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Judicial Profile
Judge Roger Ito brings criminal court discipline to civil jury trials
From The Archive
MCLE
Why 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. McLennonJudicial diversion fundamentals
Judicial diversion lets courts pause misdemeanor cases, s...
By Michelle M. Ahnn, Holly L. Hancock-Goode
The Evening Docket
Five stories you should read before signing off.
Google tells jurors plaintiff not addicted to YouTube in bellwether trial
Tech lobbying surge may signal momentum for AI rules
State law against federal power: How federalism is rewriting civil rights strategy
JAGs in the dock: Civilian prosecutions, ethical exodus and the perils of militarizing justice
Judge Mark Houle reappointed to Central District bankruptcy bench
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...
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...
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...
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...
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
State law against federal power: How federalism is rewriting civil rights strategy
By K. Chike Odiwe
As damages remedies against federal officials wither, constitutional violations are increasingly recognized but left without a...
2026 key employee rights and employer gotchas - Part 1
By Elaisha Nandrajog, Servando R. Sandoval
California employers are facing a sweeping new set of employment law changes in 2026 that expand employee rights around wages,...
IRS Notice 2025-69: How the new deductions for tips and overtime work in 2025
By Daniel Chung
The IRS issued Notice 2025‑69 to guide taxpayers on claiming the new OBBBA deductions for qualified tips and qualified overtim...
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
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.
Juveniles
In re J.C.
Because brandishing an imitation firearm under Penal Code section 417.4 does not trigger section 29820's firearm prohibition, juvenile court exceeded its authority in banning juvenile fro...
Criminal Law and Procedure
People v. Zapata
Known law enforcement officer's continuing pressure for custodial undercover operation into suspect who had invoked his Miranda rights amounted to a custodial interrogation and rendered i...
Workers' Compensation, Civil Procedure
Zenith Insurance Co. v. Workers' Compensation Appeals Bd.
Equitable tolling did not apply to extend the Worker's Compensation Appeals Board's statutory deadline under former Labor Code section 5909 to act on petition for reconsideration.
Education, Contracts
Grant v. Chapman Univ.
Students' general expectations that classes would be largely in-person did not furnish a basis for contract claims against university that had ceased in-person instruction during COVID-19.