Oakland – Page 2 – Courthouse News Service

Demonstration Munitions

August 10, 2020August 11, 2020 BRIEF

Excessive Force, Oakland, protests, weapons

Police in Oakland, California, may not use stinger grenades, wooden bullets, rubber or rubber-coated bullets, pepper balls and similar munitions against demonstrators, a federal court in California ruled, finding that many of the items are already prohibited by the city’s Crowd Control Policy. But banning chemical agents, flashbang grenades and foam projectiles outright could “endanger public safety” and “increase the dangers faced by protestors,” the court added.

Environment Government Regional Sports

Oakland A’s Sue California Regulator Over Toxins Near Planned Stadium Site

August 5, 2020August 6, 2020 MARIA DINZEO

California, Major League Baseball, Oakland, toxic waste

The Oakland A’s baseball team sued California’s toxic waste department Wednesday, claiming it has failed to rein in pollution generated by Schnitzer Steel — a multinational company operating the largest metal-shredding facility in the state next to the team’s proposed future waterfront home.

Courts Regional

Judge Unlikely to Ban Police Use of Tear Gas During Oakland Protests

July 28, 2020July 29, 2020 NICHOLAS IOVINO

chemicals, Excessive Force, Oakland, Police, protests, weapons

Despite claims that using tear gas and other non-lethal weapons on protesters violates the First Amendment, a federal judge indicated Tuesday he would not outright ban the Oakland Police Department from deploying those tools when demonstrations turn violent or destructive.

Civil Rights Government Regional

Oakland to Pay Out $32.7 Million to Survivors of Ghost Ship Warehouse Fire

July 16, 2020July 17, 2020 MARIA DINZEO

Fire, Ghost Ship, Oakland, Settlement

In a settlement announced late Thursday, the City of Oakland has agreed to pay $32.7 million to families with loved ones who perished in the 2016 Ghost Ship warehouse fire, along with one survivor who continues to battle with severe lifelong injuries.

Criminal

Airman Linked to Boogaloo Movement Pleads Not Guilty in Murder of Federal Officer

July 2, 2020July 6, 2020 MARIA DINZEO

Extremism, military, murder, Oakland, pleas, Terrorism

An Air Force sergeant suspected of ties to a far-right extremist movement pleaded not guilty Thursday to the first-degree murder and attempted murder of two Federal Protective Services officers as they guarded the Ronald V. Dellums Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse in Oakland on May 29.

Civil Rights Latest Headlines

Queer Activists Demand Inclusivity at Oakland Juneteenth Rally

June 19, 2020June 22, 2020 NICHOLAS IOVINO

Black Lives Matter, LGBT, Oakland, race, unions

A Juneteenth rally against police brutality and racism organized by a dockworkers union in Oakland, California, Friday morphed into a contentious debate about inclusivity after queer and transgender protesters accused organizers of excluding marginalized voices.

Criminal Government

Two Charged in Murder of Oakland Federal Officer During Protests

June 16, 2020July 2, 2020 MARIA DINZEO

Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, murder, Oakland, protests, race, Shooting

Two men have been charged in the murder of federal officer David Patrick Underwood, who was shot and killed while guarding the federal courthouse in Oakland as protesters took to nearby streets to demonstrate against racial injustice and police brutality.

Government Latest Headlines Regional

Protesters Demand Justice After Shooting in East Oakland

June 8, 2020June 9, 2020 NICHOLAS IOVINO

California, Oakland, Police Killing, protests, race

Hundreds of protesters marched through East Oakland Monday calling for racial justice and demanding answers about the fatal police shooting of a 23-year-old man in their neighborhood two days earlier.

Civil Rights Government

Oakland Protest Organizers Call for Daily Demonstrations

June 4, 2020June 5, 2020 NICHOLAS IOVINO

Oakland, Police, protests, race, reforms

Protest organizers in Oakland, California on Thursday vowed to keep marching in the streets and occupying a plaza outside the city’s main government building until their demands for police reform are met.

Appeals Environment

Ninth Circuit Overturns Oakland Coal Ban

May 26, 2020May 27, 2020 MARIA DINZEO

coal, Ninth Circuit, Oakland

A Ninth Circuit panel on Tuesday upheld a federal judge’s ruling striking down the city of Oakland’s ban on coal shipments from a new terminal being built from an old army base at the foot of the San Francisco Bay Bridge.

