Los Angeles Business Journal back issues from May 2008:
Roll call: trucker I.D. program could pummel ports.
May 05, 2008; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] EXECUTIVES at Ventura Transfer Co. see trouble on the horizon in the form of a looming federal security program. Like most companies that serve the nation's largest port complex, employees of the Long Beach-based motor carrier will be required ...
New kid on block spurs touch up: Glendale mall swaps shops as Americana opens.(RETAIL)(Glendale Galleria)
May 05, 2008; ... Just a few weeks ago, shoppers walking down a corridor of the Glendale Galleria might have noticed a decidedly downscale store that sold sports caps. Today, the same space is home to Lush, a trendy British beauty boutique that's new to the United States. Another addition, ...
Occidental facing Peruvian problem: activists hector companies with lawsuits.(ENVIRONMENT)
May 05, 2008; ... The demonstration last week outside Occidental Petroleum Corp. headquarters had all the trappings of a sideshow--especially given the record $1.8 billion quarterly profit that has pleased investors and boosted shares. Indigenous Peruvian activists adorned in native clothing or ...
Profits hit Nadir at Zenith Corp.: have workers' comp rates fallen too far?(INSURANCE)(Zenith National Insurance Corp.)
May 05, 2008; ... Falling workers' compensation premium rates and stiff competition are taking their toll on the bottom line of Zenith National Insurance Corp., a leading insurer. The Los Angeles-based company recently reported a 35 percent decline in first quarter earnings compared to a year ...
Real estate firm drafts Bruin QB.(PAGE 3)(Cade McNown tries his hand at the real estate game)(Brief article)
May 05, 2008; ... FAMED UCLA quarterback Cade McNown is trying his hand at the real estate game. McNown, who led the Bruins to 20 straight wins in the late 1990s and became UCLA's all-time leader in passing, had a brief career in the NFL before hanging up his cleats in 2003. [ILLUSTRATION ...
Little beef at steakhouse.(PAGE 3)(Kathy Goodman and Carla Christofferson joins an elite group on April 24 when their caricatures were unveiled on the wall of the Palm restaurant)(Brief article)
May 05, 2008; ... Kathy Goodman and Carla Christofferson, co-owners of the Los Angeles Sparks, joined an elite group on April 24 when their caricatures were unveiled on the wall of the Palm restaurant. The tradition of including drawings of celebrities and local luminaries who dine at the Palm ...
Off-duty mothers.(PAGE 3)(McCormack Corp. (Honolulu, Hawaii) comes up with eight mother-daughter or mother-son brokerage teams for the celebration of mother's day)(Brief article)
May 05, 2008; ... With Mother's Day coming up, the Coldwell Banker offices of the San Gabriel Valley did some counting and came up with eight mother-daughter or mother-son brokerage teams. One of the sons, John Fairbanks, said "it's awesome" to be able to work with his mother, Christel Fairbanks. ...
Art break.(PAGE 3)(Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher and Flom L.L.P. celebrates its 25th anniversary)(Brief article)
May 05, 2008; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom is celebrating its 25th anniversary in Los Angeles by exhibiting the works of 25 up-and-coming local artists. And Thomas Nolan, a partner at the law firm, is particularly grateful. He said that looking at the ...
New goal: soccer club Chivas USA drafts campaign to add Anglos to Latino fan base.(MARKETING)
May 05, 2008; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] DESPITE its Major League Soccer wins, Chivas USA can't hope to compete in the marketing game against the star power of David Beckham and the L.A. Galaxy. But the sister team of the wildly popular Mexican franchise plans to even the score. ...
Pier expects to spin new wheel into tourist dollars.(UP FRONT)(Santa Monica Amusements LLC)
May 05, 2008; ... How much does a new Ferris wheel cost? Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier has the answer: $1.5 million. That's how much the park, owned by Santa Monica Amusements LLC, is spending to replace its towering attraction, which has sold more than 3 million tickets in its 12 years ...
Office space.(NEWS OF THE WEEK)(Brief article)
May 05, 2008 ... OFFICE SPACE: A $750 million makeover has begun at the historic NBC Studios lot, including plans for four 14-story office towers. The complex will be operated as an independent studio, Idled with entertainment industry tenants, according to Santa Monica-based developer M. David ...
Univision drama: a federal judge delayed until July 1 the trial between Grupo Televisa and Los Angeles-based Univision Communications.(NEWS OF THE WEEK)(Brief article)
May 05, 2008 ... UNIVISION DRAMA: A federal judge delayed until July 1 the trial between Grupo Televisa and Los Angeles-based Univision Communications. The trial was scheduled to start last week, and the delay may lead to a settlement ....
