Judicial Profile
From Middle-earth to civil court, Judge Evan P. Kirvin embraces a new challenge
MCLE
Arbitration clauses in commercial contracts: Strategic advantage or unnecessary constraint?
Commercial arbitration can offer privacy, expertise and s...
By Louis TambaroCIPA meets the modern web: California's data-tracking disputes and the path forward
As courts weigh whether routine website tracking violates...
By David S. Cunningham IIIProposed SB 690 eliminates pen register CIPA claims but leaves website privacy litigation intact
SB 690 could wipe out most pending pen register claims an...
By Logan Leonard
Today's News
Law Practice
New laws expand judges' pension options, stiffen penalties for illegal client solicitation
By Malcolm Maclachlan
Gov. Gavin Newsom signed measures allowing judges to name non-spouse pension beneficiaries and mandating disbarment for attorneys convicted of illegal client...
Intellectual Property
San Diego jury hits Apple with record $5.72B patent verdict
By Craig Anderson
Quinn Emanuel secured a $5.72 billion verdict for Taction Technology over Apple's Taptic Engine, potentially giving litigation funder Burford Capital a $1.4 ...
Ethics/Professional Responsibility
Ex-client sues firm and attorneys over $5.89M default
By Alicia Alvarez
A former client of Sellar Hazard & Lucia claims the firm's attorneys failed to respond to a lawsuit against him, leading to a $5.895 million default judg...
Insurance
Newsom vetoes wildfire insurance bills aimed at claims delays
By Skyler Romero
Policyholder attorneys say two measures rejected by Gov. Gavin Newsom would have strengthened protections for fire survivors by requiring greater transparenc...
Technology
Zoom AI Companion illegally creates users' 'voiceprints,' lawsuit claims
By Daniel Schrager
Illinois Zoom users allege the platform's AI meeting assistant creates biometric voiceprints to identify speakers without providing the notice or obtaining t...
Technology
YouTube settles as Meta executives may testify in addiction trial
By Devon Belcher
YouTube settled with both plaintiffs in the next social media addiction bellwether, while a Los Angeles judge cleared the way for Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg an...
Columns
The California Supreme Court should reconsider or narrow In re Estrada because its presumption of retroactivity conflic...
Insurance
Standing under a lender-placed policy: When can homeowners enforce the lender's insurance?
By William A. Foster
Lender-placed insurance policies are becoming an important issue in California wildfire litigation, raising difficult question...
Health Care, Pharmaceuticals, Biotech
When did cost-cutting become an elder care strategy?
By Yosi Yahoudai, Stacy Thumsuden
As California's senior population grows, long-term care facilities are relying on lower-cost staffing models and looser care s...
Verdicts & Settlements
| Wrongful Death | Alexandra Rasey-Smith, Gord... | $5,800,000 |
| Wage and Hour | Paul Williams, on behalf of... | $5,200,000 |
| Malpractice | John Doe v. Roe Hospital | $4,700,000 |
| Wage and Hour | Eliza Serrano, individually... | $4,100,000 |
| Premises Liability | Jane Doe v. Roe Restaurant ... | $3,250,000 |
| Wage and Hour | Daniel Kelley, on behalf of... | $2,360,000 |
| Breach of Contract | Isabel Arteaga v. Calcrete ... | $2,000,000 |
| Intentional Misrepresentation | Tiffany Young v. Brian Rich... | $2,000,000 |
| Wage and Hour | Stephanie Jones, an individ... | $1,900,000 |
| Premises Liability | John Doe v. Roe Builders | $1,550,000 |
On the Move
Cozen O'Connor
Theresa Nolan joined Cozen O'Connor as a member in Los Angeles. The move was Sept. 21, 2026.
Details
Cozen O'Connor has 1000 attorneys in 34 offices including 3. Among the law firm’s key practice areas are litigation, corporate and regulatory law, government relations, insurance, and labor and employment. The firm’s website is https://www.cozen.com/
Featured Content
Insurance defense attorneys have long been on the front lines for their clients. Now they're facing a new threat: the carriers...
Alternative Dispute Resolution
JAMS neutrals examine how evolving PAGA reforms, shifting case law and data-driven claims are reshaping mediation strategies i...
