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Judicial Profile
Judge Cindy Pánuco brings civil rights lens to LA court
ADR Profile
Retired Alameda judge Stephen Pulido brings family law focus to private ADR work
From The Archive
MCLE
Judicial diversion fundamentals
Judicial diversion lets courts pause misdemeanor cases, s...
By Michelle M. Ahnn, Holly L. Hancock-GoodeYou can't cross examine a machine
Proposed federal evidence rule would require AI-Generated...
By Anita Taff-RiceNew law aims to combat pervasive spoliation of evidence in elder abuse cases
After years of attempts, California has amended the Elder...
By Zachary N. Zaharoff
Today's News
Civil Litigation
Jury awards $52M to Sysco whistleblowers in retaliation trial
By Skyler Romero
A Los Angeles jury awarded $52 million to five former Sysco Riverside employees, finding the company retaliated against whistleblowers who reported unsafe ya...
Antitrust & Trade Reg.
Judge signals Juul Altria antitrust case will proceed to trial
By Daniel Schrager
A federal judge said an antitrust challenge to Altria's stake in Juul should go to trial, rejecting summary judgment while expressing skepticism about plaint...
Ten new judges were appointed in eight counties across California on Monday.
Ethics/Professional Responsibility
Former Farella attorney wins fees after dismissal from swim league suit
By James Twomey
A San Francisco judge awarded former Farella lawyer Neil Goteiner $47,000 in fees after his dismissal from a malpractice lawsuit brought by the International...
Civil Litigation
Attorney granted leave to clarify complaint over $200K loan between former partners
By James Twomey
The case centers on whether a $200,000 loan was part of a True Up calculation or a separate obligation due at the sale of the firm in 2023.
California Supreme Court
Chief justice says ICE activity, Racial Justice Act backlog and bar exam woes top court concerns
By Malcolm Maclachlan
Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero said federal immigration authorities have appeared at at least 17 California courthouses in the past year, prompting courts t...
Columns
Military Law, Civil Rights
The largest murder trial in the history of the United States
By Eileen C. Moore
The 1917 Houston incident exposed how entrenched racism, mob violence, and profound due process failures led the U.S. Army to ...
Family
California's new $435 divorce won't solve the underlying problems
By Alphonse Provinziano
California's new $435 divorce option will help some couples, but won't address the real cost drivers: too few family court jud...
Civil Procedure
Now that's interesting: Timing is everything for interest on attorney fees
By Benjamin G. Shatz, Zoe L. Ginsberg
Post-judgment interest on attorney fees is simple but sneaky: if the law makes fees automatic (like anti-SLAPP), the meter sta...
Verdicts & Settlements
| Breach of Contract | Pilot Thomas Logistics LLC ... | $55,000,000 |
| Retaliation | Nancy Valla v. Dignity Heal... | $27,500,000 |
| Malpractice | Phuong Ho, Trinh Nguyen v. ... | $18,056,888 |
| Battery | Joseph Garza, individually,... | $11,000,000 |
| Discrimination | Ross Byer v. City of La Palma | $8,400,000 |
| Negligence | Tisha Hilario, individually... | $4,000,000 |
| Failure to Pay | Alex Charalambous and Brian... | $3,125,000 |
| Wage and Hour | Lary Martin James, individu... | $2,500,000 |
| Wage and Hour | Luis Manuel Villalpando, By... | $2,500,000 |
| Overtime/Regular Rate | Sandra Summers and Dariia F... | $2,345,000 |
On the Move
Spaulding McCullough & Tansil LLP
Thomas Del Monte was promoted to partner in Santa Rosa. The promotion was effective Jan. 1, 2026.
Details
Spaulding McCullough & Tansil LLP has 15 attorneys in 2 offices including 2. Among the law firm’s key practice areas are Business, Employment, Intellectual Property, Litigation, & Trusts and Estates. The firm’s website is www.smlaw.com
Featured Content
Where process, technology and human impact meet
Insights from experienced mediators on preparation, breaking impasses and guiding clients through multifaceted disputes
Complex mediation tactics from veteran mediators
Community News
Community News
Krishnan sworn in as U.S. magistrate judge for Northern District
By Ricardo Pineda
Ajay Krishnan joins the bench after a 20-year litigation career at Keker Van Nest & Peters, including 15 years as a partner.
Podcasts
Davis Wright Tremaine's Vid Prabhakaran joins In the Counsel's Chair to break down three of the biggest challenges facing the ...
Daily Appellate Report
Administrative Agencies, Constitutional Law
Brown v. Dept. of Motor Vehicles
Driver's license holder's procedural due process rights were not violated by Department of Motor Vehicle's refusal to disclose identity of third-party reporter who requested reevaluation ...
Criminal Law and Procedure, Constitutional Law
Modification: Microsoft Corp. v. Superior Court (City of Los Angeles)
LAPD nondisclosure order prohibiting Microsoft from notifying USC of the existence of warrant did not violate the California Electronic Communications Privacy Act (CalECPA) or Microsoft's...
Torts
Modification: Santa Clara Valley Water Dist. v. Eisenberg
Trial court properly granted preliminary injunction on water district's conversion claim, requiring a director to return a confidential report to the district.
Arbitration, Contracts
Fuentes v. Empire Nissan
Although illegible terms in an arbitration agreement contributed to a high degree of procedural unconscionability, they were not automatically indicative of substantive unconscionability ...
Criminal Law and Procedure
Modification: People v. Aguilar
Trial court's failure to investigate potential juror's confusion invalidated peremptory challenge to strike that juror when there was a possibility that challenge was race-related.