Los Angeles Business Journal back issues from July 2008:
Hilton takes last stand in war on 'living wage': injunction could put a halt to pay ordinance this week.(LABOR)(cases)
Jul 07, 2008; ... It's an uphill battle and the Hilton Los Angeles Airport hotel is going it alone. Other airport-area hotels decided after 18 months, hundreds of thousands of dollars spent and a defeat at the state's highest court to give up their challenge to Los Angeles' living wage ...
Galaxy shines thanks to its star: one year after Beckham, attendance up 20%.(SPORTS)
Jul 07, 2008; ... One year ago, David Beckham's arrival in Los Angeles was greeted by media coverage so over-the-top it bred a backlash from skeptics who doubted his worth to U.S. soccer. But now the numbers are in, and it appears the club's investment is paying off--even as the frenzy over the ...
Condo market bouncing back? lower prices in L.A. lead to upswing in June.(HOUSING)
Jul 07, 2008; ... L.A.'s housing market, which has picked up a bit since its low point in February, enjoyed a bit of rally in June. And those looking for a silver lining can focus on one area: condo sales. While sales activity normally picks up going into the summer, June's increases ...
Reel money: producer uses IRA funds to make low-budget movies.
Jul 07, 2008; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] LEAVE it to a local film producer to find a way for wannabe movie moguls to invest their hard-earned retirement funds into the risky business of motion picture financing. Keith Kjarval, chief executive of Unified Pictures, may be the only ...
More sense: Americhip looks beyond just visual impressions with its ads, gift cards and mailers.(ADVERTISING)
Jul 07, 2008; ... IN the word of Americhip Inc., magazine pages sing, gift cards fight up and junk-mail letters play songs. The Torrance-based company produces "multisensory ads" that go beyond the scratch-and-sniff or paper pop-ups of days gone by. The goal, according to Chief Executive Tim ...
Lotions in motion as skin care lines reach retail.(UP FRONT)
Jul 07, 2008; ... Two more Los Angeles skin specialists are getting their products into the big leagues of the retail game. The Neiman Marcus chain has begun to stock lines-by Stuart Kaplan and Kate Somerville. The former is a Beverly Hills-based dermatologist and founder of Kaplan MD skin care; ...
Scouts scale new heights.(PAGE 3)(Brief article)
Jul 07, 2008; ... You may not see a bear or coyote up there, but you can camp under the stars at the new Cushman Watt Scout Center and check out the downtown Los Angeles skyline. The unique project was partly funded by $4 million in donations from real estate luminaries Ray Watt and John Cushman, ...
Sweet ride.(PAGE 3)(Brief article)
Jul 07, 2008; ... Sam Nazarian has several Cadillacs of his own, so it makes sense that he'd partner with the carmaker. Nazarian's SBE Entertainment Group, which owns a bevy of nightclubs and lounges in Los Angeles, has partnered with Cadillac to provide guests of its establishments with chauffeured driving ...
Architect eats.(PAGE 3)(Brief article)
Jul 07, 2008; ... Local architect Stephen Jones, designer of new Santa Monica brasserie Anisette, said he gets a thrill out of dining in the eateries he helps create. "I'm always very excited and overwhelmed by the fact that we were able to pull off the design," said Jones, over lunch at ...
Bribe case.(NEWS OF THE WEEK)(Brief article)
Jul 07, 2008 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] BRIBE CASE: The only trial of a government official in the "pay-to-play" scandal during former Mayor James Hahn's tenure opened with prosecutors accusing Leland Wong of accepting $100,000 in ...
Deal sealed: Bank of America Corp.(NEWS OF THE WEEK)
Jul 07, 2008 ... DEAL SEALED: Bank of America Corp. completed a $2.5 billion stock acquisition of Countrywide Financial Corp., clearing the way for the nation's second largest commercial bank to turn around the nation's largest mortgage lender, whose fortunes faltered in the subprime meltdown. BofA ...
Hostages home: three employees of Los Angeles defense contractor Northrop Grumman Corp. were rescued and returned to the United States after having been held captive by Colombian guerillas for the last five years.(NEWS OF THE WEEK)(Brief article)
Jul 07, 2008 ... HOSTAGES HOME: Three employees of Los Angeles defense contractor Northrop Grumman Corp. were rescued and returned to the United States after having been held captive by Colombian guerillas for the last five years. Thomas Howes, Marc Gonsalves and Keith Stansell were part of a group of ...