Chandlers sell: Tribune Co..(NEWS OF THE WEEK)(Tribune Co. completed the $175 million purchase of newspaper facilities owned by the Chandler family)(Brief article)
May 05, 2008 ... CHANDLERS SELL: Tribune Co. completed the $175 million purchase of newspaper facilities owned by the Chandler family. The purchase, which was a like-kind property exchange, severs more ties to the founders of the L.A. Times and eliminates ...
Green for green: Santa Monica-based X Prize Foundation will divvy up $100 million for work on biofuels, clean aviation fuel, energy storage, the provision of basic utilities for developing nations, and other categories.(NEWS OF THE WEEK)(Brief article)
May 05, 2008 ... GREEN FOR GREEN: Santa Monica-based X Prize Foundation will divvy up $100 million for work on biofuels, clean aviation fuel, energy storage, the provision of basic utilities for developing nations, and other categories. The organization ...
Countrywide turns: the Federal Reserve held a hearing on Bank of America Corp.'s proposed $4 billion takeover of Calabasas mortgage lender Countrywide Financial Corp.(NEWS OF THE WEEK)
May 05, 2008 ... COUNTRYWIDE TURNS: The Federal Reserve held a hearing on Bank of America Corp.'s proposed $4 billion takeover of Calabasas mortgage lender Countrywide Financial Corp. At the hearing, Fed leaders were criticized by U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Los Angeles) and others, who said ...
Doll fight: Mattel Inc. won a judge's permission to move forward with copyright-infringement claims against MGA Entertainment Inc. and Carter Bryant, the designer of MGA's popular Bratz dolls.(NEWS OF THE WEEK)(Brief article)
May 05, 2008 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] DOLL FIGHT: Mattel Inc. won a judge's permission to move forward with copyright-infringement claims against MGA Entertainment Inc. and Carter Bryant, the designer of MGA's popular Bratz dolls. U.S. District Judge Stephen Larson said that Mattel's 1999 ...
Deal ok: Gemstar-TV Guide International Inc. said its shareholders approved the company's sale to Macrovision Corp.(NEWS OF THE WEEK)
May 05, 2008 ... DEAL OK: Gemstar-TV Guide International Inc. said its shareholders approved the company's sale to Macrovision Corp. More than 90 percent of shares outstanding were voted in favor of the transaction. Before the deal was ...
Maguire issue: an independent directors' committee refused to consider a bid for 25 percent control of Maguire Properties Inc. by company founder Robert Maguire.(NEWS OF THE WEEK)
May 05, 2008 ... MAGUIRE ISSUE: An independent directors' committee refused to consider a bid for 25 percent control of Maguire Properties Inc. by company founder Robert Maguire. The bid, which would have been for $745 million, valued shares in downtown L.A.'s biggest landlord at $21 per share--a 23 ...
Grand delay.(NEWS OF THE WEEK)(Brief article)
May 05, 2008 ... GRAND DELAY: The 3.6 million-square-foot Grand Avenue mixed-use project near Walt Disney Concert Hall was delayed again because of tight credit markets, developer Related Cos. said. The New York City-based company said construction is now expected to begin Feb. 15, which would result in a ...
More in store: Walt Disney Co. has officially taken over the Disney Store chain from Children's Place Retail Stores and plans to close about 100 stores in the United States and Canada.(NEWS OF THE WEEK)
May 05, 2008 ... MORE IN STORE: Walt Disney Co. has officially taken over the Disney Store chain from Children's Place Retail Stores and plans to close about 100 stores in the United States and Canada. The deal was announced in March after the ...
FirstFed Financial Corp.(EARNINGS ROUNDUP)
May 05, 2008 ... FirstFed Financial Corp. posted a first-quarter net loss of $69.8 million, up 115 percent from the same period a year earlier ....
Molina Healthcare Inc.(EARNINGS ROUNDUP)
May 05, 2008 ... Molina Healthcare Inc. reported first-quarter net income of $13.2 million, a 38 percent hike compared with the ...
K-Swiss Inc.(EARNINGS ROUNDUP)
May 05, 2008 ... K-Swiss Inc. reported first quarter net income of $7.1 million, down 61 percent ...
HCP Inc.(EARNINGS ROUNDUP)
May 05, 2008 ... HCP Inc. reported first quarter net income of $45.1 million, down 68 ...
DreamWorks Animation SKG Inc.(EARNINGS ROUNDUP)
May 05, 2008 ... DreamWorks Animation SKG Inc. reported first quarter net income of $26.1 million, a 69 percent jump ...
