News

For media inquiries, please contact Holly Baird Holly_Baird@geragos.com


Mark Geragos: Gwyneth Paltrow’s legal team had a stronger defense in court

Mar 22, 2023

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Scandal-Scarred L.A. Lawyer Wins a Bruising Battle With the California Bar

Feb 10, 2023

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California Bar Ex-Director Avoids Some Disciplinary Charges

Feb 9, 2023

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Would past crimes unfairly sway Murdaugh jury?

Feb 2, 2023

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Andrew Tate’s New Lawyer Represented Chris Brown, Jussie Smollett, and Kesha

Feb 1, 2023

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Mark Geragos finds ‘holes’ in Idaho students murders case

Jan 11, 2023

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Bryan Kohberger case: Knife sheath points to possible target, experts say

Jan 7, 2023

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Mark Geragos – The Chris Cuomo Project (Apple Podcasts)

Jan 3, 2023

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California Bar Discovery Gaps Undermine Case Against Ex-Director

Dec 15, 2022

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Wife of Texas man killed by police in Arizona settles suit

Nov 23, 2022

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Ex-UFC champ Cain Velasquez out on bail in attempted murder case

Nov 9, 2022

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Democrats’ Racism, and Elon Buying Twitter After All, with Dave Rubin, Adam Carolla and Mark Geragos

Oct 2, 2022

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Cain Velasquez lawyer suggests former UFC champion could take stand in potential trial: ‘He wants the truth to come out’

Aug 29, 2022

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Cain Velasquez attorney Mark Geragos gives updates ahead of pre-trial hearing: ‘There are going to be some surprises’

Aug 28, 2022

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Lawyer reveals what could set off a prosecutor in Paul Pelosi’s DUI case

Aug 24, 2022

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Sheriff’s computer crash leaves defendants who should have been released stuck in L.A. County jail

Aug 22, 2022

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Cain Velasquez, former UFC champion, pleads not guilty to attempted murder charge

Aug 05, 2022

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LIV Golf Files Suit, NFL Files Appeal

Aug 04, 2022

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Elon Musk Sued, Attorney Pleads Guilty, Son Murderer Requests Parole – Apple Podcasts

June 20, 2022

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For Depp Atty, Sudden Fame Can Bring Rewards — And Risk

June 9, 2022

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Attorney reacts to new video showing Alec Baldwin pointing gun at camera

April 26, 2022

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Exclusive: Famed criminal defense attorney closes in on prosecuting first war crime case in Artsakh after 5,000 Armenians were killed

April 21, 2022

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Ex-UFC champ Velasquez thanks supporters in first public statement since attempted murder charge

April 12, 2022

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Jussie Smollett released from Cook County Jail during appeal

March 16, 2022

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Cain Velasquez hires celebrity attorney, Mark Geragos, who slams court for ‘perpetrator’ bail fail

March 8, 2022

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Meet Velasquez’s attorney who has long history of representing celebrities

March 2, 2022

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NFL: Colin Kaepernick’s attorney lauds Brian Flores lawsuit

February 9, 2022

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Brian Laundrie’s parents face potential legal consequences: Mark Geragos

January 28, 2022

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Scott Peterson resentenced to life in prison for pregnant wife Laci’s killing

December 8, 2021

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CNN faces potential onslaught of lawsuits with top moneymaker Chris Cuomo fired

December 6, 2021

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High Profile: Tina Glandian, Attorney to the Stars

November 28, 2021

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This charge dismissal may affect the jury in the Rittenhouse trial

November 16, 2021

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‘Watters’ World’ on media convicting Kyle Rittenhouse as racist murderer

November 14, 2021

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Attorney Mark Geragos joins the show to discuss the possible legal ramifications following the concert tragedy

November 9, 2021

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Criminal implications in ‘Rust’ shooting, Americans in Afghanistan, and that Pop-Tarts lawsuit

