In a closely watched case across California, the state Supreme Court has left in place a ruling that allows a home health care worker to sue Sonoma County for wages that her disabled client did not pay her.

The key issue was whether Sonoma County could be considered a ‘joint employer’ of the caretaker and therefore responsible for her unpaid wages.

A federal appeals court has reinstated a lawsuit brought by retired Sonoma County government employees claiming the Board of Supervisors reneged on a pledge to provide lifetime health benefits.

Officials in Sonoma County struggled Thursday to gauge the local impact of a state Supreme Court ruling that upheld the state’s elimination of redevelopment agencies. Uncertainty remained about the ruling’s implications, especially to redevelopment projects already under way.

The $250 million hole Sonoma County is in for unfunded retirement benefits could get deeper following a state Supreme Court decision that severely limits the ability of counties to cut health care benefits for retirees.

There’s been a lot of debate this week about a bill by a local legislator that would require police to give the public 48 hours before conducting a DUI checkpoint. The fact is this is nothing new. It’s been a court mandate for more than 20 years.