Less than 1: PM Edition, June 18

Less than 1: PM Edition, June 18

This evening on Less than 1: Ford sues Los Angeles lemon law firm Quill & Arrow, alleging a $25 million billing fraud scheme that used overseas virtual assistants to perform legal work billed as California attorney time. Also: the union representing L.A. County prosecutors files an unfair labor practice claim against Nathan Hochman's office over bad-faith bargaining. And: comedian Carlos Mencia is charged with 12 felony tax counts — the first case out of the D.A.'s new Business Tax Fraud Unit. Plus: a federal appeals court clears the way for Ohio to require parental consent before children under 16 can use social media. Stories mentioned in this episode: Ford sues Quill & Arrow over alleged lemon law billing fraud https://dailyjournal.com/articles/392263-ford-sues-quill-arrow-over-alleged-lemon-law-billing-fraud Prosecutors union accuses LA County, DA of unfair labor practice https://dailyjournal.com/articles/392272-prosecutors-union-accuses-la-county-da-of-unfair-labor-practice Chief Justice Guerrero appoints eight new Judicial Council members https://dailyjournal.com/articles/392265-chief-justice-guerrero-appoints-eight-new-judicial-council-members Comedian Carlos Mencia is first target of LA DA's tax fraud unit https://dailyjournal.com/articles/392273-comedian-carlos-mencia-is-first-target-of-la-da-s-tax-fraud-unit (Reuters) U.S. court rules Ohio can restrict children's use of social media https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-court-rules-ohio-can-restrict-childrens-use-social-media-2026-06-18/

Less than 1: AM Edition, June 18

This morning on Less than 1: Judge Charles Breyer is set to hear Elon Musk's bid for a new trial and class decertification in the $2.6 billion Twitter securities case. Also: a discovery fight between Southern California Edison and SoCalGas lands before a judge in the coordinated Eaton Fire litigation. And: plaintiffs defend an $8.8 million verdict over Carson's 2021 odor crisis as defendants push for a new trial. Plus: the Supreme Court unanimously narrows the federal gun ban for drug users. Stories mentioned in this episode: Carson odor plaintiffs defend $8.8M verdict against post-trial challenge https://dailyjournal.com/articles/392245-carson-odor-plaintiffs-defend-8-8m-verdict-against-post-trial-challenge (NYT) Supreme Court Narrows Law Banning Drug Users From Owning Guns https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/18/us/politics/supreme-court-drugs-guns.html

Less than 1: PM Edition, June 17

This evening on Less than 1: a ballot initiative to dramatically curtail CEQA qualifies for the November ballot — plus an AI legal software company sues a rival over patent infringement, and a deputy DA unseats an incumbent Los Angeles judge in a rare election upset. Also: the FTC sues the leading transgender health care group over allegedly deceptive treatment guidelines. And this week on Bench & Bar: courtroom rhetoric, construction defect reform and the hidden labor of caregiving. Stories mentioned in this episode: Voters to decide fate of landmark environmental law https://www.dailyjournal.com/articles/392244-voters-to-decide-fate-of-landmark-environmental-law Deputy DA unseats incumbent LA judge in rare election upset https://www.dailyjournal.com/articles/392247-deputy-da-unseats-incumbent-la-judge-in-rare-election-upset AI legal software company sues rival over patent infringement https://www.dailyjournal.com/articles/392242-ai-legal-software-company-sues-rival-over-patent-infringement (Politico) FTC sues transgender care group, arguing it deceived parents and patients https://www.politico.com/news/2026/06/17/ftc-sues-transgender-care-group-arguing-it-deceived-parents-and-patients-00965962

Less than 1: AM Edition, June 17

This morning on Less than 1: a San Bruno explosion victim testifies she was kept in the dark about her family's $28 million settlement — plus Tyra Banks' defamation suit against Netflix tests the limits of documentary storytelling, and California's judicial ethics committee seeks public comment on a spouse-as-counsel appointment question. Also: legal experts say Texas law would make it nearly impossible to block a SpaceX-Tesla merger, and a new study finds clerkship stacking is curtailing opportunities for law grads. Stories mentioned in this episode: San Bruno victim testifies she was kept in dark about $28M settlement https://www.dailyjournal.com/articles/392230-san-bruno-victim-testifies-she-was-kept-in-dark-about-28m-settlement (NYT) Musk’s Next Move May Be a Megamerger of SpaceX and Tesla https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/17/business/spacex-tesla-merger-elon-musk.html (Reuters) Study finds law grads are 'stacking' judicial clerkships, curtailing opportunities for others https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/study-finds-law-grads-are-stacking-judicial-clerkships-curtailing-opportunities-2026-06-16/

Less than 1: PM Edition, June 16

This evening on Less than 1: opening statements begin in the State Bar disciplinary trial of a longtime Girardi Keese attorney accused of concealing the diversion of San Bruno settlement funds — plus Adobe is hit with a derivative suit over AI training claims, and OpenAI defeats xAI's trade secrets case. Also: the DOJ moves to dismiss the NAACP's clean air lawsuit against xAI, a judge signals Workday will likely face California discrimination claims over its AI hiring software, and an LA Council committee pulls council expansion from the November charter reform ballot. Stories mentioned in today's episode: State Bar alleges Girardi Keese lawyer helped conceal diversion of San Bruno settlement funds https://www.dailyjournal.com/articles/392215-state-bar-alleges-girardi-keese-lawyer-helped-conceal-diversion-of-san-bruno-settlement-funds Adobe hit with derivative suit over AI training claims https://www.dailyjournal.com/articles/392225-adobe-hit-with-derivative-suit-over-ai-training-claims OpenAI defeats xAI trade secrets case over recruiting presentation https://www.dailyjournal.com/articles/392224-openai-defeats-xai-trade-secrets-case-over-recruiting-presentation (NYT) D.O.J. Seeks to Halt Air Pollution Lawsuit Against xAI Data Center https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/16/climate/xai-musk-mississippi-grok-turbine-lawsuit-naacp.html (Reuters) Workday will likely face California claims in sprawling AI bias lawsuit https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/workday-will-likely-face-california-claims-sprawling-ai-bias-lawsuit-2026-06-16/ (LA Times) Panel balks at plans to expand L.A. City Council to 25 members https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2026-06-16/panel-balks-at-plans-to-expand-la-city-council-to-25-members