October 27, 2021

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Famed lawyer says he’d be ‘shocked’ if involuntary manslaughter not brought in Baldwin ‘Rust’ shooting

October 26, 2021

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Uncovering Brian Laundrie’s secrets; 911 call released from Alex Murdaugh’s shooting

October 25, 2021

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Brian Laundrie’s parents face potential legal consequences: Mark Geragos

October 22, 2021

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Could Brian Laundrie’s Parents Face Legal Consequences?
Inside Edition spoke to lawyers Alan Dershowitz and Mark Geragos about the case

September 22, 2021

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Entrepreneur Says He’s Owed $3M For Role In LA Pot Venture – Law360

August 26, 2021

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Mark Geragos Vermögen 2021 – Reich, reicher, Mark Geragos!

August 13, 2021

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TikTok Users Are Protesting Convicted Killer’s Innocence Because ‘He’s Too Cute’

August 10, 2021

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A California couple’s Tesla caught fire while charging overnight, ignited another Tesla next to it, and caused a massive house fire. They haven’t been home in 8 months.

August 5, 2021

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Cuomo report: Could he face criminal charges?

August 5, 2021

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Could Cuomo Face Jail Time Following Attorney General’s Harassment Report?

August 5, 2021

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Driving Forces: Andrew Cuomo Investigation

August 5, 2021

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Banfield: Cuomo rejects Democrats’ calls to resign over harassment allegations; FAA reports record number of unruly passengers

August 4, 2021

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Businesses, governments weigh vaccine mandates

July 28, 2021

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‘Nobody Believed Me’: How Rape Cases Get Dropped

July 18, 2021

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Tesla Model S Plaid catches fire and briefly traps owner after electronic door handles fail, attorneys say – The Washington Post

July 1, 2021

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Tesla Model S Plaid Spontaneously Caught Fire, Lawyer Says

July 1, 2021

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Tesla Model S Plaid caught fire while driver was at the wheel, says fire chief

July 1, 2021

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Ja’Wuan James files $15 million grievance against Denver Broncos, reaches two-year deal with Baltimore Ravens, sources say

Jun 7, 2021

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‘Tragic but justified:’ Legal, police experts examine decision not to charge officers in fatal shooting of Andrew Brown on ‘Banfield’

May 19, 2021

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Ex-MLB Pitcher Says Signs Were Trade Secrets In Astros Suit

May 14, 2021

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Businesses Take COVID-19 Coverage Fights To 9th Circ.

May 11, 2021

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Evidentiary hearing in Jussie Smollett case scheduled in July

May 10, 2021

The actor has to be present at the hearing on July 14, Judge James Linn said. The hearing, closed to the public, will center on the possible contact between one of Smollett’s attorneys and the brothers who were allegedly paid by the former “Empire” star to stage a phony hate crime.

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Exclusive Panel: Armenian genocide recognized formally by President Biden, why now and what’s the global impact?

Apr 25, 2021

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After Derek Chauvin conviction, longtime defense attorneys sound off: ‘A preordained conclusion’

Apr 20, 2021

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Fyre Festival settlement may award ticket holders more than $7,000 each

Apr 16, 2021

Nearly four years after the infamous Fyre Festival flamed out, scammed ticket holders might finally see some restitution for the biggest party that never was.

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Attorney Mark Geragos discusses defendant not taking the stand, defense’s rest in day 14 of Chauvin trial

Apr 15, 2021

Criminal defense lawyer Mark Geragos joined Ashleigh Banfield Thursday to discuss the defense resting without putting Chauvin on the stand. Chauvin informed the court that he will not testify, saying he would invoke his Fifth Amendment right not to take the stand.

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The New York Times – Fyre Festival Ticket Holders Win $7,220 Each in Class-Action Settlement

Apr 15, 2021

Nearly four years after the infamous festival stranded thousands of attendees in the Bahamas, 277 ticket holders learned they will receive payouts, pending approval.

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Fyre Festival Ticket Holders Awarded $7,220 in Class Action Settlement

Apr 15, 2021

Fyre Festival has reached a settlement with 277 aggrieved ticket holders of the infamous 2017 Bahamian event, awarding each of them $7,220 payouts. The settlement between the ticket holders and the trustee of Fyre festival assets was filed in U.S. Bankruptcy Court – Southern District of New York on Tuesday.

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Just how much of an uphill battle does the defense have in the Derek Chauvin trial?

Apr 14, 2021

Ashleigh Banfield welcomes trial attorney Mark Geragos and Brian K Williams, who is the Executive Director of the LA County Sheriff Civilian Oversight Commission, to her program.

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NACPA – Interview: Mark Geragos

Mar 29, 2021

There are several significant names in the fabric of American life that have a background in music promotion. We can start with film entrepreneur Jerry Weintraub. There are others like Roger Ailes, who produced Broadway shows. There are yet others that nobody wants to talk about anymore.

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Anti-Trump PAC: Current GOP ‘No Different’ from ISIS

Jan 31, 2021

A recently released video clip from the left-wing MeidasTouch PAC brands Republican Party members as “traitors” unworthy of being called conservatives while describing the GOP as “no different” from the ISIS terror group.

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MeidasTouch To Air TV Ad Targeting Traitors Who Incited Capitol Insurrection…

Jan 18, 2021

Today MeidasTouch, a leading progressive Super PAC, launched a six-figure TV buy behind their new video ad targeting the leaders who incited the deadly insurrection on the Capitol.

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Lincoln Project and MeidasTouch Team up To Canvass Georgia Ahead of Jan 5th Runoff Election

December 23, 2020

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Colin Kaepernick’s Change the Whirled™

December 8, 2020

We are so inspired by Colin Kaepernick’s bold activism for racial justice that we did what we do best: We whipped up a euphoric flavor to honor his work.

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L.A. County must show evidence for outdoor dining ban, judge orders

December 2, 2020

A judge on Wednesday ordered Los Angeles County public health officials to show scientific evidence justifying the outdoor dining ban imposed last week amid soaring coronavirus cases.

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Nearly a decade after his murder conviction, Bulos Zumot to face new trial

November 4, 2020

Federal judge grants petition to man convicted of strangling Jennifer Schipsi, setting their cottage on fire

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California Supreme Court Orders Scott Peterson’s Murder Convictions To Be Reexamined

October 15, 2020

A judge on Wednesday ordered Los Angeles County public health officials to show scientific evidence justifying the outdoor dining ban imposed last week amid soaring coronavirus cases.

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Man Who Sped at 103 mph, Causing Fatal Crash, Wins New Sentencing

August 3rd, 2020

A youth who sped his Chevrolet Camaro at 103 mph in a residential area of Hacienda Heights, colliding with another vehicle and causing the death of the driver, succeeded in 2018 in beating a murder charge, and has now prevailed in the Court of Appeal for this district to the extent that he will be resentenced for vehicular manslaughter and reckless driving.

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The Walt Disney Company Announces Overall First-Look Deal with Colin Kaepernick

July 6th, 2020

The Walt Disney Company today announced an overall first-look deal with Colin Kaepernick’s production arm Ra Vision Media. The partnership will focus on telling scripted and unscripted stories that explore race, social injustice and the quest for equity, and will provide a new platform to showcase the work of Black and Brown directors and producers.

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Travelers Insurance Hit With Wave of Lawsuits Over Coronavirus Coverage

April 10th, 2020

Mark Geragos and his law firm — along with multiple clients — are suing Travelers Insurance for initially denying coverage of their pandemic-related claims.

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Attorney Ben Meiselas on Repping Colin Kaepernick, Interning for Diddy and Hillary Clinton

Apr 10, 2019

While there are many notable attorneys in the world, it’s a safe bet that Ben Meiselas has had one of the most remarkable careers of any 33-year-old lawyer working today.

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Eric Reid, through Mark Geragos’ law firm, demands invalidation of CBA

March 30th, 2020

If you thought the fight over the new CBA was over, think again. Free-agent safety Eric Reid has enlisted his collusion-case lawyer, Mark Geragos, to request invalidation of the new labor deal based on differences between the version proposed to players on March 5, 2020 and the final version, dated March 15, 2020, after the players ratified the CBA by a vote of 1,019 to 959. The letter also seeks a new vote on the CBA, along with an independent investigation regarding the reason(s) for the changes.

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Most defamation claims vs. Smollett lawyers tossed

March 19th, 2020

A federal judge tossed most of the claims in a lawsuit accusing two of actor Jussie Smollett’s lawyers of defaming brothers accused of helping the former “Empire” actor stage a racist and homophobic hate crime.

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Colin Kaepernick, Eric Reid attorneys rip NFL labor deal, says players are ‘left vulnerable’

March 9th, 2020

Prominent attorneys who represent Carolina Panthers safety Eric Reid and former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick urged players Monday to reject a proposed collective bargaining agreement with team owners.

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I take great offense to that. I’m not white. I’m Armenian

March 12, 2018

Suge Knight’s lawyer removed from murder case after charged with bribing witnesses.

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Did This L’Oréal Relaxer Make Women Go Bald?

September 15th, 2016

A relaxer marketed as a product that would make hair “instantly thicker and fuller, reversing damage from day one,” has allegedly done just the opposite, according to two women who tried it and are now suing the manufacturer, L’Oréal, for their subsequent scalp burns and hair loss.

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Chris Brown: How His Defense Team Will Ensure Charges Are Dropped — Lawyer Speaks

September 2nd, 2016

Chris Brown may never see the inside of a courtroom when it comes to the assault with a deadly weapon charges caused by Baylee Curran’s gun accusation.

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Chris Brown’s Lawyer: Accuser ‘Fabricated’ Gun Story

September 1st, 2016

Chris Brown’s lawyer reiterated his client’s innocence and dismissed the allegation that the singer pulled a gun on a woman, The Los Angeles Times reports.

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Chris Brown’s attorney blasts accuser, claiming ‘fabricated’ allegation of gun threat

August 31st, 2016

As police continued examining evidence seized from Chris Brown’s home — including security camera footage — the R&B singer’s attorney insisted Wednesday on his client’s innocence and questioned the motives of the accuser, a dethroned beauty queen and aspiring actress.

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EXCLUSIVE: Caught on camera – the Zara price ‘gouge’: Trendy fashion store is STILL ‘labeling in euros then charging in dollars’ claims man at center of multi-million dollar suit

August 29th, 2016

One of the world’s most recognizable clothing brands is in the limelight, not for a new fashion line but because of a lawsuit alleging it has engaged in deceptive pricing tactics.

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Lawsuit Alleges Zara Deceived Customers, Charged More than Prices Listed in Euros

August 24th, 2016

One of the world’s most recognizable clothing brands is in the limelight, not for a new fashion line but because of a lawsuit alleging it has engaged in deceptive pricing tactics.

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Zara Accused Of “Bait And Switch” Pricing In New Lawsuit

August 23rd, 2016

Rose, who works in business finance, told the cashier that he was overcharged. He said the cashier explained the store bases its price conversion on exchange rates at the time that the merchandise is manufactured, not sold.

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EXCLUSIVE: Zara – the fashion retailer favored by Kim Kardashian and Kate Middleton – accused of duping customers out of billions in a massive bait and switch pricing scam in class action lawsuit

August 22nd, 2016

Clothing company Zara has been accused of duping millions of American consumers in a massive pricing scam, according to a $5million class action lawsuit obtained exclusively by Daily Mail Online.

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FASHION RETAILER ZARA ACCUSED OF UNLAWFUL PRICING IN U.S.

August 23rd, 2016

Zara is a clothing company of choice of many celebrities, but the fashion retailer Monday got hit with a lawsuit for allegedly cheating American shoppers out of billions of dollars.

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Nine years ago, this student said his new teacher was touching little girls. But his school wouldn’t listen.

August 18th, 2016

Luis Perez, an Indio teenager, was watching television one night about four years ago when he saw a haunting face on the news. His fourth grade teacher had been arrested for molesting students.

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Geragos Firm Goes After Glassdoor for Email Blast Blunder

August 1st, 2016

Glassdoor Inc., the operator of the anonymous job review website, is facing down a massive class action after inadvertently revealing the email addresses of hundreds of thousands of users by failing to “blind CC” recipients on a mass email.

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Fired LAUSD teacher Rafe Esquith wins legal round against district

July 13th, 2016

A former Los Angeles Unified School District teacher won a round in court Wednesday when a judge ruled he can move forward with his lawsuit alleging he was removed from his classroom for criticizing many of the school district’s policies and initiatives.

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Former L.A. Unified teacher Rafe Esquith can continue with his lawsuit, judge rules

July 13th, 2016

A popular former Los Angeles Unified teacher who was investigated and fired after allegations of inappropriate behavior will be allowed to continue his defamation lawsuit against the school district, a Los Angeles Superior Court judge ruled Wednesday.

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JUST IN: Judge denies LA Unified request to dismiss lawsuit filed by fired teacher Rafe Esquith

July 14th, 2016

A Los Angeles Superior Court judge Wednesday denied LA Unified’s request to dismiss a lawsuit filed by well-known former fifth-grade teacher Rafe Esquith, who was fired in October.

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Snapchat sued by 14-year-old over sexually explicit content

July 8th, 2016

Celebrity attorney Mark Geragos filed a class-action lawsuit against the social media app on behalf of a 14-year-old boy from Los Angeles, whom the lawsuit refers to as John Doe, claiming that publishers are sharing content that parents would likely prohibit if they knew their children were being given unrestricted access.

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Snapchat Is Getting Sued, And The Reason Is Actually Kind Of Legit

July 7th, 2016

In the class action lawsuit, filed on behalf of the minors who were exposed to these “raunchy” materials, they seek a $50,000 payout for each alleged violation of the Communications Decency Act of 1996.

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Snapchat hit with class-action lawsuit over sexual content in Discover

July 7th, 2016

Snapchat is facing a new lawsuit over claims that Snapchat Discover routinely serves sexually explicit content to minors without warning them or their parents.

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Snapchat sued for being too sexy for minors

July 7th, 2016

Sapchat doesn’t do enough to warn teenagers and parents about sexual content on its app, according to a lawsuit filed Thursday by celebrity attorney Mark Geragos on behalf of a family.
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Judge holds up Uber settlement with drivers

June 30th, 2016

A federal judge withheld approval Thursday of a settlement of $84 million to $100 million for hundreds of thousands of Uber drivers in California and Massachusetts and questioned whether the deal would compensate drivers adequately for the claims they were giving up.

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Teen sues Pomona police over altercation at county fair

June 28th, 2016

A teenager who says he was subjected to an unprovoked beating by police at the Los Angeles County Fair when he was trying to film his father being taken into custody filed a lawsuit Monday in superior court against the Pomona Police Department.

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Arbitrator Revives Dunn Claims Against State Bar, Holden

June 20th, 2016

An arbitrator Friday revived claims brought against the State Bar by its former executive director, Joseph L. Dunn. Edward L. Infante, who dismissed all of Dunn’s claims in April but granted leave to amend with respect to three of them, overruled demurrers to two of the three amended claims.

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Arbitrator revives Dunn lawsuit against State Bar

June 20th, 2016

JAMS Arbitrator Edward A. Infante ruled Friday that three of Dunn’s four remaining causes of action could proceed past motions to dismiss, and he kept all three defendants in the case.

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Dunn Clears Hurdle in Retaliation Suit Against Bar

June 17th, 2016

An arbitrator on Friday gave a green light to whistleblower-retaliation and breach of covenant claims filed by Joe Dunn against the State Bar of California stemming from his November 2014 ouster as executive director.

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Police corruption scandal spills over into Ramirez lawsuit

June 9th, 2016

A still-unfolding scandal involving the criminal activities of former Bakersfield police detectives Damacio Diaz and Patrick Mara may be bleeding over into the wrongful-death case of Jorge Ramirez.

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Some Uber drivers object to proposed $100 million settlement

May 17, 2016

One hundred million dollars is enough to fund a blockbuster movie, snap up several Beverly Hills mansions and, in Uber’s case, potentially settle two class-action lawsuits filed by drivers in California and Massachusetts who want to be classified as employees rather than contractors.

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Geragos Seeks Atty Ouster Over ‘Collusive’ $100M Uber Deal

May 12, 2016

Celebrity lawyer Mark Geragos and the former president of the Consumer Attorneys of California objected Wednesday in federal court to a proposed $100 million Uber driver settlement and called for removal of the plaintiffs’ lead attorney, saying drivers are being shortchanged by approximately $1 billion.

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Los Angeles Drivers File Objection To Uber Settlement

May 11, 2016

Uber’s $100 million class action settlement with drivers faces a new challenge in Southern California.

>>Watch Here


Attorney demands justice for Daniel Shaver and his family

May 4, 2016

(Video) Los Angeles attorney Mark Geragos demands justice for the family of Daniel Shaver

>>Watch Here


Calif. Bar Discipline Chief To Resign, Ending Turbulent Run

April 28, 2016

Law360, New York (April 28, 2016, 6:04 PM ET) — California’s top disciplinary trial counsel, Jayne Kim, announced her pending resignation Thursday following a tumultuous five-year tour.

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Thomas Jefferson School of Law Hosts Lecture on Armenian Genocide

April 27, 2016

Last week, Thomas Jefferson School of Law hosted a lecture entitled, “Genocide and the Law 101 Years Later.” The event was organized by the Thomas Jefferson School of Law Armenian Law Student Association.

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Sunnyvale-based Intuitive Surgical settles litigation over robotic arms

April 21, 2016

SAN JOSE — With a jury weighing its alleged liability, Intuitive Surgical on Wednesday settled a lawsuit brought by a Placer County woman who blamed severe internal injuries suffered during a hysterectomy seven years ago on an early generation of the Sunnyvale-based company’s robotic arms.

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Pleasanton: Lawsuit filed in fatal officer-involved shooting of teen

April 05, 2016

PLEASANTON — The family of a San Jose teenager who was shot dead by a police officer in an incident last summer filed a state lawsuit against the Pleasanton Police Department on Monday.

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Chris Brown — Alleged Ex-GF Shut Down in Court … No Restraining Order

March 29, 2016

The woman claiming to be Chris Brown’s ex-girlfriend didn’t get the restraining order she requested after failing to produce any evidence she’d ever dated the singer.

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Family of Texas man killed in Mesa Police shooting at odds with state over treatment of defendant

March 24, 2016

The family of a Texas father who was fatally shot by a Mesa police officer in January is demanding a federal investigation into what they are calling an “outrageous police cover-up” by the Mesa Police Department and county prosecutors as they await the release of vital information related to the man’s death.

>>Read more


Zillow Sales Reps Win Class Cert. In OT Wage Suit

February 29, 2016

Law360, Los Angeles (February 29, 2016, 10:09 PM ET) — A California federal judge granted class certification on Friday to a group of Zillow Inc. sales representatives accusing the online real estate marketplace of stiffing them on overtime, saying Zillow has failed to refute the workers’ two common questions at the heart of the suit.

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Eos settles lawsuit over rashes, blisters

January 28, 2016

A class action lawsuit against eos lip balm that claimed the product caused a California woman to break out in a severe rash and blistering has been resolved, the company announced Thursday.

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Women Say They Have Blisters And Rashes After Using EOS Lip Balm

January 13, 2016

A new class-action lawsuit against EOS lip balm claims that the product causes rashes and blisters around users’ mouths.

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EOS Lip Balm Can Damage Skin, Class Action Lawsuit Alleges

January 13, 2016

A class action lawsuit has been filed against EOS, claiming its lip balm causes skin to crack, bleed and blister.

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EOS Lip Balm Sued by Consumer for Allegedly Damaging Skin, Causing Rashes on Lips — Read the Lawsuit

January 13, 2016

A woman is suing EOS, the widely popular circular-shaped lip balm, alleging that the product left her with damaged skin; dry, bleeding lips; and in severe pain for several days.

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Class-Action Lawsuit Claims EOS Lip Balm Causes Skin to Crack, Blister and Bleed

January 13, 2016

A class-action lawsuit claims the popular lip balm by EOS causes skin to crack, bleed and blister.

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Education Matters Attorneys for famed teacher Rafe Esquith criticize release of documents

December 09, 2015

Attorneys for nationally recognized teacher Rafe Esquith on Wednesday criticized the release of disciplinary records that provided the first extensive details of allegations against the educator, calling them “discredited and baseless.”

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Man who lost part of skull in shooting files claim against LAPD

December 06, 2015

LOS ANGELES – An unarmed man who lost a quarter of his skull after being shot by a Los Angeles police officer notified the city and police department on Wednesday that he plans to sue, claiming the shooting was part of a broad, disturbing pattern in the police force of the nation’s second-largest city.

>>Read more


One-Time Suspect in Transgender Beating Argues LAPD Ignored Evidence

December 06, 2015

In May 2013, then-22-year-old Vivian Diego, a transgender woman, was brutally beaten on the streets of Hollywood. She was hospitalized for a week with a broken jaw, broken ribs and fractured eye sockets.

>>Read more


Attorney for famed teacher Rafe Esquith files class action suit against L.A. Unified

December 06, 2015

An attorney for celebrated Los Angeles Unified teacher Rafe Esquith on Thursday accused the district of employing an “investigative hit squad” to drum up false charges against older, well-paid teachers in an effort to avoid paying their retirement benefits.

>>Read more


Famed teacher Esquith sues school system amid release of new allegations

August 13, 2015

Famed teacher Rafe Esquith sued the Los Angeles school district Thursday as officials released new abuse allegations against the fifth-grade instructor.

>>Read more


Aspiring actor to be retried on previous rape and assault convictions

August 10, 2015

A Los Angeles County judge has ordered a new trial on the remaining sexual assault convictions against an aspiring actor after finding that his previous attorney — famed celebrity lawyer Robert Shapiro — provided ineffective counsel during his sexual assault trial.

>>Read more


Celebrity lawyers Shapiro and Geragos at odds over sex tape in actor’s rape case

June 14, 2015

Two women, who didn’t know each other, told authorities about separate incidents in which they had accompanied actor Robert Aaron Stephens on a night out in Hollywood. They both accepted a drink from him and quickly felt dazed after drinking it. Each woman testified that they were later sexually assaulted at his apartment.

>>Read more


Judge dismisses charges against owner of Rottweiler killed by Hawthorne police

May 21, 2015

A Los Angeles County judge has dismissed all remaining charges against the owner of a Rottweiler whose dog was shot and killed by Hawthorne police, an incident that was recorded by cameras and went viral, sparking a national debate about excessive force and animal cruelty.

>>Read More


Judge dismisses remaining charges against Leon Rosby in Hawthorne police dog shooting case

May 20, 2015

A judge today dismissed the remaining charges filed against a Hawthorne man whose Rottweiler was shot to death by a Hawthorne police officer during his 2013 arrest.

