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Judicial Profile
Judge Roger Ito brings criminal court discipline to civil jury trials
From The Archive
MCLE
IRS Notice 2025-69: How the new deductions for tips and overtime work in 2025
The IRS issued Notice 2025‑69 to guide taxpayers on claim...
By Daniel ChungWhy litigation leaves everyone wrecked and the role of mediators after ABA Opinion 518
ABA Formal Opinion 518 reshapes but does not eliminate th...
By Leonid M. ZilbermanCalifornia enacts law to speed contractor payment disputes on private projects
SB 440 offers broader, more protective change order remed...
By Daniel F. McLennon
The Morning Docket
Five articles to get your day started.
Federal social media addiction suits likely head to jury trial
Judge awards ex-Farella partner $178k in years-long fee dispute
Is St. Thomas More a role model for California attorneys?
Can defamation damages be taxed as capital gain?
CARE Court leaders say program is gaining traction despite lower-than-expected petition numbers
Today's News
Bankruptcy
Insurers seek jury trial in San Francisco archdiocese abuse coverage fight
By James Twomey
Two insurers asked a federal judge to remove their coverage dispute from bankruptcy court, arguing jurors must decide whether church leaders knew of historic...
Civil Litigation
Judge awards ex-Farella partner $178k in years-long fee dispute
By James Twomey
A San Francisco Superior Court judge ordered the International Swimming League, its owner and a law firm to pay more than $178,000 to a former attorney, conc...
Judges and Judiciary
City of LA asks 9th Circuit to remove judge from homeless case
By Daniel Schrager, Skyler Romero
The city also asked the circuit court to halt a contempt hearing the judge scheduled, arguing that he is exceeding his authority to interfere with elected of...
Bankruptcy
Franciscan Friars reach $20M settlement in abuse bankruptcy case
By James Twomey
The Franciscan Friars of California agreed to a $20 million Chapter 11 settlement establishing a trust for about 95 sexual abuse claimants, with payments fun...
Civil Litigation
Autodesk sues Google over 'Flow' name for AI video software
By James Twomey
Autodesk filed suit in federal court alleging Google infringed its FLOW trademark and caused market confusion by launching an AI video creation product under...
Intellectual Property, Civil Litigation
Ghostface mask sparks dueling copyright suits ahead of 'Scream 7'
By Skyler Romero
A special effects studio sued Paramount and Spyglass, alleging the Ghostface mask infringes its original design, while the studios countered with a lawsuit a...
Columns
St. Thomas More: silent, principled and law-abiding, he withdrew without betrayal--exemplifying California lawyers' profession...
Justice for sale: How court backlogs favor deep-pocketed companies
By Daniel Y. Zohar
America's success has long depended on strong courts enforcing contracts, but crushing backlogs, overburdened judges and costl...
2026 California employment law updates: Administrative and policy gotchas for employers--Part 2
By Elaisha Nandrajog, Servando R. Sandoval
California's 2026 employment law updates impose new operational obligations affecting records, pay data, leave coordination an...
Verdicts & Settlements
| In re: Durable Power of Att... | $47,000,000 | |
| Auto v. Truck | John Doe v. Roe Driver | $30,305,000 |
| Wage and Hour | Lisa Lundsgaard, individual... | $9,900,000 |
| Malpractice | Jane Doe, a minor v. Roe Ho... | $8,000,000 |
| Excessive Force | Slade Douglas III v. City o... | $6,789,000 |
| Elder Abuse | Tommy O. Johnson, by and th... | $5,845,000 |
| Auto v. Auto | Daniel Chavez v. Simon Jiho... | $5,729,080 |
| Race Discrimination | Vernon Goodwin, Mary Mathis... | $5,700,000 |
| Auto v. Pedestrian | Lillian Barlie v. Rosemarie... | $5,175,000 |
| Excessive Force | Devonte Stephenson, et al. ... | $5,000,000 |
On the Move
Donahue Fitzgerald LLP
Mark Epstein joined Donahue Fitzgerald LLP as a partner in Oakland. The move was Feb. 3, 2026.
Details
Donahue Fitzgerald LLP has 50 attorneys in Oakland. Among the law firm’s key practice areas are business and corporate law, employment, intellectual property, real estate and construction, and tax. The firm’s website is https://donahue.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
Mitchell Silberberg & Knupp Chair Yakub Hazzard joins In the Counsel's Chair to discuss some of the major cases he's tackl...
Daily Appellate Report
Civil Procedure
Cox v. Gritman Medical Center
Idaho physician on Idaho/Washington border was subject to personal jurisdiction in Washington by electronically transmitting prescriptions from Idaho to Washington, which required complia...
Criminal Law and Procedure
People v. Diaz
Trial court was not required to consider criminal defendant's youth during resentencing proceedings where it determined she was a direct aider and abettor who acted with intent to kill.
Criminal Law and Procedure
People v. Flores
Probation condition permitting warrantless searches of drug-possession-for-sale defendant's electronic devices and requiring disclosure of passwords was not overbroad.
Dependency
In re Reyna R.
Juvenile court erred in ordering father to pay for a professional visitation monitor without first evaluating his ability to pay and reasonable alternatives for monitored visitation.