Ihop Corp.(EARNINGS ROUNDUP)
May 05, 2008 ... Ihop Corp. reported net income of $8.6 million, down 24 percent compared with the same period a year ...
Fashion police: L.A. firm Gareeb Pham helps apparel makers squash knockoffs.(LAW)(Los Angeles, United States)
May 05, 2008; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] LUXURY jean designers looking to stop sellers of counterfeit denim duds have long turned to lawyers to enforce their trademarks. But law firms can be too expensive to use in pursuing smaller resellers--who are a big part of the problem. Los ...
Dial-up Internet provider branches out to flowers in FTD deal.(NEWS & ANALYSIS)
May 05, 2008; ... With a less-than-rosy outlook for the future of dial-up Internet, United Online Inc. is pursuing an unexpected business opportunity: flowers. The Woodland Hills-based low-cost Internet provider plans to acquire FTD Group Inc., a leading flower-delivery company, for $806 million ...
Beverly Hills-based firm banks on British Capital: Sheppard Mullin beefs up entertainment arm with London imports.(HIRING)
May 05, 2008; ... LONDON'S calling at Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP. Since March, the Los Angeles-based firm has brought three entertainment lawyers on board, and two are from London. The most recent hire, Philip E. Daniels, joined the firm April 21 as an associate after ...
Over there.(LAW )(Quinn Emanuel Urquhart Oliver & Hedges L.L.P. opened London office)(Brief article)
May 05, 2008; ... Powerhouse litigation firm Quinn Emanuel Urquhart Oliver & Hedges LLP has been looking to become a player in London's legal market. And the firm finally made the jump across the pond, opening a London office with litigation attorney Richard East. East, who joined Los ...
Private wealth.(LAW)(appointment of Bruce S. Ross at Holland & Knight L.L.P.)(Brief article)
May 05, 2008; ... Bruce S. Ross, a veteran trusts and estates attorney who represents the estate of the late Anna Nicole Smith, returned to the Los Angeles office of Holland & Knight LLP as partner. Ross returned to the firm with a group of five trust and estate lawyers, who moved from Holland & ...
Business litigator.(LAW)(appointment of John S. Gibson at Winston and Strawn)(Brief article)
May 05, 2008; ... Winston & Strawn LLP continued to beef up its Los Angeles litigation practice group with the addition of prominent attorney John S. Gibson. Gibson served as hiring partner and firmwide real estate litigation chair during his 13-year tenure at Los Angeles-based Paul Hastings ...
Book puts price on use of solar panels, rainwater: lawyer shows ways to offset costs of sustainable construction.(DEVELOPMENT)
May 05, 2008; ... Robert Freilich walks from his Century City condo to his office nearby. He'll even walk to Beverly Hills with his wife for dinner. The exercise is great, but he's got a point to prove, too. A partner at Los Angeles-based Miller Barondess LLP, Freilich has been promoting ...
Demand rises for industrial temps in L.A. County: increase tied to spike in exports as value of dollar has dipped.(EMPLOYMENT)(Los Angeles, United States)(Brief article)
May 05, 2008; ... MANUFACTURING employment in Los Angeles County has been on the decline for the past two decades, but there may be some signs of a turnaround--even if only temporary. Adecco SA, a $26 billion global stalling firm with a significant local presence, has seen a surge in placement ...
War of words.(MANUFACTURING)(Government Accountability Office signed with Northrop Grumman Corp. and European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company EADS N.V.)(Brief article)
May 05, 2008; ... The Government Accountability Office is expected next month to announce whether the $35 billion aerial fueling tanker contract awarded m February to Northrop Grumman Corp. and its European partner should be overturned. But in a sign of the times, the PR battle with passed-over ...
Joining forces.(MANUFACTURING)(PermaCity Solar Inc. purchased New Millennium Power Inc.)(Brief article)
May 05, 2008; ... Los Angeles-based solar power company PermaCity Solar Inc. has acquired an Orange County competitor. Terms of the deal were not announced. PermaCity, which designs and installs photovoltaic roofing systems for commercial and residential buildings, announced the ...
Construction contracts.(MANUFACTURING)
May 05, 2008; ... Jacobs Engineering Group Inc., the Pasadena-based construction giant, won a pair of new deals last week. The company received a three-year contract to provide engineering and construction services to a new facility for Nyrstar NV, a Belgium-based zinc producer. Terms ...
Ethical flap forces exit of president: Herbalife executive Probert credited with company's growth.(HEALTH CARE)(Gregory Probert)
May 05, 2008; ... The Herbalife Ltd. president and chief operating officer who resigned last week following charges that he had hyped his academic credentials was a longtime colleague and personal friend of Chief Executive Michael Johnson. Wall Street even credited Gregory Probert with a key role ...
