Less than 1: AM Edition, June 8

Less than 1: AM Edition, June 8

This morning on Less than 1: a federal court weighs the future of a consent decree tied to the 2015 Refugio oil spill, and a judge certifies a nationwide class action against Ricoh over contractual price increases. Also: Trump says his team will look into the U.S. taking a stake in AI companies, SoFi Stadium workers vote to authorize a strike ahead of the World Cup, and Monterey Park becomes the first U.S. city to permanently ban datacenters by ballot. Stories mentioned in this episode: (Reuters) Trump says his team will 'look into' US taking stake in AI companies https://www.reuters.com/business/trump-says-his-team-will-look-into-us-taking-stake-ai-companies-2026-06-05/ (WSJ) L.A. Stadium Workers Vote to Strike Days Before the World Cup https://www.wsj.com/sports/soccer/l-a-stadium-workers-vote-to-strike-days-before-the-world-cup-387f0331 (The Guardian) In first, California city overwhelmingly votes to permanently ban datacenters https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jun/03/california-monterey-park-datacenters-ban?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Less than 1: PM Edition, June 5

This evening on Less than 1: Johnson and Johnson prevails in the second talc bellwether trial, rejecting claims its powders caused ovarian cancer in three women — a split result that could shape settlement talks in more than seventy thousand pending cases. Also: a Los Angeles judge tosses the murder indictment against former LAPD Officer Clifford Proctor in the 2015 Venice Beach shooting of Brendon Glenn, finding the special prosecutor failed to adequately present malice evidence — DA plans to appeal. And: a jury awards more than thirty-four million dollars to a tax attorney left brain-injured after a Granada Hills motorcycle crash, finding the city forfeited its design immunity by painting ten fewer feet of red curb than required. Plus: LA's city attorney has left a one-hundred-seventy-seven-million-dollar tenant aid contract unsigned for nearly three months — with her primary loss, advocates fear she has little incentive to act. Stories mentioned in this episode: Johnson & Johnson prevails in second talc bellwether trial https://dailyjournal.com/articles/391917-johnson-johnson-prevails-in-second-talc-bellwether-trial Jury awards $34.5M to injured tax attorney in roadway liability case https://dailyjournal.com/articles/391926-jury-awards-34-5m-to-injured-tax-attorney-in-roadway-liability-case Judge tosses murder charge against ex-LAPD officer in Venice Beach shooting https://dailyjournal.com/articles/391929-judge-tosses-murder-charge-against-ex-lapd-officer-in-venice-beach-shooting (LAist) City attorney has left $177M tenant aid contract unsigned for months. LA leaders want to know why https://laist.com/news/housing-homelessness/los-angeles-city-attorney-hydee-feldstein-soto-united-to-house-la-tenant-aid-contract

Less than 1: AM Edition, June 5

This morning on Less than 1: a Los Angeles judge largely preserves Pasadena and the Rose Bowl Operating Company's suit against UCLA, rejecting the university's anti-SLAPP motion as untimely and allowing breach of contract and related claims to proceed. Also: a federal judge throws out a lender challenge to California's subordinate-mortgage foreclosure law, finding sovereign immunity bars the case because Attorney General Rob Bonta doesn't directly enforce it. In case you missed it: a proposed class action accuses State Farm of spending a decade illegally restricting appraisal rights for more than one million California homeowners. And from Business Insider: Pope Leo the Fourteenth's encyclical on AI and human dignity may be handing faith-based employees legal grounds to seek workplace exemptions from AI mandates. Stories mentioned in this episode: State Farm accused of restricting appraisal rights in California https://dailyjournal.com/articles/391907-state-farm-accused-of-restricting-appraisal-rights-in-california (Business Inside) She won a religious exemption from using AI at work. The Pope's remarks could fuel similar appeals. https://www.businessinsider.com/worker-got-religious-exemption-using-ai-at-work-2026-6

Less than 1: PM Edition, June 4

This evening on Less than 1: an Orange County judge takes under submission whether the Supreme Court's recent decision narrowing the federal Voting Rights Act could doom a challenge to Huntington Beach's at-large elections under California's own voting rights law — with a UCLA expert warning the state statute could face a very serious constitutional challenge. And: a defense attorney urges a federal magistrate to force Quinn Emanuel to disclose who's bankrolling a fraud suit, suggesting the Chinese government may be pulling the strings. Plus, from the New York Times: a Newport Coast businessman is charged with routing American networking equipment through the UAE to Iran's nuclear agency and Ministry of Defense for more than a decade. Supreme Court's voting rights decision tests reach of California's election law https://dailyjournal.com/articles/391898-supreme-court-s-voting-rights-decision-tests-reach-of-california-s-election-law Defense lawyer wants Quinn Emanuel to disclose who's paying the bills https://dailyjournal.com/articles/391905-defense-lawyer-wants-quinn-emanuel-to-disclose-who-s-paying-the-bills (NYT) California Man Was Selling Restricted U.S. Tech to Iran, U.S. Says https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/04/us/sanctions-iran-nuclear-military-violations.html

Less than 1 - PM Edition, June 3

This evening on Less than 1: Los Angeles city attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto appears to concede defeat as Marissa Roy and John McKinney head toward a November runoff — plus two Bay Area incumbent DAs cruise to early leads in races watched statewide. Also: House Republicans advance a constitutional amendment to cap the Supreme Court at nine justices, and the L.A. City Council moves to delay a state transit-housing law with a local alternative. Stories mentioned in this episode: LA city attorney appears to concede defeat in 4-way race https://www.dailyjournal.com/articles/391868-la-city-attorney-appears-to-concede-defeat-in-4-way-race Incumbent Bay Area DAs cruise to victory https://www.dailyjournal.com/articles/391869-incumbent-bay-area-das-cruise-to-victory Gordon Rees adds 6 partners in Northern California expansion https://www.dailyjournal.com/articles/391862-gordon-rees-adds-6-partners-in-northern-california-expansion (Reuters) House Republicans advance constitutional amendment to prevent US Supreme Court expansion https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/house-republicans-advance-constitutional-amendment-prevent-us-supreme-court-2026-06-03/ (LAist) LA passes plan for new ‘low-rise’ housing, delaying state law that aims higher https://laist.com/news/los-angeles-sb-79-delay-low-rise-ordinance-housing-city-council-vote