Community News
RCBA Chief Financial Officer Christopher G. Jensen of Reid & Hellyer; Lord & Brooker APC and Master of Ceremonies Michelle M. Brooker, RCBA 2026-27 President Elisabeth A. Lord, and Solomon D. Droge
(Ret.) Jeffrey J. Prevost and Harlan B. Kistler of Law Offices of Harlan B. Kistler
Lucy Matevosyan of Matevosyan Law Group, honoree Virginia M. Blumenthal of Blumenthal & Moore APLC and RCBA 2026-27 President Elisabeth A. Lord of Lord & Brooker APC
Deputy Public Defender Steven L. Harmon, "James H. Krieger Meritorious Service Award" recipient and "E. Aurora Hughes Award for Service" recipient Virginia M. Blumenthal of Blumenthal & Moore APLC
Thompson & Colegate LLP's law clerk Laiba Malik and associate Jazmyne D. Alverson
Daniel E. Katz of Reid & Hellyer, RCBA 2026-27 President Elisabeth A. Lord of Lord & Brooker APC and (Ret.) Judge Kira L. Klatchko of JAMS
(Ret.) Judge Craig G. Riemer, Peter J. Mort of Murrieta and (Ret.) Jeffrey J. Prevost
Stephanie Barraza, Associate Business Manager at JAMS; San Bernardino County Deputy Public Defender Andrea J. Garcia and Juvenile Courts Attorneys' Desireá M. Tucker
Paul J. Molinaro of The Law Offices of Fransen & Molinaro LLP and Thomas W. Dominick of Fullerton Lemann Schaefer & Dominick LLP
Luz E. Essenwanger of Redlands and Michael Saavedra of Represent Justice
Riverside Unified School District Teacher Teri Stamen and Superior Court Judge Carol A. Greene
Teresa Sarenana, Giro Bevinetto, Arlene M. Dashkovitz of Law Office of Arlene Marie Cordoba and paralegal Sharol Vampola
Stream Kim's Elizabeth V. Duran, Amy Zhou, Michaele M. Gonzalez, Amy J. Osborne and Antonieta T. Leal
Riverside County Superior Court’s Presiding Judge Jacqueline C. Jackson and Supervising Judge Dean Benjamini
Financial Adviser Micki Hicks, U.S. Magistrate Judge David T. Bristow and Financial Adviser Karl Hicks
RCBA Past President Megan J.G. Demshki and Casey R. Johnson, both of Aitken Aitken Cohn
RCBA 2026-27 Vice President Lauren M. Vogt of Rizio Lipinsky Heiting and Past President Megan J.G. Demshki of Aitken Aitken Cohn
(Ret.) Judge Gloria C. Trask, Gordon W. Trask III of Glendora and Superior Court Judge Randall S. Stamen
(Ret.) Judge David S. Cohn of JAMS and Michael J. Marlatt of Thompson & Colegate LLP
Gary T. Montgomery of Thompson & Colegate LLP, 4th District Senior Appellate Court Attorney Mary Ann Forrest and Donald R. Lee of Dietz Gilmor & Chazen
Deputy City Attorney Neil D. Okazaki of Corona and Superior Court Judge Christopher B. Harmon
Reel Fathers Rights' David L. Taub, Merritt L. McKeon and Priyanka Bhattacharya
Juvenile Courts Attorneys' Desireá M. Tucker; Rizio Lipinsky Heiting's associate Joseph M. Ernatt, manager Joey Ross and associate Briana A. Heiting, also an RCBA Member-at-Large
Oliver P. Cleary of Law Office of Oliver P. Cleary, Jean-Simon Serrano of Rizio Lipinsky Heiting and Superior Court Commissioner Kelly Moran
RCBA Member-at-Large Edgar B. Lopez of Law Office of Edgar Lopez APC and Leo Herrera of Herrera Law PC
Senior Presiding Justice Manuel Ramirez and Jackie Hoar, settlement conference administrator at the 4th District Court of Appeal
JAMS' mediators (Ret.) Judge David S. Cohn and (Ret.) Judge Chad W. Firetag
RCBA Barristers President Nolan B. Kistler of the Law Offices of Harlan B. Kistler, Heather A. Green of Blumenthal & Moore APLC and Christopher A. Johnson of Reid & Hellyer
Paul Grech Jr. of Law Offices of Grech Packer & Hanks and (Ret.) Judge Harold W. Hopp
Wade Pyun, chief legal officer of Altura Credit Union and Ellen M. Peng of Riverside
RCBA 2026-27 President Elisabeth A. Lord of Lord & Brooker APC (center) with past presidents, board members, and honorees
RCBA Recognition of 50-Year State Bar Members: Daniel E. Olson of Riverside, Senior Presiding Justice Manuel Ramirez and James O. Heiting of Heiting & Irwin
Arturo M. Cisneros of Malcolm Cisneros, Teresa Cisneros and Superior Court Judge Randall S. Stamen
Virginia M. Blumenthal and Steven L. Harmon presented each other with the association's top service awards as Elisabeth A. Lord was installed as RCBA president.
Daily Appellate Report
Family Law
Seiwald v. Irias
A decade-long *Marvin* agreement gave an unmarried partner an ownership interest in public pension benefits earned before the couple married.
Utilities
TC Telephone v. Public Utilities Com.
Public Utilities Commission could not order a telephone provider to repay $8.2 million for claims submitted under reimbursement rules that lacked fair notice.
Fees and Costs, Real Property
WCST Enterprises, LLC v. Ling
Prevailing party in quiet title action related to condominium parking space could not recover attorneys' fees because it was not an action to enforce development's covenants, conditions, ...
Contracts
MLA Capital, LLC v. Keagle
Trial court erroneously deemed contract claims time-barred where genuine issue existed as to whether defendants' payments tolled and restarted the limitations period.
Employment Law
Chaudhry v. State of California
Individual supervisors cannot be held personally liable for whistleblower retaliation under Labor Code section 1102.5.