Insight

In the News: Southern California

A summary of newsworthy content from Southern California lawyers and law firms.

Southern California In the News
CO

Compiled by Nicole Ortiz

November 9, 2017 12:32 PM

IN THE HEADLINES

Baum, Hedlund, Aristei & Goldman: Timothy A. Loranger (aviation law; personal injury litigation – plaintiffs; product liability litigation – plaintiffs, 2017) filed a wrongful death lawsuit in Los Angeles County Superior Court against American Airports Corporation Inc. on behalf of Michelle Gochie. Gochie’s husband was killed by a fire that ignited after his plane crashed at Compton Airport, but she “alleges that her late husband Richard Gochie’s wrongful death was caused by AAC’s negligence in failing to provide adequate Crash, Fire, and Rescue (CFR) services that may have saved Gochie’s life,” reports the Compton Herald. Her late husband was piloting an aircraft while trying to pick up an advertising banner on August 9, 2015, when he was unable to level out after snagging then releasing the banner. His plane turned nose down before crashing into the ground and bursting into flames.

Law Offices of Carl Shusterman: Carl Shusterman (immigration law, 1995) is representing Mexican couple Maria and Eusebio Mendoza-Sanchez who were forced to purchase plane tickets back to Mexico by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Eusebio came to the United States in 1989 and Maria in 1992; he became a truck driver, and she worked as a nurse. Three of their four children will remain in Oakland as legal residents while their youngest child will return to Mexico with his parents.

McNicholas & McNicholas: Patrick McNicholas (personal injury litigation – plaintiffs, 2016) and his firm alongside Frantz Law Group have filed a class action lawsuit against the state Department of Water Resources on behalf of Francis Bechtel, Jacob Klein, Mary Watson, and a proposed group of 188,000 residents that had been ordered to evacuate their homes on February 12. They say that negligence by DWR and inadequate maintenance of the dam over the course of many years were to blame for the spillway evacuations.

HONORABLE MENTION

Berger Kahn: Sherman M. Spitz (litigation – insurance; personal injury litigation – plaintiffs, 2016) was accepted into the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) in June. The organization is comprised of trial lawyers and judges who are dedicated to conserving civil jury trial and Seventh Amendment rights.

Fisher Phillips: James J. McDonald, Jr., (employment law – management; labor law – management, 2007) was elected chair of the Greater Irvine Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, which took place on July 1.

Keller/Anderle: Kay Anderle (criminal defense: general practice; criminal defense: white-collar, 2011) received the 2016 Thomas A. Mesereau Cup, a national award, for her work in criminal defense law. The Litigation Counsel of America presents the award to its elite, invitation-only members who make up less than half of 1 percent of all U.S. lawyers.

ITN FEATURE

Driver Imprisoned after DUI Crash Kills MMA Fighter’s Toddler

Hutton & Wilson: Richard A. Hutton (DUI/DWI defense, 2008) defended 72-year-old Donna Marie Higgins who drunkenly crashed her car into the stroller of 15-month-old Liam Mikael Kowal, toddler son of the Swedish-born MMA fighter Marcus Kowal, on September 3, 2016.

Liam was being pushed in a stroller by his 15-year-old aunt when Higgins crashed into them as she drove to a local store. He did not have a pulse when police arrived, and his aunt was also injured in the incident. His family took him off life support the following day after he was declared brain dead.

“What happened was a terrible accident,” Hutton said, according to The San Diego Union-Tribune. “She’s deeply remorseful, has taken full responsibility for her actions, and is very sorry for the grief she caused everybody, in particular the parents.”

Higgins was sentenced to six years in prison on charges of vehicular manslaughter. Initially she was booked on suspicions of felony hit-and-run and drunk driving charges, but that changed after the boy died.

Kowal has since become an advocate against drunk driving since the crash, and he even assisted with a petition that urged legislators to toughen legal limit laws that typically allow for people with a blood alcohol content level less than .08 percent to drive.

Related Articles

In the News: South Florida


by Compiled by Nicole Ortiz

A summary of newsworthy content from South Florida lawyers and law firms.

South Florida In the News 2018

In the News: Pennsylvania


by Nicole Ortiz

A summary of newsworthy content from Pennsylvania lawyers and law firms.

Pennsylvania In the News 2018

In the News: Northern California


by Compiled by Nicole Ortiz

A summary of newsworthy content from Northern California lawyers and law firms.

Northern California In the News 2018

In the News: St. Louis


by Compiled by Nicole Ortiz

A summary of newsworthy content from St. Louis lawyers and law firms.

St. Louis In the News 2018

In the News: New Jersey


by Nicole Ortiz

A summary of newsworthy content from New Jersey lawyers and law firms.

New Jersey In the News

In the News 2017: Colorado


by Compiled by Tess Congo

Newsworthy highlights of lawyers from Colorado.

Colorado Lawyers in the News

The Price of Admission


by Janice Zhou

States and the federal government are engaged in a pitched battle over immigration and refugee settlement—with the legal profession caught in the middle, taking fire from both sides.

Immigration Reform in Connecticut

Loophole or Fatal Flaw?


by Joseph Begonis

Canada's Best Lawyers share their thoughts on the Safe Third Country Agreement

What Is the Safe Third Country Agreement?