SCPIE bought: Napa-based medical malpractice insurer Doctor Cos. completed its acquisition of Los Angeles-based SCPIE Holdings Inc. a few days after the California Department of Insurance determined that the deal would not significantly shrink competition and raise premiums.(NEWS OF THE WEEK)
Jul 07, 2008 ... SCPIE BOUGHT: Napa-based medical malpractice insurer Doctor Cos. completed its acquisition of Los Angeles-based SCPIE Holdings Inc. a few days after the California Department of ...
Vote proceeds: a Delaware judge refused to block an Activision Inc. shareholder vote set for July 8 on the company's proposed merger with Vivendi SA.(NEWS OF THE WEEK)
Jul 07, 2008 ... VOTE PROCEEDS: A Delaware judge refused to block an Activision Inc. shareholder vote set for July 8 on the company's proposed merger with Vivendi ...
Patent case: J2 Global Communications Inc.(NEWS OF THE WEEK)
Jul 07, 2008 ... PATENT CASE: J2 Global Communications Inc., a company that specializes in integrated Internet fax and voice-mail services, said it has filed patent infringement law-suits against three competitors in Georgia, ...
Sale considered: shares in Los Angeles-based Emak Worldwide Inc. surged 40 percent after the company announced formation of a special board committee to consider a buyout proposal.(NEWS OF THE WEEK)(Brief article)
Jul 07, 2008 ... SALE CONSIDERED: Shares in Los Angeles-based Emak Worldwide Inc. surged 40 percent after the company announced formation of a special board committee to ...
Stamps stick: a U.S. district court jury ruled that Los Angeles-based Stamps.com's trademarked NetStamps feature and technology does not infringe on any of the patents asserted by competitor Kara Technology Inc.(NEWS OF THE WEEK)
Jul 07, 2008 ... STAMPS STICK: A U.S. district court jury ruled that Los Angeles-based Stamps.com's trademarked NetStamps feature and technology does not infringe on any of the patents asserted ...
Other shoe: an Italian shoe and sportswear maker dropped a trademark lawsuit against casual and athletic shoemaker Skechers U.S.A. Inc.(NEWS OF THE WEEK)
Jul 07, 2008 ... OTHER SHOE: An Italian shoe and sportswear maker dropped a trademark lawsuit against casual and athletic shoemaker Skechers U.S.A. Inc. The ...
More gas: Occidental Petroleum Corp.(NEWS OF THE WEEK)(SandRidge Energy)(Brief article)
Jul 07, 2008 ... MORE GAS: Occidental Petroleum Corp. plans to invest $1.1 billion in a partnership with Oklahoma Citybased SandRidge Energy that could expand Oxy's Permian Basin production by at least 50,000 barrels of oil per day within the next five years ....
Big screen: RealD.(NEWS OF THE WEEK)(Brief article)
Jul 07, 2008 ... BIG SCREEN: RealD, which makes 3D digital projection technology for movie theaters, announced an agreement with Cinemark Holdings Inc. to add up to 1,500 ...
A La Playa: tech firm Belkin International will move its headquarters to a $1.2-billion office complex in the Playa Vista development south of Marina del Rey, where construction has just gotten under way.(NEWS OF THE WEEK)(Brief article)
Jul 07, 2008 ... A LA PLAYA: Tech firm Belkin International will move its headquarters to a $1.2-billion office complex in the Playa Vista development south of Marina del Rey, where construction has just gotten under way. Developers ...
The waterfront.(NEWS OF THE WEEK)(Brief article)
Jul 07, 2008 ... THE WATERFRONT: Talks on a West Coast ports contract covering 26,000 dock-workers continued past the July 1 deadline. Several key issues remained unresolved between cargo carriers ...
Corrections.(NEWS OF THE WEEK)(Correction notice)
Jul 07, 2008 ... The Advertising & PR column in the June 30 edition should have said that Adlhoch Creative is the advertising agency for Farmers Market. An article in the June 30 edition headlined "Christensen Still Brokering Power" said that Marc Harris is not involved in Terry ...
Legal, brief: businesses reduce costs by handing document work to temp-service attorneys.(LAW)
Jul 07, 2008; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] TEMPORARY legal staffing firm Lexolution LLC has opened a Century City office to capitalize on the economic downturn. The New York-based company's move west comes as more and more companies need to watch costs but still need to get legal work ...
Mini-run on IndyMac shows lender may need to sell assets: subsidiary Financial Freedom cited as prime candidate for deal.(LENDING)
Jul 07, 2008; ... After surviving a mini-run last week that saw depositors pull $100 million in deposits, IndyMac Bancorp Inc. may have to start selling off assets to stabilize itself financially. At least that's what some Wall Street analysts believe--and the company isn't discounting the idea. ...
Software company has more in store for retailers: Volusion's widget adds e-commerce capabilities to social pages.(INTERNET)(Brief article)
Jul 07, 2008; ... KEVIN Sproles started his business at his parents' house in Simi Valley when he was 15. By the time Sproles graduated from high school, he had 100 customers. He eventually moved his company, Volusion, out of his room and into an office building across the street. ...
Still napping.(TECHNOLOGY)(Brief article)
Jul 07, 2008; ... The news that three shareholders of Napster Inc. sought a re-election of the company's board in May probably didn't rattle anyone in the corner offices of its Hollywood headquarters. The shareholders of the digital music company hold only 1.7 percent of the company's stock and ...
Helio eclipse.(TECHNOLOGY)(Brief article)
Jul 07, 2008; ... The death of a high-flying cell phone carrier in Santa Monica shows that South Koreans overestimated American consumer demand for higher-tech communication. SK Telecom had invested $490 million in Helio, a joint venture started two years ago with Earthlink Inc. The two companies ...
Phone bloom.(TECHNOLOGY)(Flipswap)(Brief article)
Jul 07, 2008; ... Flipswap, a cell phone trade-in company, prides itself in reducing electronic waste. But the Torrance company is taking its environmental commitment to the forest. Beginning this month, Flipswap will plant a tree for every phone the company recycles through CarbonFund.org. By ...
Firm cultivates online communities for feedback: passenger helps clients test products with customer base.(MARKETING)
Jul 07, 2008; ... REMEMBER the focus group? Companies may still put people in a room to watch them try their products while marketing executives watch from behind one-way glass. But the old-fashioned marketing concept is quickly turning virtual. Passenger, a tech company on L.A.'s ...
New loses traction versus old in car parts sector: stock of wheel maker falters while remanufacturer's spikes.(AUTOMOTIVE)
Jul 07, 2008; ... News that U.S. light truck sales have slowed to a crawl as gas-pinched car buyers stay out of showrooms is hitting one L.A. auto parts company hard--but boosting the fortunes of another. Superior Industries International Inc., a major supplier of aluminum wheels to Detroit, saw ...
New channel clicking with Time Warner Cable: World Championship Sports gets lift from NBC Universal.(TELEVISION)(Brief article)
Jul 07, 2008; ... SPORTS fans in Los Angeles have a new cable channel to watch. Universal Sports debuted last week in Los Angeles on Time Warner Cable Channel 226. Los Angeles-based World Championship Sports Network formed a partnership with NBC Universal and relaunched its television station ...
Foreign fighters.(SPORTS BUSINESS)
Jul 07, 2008; ... Two major tournaments in the world of mixed martial arts are coming to Southern California this month, and that means L.A. attorney Richard Wilner is in a frenzy of activity. Many of the fighters come from abroad, and Wilner has to get them their visas. As mixed martial-arts ...
Now announcing.(SPORTS BUSINESS)(Brief article)
Jul 07, 2008; ... While teammate Kobe Bryant is at the Olympics in China competing for Team USA in basketball, Los Angeles Lakers guard Derek Fisher will be spending part of his off-season at Staples Center. But he won't be shooting three-pointers: Fisher will provide commentary on games played by the Los ...
