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Update: Four California Courts Rule that Proposition 64 is Retroactive
Courts in California have issued contradictory rulings in the past 2 months about whether a reform of the state's Unfair Competition Act, California Business & Professions Code Sections 17200, et seq. (the “UCA”) is retroactive. Section 17200 was changed when California voters passed Proposition 64 in the Nov. 2004 election. Proposition 64 amends the UCA to delete the broad standing rules and to add a requirement that suit may be brought by a private plaintiff (as opposed to a suit brought by a County Attorney or Attorney General) only if the plaintiff has suffered “injury in fact” and has lost money or property as a result of the unfair competition. These reforms will likely reduce the incidence of Section 17200 litigation ' a development that is strongly supported by businesses across the state.
In the first decision, referenced in a “News Brief” in the March 2005 issue of FBLA, the court held that Proposition 64 did not apply to cases that were pending at the time of the election, Californians for Disability Rights v. Mervyn's, LLC, 2005 Cal.App.Lexis 160 (1st App. Dist., Feb. 1, 2005). The Mervyn's court relied on the general rule that “a new statute is presumed to operate prospectively absent an express declaration of retrospectivity or a clear indication that the electorate, or the Legislature, intended otherwise.” After determining that the voters had not voted on nor intended that the Proposition be applied retroactively, the court applied the general rule and held that a prospective application was appropriate.
The DOJ's Corporate Enforcement Policy: One Year Later
The DOJ's Criminal Division issued three declinations since the issuance of the revised CEP a year ago. Review of these cases gives insight into DOJ's implementation of the new policy in practice.
Use of Deferred Prosecution Agreements In White Collar Investigations
This article discusses the practical and policy reasons for the use of DPAs and NPAs in white-collar criminal investigations, and considers the NDAA's new reporting provision and its relationship with other efforts to enhance transparency in DOJ decision-making.
The DOJ's New Parameters for Evaluating Corporate Compliance Programs
The parameters set forth in the DOJ's memorandum have implications not only for the government's evaluation of compliance programs in the context of criminal charging decisions, but also for how defense counsel structure their conference-room advocacy seeking declinations or lesser sanctions in both criminal and civil investigations.
How AI Has Affected PR
When we consider how the use of AI affects legal PR and communications, we have to look at it as an industrywide global phenomenon. A recent online conference provided an overview of the latest AI trends in public relations, and specifically, the impact of AI on communications. Here are some of the key points and takeaways from several of the speakers, who provided current best practices, tips, concerns and case studies.