Articles by Brian Melley

Associated Press

U.S. Court Says State Courts Are Proper Forum for Climate Suits Against Big Oil

Big Oil lost a pair of court battles Tuesday that could lead to trials in lawsuits by California cities and counties seeking damages for the impact of climate change. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected arguments by energy …

After Big Oil Loses Appeal, Climate Suits Appear Headed to California Courts

Big Oil lost a pair of court battles this week that could lead to trials in lawsuits by California cities and counties seeking damages for the impact of climate change. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected arguments by …

Pilot in Helicopter Cash That Killed Lakers Star Had No Drugs, Alcohol in System

The pilot flying Kobe Bryant and seven others to a youth basketball tournament did not have alcohol or drugs in his system, and all nine sustained immediately fatal injuries when their helicopter slammed into a hillside outside Los Angeles in …

Families Sue Helicopter Company in California in Kobe Bryant Crash

Family members of four passengers killed in a helicopter crash with Kobe Bryant and his daughter have joined the NBA star’s widow in filing wrongful death lawsuits against the companies that owned and operated the aircraft. The suits on behalf …

Kobe Bryant’s Widow Files Wrongful Death Suit Against Helicopter Operator

Kobe Bryant’s widow sued the owner and operator of the helicopter that crashed in fog and killed the former Los Angeles Lakers star and their 13-year-old daughter last month as she publicly mourned their deaths Monday in an emotional public …

Dead Crew Member’s Family Suing California Dive Boat Operator

The family of the lone crew member to die in a fiery scuba boat disaster that killed all 33 passengers off the California coast last year sued the vessel’s owner Monday in federal court. The lawsuit by the family of …

Jury Clears Tesla CEO Musk of Defamation Claim for ‘Pedo’ Tweet

Elon Musk defeated defamation allegations Friday from a British cave explorer who claimed he was branded a pedophile when the Tesla CEO called him “pedo guy” in an angry tweet. Vernon Unsworth, who participated in the rescue of 12 boys …

Dive Boat, Ghost Ship Fires in California a Lesson in Proving Negligence

One was a ship in name only, an artist commune set up in an Oakland warehouse. The other was a bona fide boat afloat on the ocean off Santa Barbara. Both became fiery death traps for a combined 70 souls, …

Criminal Investigation Underway in California Dive Boat Fire

U.S. authorities are conducting a criminal investigation into the fiery dive boat disaster that killed 34 people off the coast of California, the FBI said. The FBI, Coast Guard and U.S. attorney in Los Angeles are participating in the investigation …

Dive Boat Owners Seek to Head off Lawsuits After 34 Die in Fire off California Coast

The owners of the dive boat where 34 people perished in a fire off Southern California filed a lawsuit Thursday to head off potentially costly litigation, a move condemned by some observers as disrespectful to the families of the dead. …