• Reginald Pulliam v Redlands Unified School District (CIVSB2129676, San Bernardino)
  • A Redlands Unified School District teacher and a member of the Christian church True Hope Ministry claimed religious exemption from masking, vaccination, and COVID testing requirements. When denied exemptions, due to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s state mandate to vaccinate all K-12 teachers or undergo weekly testing, the teacher sued the school district, alleging eight violations of the Fair Employment and Housing Act.
  • 3/29/2022, Hearing on RUSD’s motion to strike. Prior coverage, motion to strike
• Stacy Thacker v County of San Bernardino (30-2021-01229991, Orange County)
  • Four employees of the San Bernardino County Public Defenders Office filed a lawsuit against the county and multiple county employees Nov. 5, alleging acts of sexual misconduct including rape, assault, false imprisonment and quid pro quo sexual relationship in the office. The defendants have denied the allegations in court documents.
  • 3/30/22, Case management conference. Prior coverage
• Olguin child abuse (RIF2104700, Riverside)
  • Three members of the Olguin fostering family are accused of 17 counts of abuse against their fostered children, including lewd acts against a minor under 14 years, endangerment of health and maliciously preventing a witness from giving testimony.
  • 4/1/2022, Arraignment
• USA v. Schwartzberg (5:21-cr-00148, California Central District Court)
  • Attorney Sagi Schwartzberg was charged with production of child pornography.
  • 4/4/2022, Sentencing. Prior coverage
• Kimble vs Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc (RIC1906176, Riverside)
  • A mother sued the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity and the Regents of the University of California, alleging her son died from illegal hazing activities including physical punishment in 2018.
  • 4/12/22, Ruling on University of California’s demurrer to third amended complaint. Complaint
• The consolidated cases regarding the Huntington Beach Oil Spill, (8:21-cv-01628, California Central District Court)
  • The Ontario-headquartered law firm McCune Wright Arevalo, LLP, filed a seven-claim class action lawsuit against Amplify Energy Corp., the company operating the Long Beach pipeline and oil rig that leaked Oct. 2. The suit was combined with 11 other cases Dec. 20.
  • 4/13/22, status conference. Prior coverage
• Ontario movie shooting (RIF2103205, Riverside)
  • Joseph Jimenez is accused of shooting and killing Rylee Goodrich and Anthony Barajas as they watched a movie in Corona.
  • 4/15/2022, Felony settlement conference
• Empyreal Enterprises, LLC v. The United States of America (5:22-cv-00094, California Central District Court)
  • A cash-in-transit company accuses the FBI, Drug Enforcement Agency and the San Bernardino County sheriff of illegally seizing its vehicles which transport cash gained by legal cannabis sales.
  • 4/15/22, deadline for sheriffs to respond to amended complaint. Prior coverage, second amended complaint. First amended complaint
• Board of Supervisors of the County of San Bernardino v Monell et al (CIVSB2025319/E077772, San Bernardino/4th Appellate District)
  • Measure K would have prevented San Bernardino County Supervisors from being elected as supervisors twice in their lifetime, and would have capped their salary at $5,000 monthly. A legal action from the county supervisors found the measure unconstitutional. The group behind the measure has filed for appeal.
  • 4/19/22 appellant’s reply brief due. 5/11/22 status conference hearing in San Bernardino Superior Court. Prior coverage
• Rural Association of Mead Valley vs County of Riverside (CVRI2103280, Riverside)
  • A CEQA challenge against a proposed electric truck charging station.
  • 4/21/2022, Status Hearing re: Writ of Mandate (CEQA)
• Riversiders Against Increased Taxes vs City of Riverside (CVRI2104120, Riverside)
  • A Riverside citizen’s group challenged the implementation of a measure which would transfer revenue from the city’s electrical utilities to the city’s general fund. The group argues the measure violates the California Constitution by being a tax measure during a special election. Prior coverage
  • 4/24/2022, deadline for the judge to decide whether or not to ratify the tax measure
• The People of the State of California vs. Corie Smith (FWV21003946, San Bernardino)
  • A San Bernardino sheriff’s deputy is charged with assault under color of authority, after video caught him kicking a non-resisting man in the face.
  • 4/27/2022, Preliminary hearing
• Cinnamon Creek murder resentencing (John David Salazar/Jose Ramon Lara, FSB1200952-2/FSB1200952-3, San Bernardino)
  • Two of the former teenagers involved in Redlands’ 2011 Cinnamon Creek shooters are being heard for resentencing pursuant to California’s changed definition of murder.
  • 4/29/22, resentencing hearing. Prior coverage. Prior coverage.
• Pettie v Amazon (CIVDS1908923/E074241, San Bernardino/4th District appellate Court)
  • Two Amazon employees sued alleging various employment claims against Amazon. San Bernardino Superior Court mandated arbitration, but the appellate court ruled that the court needs to make a factual finding on the threshold issue of whether an agreement to arbitrate exists.
  • 5/5/2022, Initial trial setting conference
• The People of the State of California vs. Refugio Manuel Jimenez, Jr. (FSB21001694, San Bernardino)
  • The District Attorney’s office says Refugio Manuel Jimenez Jr, and Angelina Renee Jimenez caused the fire through use of a smoke bomb intended to reveal their baby’s gender on Sept. 5 of 2020, at Yucaipa’s El Dorado Park
  • 5/6/2022, Disposition/reset and motion to strike under PC995
• Victorville councilwoman trial (5:21-cv-01306, California Central District/MVI21007253, San Bernardino)
  • Victorville City Councilwoman Blanca Gomez is charged with disrupting the city council’s meeting. She filed a lawsuit in response to her arrest in federal court and search of her house.
  • 5/26/22, pretrial. Prior coverage. Prior coverage.
• California Trucking Association v. South Coast Air Quality Management District et al (2:21-cv-06341, California Central District Court)
  • The California Trucking Association filed a lawsuit against the South Coast Air Quality Management District, alleging that the district’s new clean-air rule, which regulates warehouses based on their delivery trucks’ emissions, conflicts with federal law.
  • 6/10/22, status conference. Prior coverage
• Vazquez v City of Ontario (CIVDS1917207, San Bernardino)
  • A woman sued Ontario for poorly maintaining its sidewalks. Maria Vasquez claims she tripped over a raised edge of the sidewalk in 2018, and sustained wage loss, hospital expenses, general damage and loss of earning capacity.
  • 6/27/2022, Jury trial. Complaint
• Chicken Ranch Rancheria of Me-Wuk Indians v. State of California, (1:19-cv-00024/21-15751, Eastern District of California/9th Circuit Court of Appeals)
  • Riverside’s Augustine Band of Cahuilla Indians sued the state, alleging bad faith labor compact negotiations. Their suit is combined with other tribes’ suits across California. The 9th Circuit has not yet reached a decision in an appeal to the case.
  • 7/28/22 scheduling conference. Prior coverage
• Smithling v. State of California (CIVDS1900606, San Bernardino)
  • The family of deceased Chad Smithling is suing Caltrans and Yucca Valley over the design of the Twentynine Palms Highway. Smithling died in an accident on the highway in 2018.
  • 11/21/22, Jury trial. Prior coverage