Left Coast Appeals

October 15, 2021 - This Week at the Ninth
This Week at The Ninth: Conspiracy Theories
This week, the Ninth Circuit explores permissible theories of liability in a bank fraud conspiracy case. USA V. DIANA YATES The Court holds that theories of conspiracy liability premised on a bank’s right to accurate information and its right not to continue to pay
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October 08, 2021 - This Week at the Ninth
This Week at The Ninth: Contractor Speech and Seized Cars
By: James R. Sigel
This week, the Court confronted constitutional challenges to a California statute altering the test for determining whether workers are employees or independent contractors and an Arizona statute governing civil forfeitures. AMERICAN SOCIETY OF JOURNALISTS AND AUTHORS, INC. v. BONTA The Court holds that California’s
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October 01, 2021 - This Week at the Ninth
This Week at The Ninth: Fair Housing and "Solid Waste"
This week, the Court clarifies the Fair Housing Act and Resource Conservation Recovery Act. CITY OF OAKLAND V. WELLS FARGO & COMPANY The en banc Court holds that Oakland failed to adequately plead proximate cause under the Fair Housing Act (“FHA”) for its claims
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September 24, 2021 - This Week at the Ninth
This Week at The Ninth: Abatement and Discharge
By: James R. Sigel
This week, the Court considered the retroactivity of California’s Proposition 22—which designates “app-based drivers” as independent contractors under certain conditions—and addressed the requirements for Clean Water Act citizen suits. LAWSON v. GRUBHUB, INC. The Court holds that California’s Proposition 22 does not apply retroactively
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September 17, 2021 - This Week at the Ninth
This Week at The Ninth: PowerPoints and Payday Loans
This week, the Court revives an ERISA claim and compels arbitration of a dispute over tribal internet payday loans. WARMENHOVEN v. NETAPP, INC. The Court holds that PowerPoint presentations did not constitute plan documents and thus any representations in them could not override ERISA’s
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September 10, 2021 - This Week at the Ninth
This Week at the Ninth: City Skylines and Stadium Seating
By: James R. Sigel
This week, we take a look at Ninth Circuit decisions explaining the scope of the de minimis use defense in copyright infringement actions and clarifying the Americans with Disabilities Act’s requirements for spectator seating. BELL v. WILMOTT STORAGE SERVICES, LLC The Court holds that
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August 13, 2021 - This Week at the Ninth
This Week at the Ninth: Class Objections and Robocalls
This week, the Court addresses when a defendant can raise personal jurisdiction objections to non-resident members of a putative class, and explains the scope of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act’s prohibition on robocalls to cell phones. MOSER v. BENEFYTT The Court holds that a
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August 06, 2021 - This Week at the Ninth
This Week at the Ninth: Toxic Water and Railroad Taxes
By: James R. Sigel
This week, the Court examines whether EPA guidance on water toxicity tests could be challenged under the APA, and addresses whether California’s scheme for taxing railroad property contravenes federal law. SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ALLIANCE v. EPA The Court holds that trade associations for California water
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July 29, 2021 - This Week at the Ninth
This Week at the Ninth: Beef Speech and Presumptive Plaintiffs
By: James R. Sigel
This week, the Court addresses the constitutionality of government assessments that fund third-party beef advertisements, and clarifies the burden-shifting framework for appointing lead plaintiffs under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act. RANCHERS CATTLEMEN ACTION LEGAL FUND UNITED STOCKGROWERS OF AMERICA v. VILSACK The Court
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July 22, 2021 - This Week at the Ninth
This Week at the Ninth: Offshore Occupation
This week, the Ninth Circuit resolves a split among trial courts about the application of California labor laws on drilling platforms on the Outer Continental Shelf. IAFETA MAUIA v. PETROCHEM INSULATION, INC. The Court holds that California labor laws requiring meal and rest breaks
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