Less than 1: PM Edition, July 9

Less than 1: PM Edition, July 9

This evening on Less than 1: a judge keeps MacLaren Hall sex abuse cases on track for trial, a grand jury backs the LA sheriff oversight panel in its records fight, and Gibson Dunn joins the LA28 legal team for the 2028 Olympics. Also: a published ruling says anti-gay harassment is sexual harassment under FEHA, two longtime 2nd District justices retire, and businesses brace for fallout as the Supreme Court strips regulatory independence from federal agencies. Stories mentioned in this episode: Judge keeps MacLaren Hall sex abuse cases on track for trial https://dailyjournal.com/articles/392905-judge-keeps-maclaren-hall-sex-abuse-cases-on-track-for-trial Grand jury backs LA sheriff oversight panel in records fight https://dailyjournal.com/articles/392903-grand-jury-backs-la-sheriff-oversight-panel-in-records-fight Gibson Dunn joins LA28 legal team for 2028 Olympics https://dailyjournal.com/articles/392894-gibson-dunn-joins-la28-legal-team-for-2028-olympics Published ruling says anti-gay harassment is sexual harassment under FEHA https://dailyjournal.com/articles/392888-published-ruling-says-anti-gay-harassment-is-sexual-harassment-under-feha 2nd District Court of Appeal loses two longtime justices to retirement https://dailyjournal.com/articles/392889-2nd-district-court-of-appeal-loses-two-longtime-justices-to-retirement (NYT) Businesses Fear Politicization as Trump Gains More Power Over U.S. Agencies https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/07/technology/scotus-agencies-companies-regulation.html

Less than 1: AM Edition, July 9

This morning on Less than 1: the state auditor details failures behind the flawed February bar exam, and a judge allows a class action to proceed testing whether utility billing companies qualify as debt collectors under California law. Also: the California Supreme Court affirms counties' power to oversee sheriff's offices, global deal-making hits a decade high fueled by AI and a permissive regulatory climate, and California soccer fans sue StubHub over failed World Cup ticket deliveries. Stories mentioned in this episode: Court allows class action testing utility billing under debt collection laws https://www.dailyjournal.com/articles/392884-court-allows-class-action-testing-utility-billing-under-debt-collection-laws (SF Chronicle) California Supreme Court affirms counties' power to oversee sheriff's offices https://www.sfchronicle.com/politics/article/oversight-sheriff-s-offices-allowed-california-22338096.php (NYT) A $3.2 trillion deal-making boom is being fueled by AI and a permissive regulatory climate https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/09/business/ai-boom-corporate-deals.html (LA Times) California soccer fans sue StubHub after it fails to deliver expensive World Cup tickets https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2026-07-09/california-soccer-fans-sue-stubhub-after-it-fails-to-deliver-expensive-world-cup-tickets

Less than 1: PM Edition, July 8

This evening on Less than 1: a judge narrows evidence disputes before the second social media addiction trial, and Chief Justice Roberts transfers a misconduct probe of a 9th Circuit judge to the 4th Circuit. Also: ex-pitcher Scott Erickson seeks a $14 million offset from the $198 million Iskander wrongful death judgment, Deere settles the FTC's right-to-repair lawsuit, Florida's OpenAI case lands with Judge Aileen Cannon, and the ABA weighs further rollbacks to law school diversity rules. Stories mentioned in this episode: LA Judge narrows evidence disputes before 2nd social media trial https://www.dailyjournal.com/articles/392877-la-judge-narrows-evidence-disputes-before-2nd-social-media-trial Roberts sends misconduct probe of 9th Circuit judge to 4th Circuit https://www.dailyjournal.com/articles/392880-roberts-sends-misconduct-probe-of-9th-circuit-judge-to-4th-circuit Ex-pitcher seeks $14M offset from $198M wrongful death judgment https://www.dailyjournal.com/articles/392825-ex-pitcher-seeks-14m-offset-from-198m-wrongful-death-judgment (Reuters) Deere settles lawsuit by US FTC, states over equipment repair restrictions https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/deere-settles-lawsuit-by-us-ftc-states-over-equipment-repair-restrictions-2026-07-08/ (Politico) Florida’s OpenAI lawsuit moves to federal court — and gets assigned to Aileen Cannon https://www.politico.com/news/2026/07/08/floridas-openai-lawsuit-federal-court-aileen-cannon-00990156 (Reuters) ABA eyes more rollbacks to law school diversity rules https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/aba-eyes-more-rollbacks-law-school-diversity-rules-2026-07-08/

Less than 1: AM Edition, July 8

This morning on Less than 1: the DOJ intervenes in California's clean trucks case calling the state's enforcement bid a "stunning act of defiance," a wedding dress shop owner sues OpenAI over ChatGPT business advice, and a former Alignment Healthcare executive alleges accounting irregularities and retaliation. Also: the ABA seeks White House records tied to Trump's law firm executive orders, LA County moves toward giving affordable housing groups first crack at apartment sales, and a New Jersey bill would mandate multiple sensors for autonomous vehicles — effectively blocking Tesla. Stories mentioned in this episode: (Reuters) ABA seeks White House records tied to Trump's law-firm executive orders https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/aba-seeks-white-house-records-tied-trumps-law-firm-executive-orders-2026-07-08/ (LAist) LA County wants to put affordable housing groups first in line to buy apartment buildings https://laist.com/news/housing-homelessness/los-angeles-county-board-supervisors-community-opportunity-to-purchase-act-vote-apartment-building-sales-renters-landlords (The Verge) The robotaxi law that could ban Tesla https://www.theverge.com/transportation/962309/new-jersey-robotaxi-bill-lidar-tesla

Less than 1: PM Edition, July 7

This evening on Less than 1: the 9th Circuit questions California's ban on mandatory workplace meetings, a judge rejects Meta's bid to shield moderation claims under Section 230, and Sable asks the Trump administration to seize California land for its pipeline. Also: a Fresno city council candidate resigns from a legal aid board amid campaign controversy, Yale Law's dean pushes back against a Trump administration settlement, and charges are dropped against the California man who drove his family off a cliff. Stories mentioned in this episode: 9th Circuit questions California's ban on mandatory workplace meetings https://www.dailyjournal.com/articles/392822-9th-circuit-questions-california-s-ban-on-mandatory-workplace-meetings Judge rejects Meta's bid to shield moderation claims under Section 230 https://www.dailyjournal.com/articles/392821-judge-rejects-meta-s-bid-to-shield-moderation-claims-under-section-230 Sable asks Trump administration to seize California land for pipeline https://www.dailyjournal.com/articles/392824-sable-asks-trump-administration-to-seize-california-land-for-pipeline (Fresno Bee) Fresno council candidate resigns from CA legal board. Was he on way out over ICE? https://www.fresnobee.com/news/local/article316415226.html (NYT) Yale Law School Fights to Stop Trump Deal https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/07/us/yale-law-school-dean-trump-deal.html (AP) Charges dropped against California man who drove family off cliff after mental health diversion https://apnews.com/article/california-driver-car-drove-off-cliff-1863d68448fe091a99817ebc4dc230cd