That’s a wrap – for porn stars, that is. Or is it?

Will actors that make pornography movies be required to wear condoms while filming?

It’s hard to say, but a legal brouhaha is expected before Los Angeles voters will consider a ballot on the requirement.

This week, city officials said the ballot measure received enough signatures to qualify for the June ballot.

However, L.A. City Atty. Carmen Trutanich filed court papers earlier in the month saying that Los Angeles voters would have no legal authority to adopt the proposed measure.

Trutanich argued that only the state could legally impose rules requiring the use of condoms on porn sets and charging fees to pay for inspections.

Trutanich’s said a voter-approved condom requirement could attract a lawsuit, forcing “the needless and wasteful expenditure of public resources made in connection with a measure which the voters have no power to adopt.”

Frank Mateljan, spokesman for Trutanich, was quoted as having said an in interview earlier this month: “What we’re trying to do is seek judicial clarification to see if the city of Los Angeles is preempted from regulating condoms in adult film shoots or whether those powers are relegated to other state agencies,” per the December 29^th latimes.com article, “Legal fight expected over ballot measure on porn actor condom use”.

However, the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health, which regulates workplace safety, does not agree with the city attorney’s opinion.

In a Friday email to one of Trutanich’s deputy city attorneys, Cal/OSHA chief Ellen Widess wrote that she believes the city could legally enact the restrictions envisioned in the proposed ballot measure.

“We don’t see a bar to the city or the county doing what they need to do,” Widess said in a telephone interview Monday evening. “We believe the city can use its authority to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS among people involved in the adult film industry.”

Ged Kenslea, a spokesman for AIDS Healthcare Foundation, the ballot measure’s main backer, said proponents obtained over 70,000 signatures, which is well over 41,000 required to place it on the ballot.

Kenslea was quoted as saying: “We’re thrilled we’ve passed this initial threshold. We believe we’re going to prevail in court and look forward to taking this issue directly to the voters.”

According to information at the organization’s website, Los Angeles-based AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) is a global organization providing cutting-edge medicine and advocacy to over 100,000 people in 22 countries. It is the largest provider of HIV/AIDS medical care in the U.S.

AHF’s operating capital comes from its own self-created social enterprises. AHF Pharmacies, thrift stores, healthcare contracts and other strategic partnerships generate funding that helps AHF provide medical and advocacy services across the globe.

The organization is currently leading a mass testing initiative to identify and treat the 25 million people who don’t know they are infected. By advocating big goals – aiming to see an unprecedented 1 billion people tested each year – AHF hopes to eliminate older, more time-consuming methods.

Since 1987, AHF has cared for thousands of people living with HIV and AIDS worldwide.

• Michigan Issues Health Alert
• DLA Piper Adds Team of 10 Leading Litigation Attorneys in Sacramento Office
• Luce Forward Latest to Form Foreclosure Practice
• Morning Roundup
• Uganda Considers Death Penalty Law for Homosexuality

On Thursday, the Ninth Circuit decided to reverse a court ruling from a lower lever regarding a motion filed by Louis Vuitton North America Inc. The motion involved the company asking to remove to federal court the class action lawsuit claiming that it illegally recorded personal information when accepting customers’ payments via credit cards, according to Law360.

In an unpublished opinion, a panel of three judges claimed that a California federal court made a mistake when it was found that Louis Vuitton had not been able to prove that it could be facing $5 million in claims. The complaint filed was for $1,000 for each violation of the Song-Beverly Credit Card Act, which allows a court to impose penalties of $250 for the initial violation and then $1,000 for every violation thereafter.

“Because the amount in controversy could be as much as $1,000 for each subsequent violation and it is undisputed that there were substantially in excess of 5,000 credit card transactions, the preponderance of evidence shows that the amount in controversy exceeds $5 million,” the panel said.

Louis Vuitton attempted to move the suit to California federal court in July. The case was remanded back to state court by U.S. District Judge M. James Lorenz after claiming that the amount of money involved in the lawsuit did not surpass the jurisdictional threshold of $5 million. Lorenz also ruled that neither the allegations nor the evidence offered by Louis Vuitton that any class member was subject to more than one violation at a time.

The class in the lawsuit will include all customers from California who had their personal information recorded if they made a purchase during the previous year. This purchasing period included more than 5,000 transactions. Louis Vuitton, in oral arguments, told the court of appeals panel that if the company had made over 5,001 credit card transactions, then they would face a $1,000 fine per transaction. This would then lead to damages exceeding $5 million.
The Class Action Fairness Act requires that there be at least 100 members of the class in the lawsuit, which Louis Vuitton failed to show, according to the plaintiffs. The panel did say that the company had over 5,000 transactions for the period in question, which means there would be at least 100 separate credit card customers during that time.

The panel for the Ninth Circuit includes Judges William A. Fletcher, Barry G. Silverman and Kim McLane Wardlaw.

Morey is represented by Gene J. Stonebarger of Stonebarger Law.

Louis Vuitton is represented by Nicolas Andreas Jampol and Stephen R. Smerek of Winston & Strawn LLP.

The name of the case is Deanna Morey v. Louis Vuitton North America, case number 11-56916, in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.

• Morning Roundup
• Will Porn Stars be Required by Law to ‘Wrap it Up’ On the Set?
• Cooley LLP Announces Opening of Office in Shanghai, China
• Ex-employee Files Suit Against Former Law Firm
• Lots of New Changes within Statewide California Law Firm

Global law firm Cooley LLP announced in recent days that it has opened an office in Shanghai, China.

The opening of the Shanghai office broadens the firm’s market leadership in advising innovative companies and investors in sectors spanning software, hardware and mobile technology, digital and social media, life sciences and clean energy into one of the world’s most dynamic and essential  markets. 

Joe Conroy, Cooley’s chief executive officer was quoted as saying in a press release at the firm’s website: “The opportunity to expand Cooley’s footprint into China is extremely exciting given how well our core practices are aligned with the country’s growth areas and how many of our clients are established in China and plan to grow aggressively there. We will bring to bear the full breadth of the firm’s resources and experience in support of our Shanghai office and clients based in China or doing business there.”

Based in Silicon Valley, Cooley attorneys offer specialized insight and experience to companies and investors in high-growth sectors. The firm’s resources and services in China will span venture capital fund formation and investment, capital markets and corporate transactional advice, as well as market-leading experience advising clients in commercial, IP and securities litigation.

Highly experienced Cooley corporate partners Brad Peck and Patrick Loofbourrow, who have relocated from California, will lead the new Shanghai office. Peck, who will head the Shanghai office, specializes in corporate and securities law and focuses his practice on the representation of technology and life science companies ranging from start-ups to publicly held corporations. Loofbourrow concentrates his practice in representing emerging technology and life sciences companies, and venture capital and other firms that invest in such businesses.

Peck was quoted as saying: “We are dedicated to establishing a long-term presence in China and continuing to build the Shanghai office through the addition of talented local attorneys. Given Cooley’s market leadership in advising innovative companies across the United States, we believe we are well positioned to partner with and support our clients in the burgeoning global technology sector.”

For over two decades, Cooley has been advising on China-related matters. In 1989, the firm advised on the formation of the first institutional venture capital fund investing in China. To date, the firm has formed 43 Chinese venture capital and private equity funds for almost 20 fund managers. In addition, Cooley represents various U.S. fund managers with respect to their investing activity in China, including fund managers with sponsored groups and representative offices in China.

Craig Dauchy, head of Cooley’s leading Venture Capital practice was quoted as saying: “Given our robust levels of fund formation activity in China, we anticipate Cooley fund formation attorneys will spend a significant amount of time on the ground there in support of these clients and continuing to expand our presence in that market.”

Cooley has over 650 attorneys in full service offices across the United States and in Shanghai, China. The firm represents clients in a wide range of dynamic industry sectors, including technology, life sciences, venture capital, clean energy, real estate and retail.

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Hartwell Harris, a resident of Santa Monica, has filed a lawsuit against her former employer for wrongful termination. Harris claims she was fired for developing a rare sleeping disorder, removing her from a job at an international law firm. The firm in question is that of Bingham McCutchen LLP, which is headquartered in Boston and operates offices in the United States, Europe, and Asia. Harris claims she received poor performance reviews after being diagnosed with her rare sleeping disorder.

Harris began suffering from a bad back that eventually required spinal surgery and physical therapy. She was forced to take time off from work because of the surgery and therapy. Harris claims that she was subjected to reviews in the middle of year that were biased and based on rumors. Harris was diagnosed with Delayed Sleep-Phase Syndrome, or DSPS, in April of 2010.
A short-term disability leave was granted by her law firm, which then placed her on unpaid leave before firing her in February of 2011. Harris claims in the lawsuit that her firm did not accept the accommodations recommended by her doctor. Those accommodations included flexible work hours and/or telecommuting. Harris received her law degree from UC Berkeley and attended Princeton University.
“I was really disappointed because I had worked really hard to get where I was,” Harris said. “I was really disappointed for a long time afterward because I did a lot of research to find a place to work where I would stay for my career.”

When Harris was fired, she was working on securities litigation but now runs her own law firm based out of Santa Monica.
“Bingham took Ms. Harris’ requests for accommodation seriously and accommodated them reasonably,” a statement from the firm said. “It’s unfortunate that Ms. Harris selected this course, and we look forward to a favorable resolution of this matter.”

The law firm that fired Harris is well known around the world, especially in financial centers in New York, London, and Tokyo. The law firm works with companies such as BMW, Nokia, Bank of America and General Motors and their clients. The law firm also works with individuals such as J.K. Rowling and Larry King.

Dr. Susan Sprau, of the Santa Monica-UCLA Medical Center and Orthopaedic Hospital’s Sleep Disorder Center, had the following to say:

“You have to realize that when you are working against your body’s natural biology, it is an uphill battle and there isn’t a quick or easy or perfect fix,” she said. “People who have this problem tend to take night jobs.”

Doctor Sprau said that those diagnosed with DSPS can improve their situation if they make adjustments to their schedules. Sprau said that the most effective adjustments are to schedule classes and meetings in the afternoon, not the morning, so the patient can have a chance to adjust to being awake.

• Oil Companies Want to Put CA Climate Law on Ice
• More Cuts at the San Joaquin DA’s Office
• Will Porn Stars be Required by Law to ‘Wrap it Up’ On the Set?
• Customer Info Ruling for Louis Vuitton Reversed
• Cooley LLP Announces Opening of Office in Shanghai, China

Things are changing within a California law firm that specialized in labor and employment. One of the biggest changes occurring with the company is the name of the law firm, which is changing from Carlton DiSante & Freudenberger LLP, to Carothers DiSante & Freudenberger LLP.  ”Our founding partners came from big firms and we purposely created a firm that is agile in client response and rewarding to our partners,” says Managing Partner Marie DiSante.

Dave Carothers’ name will replace Chris Calton’s name. “Dave is a brilliant trial attorney with approximately 60 cases tried to verdict. His extraordinary teamwork and commitment to CDF are such that we are thrilled to add his name,” adds DiSante. There is no doubt that the name changes are for the better.

The head of the CDF’s executive team will be Brent Giddens and the managing partner of the Los Angeles office will be Mark Spring. You can easily see that the law firm is spread deep and wide in the state of California. Tim Freudenberger is one of the partners of whom is located in the law firm’s Orange County office states that, “Mark and Brent have each demonstrated unwavering dedication to their clients and to CDF’s growth across the state. Their leadership is key to our success.”

The website is also a big part of the firm that is changing but only for the better. Carothers DiSante & Freudenberger LLP took the time to understand the needs of their clients and where the law firm’s services were needed the most. Carothers DiSante & Freudenberger LLP is one of the only law firms in the state of California that actually specializes in employment related issues. The law firm is switching its site to www.CDFLaborLaw.com and you can also follow their blog at www.CallLaborLaw.com.

“We are 100% focused on employment related issues in California and know what employers are up against from the northern reaches of the state to the Mexican border,” states Freudeunberger who is one of the partners and owners of the firm. Freudenberger makes it clear that their customers come first and they are making the changes to better serve the California public.

The firm represents a plethora of issues that are continuously going on in California. These issues consist of representing different name companies like higher education, retail, healthcare and many more. The firm is well known for their diverse approach to representing women and minorities in the legal field. Almost 50% of the employees of Carothers DiSante & Freudenberger LLP are women or minorities. The diversity is a positive aspect of the law firm and shows the firm knows how to handle a lot of hot issues going on in California today. The firm has been around since 1994 and works with a wide variety of customers and issues.

• Cooley LLP Announces Opening of Office in Shanghai, China
• DLA Piper Adds Team of 10 Leading Litigation Attorneys in Sacramento Office
• Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison Has Impressive 2011
• Law Firm of Akin Gump Has Second Defamation Lawsuit Filed Against It
• Law Firm Merger Numbers Closing in on Pre-Recession Levels

Law firm Jones Day announced recently that both Martha Gooding and Michael Stimson have joined as partners in its Intellectual Property Practice, in the Irvine Office.

Both join from Howrey, where they were members of the firm’s IP Group.

Joe Sims, the Jones Day partner responsible for coordinating the Firm’s activities in California was quoted as saying in a press release at the firm’s website: “Martha and Michael are experienced IP litigators who provide even deeper strength for our firm in the California region. Together with the addition earlier this year of Bill Rooklidge and Frank Cote as IP partners in Irvine – both of whom were formerly partners in Howrey’s Irvine office – Jones Day now has 64 attorneys in our IP Practice in California and 266 attorneys in the group worldwide. This is one of the largest and most experienced, full-service global IP practice groups at any law firm in the world.”

Martha Gooding has nearly 30 years of experience representing clients in a wide range of complex disputes, including patent infringement and trade secret misappropriation litigation. An experienced litigator, she has tried cases in federal and state courts. In addition to serving on the Board of Directors of the California Bar Foundation, she formerly served as President of both the Federal Bar Association of Orange County and the Association of Business Trial Lawyers of Orange County. She is also a former member of the ABA House of Delegates, and a former co-chair of the Federal Practice Task Force of the ABA Litigation Section.

The numerous awards she has received include being named a Southern California Super Lawyer, being selected for the Daily Journal’s Top Women Litigators list and the Best Lawyers in America list, and receiving the 2009 ADL Marcus Kaufman Jurisprudence Award. She received her J.D. from the University of California, Berkeley, School of Law.

Michael Stimson, Ph.D., focuses his practice on intellectual property litigation and appeals and reexaminations, appeals, and patent interference proceedings before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. His litigation experience includes trade secret and patent trials and arbitrations, and appellate experience including appeals to the Courts of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and Ninth Circuit. Stimson has been the successful leader of several high stakes intellectual property litigation teams. He has handled cases regarding a broad range of technologies including hard disk drives, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, medical devices, polymer chemistry, cement chemistry, and computer telephony. He received his law degree from Georgetown University Law Center.

Founded in 1893, Jones Day is an international law firm with over 2,500 lawyers. The firm acts as principal outside counsel to, or provides significant legal representation for, more than half of the Fortune Global 500 companies. It is also the eighth largest law firm in the world by revenue, and the fourth highest grossing firm in the United States. In California alone, Jones Day has over 320 lawyers in its San Francisco, Silicon Valley, Los Angeles, Irvine, and San Diego offices.

• Jones Day Adds Six Partners to Los Angeles and Washington, D.C. Offices
• Morning Roundup
• Jones Day Adds Three Partners and Three Registered Patent Agents in Southern Calfornia
• Jones Day Continues California Expansion
• Baker Botts Continues International Expansion of IP Practice

The attorneys hail from the premier litigation firm Stevens, O’Connell & Jacobs LLP, and include co-founders and former U.S. Attorneys Charles J. Stevens and George L. O’Connell, and partners Matthew G. Jacobs and Bradley A. Benbrook. The attorneys have a broad range of experience in internal investigative, white collar criminal defense, special matters, and civil litigation.

J. Terence O’Malley, DLA Piper US Managing Partner was quoted as saying in a press release at the firm’s website: “Chuck, Matt, Brad, George and their team add immediate depth on the West Coast to our already leading global white collar and government and internal investigations practice. They are highly regarded throughout Northern California and bring an unmatched level of notable experience and credentials to the firm.”

Stevens was President Clinton’s appointee as US Attorney for the Eastern District of California and previously served as an Assistant US Attorney in Los Angeles. Before co-founding Stevens, O’Connell & Jacobs, he was partner in charge of the Sacramento office of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP. 

O’Connell joins DLA Piper as senior counsel. He was President George H.W. Bush’s appointee as US Attorney for the Eastern District of California from 1991 until 1993. Prior to serving in this role, he served as an Assistant US Attorney in the Eastern District and headed the Special Prosecutions Unit. Previously, he served as an Assistant US Attorney in the Special Prosecutions Unit of the Los Angeles US Attorney’s Office and in the Sacramento US Attorney’s Office as Chief of the White Collar Crime Unit. 

Jacobs returns to DLA Piper after joining Stevens, O’Connell & Jacobs in 2008. Formerly, he served as First Assistant US Attorney and Chief of the Criminal Division of the US Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of California; Chief of the Special Prosecutions Unit of that office; and Honors Graduate Trial Attorney in the US Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division in Washington, DC. 

DLA Piper has 3,500 lawyers in offices throughout the world, and represents more clients in a broader range of geographies and practice disciplines than almost any other law firm in the world.

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• Morning Roundup
• Morning Roundup
• Will Porn Stars be Required by Law to ‘Wrap it Up’ On the Set?

The renewable energy mandate is now the most stringent in the nation.

Those supporting the new standard feel it will reduce pollution and create green energy jobs. Denise Brode, CEO of America Wind Energy Association, a trade group, was quoted as saying: “Public officials have decided to create thousands more jobs for Californians,” per the article at usatoday.com, “California sets highest green power goal”.

Critics are fearful of increased electricity costs, despite language in the legislation to curb cost increases. Gino DiCaro, spokesman for the California Manufacturers and Technology Association was quoted as saying, per the same article: “Industry in California already pays electricity rates about 50 percent higher than the rest of the country.”

In an article at ca.gov, Governor Jerry Brown was quoted as saying in his signing message: “This bill will bring many important benefits to California, including stimulating investment in green technologies in the state, creating tens of thousands of new jobs, improving local air quality, promoting energy independence, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. While reaching a 33 percent renewables portfolio standard will be an important milestone, it is really just a starting point – a floor, not a ceiling. Our state has enormous renewable resource potential. I would like to see us pursue even more far-reaching targets. With the amount of renewable resources coming on-line, and prices dropping, I think 40 percent, at reasonable cost, is well within our grasp in the near future.”

• Will Porn Stars be Required by Law to ‘Wrap it Up’ On the Set?
• Customer Info Ruling for Louis Vuitton Reversed
• Cooley LLP Announces Opening of Office in Shanghai, China
• Ex-employee Files Suit Against Former Law Firm
• Lots of New Changes within Statewide California Law Firm

California Proposition 8, the ban of same-sex marriage in California, has repeatedly not been defended by state officials.  Monday, March 14, supporters of Prop 8 asked the California Supreme Court to let them defend Prop 8 since it was not being defended by the state.

The court announced last month that it would decide if the pending federal appeal of the invalidation of Prop 8 could continue.  The proponents argue that all of the work that they have done in creating, defending, and supporting the proposition has created a “personal, particularized interest in the validity of their initiative entitling them to defend the initiative as real parties in interest if it is challenged in court.”  They also argue that the entitlement that they have to appeal is taken from state law, and that “…allowing official proponents to intervene to vindicate the People’s interest in successful initiatives when public officials will not do so is necessary to preserve the People’s initiative power…”

The initiative has been undefended again and again by state officials, and an appeals court in California last September held that it is not necessary for them to defend it.  If it is ruled by the Supreme Court of California that these proponents are not allowed to defend Prop 8 under state law, then the case will most likely be dismissed by the court of appeals.

The stay that prohibited gay couples from marrying was requested to be lifted earlier this month by Attorney General of California, Kamala Harris.  She felt that it was irrational to continue the stay, and that the appeal would not likely succeed.  She also feels that laws about sexual orientation should be given a higher standard of review.  The stay is still in force as of this writing, and was originally ordered last August after an appeal was being decided on by the court after Prop 8 was overturned last year by a federal judge.

