Special Reports
Judicial Profile
5 decades in criminal law guide Judge Michael J. Popkins from the middle
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
Immigration
US citizens invoke new California law against immigration agents
By Skyler Romero
Three Southern California residents alleging unlawful detention and excessive force by federal immigration agents have added claims under California's newly ...
Technology
Meta defeats lawsuit over tracking on California DMV website
By Daniel Schrager
Senior U.S. District Judge Susan Y. Illston ruled that information transmitted to Meta about users' activity on the California DMV website was not sufficien...
Immigration
Immigration lawyers warn new contempt powers could chill advocacy
By Skyler Romero
A new Justice Department rule giving immigration judges authority to impose monetary contempt penalties has drawn objections from immigration and legal ethic...
Government
Newsom signs limits on older childhood sexual abuse claims
By Malcolm Maclachlan
On his final day of signing bills as governor, Gavin Newsom approved SB 577, tightening rules for some older childhood sexual abuse claims against public ent...
Torts/Personal Injury
Edison says it's has offered $1B to Eaton Fire claimants
By Devon Belcher
Nearly 80% of the offers have been accepted, according to the utility, while about 2% have been declined.
Antitrust & Trade Reg.
Google defeats consumer challenge to default search deals
By Daniel Schrager
U.S. District Judge Rita F. Lin ruled that consumers challenging Google's agreements to make its search engine the default on browsers and operating systems ...
Columns
Labor/Employment
Self-checkout restrictions open a new lane for lawsuits
By Alaya B. Meyers
California cities are increasingly regulating self-checkout lanes, raising broader questions about private enforcement, employ...
The reversal of Jason Moore's murder conviction underscores the need for prosecutors to reassess shaken baby syndrome evidence...
Judges and Judiciary
The selective lens of justice: Judge Call and the Brenda Allen scandal
By William M. Paparian
Before Bloody Christmas, Judge Joseph L. Call oversaw a very different LA scandal--one where protecting the powerful took prio...
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
Trusts and Estates
Nelson v. Nelson
The "paper contest" exception does not apply where a trust's No-Contest clause is subject to enforcement under the current statutory scheme that governs No-Contest clauses.
Criminal Law and Procedure
People v. Barraza
Hair attached to person's head was part of the body and not personal property, so forcibly cutting it did not satisfy the personal property element of robbery or attempted robbery.
Juveniles
In re X.G.
Juvenile court should have considered whether circumstances justified ordering less than full restitution where other individuals were involved in offense even though they were not adjudi...
Criminal Law and Procedure
People v. Atencio
Moving a robbery victim around her secluded property was incidental to the robbery, but abandoning the stolen property before reaching safety did not reduce the completed robbery to an at...
Criminal Law and Procedure
Jordan v. Superior Court (People)
An incompetent-to-stand-trial defendant facing revocation of outpatient treatment is not automatically entitled to a full evidentiary hearing with confrontation and cross-examination.