, an airbrush or a strategically placed thumb during the printing process could be used to erase a facial blemish or eliminate a purged Bolshevik," Kozinski wrote.

By Paul Elias

3 minute read

March 16, 2000 | Law.com

Corporate executives can be held personally liable for such misdeeds as misappropriation of trade secrets, unfair competition and interference with prospective economic advantage, a California appellate court ruled. In the past, corporations and not executives have been held liable for similar offenses if the executives were acting in good faith. But Justice Paul Turner said an executive can be held liable if he knew "misappropriation and other tortious conduct had occurred."

By Paul Elias

2 minute read

July 12, 1999 | Law.com

In an effort to track a suspected big-time marijuana grower in Northern Calif., DEA agent Mark Nelson asked a female informant who was married to Nelson's quarry, to hide a tape recorder behind her and her husband's bed . . . and hit record. This, after Nelson kissed the informant. Even in the murky arena of paid drug informants and their handlers this one goes down as particularly bizarre. But despite all of the ethical violations, the judge has refused to throw out the case against the informant's ex.

By Paul Elias

7 minute read