Courts, Rulings & Lawsuits | |
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Lawsuit says Sheriff is overbilling
In a move with possible implications for local municipalities that contract with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, the City of Lancaster has filed a lawsuit that alleges LASD, the largest sheriff’s department in the nation, is billing cities for more deputies than it provides. The class action suit against L.A. County, filed in Superior Court on April 4, was brought on behalf of all cities that pay to be patrolled by LASD, though Lancaster is currently the only plaintiff.
The Acorn
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Parole status inquiry during traffic stop is constitutional
The Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals held yesterday that asking a driver stopped for a traffic violation about his parole status does not offend the Fourth Amendment as the practice is reasonably related to officer safety and only negligibly extends the length of the stop.
Metropolitan News-Enterprise
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California court to weigh in on fight over transgender ballot measure proposal language
A group backing a proposed ballot measure in California that would require school staff to notify parents if their child asks to change gender identification at schools is battling the attorney general in court Friday, arguing he released misleading information about the proposal to the public. The group is suing Attorney General Rob Bonta, a Democrat, in Sacramento Superior Court.
AP
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Supreme Court divided on homelessness case that will affect California encampment policy
Supreme Court justices sounded sharply split Monday over whether to give cities in the West more authority to restrict homeless encampments on sidewalks and other public property. The court’s three liberals said they were wary of giving cities a broad and unchecked power to use arrests and fines to punish homeless people who are sleeping outside.
Los Angeles Times
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Judge scraps lawsuit against LA city councilman over Christmastime scuffle
A Los Angeles Superior Court judge on Tuesday dismissed a left-wing activist's lawsuit against City Councilman Kevin de Leon over a physical altercation during a community Christmas event. Judge Lynne Hobbs found that the activist, Jason Reedy, had waited too long to file the lawsuit and the six-month statute of limitations had already lapsed.
Courthouse News Service
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Assistant LA County District Attorney faces felony charges for allegedly mishandling confidential police files
The head of the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office Ethics and Integrity Unit was charged Wednesday by the California Attorney General's Office - with allegations she unlawfully accessed confidential files that contained legally-protected information about local law enforcement officers.
NBC4
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Family outraged over plea deal in 2018 killings of man, his parents in Los Angeles
Family members of three people murdered by a 61-year-old woman are outraged with a plea deal that they say could allow for the killer's release. Prosecutors say Nancy Jackson killed a man and his elderly parents in their Los Angeles home in 2018. Jackson pleaded guilty to the murders on the heels of a plea deal that could put her behind bars for 75 years to life.
ABC7
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LAPD had no security at mayor's house when intruder broke in; suspect targeted Bass, D.A. says
The man who broke into Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass’ home Sunday was specifically “targeting” her when he forced his way in and reached the second floor, Los Angeles County Dist. Atty. George Gascón said Tuesday. Prosecutors provided disturbing new details about the incident after announcing the filing of burglary and vandalism charges - both felonies - against Ephraim Hunter, 29, of Los Angeles.
Los Angeles Times
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Deputy shooting suspect charged, could face life in prison
A man accused of shooting a deputy stopped at a traffic light in West Covina will face criminal charges including attempted murder of a peace officer, Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón said Wednesday. Raymundo Duran, 47, has been charged with assault on a peace officer or firefighter using a semi-automatic weapon and being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, according to Gascón.
KCAL
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Transient was once banned from L.A. Metro for violence. Now he’s charged with killing woman on subway
Calling the fatal stabbing of a woman riding a Metro train “truly a tragedy that should have never occurred,” Los Angeles County Dist. Atty. George Gascón on Wednesday announced a murder charge against a homeless man with a history of violence against passengers.
Los Angeles Times
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Nathan Hochman: I will bring an end to the failed reign of George Gascón
In the March 5 primary election, L.A. County District Attorney George Gascón received 25.2% of the vote, the lowest vote total for an incumbent D.A. seeking re-election in L.A. County history. Stated differently, approximately 75% of the voters rejected Gascón, and now I face him in a runoff in the November 5 general election, having earned the second highest number of votes in the primary.
Orange County Register
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Where does Gascon go from here?
The announcement by California Attorney General Rob Bonta of the filing of nearly a dozen charges against Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascon’s chief of ethics and integrity Diana Teran has thrown a huge wrench in Gascon’s re-election quest. While Teran, through her attorney, denies any wrongdoing, just the fact of the filing of charges could be seen as a major shift in the once-tight relationship between Gascon and Bonta.
California Globe
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New York’s highest court overturns Harvey Weinstein’s landmark #MeToo rape and assault convictions
New York’s highest court of appeals on Thursday morning overturned former independent movie mogul Harvey Weinstein’s 2020 rape and assault convictions due to prejudicial trial testimony, and granted the disgraced movie producer the possibility for retrial.
