Governor Gavin Newsom, of course, is no stranger to self-promotion. His office churns out a steady stream of press releases, videos and social media posts touting his accomplishments, an output that has only intensified as his final year in office approaches and speculation mounts about a possible presidential run.

But when it comes to sheer volume of self-congratulatory messaging, Bonta may have even Newsom beat.

Rarely does a day go by without Bonta’s communications staff issuing some kind of announcement — a press release, a social media post, a video — highlighting an achievement by the attorney general, who brands himself as “the People’s Attorney” fighting for justice on behalf of all Californians.

His office has issued nearly 500 press releases so far this year alone, not counting the additional messaging spread across other platforms.

This week, Bonta has been especially visible during a high-profile trial in Oakland, where California and three other states are suing Meta, the parent company of Instagram and Facebook, over allegations that the company intentionally designed its platforms to be addictive to young users. According to Bonta deputy Megan O’Neill, who delivered the opening statement, Meta sought to “hold them for as long as they can, harvest their data and hide the truth from the public.”

As the trial got underway Tuesday, Bonta posted a video outside the courtroom — notably on Facebook, one of the platforms at the center of the lawsuit — stating that his office was working to prove Meta had “designed and deployed harmful features on Instagram and Facebook that lead young users to compulsive use.”

Despite this steady stream of content, much of it never makes it into serious news coverage, largely because it amounts to self-promotion rather than substantive news.

That raises an interesting question: In his more than five years as attorney general, has Bonta’s office ever actually lost a case?

Occasionally, his office will acknowledge a legal setback, criticize the court’s decision, defend the state’s position and vow to appeal. But such admissions are few and far between, and outright losses are almost never candidly discussed.

That’s where what’s known as a “claims bill” comes in. These are pieces of legislation, typically drafted by the attorney general’s office, that authorize state funds to pay out settlements or judgments in cases the state has lost. They tend to move through the Legislature with little scrutiny or public debate.

The latest claims bill, still awaiting final approval before the legislative session wraps up on Aug. 31, would set aside $7.4 million to resolve eight different cases. Among them are four lawsuits successfully brought by gun rights advocates challenging California’s firearm regulations.

Newsom, Bonta and Democratic lawmakers have pushed an extensive slate of gun control measures over the years, many unique to California. But a growing number of these laws have been struck down in court, as challengers increasingly rely on recent U.S. Supreme Court rulings affirming the Second Amendment as an individual civil right.

Two of the cases Bonta’s office lost involved concealed carry permits, while the other two challenged the state’s restrictions on marketing firearms-related products to minors — restrictions that courts found violated free speech protections.

Californians shouldn’t have to wait for a quietly passed claims bill to learn which legal battles the attorney general’s office has lost. Bonta certainly isn’t going to trumpet his own defeats. Instead, the state should follow the lead of the City of Los Angeles, which maintains a public website tracking lawsuits the city has lost and the resulting payouts.

That website currently lists more than 12,000 cases and over $1.1 billion in settlements since fiscal year 2020 — a level of transparency that stands in sharp contrast to the carefully curated image Bonta’s office presents to the public.

Original source: CalMatters

The post Bonta Touts Wins, Downplays Courtroom Setbacks, Records Show appeared first on The Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle.

In 2020, the California Department of Justice sued Vitol, Inc., SK Energy Americas, Inc. and its parent company SK Trading International, alleging that the companies worked together in secret to manipulate prices after an explosion at a Torrance gasoline refinery in 2015.

The companies engaged “in a scheme to drive up gas prices for their own profit,” that limited competition and caused Californians to pay more at the pump, according to the attorney general’s office.

In July 2024, California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced that the state had reached a $50 million settlement with the companies.

Of that, $37.5 million will be distributed as gas rebates to impacted consumers in California.

Peoplewho purchased fuel in select parts of the statecan now apply to get money back, Bonta said in an Oct. 2 news release.

Who is eligible to get gas rebates?

Anyone who filled up their tank in parts of Central or Southern California between Feb. 20, 2015, and Nov. 10, 2015, can submit a claim.

If you bought gas in Los Angeles, San Diego, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Kern, Ventura, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo or Imperial counties during this time period, you are eligible for a gas rebate.

Call 877-725-7523 or email peoplesinfo@calgaslitigation.com to learn if you were affected by the settlement.

Who is eligible to get gas rebates?

Anyone who filled up their tank in parts of Central or Southern California between Feb. 20, 2015, and Nov. 10, 2015, can submit a claim.

If you bought gas in Los Angeles, San Diego, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Kern, Ventura, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo or Imperial counties during this time period, you are eligible for a gas rebate.

Call 877-725-7523 or email peoplesinfo@calgaslitigation.com to learn if you were affected by the settlement.

How to submit a claim

Eligible consumers can submit a claim online at CalGasLitigation.com or mail in a claim form.

Applicants are asked to provide their name, address, driver’s license number and answer questions verifying they bought gas in 2015.

You must apply by Jan. 8, 2025, to receive money from the settlement.

How much money will California drivers get?

According to the settlement website, the amount of payment people receive will depend on how many valid claims are submitted..

When will gas rebate be distributed?

There is no set date on when settlement checks will be delivered.

On Feb. 28, 2025, the San Francisco County Superior Court of California will hold a hearing on whether to approve the settlement. The approval and appeals process could take more than a year, the settlement website said.

Gas rebates will be sent to Californians once the case is resolved.

Claimants can receive settlement funds through an electronic payment account, such as PayPal, Venmo or Zelle, or as a paper check.

The post Gas rebates are coming to California drivers thanks to $50 million settlement. How to apply appeared first on The Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle.