Less than 1: PM Edition, June 17

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

Less than 1: AM Edition, June 16

This morning on Less than 1: a new report ranks LA Superior Court among the nation's top venues for billion-dollar verdicts — plus former oversight commission chairs file a court petition to enforce sheriff subpoenas over use-of-force records, and Google settles a class action for $135 million over unauthorized cellular data use. Also: an Imperial Valley data center developer sues for Colorado River water access after pledging not to use it. Stories mentioned in this episode: LA Superior Court among nation's top venues for billion-dollar verdicts, report finds https://www.dailyjournal.com/articles/392213-la-superior-court-among-nation-s-top-venues-for-billion-dollar-verdicts-report-finds (KPBS) Imperial Valley data center developer files lawsuit seeking access to Colorado River water https://www.kpbs.org/news/environment/2026/06/15/imperial-valley-data-center-developer-files-lawsuit-seeking-access-to-colorado-river-water

Less than 1: PM Edition, June 15

This evening on Less than 1: California Gov. Gavin Newsom says the DOJ is investigating him and his wife — plus a proposed class action alleges Anthropic misleads subscribers about its premium Claude subscription limits, and Los Angeles's city attorney and Legal Aid clash over a stalled $177 million tenant protection program. Also: the Supreme Court agrees to weigh the prolonged detention of ICE detainees with criminal records. Stories mentioned in this episode: Newsom says DOJ is investigating him as experts warn of lasting consequences https://www.dailyjournal.com/articles/392207-newsom-says-doj-is-investigating-him-as-experts-warn-of-lasting-consequences Anthropic sued over claims about premium AI subscription limits https://www.dailyjournal.com/articles/392206-anthropic-sued-over-claims-about-premium-ai-subscription-limits City attorney, Legal Aid clash over $177M tenant program https://www.dailyjournal.com/articles/392205-city-attorney-legal-aid-clash-over-177m-tenant-program (Politico) Supreme Court wades into fight over ‘prolonged’ detention of some ICE detainees https://www.politico.com/news/2026/06/15/supreme-court-ice-detention-case-00962228?__cf_chl_tk=4vPDmpaF.9pvTYxf7q_cEfcdrgxunsR.fKxV99k0ypc-1781551790-1.0.1.1-TCHSsYXhxVHSs8H_Y30g5EgEwHdhgwPtN6fYCu0B0kA