Ross Todd
ThinkAdvisor
San Francisco, CA, United States
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Past articles by Ross:
Judge Orders 67K UnitedHealthcare Claims Reprocessed
In the decision U.S. Chief Magistrate Judge Joseph Spero says the insurer's decisions were designed to protect its bottom line. → Read More
With COVID-19 Cases at Santa Rita Jail on the Rise, Federal Magistrates Reconsider Detention Decisions
“There is no evidentiary expert witness or commonsense support for the Government’s assessment that Daniels’s risk of infection at Santa Rita Jail is ‘likely low and manageable.’” wrote U.S. Magistrate Judge Nathanael Cousins. “To the contrary jails and prisons present extraordinarily dangerous conditions for the spread of the virus.” → Read More
Judge Pushes Back Restart in Accused LinkedIn Hacker's Trial to May
“We are an essential function and we’ve got to stand up and do our job. That’s my view” said U.S. District Judge William Alsup. → Read More
In Criminal Trial Stalled Over Coronavirus Concerns, Parties Willing To Move Forward
“The court’s jury assembly room will not permit sufficient distance between jurors” federal prosecutors wrote. “Once in the courtroom the jurors could theoretically be spread out while hearing evidence and arguments; however that could result in some jurors being able to see the witnesses and evidence better than others.” → Read More
As California’s High Court Resumes Argument in Altered Format, Parties Adapt
With four judges appearing spaced out on the bench in the court’s San Francisco headquarters and three hearing arguments remotely the court held its first session in the “social distancing” era. → Read More
LA City Attorney Forces Company Offering ‘FDA-Approved’ Home COVID-19 Tests To Cease Sales, Pay Refunds
Yikon Genomics Inc. and Brandon Hensinger the CEO of the Foster City California-based company were alleged to have offered an at-home test for the virus behind the global pandemic even though the FDA has so far not approved any such a test. → Read More
While Local Officials Rush to Address Crowding At Santa Rita Jail, Federal Detainees Linger
As the jail population has been trimmed from more than 2600 to 2149 people in custody in two weeks roughly 400 to 500 people remain at Santa Rita awaiting trial on federal criminal charges with apparently zero releases. → Read More
‘The Same, But Different’: Learning to Litigate During a Public Health Crisis
Across the Bay Area, litigators who represent some of Silicon Valley’s top companies report they are adjusting to litigating remotely, juggling family and work, and grappling with all the uncertainty caused by the coronavirus. But challenges remain. → Read More
Grappling With Prison Health Issues, Federal Courts Reconsider Some Decisions On Who To Lock Up
In the face of the COVID-19 pandemic courts are facing pressing questions about defendants detained prior to trial and sentencing upcoming self-surrender dates for non-violent criminals and aging and vulnerable inmates already in federal custody. → Read More
San Jose Federal Courthouse Closed After Visitor Treated for COVID-19
After the court was informed Monday that a person who visited the Northern District of California courthouse on March 11 13 and 17 was treated for COVID-19 Chief Judge Phyllis Hamilton amended the general order outlining guidelines concerning courthouse access during the coronavirus outbreak. → Read More
With Time of the Essence, Chhabria Presses Ahead With Sentencing Hearing Without Defendant
U.S. District Judge Vince Chhabria found that a defendant asking for a sentence of time served can voluntarily waive an appearance at sentencing in a situation where the hearing would otherwise be delayed because of a public health crisis. → Read More
Judge Denies Pretrial Release To Defendant Who Raised 'Heighten Risk' of COVID-19 Due To Health, Jail Conditions
He’s at risk being incarcerated. He’s also at risk out here in the community, as we all are, U.S. Magistrate Judge Susan van Keulen said during a telephonic hearing Wednesday before announcing her decision. → Read More
In Stalled Criminal Trial, a Call for COVID-19 Tests to Protect a Defendant and His Lawyers
“For Christ’s sake we’ve got a trial going on out here. Can’t we get at least enough test kits to ensure that the defendant is healthy?” said U.S. District Judge William Alsup of the Northern District of California at a hearing in a case involving a Russian man charged with hacking California-based tech companies. → Read More
Short-Term Work Around or the New Normal? Firms Cope With Covid-19 Reality
Law firms in the Bay Area seek to contain the spread of coronavirus—and team member stress—with their emergency response plans. → Read More
Critics Say California's Bar Exam Cut Score Impedes Diversity
If we care about diversity and inclusion in the legal profession, and I will assume that we do, then the current bar exam cut score is simply unconscionable, L. Song Richardson, dean of the UC Irvine School of Law, told the Assembly Judiciary Committee Tuesday. → Read More
Jury Asked to 'Send a Message' to Monsanto in First MDL Trial Over Roundup
Lawyers on opposite sides of a lawsuit claiming that Monsanto's Roundup weedkiller causes cancer took turns calling each other's take on the case offensive during closing arguments Tuesday morning in San Francisco federal court. → Read More
Girardi Keese Partner Bucks Back Against Alleged $15M Debt to ‘Miserable, Rotten’ Litigation Funder
Plaintiffs lawyer Thomas Girardi says that Law Finance Group has sued him for funds that were borrowed on behalf of clients. But the litigation funder's lawyer says the loan agreement clearly states the loan was to Girardi and his firm. → Read More
Alex Kozinski Returns to the 9th Circuit (as a Lawyer)
The former chief judge who retired amid sexual harassment allegations appeared on a brief attempting to revive a copyright lawsuit involving the Academy Award-winning film The Shape of Water. → Read More
Firm That Won Landmark Monsanto Verdict Allowed to Remain on Roundup MDL Leadership Team
Although U.S. District Judge Vince Chhabria previously found Baum Hedlund had committed misconduct at a hearing Thursday he allowed the firm to stay on—with a warning that any future missteps could result in very very severe sanctions. → Read More
House Committee to Take Up Measure to Reconfigure the Ninth Circuit
The House Judiciary Committee is set to consider Rep. Darrell Issa's proposal to divide the nation's largest circuit court into three regional divisions and one circuit-wide division at a markup hearing Thursday morning. → Read More