• California Supreme Court To Hear Arguments Regarding Gay Marriage Ban
• Morning Roundup
• Stay Lifted in California Same-Sex Marriage Ban
• Judge Rules Against California’s Same-Sex Marriage Ban
• California Court Rules Proposition 8 Unconstitutional

Although California’s controversial measure to legalize and tax medicinal marijuana failed, several cities joined with Oakland in imposing city-based taxes…

Ira “Ike” Sorkin, perhaps best known for his role representing Bernie Madoff, will leave Dickstein Shapiro for Lowenstein Sandler…

A settlement was reached in the Google Buzz class action suit…

Kilpatrick Stockton will merge with IP firm Townsend and Townsend…

• Settlement Reached in Google Buzz Class Action Suit
• Marijuana Legalization Fails, but Cities Still Taxing in California
• Kilpatrick Stockton to Merge with IP Firm Townsend and Townsend
• Ira Sorkin, Lawyer for Bernie Madoff, Leaves Dickstein Shapiro
• Morning Roundup

Dale Sky Jones, a spokesman for the campaign to pass the initiative, said “We largely won the debate because they are ready to tax, control and regulate.”

Oakland started imposing taxes on medical marijuana sold in dispensaries last year, and is now joined by nine other cities. Long Beach proposed the highest rate at 15%, with most other cities voting for 10% levies.

Ten cities in total now have laws allowing the local taxation of Marijuana: Oakland, Long Beach, Albany, Berkeley, La Puente, Rancho Cordova, Richmond, Sacramento, Stockton, and San Jose.

• Morning Roundup
• Going Green: Californians Get Vote on Marijuana
• Cannabis Shops Fight Legal Action in L.A.
• Heather Donahue Leaves Acting to Grow Marijuana
• Federal Government Says US Growers and Regulators Could be Prosecuted

Luce, Forward, Hamilton & Scripps LLP

Luce Forward said its objective with the practice is to provide “one-stop shopping” to institutions facing potential civil or criminal liability arising out of the growing foreclosure crisis. The practice will serve lenders, servicers, and institutional investors facing civil litigation, proposed class actions, and federal and state investigators.

“This emerging national foreclosure crisis embodies a ‘perfect storm’ of events that could lead to substantial liability for companies and institutions that fail to aggressively investigate their potential exposure,” said Kurt L. Kicklighter, Luce Forward’s managing partner.

Led by partners Pat Swan, Chris Healey and Steve Wall, the national foreclosure litigation and investigation practice consists of nearly 20 civil and criminal specialists. The practice will proactively work with clients to limit or eliminate a potential civil or criminal liability prior to the commencement of civil litigation or a civil or criminal investigation. The team will also investigate and evaluate a client’s potential civil and criminal liability exposure arising out of the foreclosure crisis and then provides practical recommendations to the client to reduce exposure.

Luce Forward has multiple offices throughout California, including San Francisco, Los Angeles, Orange County, and San Diego.

• Morning Roundup
• Duane Morris Adds Pair of Attorneys on West Coast
• Will Porn Stars be Required by Law to ‘Wrap it Up’ On the Set?
• Leading Patent Litigator Joins Sheppard Mullin as Co-Chair of IP Practice Group
• Chief of Criminal Division for U.S. Attorney’s Office Set to Join Munger, Tolles & Olson

The scholarships will cover all three years of law school for the Class of 2014. They are funded by private donations, which includes a gift from Mark P. Robinson Jr., chair of the Dean’s Advisory Council and senior partner at Robinson, Calcagnie & Robinson Inc. in Newport Beach, Calif.

“Because of the generosity of Mark Robinson and others, UCI Law will continue to provide generous scholarships to help us attract top-quality students,” said Dean Erwin Chemerinsky. “These scholarships will also help reduce the debt burdens of our students by the time they are ready to pursue careers in law and public service.”

UCI Law, the first new public law school in California in more than 40 years, aims to enroll about 100 students in its next class, which will be the third since the school opened in August 2009. Tuition at UC law schools in the fall of 2011 is expected to be about $40,000 for in-state students and $50,000 for those out of state.

The first two classes of UCI Law students also received scholarship support from private donations: The first received full-tuition scholarships, the second, half-tuition. Those classes had median grades and LSAT scores on par with classes at top 20 law schools, UC Irvine said in a press release.

The first two classes numbered 60 and 83 students. The school will increase the size of its classes gradually until they reach about 200 students.

Other types of financial aid, including guaranteed federal loans and loan forgiveness programs, will also be available to help cover tuition costs and other expenses.

• Morning Roundup
• UC Irvine School of Law Announces Scholarships for Class of 2013
• Morning Roundup
• A Top-Ranked Law School with Free Tuition. No, Really.
• Law Dean Pens Paper on Law School Debt and Financial Viability

A top Polish banking & finance attorney joined Chadbourne & Parke’s Warsaw office as a partner…

Morris Polich’s Elizabeth England was appointed California Bar Section Chair…

Winston & Strawn’s Senior Chairman and former Illinois Gov. James R. Thompson, Jr. will receive The American Lawyer magazine’s 2010 “Lifetime Achievement”…

McDermott Will & Emery signed a letter of intent to occupy a New Washington D.C. Office…

• Top Polish Banking & Finance Attorney Joins Chadbourne & Parke’s Warsaw Office as Partner
• Morris Polich’s England Appointed California Bar Section Chair
• Winston & Strawn’s ‘Big Jim’ Thompson to Receive Lifetime Achievement Award
• McDermott Will Signs for New Washington D.C. Office
• Chadbourne & Parke LLP Adds Two Partners in New York Office

Morris Polich & Purdy LLP

England served the previous three years as secretary, treasurer, and vice-chair of the Section. She was elected by its fifteen-member Executive Committee.

