The Third District Court of Appeal has rejected the view that causes of action asserted against the state under a Vehicle Code section that imposes liability for the negligent driving of public employees are immune from the Government Claims Act’s requirement that a party wishing to sue a governmental body must submit a written claim to that agency before seeking redress in court.

(Subscription required) Sanctions against lawyers who have filed court documents with fake citations and AI-invented quotes have soared, from $5,000 in the landmark 2023 case Mata v. Avianca to a recent six-digit figure.

The court-mandated reform effort began as part of a 2003 settlement in a federal civil-rights lawsuit rooted in an infamous Oakland police misconduct case known as the Riders scandal. As part of the negotiated settlement agreement — known locally as the NSA — the city agreed to implement dozens of reforms intended to overhaul the department’s accountability mechanisms, reduce racial disparities in policing and curb officer misconduct.

(Subscription required) Language in SB 873 says federal immigration agents who conduct civil arrests in courtrooms are liable for false imprisonment damages of up to $10,000, unless they have a judicial warrant.