California

Crowell & Moring Strengthens California Litigation Bench with Addition of Prominent Trial Lawyer Eric Enson

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LOS ANGELES – Crowell & Moring’s Antitrust and Competition Group has added experienced trial lawyer Eric Enson as a partner in its Los Angeles office. Enson has a strong background in handling complex international cartel investigations and antitrust class actions, including major jury trials. Enson brings extensive experience in responding to U.S. Department of Justice antitrust investigations and dealing with follow-on civil class action and opt-out litigation. He has represented both targets and witnesses in criminal grand jury investigations involving collusion among competitors. Enson previously worked at Jones Day as a partner before joining Crowell … Read more

Progressive California Mayors Rally to Amend Controversial Crime Laws and Address Soaring Drug Use and Theft

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SAN FRANCISCO, California – Progressive mayors in California are supporting a campaign to amend a decades-old state law that critics argue has emboldened criminals. Proposition 47, a law passed in 2014, downgraded penalties for petty theft and drug possession, reclassifying them as misdemeanors. Under the law, even multiple offenses of petty theft below $950 are considered misdemeanors. Additionally, many narcotics possession offenses that were once felonies were converted to misdemeanors. A new ballot initiative called the Homelessness, Drug Addiction, and Theft Reduction Act aims to amend Proposition 47. The measure has garnered support from both … Read more

Appeals Court Reinstates California Law Mandating Background Checks for Ammo Purchases, Overturning Previous Ruling

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San Diego, California – An appeals court has overturned a federal judge’s ruling that struck down a state law requiring background checks for ammunition purchases. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals voted 2-1 to allow the California Attorney General’s Office to suspend the judgment. The decision follows U.S. District Judge Roger Benitez’s injunction last week, which deemed the background check requirement for most ammunition purchases as unconstitutional. In a brief ruling, Judges Richard Clifton and Holly Thomas granted the suspension, while Judge Consuelo Callahan dissented. Callahan stated that she did not believe the appellant … Read more

Lawsuit Filed Against California Construction Subcontractor for Alleged Wage Theft and Labor Violations: Thousands of Workers Affected

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Riverside, California – California Attorney General Rob Bonta has taken legal action against West Coast Drywall & Company, a construction subcontractor operating in multiple counties across the state. The subcontractor, based in Riverside, is facing allegations of labor violations and wage theft from thousands of workers. One former employee, Miguel Gonzalez, claimed that West Coast Drywall & Company failed to pay overtime and sometimes issued checks under different names. “They made us work on Saturdays, but didn’t pay us overtime,” Gonzalez stated. The lawsuit, which includes violations dating back to August 2019, accuses the company … Read more