The State Bar of California Litigation Section has approximately 10,000 members, and is comprised of numerous Standing Committees such as Alternative Dispute Resolution, California Legislation Review, Education, Jury Instructions, and Rules and Legislation.

The Section Chair is responsible for planning the Section’s budget and conducting Executive Committee meetings.

Don Ridge, managing partner of Morris Polich, commented on the move in a press release.

“We are very excited that Elizabeth’s experience and long-time dedication to the State Bar of California have been recognized by the Section,” Ridge said. “This is a great honor for Elizabeth and Morris Polich & Purdy LLP.”

• Morning Roundup
• Will Porn Stars be Required by Law to ‘Wrap it Up’ On the Set?
• Customer Info Ruling for Louis Vuitton Reversed
• Cooley LLP Announces Opening of Office in Shanghai, China
• Ex-employee Files Suit Against Former Law Firm

Reed Smith was brought on as U.S. corporate and securities counsel for China Sun Group High-Tech Co…

Quarterly revenue at Britain’s 100 biggest law firms increased by an average of 5 percent for the three-month period ending July 31…

Arnold & Porter acquired three attorneys from Sonnenschein…

Four Davis Polk partners were named ‘Top Lawyers’ in California…

Troutman Sanders appointed a new managing partner in its Washington, D.C office…

The Best Lawyers in America 2011® will feature 58 attorneys from Winstead PC…

• Davis Polk Partners Named ‘Top Lawyers’ in California
• Reed Smith Enlisted by China Sun Group
• British Firms See Uptick in Quarterly Revenue
• Arnold & Porter Acquires Team from Sonnenschein
• Morning Roundup

The ACLU will represent defense lawyers against U.S. Homeland Security…

According to a CT TyMetrix Inc. and The Corporate Executive  Board survey, billing rates in Washington, D.C. are the second highest in the U.S….

The Quellos Group owners pled guilty to fraud and tax evasion…

The “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy was ruled unconstitutional in California’s 9th District…

Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan disqualified herself from 10 more cases…

Law School admissions officers survey tells prospective students how to prepare…

Burleson Cooke added nine attorneys to its Pittsburgh office…

• “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” Ruled Unconstitutional in California’s 9th District
• Quellos Group Owners Plead Guilty to Fraud and Tax Evasion
• ACLU to Represent Defense Lawyers Against U.S. Homeland Security
• Billing Rates in Washington, D.C. Are Second Highest in the U.S.
• Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan to Recuse Herself from 11 More Cases

The ruling occurs two months after the United States government was brought to trial by the gay rights grassroots organization Log Cabin Republicans.  White & Case partner and lead attorney on the case Daniel J. Woods said in a statement, “This is a major victory in the fight for equality and means that military service will be available to all Americans, regardless of their sexual orientation.”

However, United States government lawyers are questioning whether Judge Philips’s ruling will hold true for the rest of the nation.  The government now has the opportunity to nix the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy by repealing it before Congress, and constitutional law expert and dean of the University of California, Irvine School of Law, Erwin Chemerinsky, says, “Given the position of the Obama administration, there’s a great likelihood he will not appeal the ruling.  If it isn’t appealed to the 9th Circuit, it has an excellent chance of standing.”

• Morning Roundup
• ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ Ends
• Gay Marriage Controversy Reaches UM Law School
• Morning Roundup
• UC Irvine School of Law to Again Offer Tuition Help

Chambers USA recognized Monteleone & McCrory in the area of construction law in California…

Highly-regarded commercial trial and appellate attorney Thomas Gilbertsen joined Venable LLP…

Former Ambassador J. Thomas Schieffer joined Akin Gump…

• Former Ambassador J. Thomas Schieffer Joins Akin Gump
• Highly Regarded Commercial Trial and Appellate Attorney Joins Venable LLP as Partner
• Chambers USA Recognizes Monteleone & McCrory
• Morning Roundup
• Morning Roundup

In the press release at PR Web, Chambers was quoted as saying: “This compact but robust local group continues to punch above its weight. Mostly representing contractors and subcontractors, the lawyers are commended for their deep knowledge of infrastructure developments in Los Angeles.”

Based on extensive interviews with clients and peer attorneys, Chambers USA ranks the leading firms and attorneys in the country. The annual Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business guide is read by industry leading companies and organizations throughout the United States and worldwide, and is widely used by firms for referral purposes.

Monteleone & McCrory is a full-service law firm that handles commercial and business litigation, with a national reputation in the construction industry. Founded in 1958 under the partnership of Los Angeles legal pioneer Steven Monteleone, and construction law expert Darrell McCrory, the firm continues the tradition of its founders with highly skilled attorneys dedicated to providing quality legal services to a diverse and growing list of clients, some of whom have been with Monteleone & McCrory for over three generations.

