Special Reports
Section 230 turns 30: View our full coverage
Judicial Profile
Judge Richard Miadich, veteran of political wars, takes measured approach on Sacramento bench
ADR Profile
Retired Alameda judge Stephen Pulido brings family law focus to private ADR work
From The Archive
MCLE
California 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-GoodeYou can't cross examine a machine
Proposed federal evidence rule would require AI-Generated...
By Anita Taff-Rice
The Evening Docket
Five stories you should read before signing off.
San Francisco judge in dispute with DA now faces election fight
Hilton reaches $12M settlement with San Francisco banquet workers
Why de-escalation is the most effective tool in employment mediation
A powerful but overlooked jury strategy: 'Make 'em laugh'
Newsom appoints 10 Superior Court judges
Today's News
Judges and Judiciary
San Francisco judge in dispute with DA now faces election fight
By James Twomey
Former state attorney Anthony Tartaglio is running to unseat San Francisco Superior Court Judge Michelle Tong, citing public criticism of her record as judic...
Class Action
Hilton reaches $12M settlement with San Francisco banquet workers
By James Twomey
After 12 years of litigation, San Francisco Union Square Hilton agreed to a $12 million class settlement proposing to resolve claims it withheld mandatory b...
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...
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...
Torts/Personal Injury
Plaintiff seeks $144M as Uber denies liability for alleged assault
By Daniel Schrager
Closing arguments ended in the Phoenix bellwether trial, with the plaintiff's counsel urging a $144 million verdict against Uber for alleged rape, while the ...
Appellate Practice
Duane Morris taps appellate veteran Benjamin Shatz to lead West Coast practice
By Douglas Saunders Sr.
Benjamin G. Shatz, a California-certified appellate specialist with more than two decades at Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, bolsters a trial group that the f...
Columns
Torts/Personal Injury, Technology
When AI causes harm: Rethinking duty of care in the age of digital influence
By Yosi Yahoudai, Monica Washington-Rothbaum
Plaintiffs are deploying established negligence and product liability doctrines against AI developers in cases alleging chatbo...
Immigration, Criminal, Administrative/Regulatory
How California SB 54 fuels South American Theft Group burglaries
By William M. Paparian
Since 2019, South American Theft Groups have driven millions in losses across Los Angeles County, exploiting loopholes in Cali...
A recent Daily Journal guest article mischaracterizes ABA Opinion 518, wrongly suggesting that mediator's proposals imply lega...
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
Civil Procedure
Higginson v. Kia Motors America
New trial was required where defendant's discovery misuse constituted an irregularity in the proceedings that prevented plaintiff from having a fair trial.
Constitutional Law, Prisoners' Rights
Harris v. Muhammad
District court erroneously denied preliminary injunction for prisoner who sought a diet consistent with his religious beliefs.
Consumer Law
Parsonage v. Wal-Mart Associates
Plain language of Investigative Consumer Reporting Agencies Act grants consumers standing to recover statutory damages as remedy for violations of their statutory rights without any furth...
Criminal Law and Procedure
People v. Gomez
No Racial Justice Act violation where prosecutor's "John the dog" analogy to demonstrate circumstantial evidence was innocuous.
Criminal Law and Procedure
People v. Heaps
Judicial assistant's ex parte response to note from deliberating jurors violated criminal defendant's Sixth Amendment rights because there was no evidence sufficient to overcome the presu...