U.S. Customs revisits rule on duty fees: changing point of sale could boost costs as high as 15 percent.(IMPORTING)
May 05, 2008; ... IMPORTERS already slammed by the plunging dollar now have a new concern: a proposal by Customs to do away with a rule that has been saving them lots of money on import duties. The so-called "first-sale rule" that the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency implemented 20 years ...
Show business paper raises curtain on makeover: redesigned Hollywood Reporter will broaden ad base.(PUBLISHING)(Brief article)
May 05, 2008; ... THE 78-year-old Hollywood Reporter's facelift could help it step into the spotlight. A bold logo, dominant cover story and multi-photo pages were cast in a design that "better reflects the emerging global dynamic of the film and entertainment marketplace," according to Editor ...
English wins Arbitron.(MEDIA & ENTERTAINMENT)
May 05, 2008; ... Breaking a longstanding trend, an English-language station tops the charts in the L.A. radio market. For Arbitron Inc.'s Winter 2008 rankings, KIIS-FM (102.7) earned a 5.0 overall share of radio listeners, beating out former champ KLVE-FM (107.5), which finished with a 4.7 share. ...
Telephonic TV.(MEDIA & ENTERTAINMENT)(Brief article)
May 05, 2008; ... Sony Pictures Television in Culver City has launched the Minisode Network, a video distribution system for mobile phones that features six-minute versions of popular TV shows. The ad-supported network is carried on Sprint TV, the mobile video operation of Kansas-based Sprint ...
Mediawatch.(NEWS & ANALYSIS)(Statistical table)
May 05, 2008 ... <Pre> MEDIAWATCH MOVIE BOX OFFICE Weekend Gross Total Gross Rank Title(millions) (millions)Distributor 1 Baby Mama 18.3 18.3 Universal 2 Harold & ...
Baby boom.(OUTTAKE OF THE WEEK)(Brief article)
May 05, 2008; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Tina Fey and Amy Poehler achieved some rare air by powering the female-oriented comedy, "Baby Mama," into first ...
L.A. firm steps out with European 'Anti-Shoe': agency Kastner seeks to repeat crossover success of Red Bull.(RETAIL)(Kastner & Partners)(MBT)(Brief article)
May 05, 2008; ... THE "Anti-Shoe" is on the march. Kastner & Partners, a German ad agency with U.S. headquarters in L.A., has won the account for a brand unfamiliar to U.S. consumers--MBT, a Swiss manufacturer of therapeutic athletic footwear that the agency will sell as the "Anti-Shoe." Kastner ...
TV zoom.(ADVERTISING & PR)(LegalZoom.com signed a contract with Donat/Wald)(Brief article)
May 05, 2008; ... LegalZoom.com, an L.A.-based Web site that provides do-it-yourself legal documents, has launched a TV campaign from local agency Donat/Wald. Until now, LegalZoom has relied mostly on radio and online advertising. For TV, it will showcase co-founder Robert Shapiro, the prominent ...
Recalling Pentax.(ADVERTISING & PR)(Retail Planning Associates L.P.)(Pentax Imaging Co.)(Brief article)
May 05, 2008; ... RPA Inc. in Santa Monica is the new advertising agency for Pentax Imaging Co., a brand with a great history but not much market share. From the 1950s to the 1970s, Pentax pioneered camera technology by introducing single-lens reflex mechanisms, flash units and in-camera light ...
Trust in entertainment?(ADVERTISING & PR)(Brief article)
May 05, 2008; ... How to make money off entertainment on the Internet? It'll be a tough sell. Edelman, the world's largest independent public relations agency, has produced a new study rifled "Trust in Entertainment." Although global in scope, the findings have particular significance for L.A ....
Agencies & accounts.(ADVERTISING & PR)(Brief article)
May 05, 2008; ... Meyers Communications, an integrated public relations and branding agency in Los Angeles, has launched Sun Skinz, a line of children's clothing that protects kids' skin from ultraviolet exposure. Produced by Orange ...
Funds raised: film post-production company Pacific Title & Art Studio has raised $3 million in funding from Los Angeles' Celerity Partners and Massachusetts' Ticonderoga Capital.(CENTRAL AREA: HOLLYWOOD)(Brief article)
May 05, 2008; ... Funds Raised: Film post-production company Pacific Title & Art Studio has raised $3 million in funding from Los Angeles' ...
