Guilty pleas in $2 million unemployment fraud case in Santa Barbara County
Three people have pleaded guilty in Santa Barbara County to multiple counts of felony unemployment benefit fraud and identity theft, in just one example of the type of fraud that has cost the state tens of billions of dollars during the pandemic. The three defendants were Gordon Alan Welterlen and Nicole Michelle Milan, of San Read More →
Ventura County sues 5 businesses for defying shutdown, could sue 10 more
The county of Ventura has sued five businesses for continuing indoor operations despite local and state health orders, and it has been given permission by the Board of Supervisors to file suits against 10 more. The county is seeking a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction against each business, but no monetary damages. Over the Read More →
Chuck and Tom Cohen start new land use law firm in Thousand Oaks
A new Ventura County law firm will greet the new year: The father and son team of Chuck and Tom Cohen are forming a new firm called Cohen Land Use Law, LLP, leveraging their expertise in real estate and development. The Cohens announced the formation of their new Thousand Oaks-based firm on Dec. 29. They Read More →
Westlake Village CEO faces charges over claims of 15-second COVID test
EDITOR’S NOTE: This article was updated Dec. 29 to include Keith Berman’s response to the allegations. Westlake Village-based Decision Diagnostics and its CEO, Keith Berman, face civil and criminal charges by federal agencies that accuse the company of falsely claiming it had developed technology that could almost instantly detect COVID-19 in a blood test. The Read More →
Totten to retire after 18 years as Ventura County district attorney
Ventura County will get just its third district attorney in the past 42 years next year, when Greg Totten retires from the post he has held since 2003. Totten announced his retirement on Nov. 10. It will take effect Jan. 9 After he leaves office, he will take the job of chief executive for the Read More →
UC files new complaint in lightbulb licensing dispute
Efforts to secure licenses for UC Santa Barbara’s LED lighting patents entered a new chapter on Aug. 31, with the launch of a second round of complaints against major retailers. Filed by Nixon Peabody on behalf of the Regents of the University of California, the complaint calls for an ITC investigation of imports by General Read More →
Light: How to shed extra weight at your company
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