Rebuilding LA:
The Daily Journal's fire coverage portal

Judicial Profile

Judge Mark Hanasono prepares for appellate bench with reluctance and anticipation
MCLE
Rebuilding after wildfire means knowing the tax rules
Wildfire victims may be able to reduce, delay, or avoid p...
By Alex Z. Brown, Robert W. WoodThe Supreme Court's dismissal of Labcorp v. Davis
In a closely watched case that could have drastically res...
By Brian Danitz, Vasti MontielSection 998: The high-stakes settlement strategy you need to know
California Code of Civil Procedure Section 998 shifts cos...
By Peter R. Boutin, Tara Leuenberger, Christopher A. StecherToday's News
Government, Criminal
Legislature approves $110M for Prop 36 amid report on retail theft trends
By Malcolm Maclachlan
A new legislative report shows retail theft has increased modestly in recent years, especially in large urban counties--though rates remain far below their 1...
Torts/Personal Injury, Civil Litigation
Insurers sue over defective fire system flood in SF building
By James Twomey
Two insurers are suing fire suppression system installers for $100 million, alleging a defective design caused a 2022 flood at a San Francisco apartment buil...
Civil Litigation
Google sues to block global takedown order from Brazilian court
By Skyler Romero
Google files U.S. lawsuit to block Brazil's order for global removal of YouTube videos alleging LATAM employee child harassment, citing free speech violation...
State Bar & Bar Associations
Former San Bernardino DA agrees to 6-month suspension for misconduct in development dispute
By Douglas Saunders Sr.
The case stems from a yearslong legal and political battle over land rights, a $102 million settlement, and allegations of prosecutorial misconduct.
Criminal, California Supreme Court, California Courts of Appeal
State Supreme Court to decide if speedy trial demand from jail was valid
By Craig Anderson
The case could settle a longstanding conflict among appellate courts over how Penal Code Section 1381 applies when a defendant has not yet been physically tr...
LA Fires, Civil Litigation
State Farm faces probe over wildfire claims handling
By Antoine Abou-Diwan
California's insurance regulator investigates State Farm's handling of January wildfire claims, amid concerns over underpayments and delays, potentially sett...
Columns
Technology, Insurance
Will insurance coverage be kicked to the curb for state-sponsored cyberattacks?
By Richard DeNatale
As state-sponsored cyberattacks grow more disruptive, insurers are expanding the War Exclusion to deny coverage even in peacet...
The libel-proof plaintiff
By Lee S. Brenner, Casie M. Orellana
Who can't recover for defamation even though they may have been libeled?
Technology, Intellectual Property
Why AI's use of shadow libraries should alarm us all
By Margaux Poueymirou, Maxwell V. Pritt
For $100,000 in crypto, Anna's Archive is offering AI companies high-speed access to 140 million pirated books and articles--f...
Verdicts & Settlements
Elder Abuse | Lois J. Phillips, James Abb... | $10,000,000 |
Hostile Work Environment | Ashley Cummins v. The City ... | $10,000,000 |
Auto v. Auto | Regino Gomez-Garcia v. Glad... | $8,569,756 |
Unlawful Disposition of Hazardous Waste | The People of the State of ... | $7,500,000 |
Defamation | Curtis Heffernan v. Ignite ... | $6,500,000 |
Auto v. Motorcycle | Thereon McDaniel v. Redwood... | $5,300,000 |
Hostile Work Environment | Lindsay Knott v. Birdwell C... | $3,680,000 |
Premises Liability | Victoria Barbara v. Stater ... | $1,741,484 |
Wage and Hour | Vance Coar, individually, a... | $1,250,000 |
Negligence | Alejandro Alonso v. City of... | $1,000,000 |
On the Move
Nicolaides Fink Thorpe Michaelides Sullivan LLP
Christopher T. Hicks joined Nicolaides Fink Thorpe Michaelides Sullivan LLP as an associate in La Jolla. The move was Jun. 9, 2025.
Details
Nicolaides Fink Thorpe Michaelides Sullivan LLP has 88 attorneys in 6 offices including San Francisco; Los Angeles; San Diego. Among the law firm’s key practice areas are Insurance Coverage. The firm’s website is nicolaidesllp.com
Address
4225 Executive Square, Suite 1250 , La Jolla California 92037 USA
T:
(858) 257-0700
F:
(858) 257-0701
Featured Content
The art of storytelling at trial requires that we, as trial lawyers, know not just the facts of the case but our clients' hope...
There is a time and place for everything--including a time to mediate an insurance coverage or bad faith claim.
Eight key factors that make early mediation a valuable tool in civil cases
Community News
Appointments Secretary Luis Céspedes, California Supreme Court Justice Josh Groban, and 2nd District Court of Appeal Justice Helen Zukin were recognized at the sold-out event.
Daily Appellate Report
Civil Procedure
Water Audit California v. Merced Irrigation District
Plaintiff's writ petition was timely because allegations regarding defendant's ongoing violations of fishway statutes fell within the continuous violation doctrine.
Workers' Compensation
DPR Construction v. Workers' Comp. Appeals Bd.
Workers' Compensation Appeals Board exceeded its powers by admitting medical reports that were not listed in the pretrial conference statement.
Civil Procedure
Citizens for a Better Eureka v. City of Eureka
Citizen group's failure to add developer in California Environmental Quality Act lawsuit against City's redevelopment project to turn unused parking lot to affordable housing was cause fo...
Criminal Law and Procedure, Constitutional Law
People v. Lewis
Issuance of involuntary antipsychotic medication order without a full evidentiary hearing did not violate defendant's procedural due process rights.
Criminal Law and Procedure
Rivers v. Guerrero
Petition filed after district court has entered judgment on an initial habeas petition but before appeal is resolved qualifies as a successive petition and must satisfy AEDPA's requirements.