Judicial Profile
Judge Stephen Lau brings global perspective, philosophical rigor to Sacramento bench
From The Archive
MCLE
Top 5 things contractors and subcontractors need to know to avoid licensing violations
The CSLB is tightening enforcement with new laws on "pape...
By Dustin AmreinInside the Ninth Circuit's en banc process
A recent program hosted by the Ninth Circuit provided ins...
By Johanna SchiavoniDEI after SFFA: How Supreme Court ruling and executive orders reshape workplace diversity
Expanding the concept of diversity beyond race to include...
By Kenneth SharpersonSpecial Coverage
Constitutional Law
'These are not ordinary times': Chief Judge Dolly Gee defends judiciary's independence amid political attacks
By Jack Needham
Gee, who over sees the largest federal trial court in the nation, spanning nine Southern and Central California counties, issu...
Today's News
Torts/Personal Injury
LA judge lets school district to add MICRA defenses in overdose suit
By Skyler Romero
A Los Angeles judge tentatively permits LAUSD to file MICRA defenses in a lawsuit over a student's fatal overdose, despite claims the law doesn't apply to sc...
Judges and Judiciary
Family seeks to serve cartel leaders in agent's murder suit
By Devon Belcher
A federal judge is urged to have U.S. Marshals serve Sinaloa Cartel leaders, including "El Chapo," with a civil suit over the 1985 torture-murder of a DEA ag...
Torts/Personal Injury
Suit seeks to hold Uber liable for driver's low tire tread
By James Twomey
A San Francisco couple sues Uber, claiming the company is liable for a crash due to a driver's low tire tread, raising questions about Uber's responsibility ...
Real Estate/Development
LA City Council OKs free legal to fight eviction
By Antoine Abou-Diwan
Los Angeles tenants earning below 80% of median income now qualify for free legal defense against evictions, funded by Measure ULA, which aimed to curb homel...
Technology, Civil Rights
'Killer robots' bill debate turns tense over exception for police
By Malcolm Maclachlan
A bill to ban weaponized consumer robots passed a key state Senate committee Tuesday -- but not before a heated debate over whether law enforcement should be...
Alternative Dispute Resolution
Signature Resolution expands into Central California with 3 veteran neutrals
By Douglas Saunders Sr.
Signature Resolution strengthens its statewide presence by joining forces with Common Ground Resolutions and adding two retired Kern County judges and a vete...
Columns
Litigation & Arbitration
Court upholds $4M Bais Din arbitration victory
By Baruch C. Cohen
The Federal Appeals Court decision marks a pivotal moment in secular recognition of religious arbitration.
Good writing is essential to appellate advocacy, and while classic guides like The Elements of Style remain invaluable, newer ...
Civil Litigation
Criminal restitution orders following civil settlements
By Dmitry Gorin, Alan Eisner
Civil settlements don't erase criminal restitution. In California, defendants can still be ordered to pay victims for economic...
Verdicts & Settlements
Breach of Contract | Hosam Elshenawi v. Osama El... | $28,500,000 |
Negligence | Minor I.H. v. County of Ora... | $28,000,000 |
Dangerous Condition of Public Property | Tyler Ward v. Ranger Pipeli... | $8,000,000 |
Malpractice | Jane Doe v. Roe Memorial Me... | $5,000,000 |
42 U.S.C. Section 1983 | Corey Williams v. Ricardo G... | $3,650,000 |
Negligent Supervision | L.C., a minor by and throug... | $3,000,000 |
Invasion of Privacy | Billy Thomas, Andre Brown a... | $1,800,000 |
Wage and Hour | Mayra Jones, individually, ... | $1,750,000 |
Unfair Competition | Jamie Jweinat and Richard L... | $1,025,000 |
Wage and Hour | Charlie Hear, on behalf of ... | $975,000 |
On the Move
JAMS

Jill M. Manning joined JAMS as a neutral in San Francisco. The move was Mar. 24, 2025.
Details
JAMS has 450 neutrals in 29 offices including Los Angeles, Sacramento, Silicon Valley, Walnut Creek, San Francisco, Santa Rosa, Century City, San Diego, Irvine and Riverside. Among the law firm's key practice areas are business and commercial, mass tort, healthcare, employment and insurance. The firm’s website is www.jamsadr.com
Address
Two Embarcadero Center, Suite 1500 , San Francisco California 94111 USA
Featured Content
Eight key factors that make early mediation a valuable tool in civil cases
JAMS neutral reflects on her career, what inspires her and what brought her back to JAMS after 20 years on the bench
Community News
Community News
Litigators whose homes burned find solace fighting for clients
By Skyler Romero
Attorneys who lost homes in LA County fires find solace in work, securing multimillion-dollar verdicts while rebuilding, leani...
Attorney Profiles
Podcasts
Insurance
In January, communities in Los Angeles were devastated by wildfires, permanently displacing thousands and destroying property ...
Daily Appellate Report
Criminal Law and Procedure
People v. K.D.
Regional center was required to provide report and proposed program for defendant eligible for developmental disability diversion so trial court could determine whether she would benefit ...
Family Law
Miles v. Gernstein
Oral surrogate agreement between neighbors was enforceable when facts supported that surrogate had intended to provide the child without staking parental claim.
Torts
Lorenzo v. Calex Engineering, Inc.
Defendant contractors, who established an unpermitted construction staging area for vehicles, owed a duty of care to plaintiffs whose minor daughters were killed by a truck driver.
Criminal Law and Procedure
McIntosh v. Superior Court (People)
During the informal pleading stage of proceedings under the Racial Justice Act, a petitioner need only allege facts that would establish a violation to trigger the appointment of counsel.
Insurance
11640 Woodbridge Condominium Homeowners' Assn. v. Farmers Ins. Exchange
Summary judgment was improper where triable issues of fact remained regarding whether exclusions cited by insurance company in denying claim precluded coverage of damage caused by rain du...