Courthouse News Service
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Reversing California’s decline
In 2014, Californians voted Proposition 47 into law. Marketed as the Safe Neighborhoods and Schools Act, the measure was intended to reduce the state’s prison population. It downgraded thefts with property values under $950 and illegal drug possession for personal use from felonies to misdemeanors.
City Journal
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Californians are worried about crime, setting the stage for a ballot measure showdown
Democrats completely dominate California’s state government, and one aspect of that hegemony is their ability to act without compunction. When doing whatever they want to do, Democratic officeholders don’t have to worry about competition from the state’s shriveled-up Republican Party nor, for the most part, criticism from equally shrunken political media.
CalMatters
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The Black Lives Matter legal revolution has come crashing down
It’s not a good time to be a Leftist prosecutor in the United States. Pamela Price, the elected District Attorney of Alameda County, will face a recall vote later this year following a massive increase in crime that coincided with her policies of reducing criminal penalties and prosecuting police officers who used lethal force.
The Telegraph
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Arizona grand jury indicts Meadows, Giuliani, other Trump allies for 2020 election interference
An Arizona grand jury has indicted 18 allies of Donald Trump for their efforts to subvert the 2020 election - including former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows and attorneys Rudy Giuliani and Boris Epshteyn. The indictment, which includes felony counts of conspiracy, fraud and forgery, also describes Trump as an unindicted co-conspirator.
Politico
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LAPD's high tech headquarters hasn't had working phones in weeks
Officers, detectives, commanders, administrators, and hundreds of other LAPD employees that work in its $400-million headquarters building in downtown LA - including the chief of police - haven't had working desk phones to handle non-emergency calls in weeks. 911 calls are handled at a different facility and have been unaffected by the trouble.
NBC4
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As LA County Civil Oversight Commission criticizes former Sheriff Alex Villanueva, OIG Max Huntsman under investigation by the California Attorney General
Max Huntsman is a pivotal figure in the sprawling metropolis of Los Angeles County, where governance and oversight intersect. Appointed as the Inspector General (OIG) for Los Angeles County, Huntsman’s role has been to shine a light on the operations and conduct of the county’s law enforcement, ensuring accountability and fostering trust between the community and its protectors.
The Current Report
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Former CBS CEO admits role in disclosure of confidential police information
Former CBS CEO Leslie Moonves has acknowledged his involvement in facilitating the disclosure and misuse of confidential information pertaining to a police complaint. Moonves admitted to assisting a former police captain in leveraging his city position to serve Moonves’s personal interests.
Century City and Westwood News
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LAPD’s recruiting woes laid bare: Only 30 officers per class, analysis shows
The Los Angeles Police Department has graduated an average of 31 recruits in its past 10 academy classes, a Times review shows, about half the number needed to keep pace with Mayor Karen Bass’ ambitious plan to reach 9,500 officers.
Los Angeles Times
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Los Angeles Police Department reveals alarming DUI facts in recent city safety report
The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) has recently released a city safety report that unveils alarming DUI facts. The report, a comprehensive analysis of the city's DUI incidents, reveals a disturbing trend that has raised concerns among city officials and residents alike. According to the LAPD report, there has been a significant increase in DUI-related incidents in Los Angeles.
LAPD News Release
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County awarded $51 million to house 600 people living along 105 Freeway
Los Angeles County has been awarded a $51.5 million state grant to expand its Pathway Home program and help nearly 600 people living along the 105 Freeway and nearby riverbeds access housing and services over the next three years, with the ultimate goal of ending their homelessness. They would be added to the nearly 600 people the county has already enrolled in Pathway Home since its launch in August 2023.
The Downey Patriot
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Cops wanted (some risks involved)
Gentle reader, are you looking for a job? Are you interested in one in which you’re regularly exposed to staph infections, lice, scabies, tuberculosis, hepatitis, and every other imaginable parasite and infectious disease as borne by America’s largest population of drug-addicted vagrants? Would you like to work for a city whose municipal government is rife with socialists, people who would more quickly blame you for their city’s ills than the criminals who prey on their fellow citizens?
Jack Dunphy/The Pipeline
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Superfakes: Copycat manufacturers are becoming increasingly skilled at producing knock-off designer handbags
Counterfeit luxury handbags have become a social media phenomenon. Instead of cheaply made knockoffs, the latest crop of counterfeit handbags, known as "superfakes," looks very similar to the authentic luxury item. As high-end luxury brands including Hermes, Chanel, and Prada have boosted their prices in recent years, many consumers turned to deceivingly high-quality replicas for a fraction of the price.
ABC News
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A plan to change your utility rates is dividing California environmentalists. Here’s why
On May 9, the California Public Utilities Commission is scheduled to vote on whether to let the state’s largest power providers slap most customers with a new fixed charge. Think of it like paying for a subscription service, except instead of forking over a monthly fee to watch old Friends episodes, this one lets you enjoy the comforts of 20th century living.