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Baker McKenzie reported its revenues were flat but profits were up…

Ventricelli joined Capstone Advisory Group LLC as Managing Director…

The stay was lifted in California same-sex marriage ban…

Brinks Hofer laid off 18 workers this week…

Law Firm Best, Best, & Krieger was subpoenaed by the Attorney General’s office during its investigation of overpaid employees in the city of Bell…

A top compliance officer from BAE Systems joined Covington & Burling as a partner…

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California voters banned same-sex marriage through Proposition 8 in November 2008. That came just months after the state Supreme Court had legalized same-sex unions, which resulted in an estimated 18,000 gay couples getting married in the state.

In his ruling Thursday, Walker said that proponents of the ban failed to convince him that anyone would be harmed by allowing same-sex marriages to resume.

“The evidence at trial showed, however, that Proposition 8 harms the state of California,” Walker said.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who along with Attorney General Jerry Brown support same-sex marriage, said Judge Walker’s decision to lift the stay “provide all Californians the liberties I believe everyone deserves.”

According to the AP, the case will now go before a special “motions panel” that consists of three judges at the appeals court.

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Brown subpoenaed tax and salary records from the city of Bell, as well as records from Best, Bell’s former law firm.

Edward Lee, Bell’s city attorney, is accused of approving the super-sized salaries in Bell. Lee served as Bell’s city attorney. Among the large salaries in Bell is $1.5 million in annual pay and benefits to the city’s city manager.

According to financial documents, Best, Best & Krieger gave the Brown campaign $5,000 in March. Michael Cowett, an associate with Best gave Brown’s campaign $500 in March and associate Brant Dverlin gave the campaign $1,000 in April.

Sterling Clifford, the spokesman for the Brown campaign, told reporters that the firm is not being accused of unlawful activity.

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In his ruling, U.S. District Chief Judge Vaughn R. Walker of San Francisco ruled Proposition 8 violated the 14^th Amendment of the Constitution because it limits the ability of gays and lesbians to marry the partners of their choice, the Associated Press reports.

“Plaintiffs challenge Proposition 8 under the Due Process and Equal Protection Clauses of the Fourteenth Amendment,” the judge wrote. “Each challenge is independently meritorious, as Proposition 8 both unconstitutionally burdens the exercise of the fundamental right to marry and creates an irrational classification on the basis of sexual orientation.”

The ruling is expected to be appealed to the U.S. 9^th Circuit Court of Appeals and could wind up before the Supreme Court. Proposition 8 was approved by 52.3 percent of California voters in November 2008.

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Jones Day

“The addition of these talented and experienced lawyers…will strengthen the experience available to our clients in the key areas of product liability litigation and corporate law,” said Joe Sims, the Jones Day partner responsible for coordinating the firm’s activities in California. “We’re pleased that our California offices are attracting some of the top lawyers in the state right now and we will continue to recruit this kind of high-level talent as we build on our significant presence here.”

The news comes on the heels of an announcement just last month that Khoa D. Do and Micheal J. Reagan, formerly partners at DLA Piper, joined Jones Day as partners in the Firm’s Silicon Valley Office, where they are both members of the Mergers & Acquisitions Practice.

Cwik has extensive experience in complex litigation and class actions, including mass tort and product liability cases, consumer class actions, and environmental cases. She is co-chair of the ABA Committee on Scientific Evidence, and has significant experience in cases involving health, science, and technology issues, with victories in several high-profile matters.

Mordock maintains a corporate and securities practice, with special emphasis on securities offerings, corporate governance, and mergers and acquisitions. His corporate finance experience ranges from representing venture capitalists and start-up companies in early-stage financings to representing issuers and investment banks in public offerings of equity and debt securities.

Jones Day is a global law firm with more than 2,500 lawyers, including over 400 in Europe and 200 in Asia, located in 32 centers of business and finance throughout the world.

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One likely consequence, according to Scully, will be a higher number of plea bargains for relatively minor offenses: “What you might see is in the more minor cases,” said Scully, “you might see us early on giving better deals to get that case out of the system. We’re going to need to … focus mostly on the serious and violent felonies”

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Southeast Michigan law firms log thousands of non-billable hours over health care reform…

Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens nears retirement…

The National Law Journal releases it’s annual Appellate Hot List…

Jackson Lewis adds two partners to its Denver office…

Massachusetts enacts a law requiring businesses to have a written security plan in place for handling client’s personal data…

Littler Mendelson opens a new office in Lexington, Kentucky…

A new initiative slated to appear on California ballots in November seeks to delay a law from 2006 enacting greenhouse gas emission cuts…

David W. Ogden rejoins WilmerHale after working at the Justice Department for a year…

Toyota may face enormous civil penalties for failing to report defects in their brakes within the required period of time…

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According to yahoo.com, “The California Air Resources Board, the entity charged with implementing the law, estimates climate regulations will promote investments in clean energy and will reduce California’s overall fuel expenses $3.8 billion by 2020.”  More on this can be found at EmploymentSpectator.com.

Republican Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger  has vowed to fight the initiative, as it undermines what he believes is his legacy as governor.  Gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman has vowed to suspend the climate law if she wins the election in November.

