Judicial Profile
Judge Stephen Pfahler brings innovative mindset to Los Angeles court's problems
MCLE
The amended Private Attorneys General Act--new tools and big questions
The amended California Private Attorneys General Act (PAG...
By Matthew D'Abusco, Cynthia SandovalReviewing C.C.P 231.7's prohibition on peremptory challenges based on cognizable group
Recent cases show conflicting interpretations about wheth...
By Anthony J. FerrentinoAddressing social media's influence on jurors
Jurors, being part of the social media universe, are susc...
By Jeffrey Kravitz
Today's News
The timing of the announcement, two weeks before the November election, has raised some eyebrows. It follows the unearthing of new evidence linked to a recen...
Government, Constitutional Law, Civil Litigation
Homeless advocate group might not have standing in SF case
By Craig Anderson
The San Francisco city attorney's office seeks to dismiss the complaint about clearing of homeless camps on streets on the grounds that none of the plaintiff...
Government, Class Action
VA to appeal federal judge's orders on West LA land
By Devon Belcher
U.S. Department of Justice attorney Brad P. Rosenberg said one of the main issues the agency plans to address in its appeal is a requirement to execute purch...
Intellectual Property, 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals
OpenAI defends trademark use injunction against rival at circuit hearing
By Craig Anderson
Open Artificial Intelligence says it applied for a trademark first and is asking the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to overturn a preliminary injunction t...
Civil Litigation
Aspects of California's new lemon law remain unclear
By Antoine Abou-Diwan
One attorney the Daily Journal spoke to says he is adopting a "wait and see" approach to hiring new associates as AB 1755's effect on lemon law case filings ...
Judges and Judiciary
SF Superior Court elects new assistant presiding judge
Judge Christopher C. Hite said that potential budget cuts, in addition to those already imposed in 2024, would call for "creative solutions" from the court i...
Columns
Judges and Judiciary, Constitutional Law
Advocating for Bais Din Siruvs: Upholding religious authority and justice
By Baruch C. Cohen
A New York federal district court case, Esses v. Rosen, addressed the dissemination of a Siruv, a contempt judgment fro...
Real Estate/Development, Business Law
The California Commercial Tenant Protection Act creates a new category of protected commercial tenants
By Steven Otto , Dorothy Groza
Landlords are advised to review SB 1103 carefully and prepare for compliance, as the legislation includes ambiguities that may...
Alternative Dispute Resolution
When the classroom, or mediation, becomes a moral battleground
By Ron Berglas
Reflecting on the complexities of moral judgment and the challenges of maintaining professional responsibilities.
Verdicts & Settlements
| Toxic Tort | Gustavo Reyes Gonzalez v. A... | $52,437,366 |
| Auto v. Auto | Victor Montez, Lisa Montez ... | $8,900,000 |
| Dangerous Condition of Public Property | Gena Wilson and Christina S... | $8,165,042 |
| Breach of Contract | Gary R. Belz, an individual... | $5,259,041 |
| Wage and Hour | David Lizarraga, individual... | $3,500,000 |
| Wage and Hour | Erlinda Reyes, on behalf of... | $3,450,000 |
| Breach of Contract | Ignite International Ltd. f... | $2,741,209 |
| Premises Liability | Kathy Morrow v. Walmart Inc. | $2,454,433 |
| Auto v. Pedestrian | Doe Pedestrian v. Roe Driver | $1,499,989 |
| Wage and Hour | Adrianna Jarrett and Mary N... | $1,100,000 |
On the Move
Sidley Austin
Nima Mohebbi as Partner in Century City from Latham & Watkins LLP.
Featured Content
JAMS neutral reflects on her career, what inspires her and what brought her back to JAMS after 20 years on the bench
Alternative Dispute Resolution
Alternative Dispute Resolution
Community News
SFVBA Trustee David D. Samani of Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith LLP; Samuel R.W. Price of Edzant Price LLP, and wife Jenna D. Edzant of Greene Broillet & Wheeler LLP
Sean Regan, field representative for U.S. Rep. Brad Sherman, D-Sherman Oaks; Christopher P. Warne of Warne Law Firm; Steven R. Fox of The Fox Law Corporation; Tommy Q. Gallardo of Nemecek & Cole
SFVBA Board of Trustees 2024-25: Seth Chavez, executive director; immediate past president Heather Glick-Atalla of Sherman Oaks; President Amanda M. Moghaddam of Lawyers' Mutual Insurance, Robert W. Brown, treasurer and president of University of West Los Angeles; Kyle M. Ellis, secretary and supervising research attorney of Los Angeles County Superior Court
Attorney Referral Service Distinguished Advocate Award recipient Justin J. Effres, and Evan M. Effres of Effres & Effres
Lucie Barron, ADR Services Inc. founder and president; President's Award recipient Steven M. Sepassi, SFVBA trustee and ADR Services Inc. Mediator, and wife, Ellie Sepassi
Joy Kraft Miles of Kraft Miles ALC, Valley Community Legal Foundation president Matthew A. Breddan of The Reape-Rickett Law Firm, and Shannon M. DeBiase of Rodnunsky & Associates
Attorney Profiles
Robert W. Wood
Robert W. Wood provides tax advice and handles tax controversies nationwide. He also serves as an expert witness on tax issues in civil cases. He is best known for advising plaintiffs, de...
Daily Appellate Report
Trust and Estates
Reich v. Reich
Because IRAs are nonprobate transfers, decedent's widow was not entitled to omitted spouse's share of decedent's IRA whose beneficiaries were separate trusts created by the decedent's tes...
Evidence
Richard v. Union Pacific Railroad Co.
Exclusion of expert testimony was error where the witness had experience and knowledge operating trains on tracks where accident occurred that could have assisted the jury in making its d...
Criminal Law and Procedure, International Law
U.S. v. Shih
The higher base offense level for a violation of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act was appropriate to use in sentencing an individual who exported monolithic microwave integ...
Environmental Law
People ex rel. Bonta v. County of Lake
Environmental impact report insufficiently disclosed information regarding increased wildfire risks, as required by the California Environmental Quality Act.
Criminal Law and Procedure
People v. Royal
Arson's malice requirement was met where defendant caused a fire while manufacturing a controlled substance.