Judicial Profile
Judge Stephen Lau brings global perspective, philosophical rigor to Sacramento bench
From The Archive
MCLE
Criminal restitution orders following civil settlements
Civil settlements don't erase criminal restitution. In Ca...
By Alan Eisner, Dmitry Gorin, Robert HillTop 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 SchiavoniSpecial Reports
Top Intellectual Property Lawyers 2025
The annual list honoring California's top lawyers specializing in patent litigation, trademark and copyright.
Today's News
Real Estate/Development
Court upholds city's denial of mixed-use development permit
By Skyler Romero
Agoura Hills defeats developer's lawsuit as judge upholds permit denial for a mixed-use project, citing zoning compliance and affordable housing priorities. ...
Judges and Judiciary
Retired judges face uphill battle in challenge to assignment limits
By Malcolm Maclachlan
A group of retired judges arguing that California's 1,320-day cap on temporary judicial service discriminates by age faced tough questioning from a 1st Distr...
A San Francisco judge greenlit a $100 million settlement in a shareholder lawsuit against Wells Fargo, alleging officers ignored risk and compliance duties. ...
Civil Litigation
Lunada Bay Beach access fight turns to fee fight after settlement
By Antoine Abou-Diwan
After settling a beach access lawsuit, Palos Verdes Estates and plaintiffs clash over $1M-$4M in attorney fees, debating the case's impact on public rights a...
Torts/Personal Injury
Family files wrongful death claim after fatal Fullerton police shooting
By Douglas Saunders Sr.
The family of a recent high school graduate shot and killed by Fullerton police during a March 15 call is seeking legal action, alleging negligent training a...
Environmental & Energy
Marine group sues US Interior over Santa Barbara oil site
By Devon Belcher
A marine advocacy group accuses the U.S. Department of the Interior of violating laws by allowing a Santa Barbara oil site to reopen with outdated plans, ris...
Columns
Torts/Personal Injury, Environmental & Energy
Is propane in Rancho Palos Verdes ultrahazardous?
By Antonio R. Sarabia II
Rancho Palos Verdes homeowners installing propane tanks in a landslide zone designated as a Very High Fire Severity Zone may f...
Entertainment & Sports
Scenario planning for Title IX compliance and NIL activities in 2025
By Frank N. Darras
College sports are changing fast with NIL compensation and Title IX compliance in flux. Schools must navigate shifting federal...
Health Care & Hospital Law
The case of Dr. Maggie Carpenter: The Dobbs extradition crisis is here
By Caleb Mason
A constitutional crisis is unfolding as Louisiana seeks to extradite a New York doctor for providing abortion pills via teleme...
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
Employment Law
Krug v. Board of Trustees of the California State Univ.
Labor Code requirement that employers reimburse employees' necessary business expenses did not apply to public institution.
Attorneys
Modification: Johnson v. Dept. of Transportation
Trial court did not abuse its discretion in disqualifying attorney who received a privileged communication from opposing counsel, refused to destroy it, and shared it with experts.
Torts, Consumer Law
Medical Marijuana, Inc. v. Horn
Using civil RICO's "injured in ... business" requirement, Plaintiff may seek treble damages and sue medical marijuana company based on personal injury of being fired after positive drug t...
Administrative Agencies
Food and Drug Administration v. Wages and White Lion Investments, LLC
In denying e-cigarette pre-market applications, the Food and Drug Administration was sufficiently consistent with its predecisional guidance and thus did not run afoul of the change-in-po...
Criminal Law and Procedure
U.S. v. Carver
Despite shift in court deference to agency interpretations of regulations, precedent that convictions set aside under Penal Code Section 1203.4 are not expunged for federal sentencing pur...