>>Read More


Panel reverses murder conviction, cites judicial misconduct

April 20, 2015

A state appellate court has reversed a mother’s 50 year-to-life sentence for second-degree murder in the death of her newborn after finding that the trial court judge improperly withheld evidence, disparaged the defense’s expert witness and bolstered the prosecution in the jury’s presence.

Riverside County Superior Court Judge W. Charles Morgan, “through his comments, conveyed to the jury his belief that the defense case was meritless and the prosecution’s case was strong,” wrote 4th District Court of Appeal Justice Kathleen E. O’Leary in a 50-page unpublished opinion. The “cumulative effect of the trial judge’s misconduct and the evidentiary errors requires reversal.” Justices William W. Bedsworth and Richard M. Aronson concurred. People v. McGee, G050402 (Cal. App. 4th Dist., filed Sep. 6, 2012).

Marlo Sheree McGee was a 30-year-old mother with sickle cell anemia who gave birth to a healthy daughter named Keira in 2007. A month after the baby’s birth, McGee found the child in her crib not breathing around 3 a.m. The child was pronounced dead by paramedics who arrived a short time later, and an autopsy revealed three blunt force trauma injuries to the skull as well as methadone in the newborn’s blood.

Andrew S. Mestman of the state attorney general’s office repeatedly referred to McGee as a “lazy drug addict who loved drugs more than she loved the health of Keira,” according to a trial transcript cited in the opinion, despite the fact that evidence showed McGee had therapeutic, not excessive, levels of prescribed medication in her system that doctors had said would not interfere with her breastfeeding.

“There was a lot of racist code language used throughout this trial,” said McGee’s appellate counsel, Mark J. Geragos of Geragos & Geragos PC. “After I read the transcript I was appalled.” McGee is African-American.

When trial defense counsel Miles Clark III of Clark, Clark & Associates PC attempted to show that McGee’s medications often resulted in her becoming drowsy and unsteady, and that any injury the child sustained could have been accidental and linked to the mother’s involuntary intoxication, Morgan repeatedly prevented the defense’s key witness, a toxicologist, from testifying about the drugs’ side effects and the mother’s condition.

The expert attempted to raise the importance of sickle cell disease in the case both to highlight the severity of the mother’s pain and to explain how the child’s internal bleeding in the head could have appeared more severe than the injury that caused it due to her possibly also having sickle cell anemia. But Morgan interjected, saying “I’m not going to allow this complete fabrication or potential fabrication to come into evidence.”

When the expert said that the judge was not allowing him to respond, Morgan responded by saying, “Doctor, you know, I’m in charge.”

Both statements occurred in front of the jury, and the appellate court repeatedly disapproved of the fact that the judge did not call defense to sidebar, but chose to disparage him openly and leading the jury to believe that throughout the trial the court found the defense incredible.

“The trial judge belittled and discredited Pietruszka, the defense’s key witness, when in the jury’s presence he repeatedly told Pietruszka there was nobody on this ‘earth’ or ‘planet’ who could say Keira’s death was accidental,” the justices said. “Although the judge may have intended to say no expert could testify as to the manner of death, given the judge’s general hostility toward the defense, it is far more probable the jury interpreted the judge’s statement to mean no juror could reasonably conclude her death was accidental.”

Interestingly, the justices found that there was sufficient evidence to establish that McGee did inflict the injuries causing her daughter’s death – the fact that McGee was alone with the child for hours with the door locked after 10:30 p.m., when other family members had last seen the baby in good health.

But “the critical issue at trial was whether her death was intentional or accidental,” O’Leary wrote. Finding that the error violated due process under the Constitution, the panel found that cumulative effect of the judge’s conduct was not harmless beyond a reasonable doubt.

“One of the lessons here is that you need to get on the record exactly what the judge is doing, and if you’re objecting to it you have to explain why, even if the judge is ordering you not to talk,” said Geragos. “It’s the basic fundamental oath that every lawyer takes, to zealously represent your client even at the risk of harming yourself.”

america_hernandez@dailyjournal.com


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