CalMatters
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US agrees to $138 million settlement with Larry Nassar assault victims
The U.S. Justice Department announced a $138.7 million settlement Tuesday with more than 100 people who accused the FBI of grossly mishandling allegations of sexual assault against Larry Nassar in 2015 and 2016, a critical time gap that allowed the sports doctor to continue to prey on victims before his arrest.
AP
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Man suspected in deadly Metro stabbing was previously arrested for transit system attacks
The man arrested in the fatal stabbing a woman on a Metro train in Studio City as she was on her way home from work early Monday was previously convicted of assaulting passengers on Los Angeles public transit system, according to court records and law enforcement sources.
NBC4
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LAPD: Property crimes drop, but homicides and robberies are on the rise
Property crime is trending down, but homicides, robberies and burglaries have increased, Los Angeles Police Department Interim Chief Dominic Choi said Tuesday. As of April 20, property crime was down 4.1% and violent crimes decreased by 7% compared to the same period last year, according to Choi, who spoke at Tuesday’s Board of Police Commissioners meeting.
City News Service
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LA police apprehend two youths linked to Westchester and Playa Del Rey vehicle break-ins
The Los Angeles Police Department’s Pacific Area auto detectives have announced the arrest of two juveniles suspected of being involved in a string of motor vehicle burglaries in the Westchester and Playa Del Rey areas. On the Pacific Division’s social media, the LAPD cautioned that residents should always remember to lock their vehicles and report any suspicious activity.
Westside Today
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LAPD arrests 93 people at USC amid Israel-Hamas war protests
Los Angeles police officers arrived in riot gear at USC on Wednesday evening, arresting 93 people on trespassing charges as they cleared an encampment at the center of campus formed in protest against the Israel-Hamas war. “Shame on you! Shame on you!” demonstrators chanted as police took away students and off-campus activists.
Los Angeles Times
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Arrests made in connection with 130 restaurant break-ins (Video)
Detectives in North Hollywood say a year-long investigation has led to the prosecution of a team of restaurant burglars suspected in 130 break-ins. Eric Leonard reports for the NBC4 I-Team on April 25, 2024.
NBC4
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Burglary tourism': Foreign organized crime groups are targeting San Diego homes
Organized crime groups from outside the country have been burglarizing some of San Diego’s most affluent neighborhoods. It's known as “burglary tourism." They apply for tourist visas online and rely on what investigators consider a "weak vetting system" to get approved and enter the U.S. The home is carefully selected. They’ve been watching from rented cars that blend into wealthy neighborhoods.
NBC4
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Convictions/Pleas/Sentences | |
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Drug and ghost gun trafficker sentenced to 87 months
Carlos Mendoza of San Diego was sentenced in federal court today to 87 months in prison following his admission that he trafficked in methamphetamine and ghost guns. Mendoza pleaded guilty to selling methamphetamine to undercover federal agents in February of 2023. According to the plea agreement, Mendoza also admitted to illegally selling eight privately-made firearms, which are commonly referred to as “ghost guns.”
U.S. Attorney’s Office Press Release
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Inside Amazon's evil core
Originating in a garage in 1995 as an online bookstore, Amazon's ambition grew unchecked, morphing it into a daily necessity and disrupting every business sector while ruthlessly dismantling competitors using thuggish strategies to choke competition and exploit its loyal customers. Now, this untamed behemoth is besieged by regulatory hurdles, entangled in FTC litigation, and drowning in a rising tide of consumer distrust.
The Counterfeit Report
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Disney on the hook for $345,000 in ‘Beauty and the Beast’ infringement case
Walt Disney Co. must pay $345,098 of its profits from the 2017 live-action remake of "Beauty and the Beast" to the developer of the visual effects technology that a jury agreed was used without a license to create the appearance of the movie's eponymous beast. U.S. District Judge Jon Tigar in Oakland on Friday awarded Rearden LLC the same amount of disgorgement as in the advisory verdict a jury returned in December.
Courthouse News Service
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Appeals court greenlights release of secret Trump battles to block aides from testifying
Details of prosecutors’ battles to obtain testimony from high-level White House aides to Donald Trump may soon become public, a federal appeals court ruled Tuesday in response to a POLITICO petition to access records related to the investigation of Trump’s bid to subvert the 2020 election.
Politico
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California to expand re-entry programs for formerly incarcerated individuals. Here’s how they work
As California closes prisons and shifts its focus to rehabilitation, it is expanding programs that help formerly incarcerated people transition back into society. The state’s Corrections Department is touting its male and female community re-entry programs as among its most successful tools in helping former inmates become self-sufficient after they get out of prison.
CalMatters
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