Hospital operator gives Valley a shot in the arm: Providence will keep Tarzana center open after $89 million deal.(ACQUISITION)
Jul 07, 2008; ... PROVIDENCE Health & Services officials see the $89 million they agreed to spend last week to acquire one of Tenet Healthcare Corp.'s last remaining Los Angeles County hospitals as a bargain. With Tarzana Regional Medical Center, Providence acquires an acute care hospital and ...
Tenet sunsets.(HEALTH CARE & BIOTECH)(Brief article)
Jul 07, 2008; ... The Tarzana sale to Providence leaves Tenet--once California's largest hospital operator at 41 facilities--with just 15 hospitals in the state. Up to four of those are slated to be handed off to new owners by next year. Tenet signed a letter of intent in April with the ...
State sues Prime.(HEALTH CARE & BIOTECH)(Brief article)
Jul 07, 2008; ... Prime Healthcare, the purchaser of three Tenet hospitals, now finds itself in trouble with state regulators who contend it's illegal for the company to bill insured patients for unpaid medical services their insurers won't cover. Prime often cancels private insurance contracts ...
Actors back up on DVDs in contract negotiations: SAG relents on boosting share of disc sales while pursuing new media.(LABOR)(Brief article)
Jul 07, 2008; ... While the Screen Actors Guild continues to take a hard line on the issue of residuals from new media, the union has already lost the battle over residuals from the most profitable source of entertainment--DVD sales. Under SAG's old contract, actors got 12 percent of every ...
More TV.(MEDIA & ENTERTAINMENT)(Brief article)
Jul 07, 2008 ... The actors strike may be looming on the horizon, but television production companies have been stepping up filming TV shows and pilots in Los Angeles. Permits issued between May 21 and June 24 increased to 119 from 37 during the same period last year, or 222 percent, according ...
Image peace.(MEDIA & ENTERTAINMENT)
Jul 07, 2008; ... Image Entertainment Inc., which specializes in distributing independent films, patched up its rocky relationship with fill financier and producer David Bergstein in hopes of propping up its sagging bottom line. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Chatsworth-based Image, which ...
Debt problem.(MEDIA & ENTERTAINMENT)(Brief article)
Jul 07, 2008; ... Since taking control of the Tribune Co. late last year, real estate tycoon turned media mogul Sam Zell has laid bare his Los Angeles Times and KTLA (Channel 5) media outlets in L.A. Times Editor Russ Stanton cited pressure from the plethora of free news content available on the ...
Mediawatch.(NEWS & ANALYSIS)(Industry ranking)
Jul 07, 2008; ... <Pre> MEDIAWATCH MOVIE BOX OFFICEWeekend Gross Total Gross Rank Title (millions) (millions)Distributor 1 Wall-E $62.5 $62.5 Disney 2 Wanted 51.1 51.1 ...
Heating up.(OUTTAKE OF THE WEEK)(Brief article)
Jul 07, 2008; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Coldplay's "Viva La Vida" sold about 800,000 ...
Gas gain.(WESTSIDE: MARINA DEL REY)(Villa Marina Inc. acquired with ConocoPhillips Co.)(Brief article)
Jul 07, 2008; ... Gas Gain: Villa Marina Inc. has purchased a gas station from ConocoPhillips Co. for $4.12 million. The ...
RockSugar debut.(WESTSIDE: CENTURY CITY)
Jul 07, 2008; ... RockSugar Debut: Calabasas-based Cheesecake Factory Inc. has opened its first RockSugar Pan Asian Kitchen, at the Westfield Century City Mall ....
Sporting event.(WESTSIDE: WEST LOS ANGELES)
Jul 07, 2008; ... Sporting Event: Sport Chalet Inc. has opened a store at 11801 W. Olympic ...
Double deal.(TRI-CITIES: GLENDALE)(Brief article)
Jul 07, 2008; ... Double Deal: Lucien C & Sandra L Claude 1999 Trust has sold two buildings next to Blue Plumbing Co. for $3 ...
Family feel.(TRI-CITIES: BURBANK)(Brief article)
Jul 07, 2008; ... Family Feel: Cafesjian Family Foundation Inc.. an Armenian support organization has bought an office property from mortgage lending firm First Capital ...
Furniture find.(TRI-CITIES: PASADENA)(Brief article)
Jul 07, 2008; ... Furniture Find: Ihab and Vivian Sultan have purchased an 8,316-square-foot retail property from the estate of Joseph S. Stromei for ...
