Latest California Headlines

All the headlines from our California Topic Page, ordered by recency.

California School District to Pay $8M For Teacher Attack

Jan 24 2014 // Eight Northern California families of special-needs students who were physically and verbally abused by a teacher during school will receive $8 million to settle a lawsuit.The Contra Costa Times reported the trustees of...

Worries Mount Over Winter Wildfire Season Not Soon to End

Jan 23 2014 // A winter wildfire season offers some unique challenges for firefighters like Mike Lopez.Lopez is president of CDF Firefighters, which represents the employees of California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, or...

State Laws Provide Leeway For Businesses Reporting Data Breaches

Jan 20 2014 // A decade of lawmaking by U.S. states to ensure consumers are told when their data has been hacked still lets companies such as Target Corp. wait weeks or even months to disclose security breaches.Forty-six of 50 U.S....

Higgins Joins Swett & Crawford’s Professional Services Group in California

Jan 17 2014 // Swett & Crawford, part of Cooper Gay Swett & Crawford, is expanding its professional services practice group with the addition of Gregg Higgins. Higgins will join Swett & Crawford’s Irvine, Calif. office...

Bolton & Co. Acquires Rick Gombar Insurance in California

Jan 17 2014 // Bolton & Co. has acquired Los Angeles-based Rick Gombar Insurance Services Inc., an independent insurance agency that provides professional protection for the security industry. As part of the transaction, Rick Gombar,...

Drought Emergency Proclaimed by California Governor

Jan 17 2014 // California Gov. Jerry Brown on Friday proclaimed a state of emergency and directed state officials to take all necessary actions to prepare for drought conditions.“We can’t make it rain, but we can be much...

Twenty Years Later Big Lesson From Northridge Quake Lost

Jan 17 2014 // Twenty years ago today a big one hit the Los Angeles area, killing several people and injuring thousands, damaging tens of thousands of properties, shutting down businesses, putting out of operation some of the...

Lawsuit Over Michael Jackson Insurance Settled In California

Jan 17 2014 // A lawsuit over the payout of a $17.5 million policy related to Michael Jackson’s planned comeback concerts has been settled, attorneys told a judge on Wednesday.Lawyers for Certain Underwriters at Lloyd’s of...

California Diocese Files For Bankruptcy Due to Sex Abuse Payouts

Jan 17 2014 // A Roman Catholic diocese in Central California filed for bankruptcy protection on Wednesday after paying out millions of dollars to plaintiffs who made sexual abuse allegations during the past two decades.The Diocese of...

Autonomous Vehicle Testing Regulations for California Coming Soon

Jan 16 2014 // If you think Google when you think about autonomous vehicles driving the streets, you’re leaving out the rest of the players in what some see as the future of the auto industry.If fact, there are enough players in...

Southern California Wildfire Prompts Evacuations

Jan 16 2014 // A wildfire burned out of control near homes in the dry foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains early Thursday, fanned by gusty Santa Ana winds that spit embers into neighborhoods in the city below. Evacuations were ordered...

California Energy Drink Maker Monster Eyed by Prosecutors

Jan 16 2014 // The San Francisco city attorney and New York state attorney general have joined forces to investigate whether Monster Beverage Corp. is marketing its highly caffeinated drinks to children.The joint probe began last month...

Southern California Lawyer Convicted Of Using Cappers

Jan 16 2014 // Walter Martinez, 60, of Alta Loma, Calif. pled guilty to 43 felony counts of using cappers – recruiters paid from victims’ insurance settlement – to get clients for his practice.Martinez evidently his scheme with...

Southern California Fire Danger Driven By High Winds

Jan 15 2014 // Red flag warnings remain posted as dry and gusty Santa Ana winds continue to buffet much of Southern California.The National Weather Service says a high-wind warning is in effect until noon Wednesday. In San Bernardino...

California Workers’ Comp IMR Working: Study, Government

Jan 14 2014 // A key part to California’s sweeping workers’ compensation reform is working, according to a new study and the people running the system.More than 95 percent of workers’ comp medical treatment requests are...

Lockton Adds Trade Credit Expert Sukiasian in California

Jan 14 2014 // Lockton added Jackie Sukiasian as an account executive and member of Lockton’s trade credit and political risk team in Southern California. Sukiasian will operate out of the Los Angeles office. Prior to Lockton,...

Supreme Court Rejects Human Rights Claim Against Multinational Firm

Jan 14 2014 // The U.S. Supreme Court gave multinational companies a stronger shield against lawsuits, throwing out a case against Daimler AG over a company unit’s alleged collaboration in torture and killings in Argentina.The...

Heffernan Names Paletta Sales Manager, Benefits in California

Jan 13 2014 // Heffernan Insurance Brokers named Marc Paletta sales manager for its Northern California benefits team. Paletta began his career in underwriting before moving into sales as an account executive. He was promoted to regional...

Hull & Company Names Dumag as Underwriter, Broker in California

Jan 13 2014 // Jennifer Dumag has joined Hull & Company Inc. in its Stockton, Calif. office as a commercial lines underwriter and broker. Dumag will be responsible for marketing, underwriting and placement of excess and surplus and...

Workers’ Comp Law Firm ATB Opens Office In Los Angeles

Jan 13 2014 // Adelson, Testan, Brundo, Novell & Jimenez, a national law firm focusing on workers’ compensation defense, opened an office in Los Angeles and has named Michelle Y. Wu as managing partner in the new office. The...