Funding for University Programs Takes a Hit


by Joseph Begonis

Plus more news on Canada's Best Lawyers 2020

Funding Cuts for Canadian University Programs

In the News: New York


by Best Lawyers

News and Events for New York Lawyers

In the News: New York

In the News: Northern California


by Best Lawyers

News and notes from lawyers in Northern California

In the News: Northern California

In the News: Tampa


by Best Lawyers

In the News: Tampa

In the News: Tampa

Why Was a 6-Year-Old Arrested at a Florida School?


by Christopher L. Marlowe

The Unintended Consequences of Zero Tolerance

Why Was a 6-Year-Old Arrested at School

In the News: New England


by Best Lawyers

A roundup of relevant news for listed lawyers in New England.

New England Legal News

In the News: Connecticut


by Best Lawyers

A roundup of notable news of listed lawyers in your area.

Connecticut Legal News Roundup

Meet Patricia Brown Holmes, the Lawyer Representing Jussie Smollett


by Best Lawyers

Patricia Brown Holmes had a celebrated career long before she began defending Jussie Smollett.

Who Is Jussie Smollett's Lawyer

Trending Articles

2025 Best Lawyers Awards Announced: Honoring Outstanding Legal Professionals Across the U.S.


by Jennifer Verta

Introducing the 31st edition of The Best Lawyers in America and the fifth edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America.

Digital map of the United States illuminated by numerous bright lights

Unveiling the 2025 Best Lawyers Awards Canada: Celebrating Legal Excellence


by Jennifer Verta

Presenting the 19th edition of The Best Lawyers in Canada and the 4th edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in Canada.

Digital map of Canadathis on illuminated by numerous bright lights

Legal Distinction on Display: 15th Edition of The Best Lawyers in France™


by Best Lawyers

The industry’s best lawyers and firms working in France are revealed in the newly released, comprehensive the 15th Edition of The Best Lawyers in France™.

French flag in front of country's outline

Announcing the 13th Edition of Best Lawyers Rankings in the United Kingdom


by Best Lawyers

Best Lawyers is proud to announce the newest edition of legal rankings in the United Kingdom, marking the 13th consecutive edition of awards in the country.

British flag in front of country's outline

Announcing the 16th Edition of the Best Lawyers in Germany Rankings


by Best Lawyers

Best Lawyers announces the 16th edition of The Best Lawyers in Germany™, featuring a unique set of rankings that highlights Germany's top legal talent.

German flag in front of country's outline

Celebrating Excellence in Law: 11th Edition of Best Lawyers in Italy™


by Best Lawyers

Best Lawyers announces the 11th edition of The Best Lawyers in Italy™, which features an elite list of awards showcasing Italy's current legal talent.

Italian flag in front of country's outline

Combating Nuclear Verdicts: Empirically Supported Strategies to Deflate the Effects of Anchoring Bias


by Sloan L. Abernathy

Sometimes a verdict can be the difference between amicability and nuclear level developments. But what is anchoring bias and how can strategy combat this?

Lawyer speaking in courtroom with crowd and judge in the foreground

Things to Do Before a Car Accident Happens to You


by Ellie Shaffer

In a car accident, certain things are beyond the point of no return, while some are well within an individual's control. Here's how to stay legally prepared.

Car dashcam recording street ahead

The Push and Pitfalls of New York’s Attempt to Expand Wrongful Death Recovery


by Elizabeth M. Midgley and V. Christopher Potenza

The New York State Legislature recently went about updating certain wrongful death provisions and how they can be carried out in the future. Here's the latest.

Red tape blocking off a section of street

Find the Best Lawyers for Your Needs


by Jennifer Verta

Discover how Best Lawyers simplifies the attorney search process.

A focused woman with dark hair wearing a green top and beige blazer, working on a tablet in a dimly

Key Developments and Trends in U.S. Commercial Litigation


by Justin Smulison

Whether it's multibillion-dollar water cleanliness verdicts or college athletes vying for the right to compensation, the state of litigation remains strong.

Basketball sits in front of stacks of money

Prop 36 California 2024: California’s Path to Stricter Sentencing and Criminal Justice Reform


by Jennifer Verta

Explore how Prop 36 could shape California's sentencing laws and justice reform.

Illustrated Hands Breaking Chains Against a Bright Red Background

Is Premises Liability the Same as Negligence?


by Jeremy Wilson and Taylor Rodney Marks

In today's age, we are always on the move, often inhabiting spaces we don't own. But what happens when someone else's property injures you or someone you know?

A pair of silhouetted legs falling down a hole with yellow background

Woman on a Mission


by Rebecca Blackwell

Baker Botts partner and intellectual property chair Christa Brown-Sanford discusses how she juggles work, personal life, being a mentor and leadership duties.

Woman in green dress crossing her arms and posing for headshot

Why Backlinks Matter for Law Firm SEO


by Nancy Lippincott

The key ingredient to a law firm's online search visibility could lie within backlinks, a driving factor in the industry's efforts to build an SEO-based future.

Collection of search bars, menus and posts in front of gray background

Best Lawyers Celebrates Women in the Law: Ninth Edition


by Alliccia Odeyemi

Released in both print and digital form, Best Lawyers Ninth Edition of Women in the Law features stories of inspiring leadership and timely legal issues.

Lawyer in green dress stands with hands on table and cityscape in background