Market sold.(NORTH COUNTY: SANTA CLARITA)(Brief article)
May 05, 2008; ... Market Sold: Center Pointe Marketplace LLC has sold a portion of the 104,701-square-foot Center Point Marketplace at 26400 ...
New soup: restaurant chain Souplantation has opened a branch in Palmdale at 40026 10th St. West.(NORTH COUNTY: PALMDALE)(Brief article)
May 05, 2008; ... New Soup: Restaurant chain Souplantation has opened a branch in Palmdale at 40026 ...
New office.(NORTH COUNTY: VALENCIA)(Ramsey-Shilling Commercial Real Estate )(Brief article)
May 05, 2008; ... New Office: Universal City-based real estate brokerage firm Ramsey-Shilling Commercial Real Estate Services ...
French expansion: natural beverage maker Reed's Inc. has a toehold in France courtesy of new distribution partner Reed's Natural LLC.(SOUTH L.A.: COMPTON)(Brief article)
May 05, 2008; ... French Expansion: Natural beverage maker Reed's Inc. has a toehold in France courtesy of new distribution partner Reed's Natural LLC. Reed's Natural was formed by two ...
Land sold.(SOUTH BAY: LONG BEACH)(Brief article)
May 05, 2008; ... Land Sold: The Long Beach Redevelopment Agency has sold the West Gateway Project at 419 W. Broadway to Lyon West ...
Contract extended: Rapiscan Systems, the security division of Hawthorne-based electronics maker OSI Systems Inc., has been awarded a $1.5 million contract option by the Department of Homeland Security's Domestic Nuclear Detection Office.(SOUTH BAY: HAWTHORNE)
May 05, 2008; ... Contract Extended: Rapiscan Systems, the security division of Hawthorne-based electronics maker OSI Systems Inc., has been awarded a $1.5 million contract option by the ...
Landlord switch.(SOUTH BAY: TORRANCE)(Brief article)
May 05, 2008; ... Landlord Switch: Private investors Jie Woong and Jie Hyun Pyo have bought a property the Wienerschnitzel restaurant building ...
Technology launched: Pasadena software company Evolution Robotics Inc. has signed a deal to have its visual search engine featured on camera phones made by Tokyo telecommunications company KDDI Corp.(TRI-CITIES: PASADENA)(Brief article)
May 05, 2008; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Technology Launched: Pasadena software company Evolution Robotics Inc. has signed a deal to have its visual search engine featured on camera ...
3-D push: Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment.(TRI-CITIES: BURBANK)(Brief article)
May 05, 2008; ... 3-D Push: Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment and tour other L.A. County companies are among the founders of two consortiums to bring affordable 3-D entertainment to the home. The other ...
Laser on target: QPC Lasers Inc.(SAN FERNANDO VALLEY: SYLMAR)(Brief article)
May 05, 2008; ... Laser on Target: QPC Lasers Inc., which makes semiconductor lasers for the consumer, industrial, defense and medical markets, has delivered a ...
Sales tuned up: Wataire International Inc.(SAN FERNANDO VALLEY: WOODLAND HILLS)(Brief article)
May 05, 2008; ... Sales Tuned Up: Wataire International Inc., which makes atmospheric water generation and purification products, has signed country singer ...
Getting in touch: Artesia-based kiosk maker Olea has earned work for a variety of businesses with its original design concepts.(INNOVATION)(Company overview)
May 05, 2008; ... AN increasing number of churches today are putting their collection plates aside and asking their members instead to pull out their debit cards. With the help of so-called "giving kiosks" made by Olea Inc., tithing has been brought into the digital age, and that means the ...
Holograms to add depth to in-store promotions: kiosks pushing products on in 3-D will debut in L.A. groceries.(VIDEO)
May 05, 2008; ... HOLOGRAMS--yes, those 3-D images Darth Vader used to communicate in "Star Wars"--are coming to Latino grocery stores in L.A. Developed in Chatsworth, a patented technology projects into space 3-D images in high-resolution streaming video. The product will be rolled out in 47 ...
Marketplace money.(TECHNOLOGY)(LeadPoint)(Brief article)
May 05, 2008; ... LeadPoint, operator of an online lead-generation marketplace, seems to have little difficulty raising funds. It's been around for four years and has successfully completed its fifth round of financing of $6 million. The latest funding, from Silicon Valley Bank Venture along with ...
Document investment.(TECHNOLOGY)
May 05, 2008; ... Docstoc.com, a social networking site built around professional documents, raised $3.5 million from Santa Monica-based Rustic Canyon Partners. The money will be used to expand the company's employee base of five people, and bolster its marketing and business development ...