Head room.(SOUTH BAY: CARSON)(Brief article)
Jul 07, 2008; ... Head Room: Headwear manufacturer CallFame of Los Angeles Inc. has purchased an industrial building from Victaulic Co. of ...
Realm estate .(SOUTH BAY: LONG BEACH)(Brief article)
Jul 07, 2008; ... Realm Estate: Newport Beach-based developer Realm Group has purchased the City Centre Building in Long Beach from a private investor for $9.6 ...
Electric acquisition.(SOUTH BAY: GARDENA)(Brief article)
Jul 07, 2008; ... Electric Acquisition: Sunpark Electronics Corp. has purchased two buildings for $5.1 million. The ...
Pair pickup.(SAN GABRIEL VALLEY: CITY OF INDUSTRY)(Brief article)
Jul 07, 2008; ... Pair Pickup: Hager Pacific Properties has purchased an industrial property from Herring Investments LLC for $3 million. The ...
Pump procurement.(SAN GABRIEL VALLEY: POMONA)(Brief article)
Jul 07, 2008; ... Pump Procurement: The service station at 2488 S. Reservoir St. has been sold for $4 million. The ...
Gardens gained.(SAN FERNANDO VALLEY: RESEDA)(Brief article)
Jul 07, 2008; ... Gardens Gained: Bixel House LP, an entity of L.A.-based developer Thomas Safran & Associates, has bought the Canby Gardens ...
Organic partnership.(CENTRAL AREA: SOUTH LOS ANGELES)
Jul 07, 2008; ... Organic Partnership: Reed's Inc. has expanded its partnership with the Ralphs supermarket chain. In addition to Reed's Ginger ...
Making your case: LawFund Management turns lawsuits into limited liability companies to help plaintiffs fund litigation.(This Week: INNOVATION)(cases)
Jul 07, 2008; ... WHEN Herbert Dodell first came to Los Angeles 40 years ago, he was a fresh-faced Brooklyn Law School graduate with ambitions of making it big as an entertainment attorney. But he was horrified by the egos of the big Hollywood players. So he became a traditional litigator, ...
In development: Nelson Rising, Maguire Properties' new CEO, looks to get downtown's largest office landlord back on track.(PEOPLE)(dialogue with Nelson C. Rising)(Interview)
Jul 07, 2008; ... NELSON Rising brings decades of experience to his new role as chief executive of Maguire Properties Inc., the largest office landlord in downtown Los Angeles. In May, Rising took over the company, which has struggled and was even put up for sale, weighed down by untimely real estate ...
HKS Inc.(ARCHITECTURE)(appointment of Steven Lopez)(Brief article)
Jul 07, 2008; ... Steven Lopez has joined the Los Angeles office of HKS Inc., an international architectural firm, as vice ...
Wells Fargo.(BANKING & FINANCE)(appointment of Allan Bran)(Brief article)
Jul 07, 2008; ... Wells Fargo has named Allan Bran assistant vice president and store manager for its 9000 W. Sunset Blvd. community banking store ....
City National Bank.(BANKING & FINANCE)(appointment of James E. Wullschleger)(Brief article)
Jul 07, 2008; ... City National Bank has hired James E. Wullschleger as senior vice president and ...
Comerica Bank.(BANKING & FINANCE)(appointment of Marcio Magalhaes)(Brief article)
Jul 07, 2008; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Marcio Magalhaes has been named vice president and business development officer in the ...
Resolution Economics.(CONSULTING)(appointment of Stefan Boedeker)(Brief article)
Jul 07, 2008; ... Stefan Boedeker has joined the Los Angeles office of Resolution Economics, a litigation and ...
Los Angeles Unified School District.(EDUCATION)(appointment of Roberta Bobble Fesler)(Brief article)
Jul 07, 2008; ... The Los Angeles Unified School District has appointed Roberta Bobble Fesler general cot, ...
Loyola Marymount University Family of Schools.(EDUCATION)(appointment of Stephen Rochelle)(Brief article)
Jul 07, 2008; ... Stephen Rochelle has been appointed director of learning and leadership for the Loyola Marymount University Family of Schools, one of four ...