Regional

Proposal to Expand Oakland Police Commission Powers Stalls

May 12, 2020May 13, 2020 NICHOLAS IOVINO

California, City Council, initiative, misconduct, Oakland, Police

The Oakland City Council called Tuesday for further review of a proposal that would dramatically enhance the powers of a civilian commission overseeing the city’s police force.

Civil Rights Employment Government

Oakland Police

May 7, 2020May 7, 2020 BRIEF

California, corruption, Oakland, Police, Whistleblower

Former Police Chief Anne Kirkpatrick submitted a claim for damages from Oakland, California, claiming it fired her illegally because she “repeatedly blew the whistle on corrupt actions by the Police Commission, shining a light on their illegal actions, inappropriate influence, abuse of powers, and harassment of city staff.”

Business Entertainment Sports

NFL Defeats Antitrust Suit Over Oakland Raiders Move to Las Vegas

April 30, 2020May 7, 2020 NICHOLAS IOVINO

antitrust, eldSports, Las Vegas, NFL, Oakland

Among other deficiencies in the city of Oakland’s suit, the judge found a $378 million relocation fee the Raiders paid could act as an obstacle to moving that favors existing host cities.

Business Entertainment Sports

No Traction for Oakland in Antitrust Beef With Raiders, NFL

April 17, 2020April 20, 2020 MARIA DINZEO

antitrust, NFL, Oakland

A federal judge seems to be on the edge of dismissing the city of Oakland’s antitrust lawsuit against the Las Vegas Raiders and the National Football League for a second time, saying at a hearing Friday that the city hasn’t shown how the league’s structure is anticompetitive.

Courts Government Regional

Disabled Renters’ Fight Over Oakland Rent Control Advances

April 2, 2020April 3, 2020 MARIA DINZEO

disability, housing, Oakland, poverty, rent

Low-income renters whose disabilities may have excluded them from participating in Oakland’s rent control program got the green light from a federal judge on their lawsuit against the city.

Environment Government Sports

Trade Groups Fight to Slow Down Planned Oakland Ballpark

March 16, 2020March 17, 2020 MARIA DINZEO

baseball, Oakland, shipping, Trade, transportation

Trade associations representing the trucking and shipping industry are challenging a legislative effort to fast-track the environmental review process for a new Oakland A’s ballpark near the Port of Oakland.

Appeals Consumers Financial Regional

Squabble Over Lost Property Tax Pits Wells Fargo, Oakland at Ninth Circuit

February 10, 2020February 11, 2020 MARIA DINZEO

discrimination, Fair Housing Act, foreclosure, lending, Ninth Circuit, Oakland, Taxes, Wells Fargo

The city of Oakland should not be allowed to sue Wells Fargo under the Fair Housing Act over lost property tax revenue from the foreclosures it attributes to the bank’s discriminatory mortgage lending practices, an attorney for the bank told the Ninth Circuit on Monday.

Criminal Trials

New Trial Set, But No Bail Reduction for Ghost Ship Defendant

October 4, 2019October 7, 2019 MARIA DINZEO

Alameda County, Bail bonds, Ghost Ship, manslaughter, Oakland

A new jury will decide whether Derick Almena is criminally liable for the deaths of 36 people in a fire at the Ghost Ship artist collective, after the judge in the case set a new trial date Friday.

Government Law Sports

Oakland Coliseum

September 29, 2019September 30, 2019 BRIEF

Alameda County, housing, Oakland, parks, Real Estate, stadiums

The City of Oakland sued Alameda County in superior court over the sale of the dually owned Oakland Coliseum, once home to the A’s and Raiders; the county wants to sell it, but the city says the sale should abide by the California Surplus Land Act, which requires a valid effort to sell public land for use as affordable housing, parks or recreation, or open space.

Criminal Trials

Mistrial and Acquittal for Defendants in Ghost Ship Fire Case

September 5, 2019September 6, 2019 MARIA DINZEO

Fire, Ghost Ship, jury, Oakland, verdict

A California jury couldn’t agree on whether Derick Almena, founder of the Ghost Ship warehouse artist collective, should be found criminally negligent for a fire that caused the deaths of 36 people on Dec. 2, 2016 – but cleared his right-hand man of the same charges Thursday.