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Bestattorneysonline.com announce the top ten environmental law firms in Alaska…

The Entrepreneurs Law Group is formed in South Carolina to advise businesses and individuals…

42 of 58 county district attorneys in California oppose the nomination of Goodwin Liu to the Ninth Circuit…

Linklaters is returning to lockstep compensation for it’s associates…

Quarles & Brady open an office in Tampa, Florida…

Weil Gotshal & Manges earn big bucks in the Lehman bankruptcy case…

A federal judge in Boston has ruled that mutual fund companies are subject to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act…

A U.S. District Court judge ruled that wiretaps were illegally installed on phones owned by the Islamic Foundation under the now ended Terrorist Surveillance Program…

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According to the Los Angeles Times, supporters turned in 694,248 signatures Wednesday just minutes before the 5 p.m. deadline. The measure, known as the Regulate, Control and Tax Cannabis Act, would allow for marijuana to be sold and taxed by cities and counties. Of course, the possession and sale of marijuana would remain a crime under federal law.

Both sides of the marijuana debate appear well-organized and spoiling for a fight. According to the Times, Richard Lee, described as an Oakland marijuana entrepreneur, is dipping into $1.3 million in funds from his business and hopes to raise a $20-million war chest for the campaign. He said he will employ a team of experienced political consultants including Chris Lehane, a noted political consultant.

A Sacramento lobbyist for the California Police Chief’s Assn. said the opposition will include a broad coalition and “we’ll educate people as to what this measure really means.”

According to the ordinance, adults 21 and older would be allowed to possess up to an ounce of green for personal use and to grow 25 square feet of marijuana per residence or parcel. Possessing less than an ounce of marijuana has been a misdemeanor in the state since 1975.

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• Oregon Supreme Court Sides With Employer in Pot Ruling

Rosenfeld, Meyer & Susman LLP take on the band Green Day for copyright infringement…

Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli sues the federal government to stop the health care bill…

A new study details the “client revolution”…

UnitedHealth fraud is symptomatic of larger economic woes…

Seyfarth Shaw offers an overview of California employment law…

Former public relations specialist Susan Finkelstein is on trial after exchanging sex for World Series tickets…

Former FCC Commissioner Tyrone Brown leaves Wiley Rein…

Camille Cantrell has joined the Atlanta office of Hawkins, Parnell & Thackston…

Anna Nicole Smith’s estate loses a $300 million claim in court…

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In a separate 3-0 ruling the appeals court upheld the inscription of the national motto, “In God We Trust” on coins and bills. The judges cited an earlier ruling that the phrase is ceremonial and patriotic and “has nothing whatsoever to do with the establishment of religion”.

In 2002 the same court ruled in atheist Michael Newdow’s favor. The court said at that time that the Pledge of Allegiance violated the First Amendment restriction against an established state religion. The ruling caused uproar, a Senate resolution was passed condemning the ruling and then President Bush called it “ridiculous”. The suit reached the Supreme Court in 2004 but the Court said Newdow did not have the standing to file the suit because he didn’t have custody of his daughter, on whose behalf he brought the case. Newdow filed an identical case on behalf of other parents with the same objections and in 2005 a federal judge in Sacramento decided in Newdow’s favor, sending the case back to the appeals court.

Judge Stephen Reinhardt wrote a 123 page dissent to the 60 page majority opinion. He was one of the judges who ruled in Newdow’s favor in 2002.  In his dissent Reinhardt said, “Under no sound legal analysis adhering to the binding Supreme Court precedent could this court uphold state-directed, teacher-led, daily recitation of the ‘under God’ version of the Pledge of Allegiance by children in public schools.”

Newdow will ask the appeals court to rehear the case and if it rejects his request, he says he will appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.

The opinion can be read here.

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Lincoln Fabrics will pay $4 million dollars to settle a lawsuit with the U.S. government…

A couple wins a lawsuit against their former stockbroker…

Profits are up and revenues are down at Shearman & Sterling…

Profits and revenues are up at Irell & Manella…

Elaine Johnston leaves White & Case for Allen & Overy…

Civil rights activists will challenge a California affirmative action ban in college admissions…

A student suspended for writing critical statements on Facebook may proceed with her lawsuit against her former school…

Jury pools have been hit by the recession…

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The County is facing additional layoffs this year, with as many as 600 county jobs in jeopardy if there isn’t significant improvement by June. San Joaquin is struggling under a record high 16.9% unemployment rate, well above the national average of around 10%. No help is likely to be forthcoming from the state, either, where the unemployment rate remains over 12% and the state budget has a $20 billion deficit.

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Wu, 42, is currently a professor at Howard University School of Law, and was the dean at Wayne State University Law School in Detroit from 2004 to 2008.

Wu will be entering his position as dean of Hastings College of the Law with a three-point plan to build upon the schools successes. He will focus on providing students with a structured curriculum that will ensure graduates have real-world legal skills when they leave, such as taking depositions, negotiating deals, and reading balance sheets. Additionally, students who graduate Hastings will be prepared to work in a global economy driven by Pacific Rim nations.

Wu intends on securing private funding for the law school in hopes of overcoming some financial hurdles that have surfaced, in part because of cuts in state funding.

Wu will take his position in July 2010.

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