Judicial Profile
Judge Syna Dennis brings focus and compassion to dependency court
MCLE
Moral rights and the Vaillancourt Fountain
Fifty years after its completion, San Francisco's massive...
By Simon J. FrankelWhen plaintiffs sell their legal claims, who pays taxes and when?
As more plaintiffs look to sell their legal claims, the q...
By Robert W. WoodEthics of preparing legal opinions for third parties
Lawyers asked to prepare evaluations for third-party use ...
By Alanna G. Clair, Shari L. Klevens
Today's News
Insurance
Insurers, creditors clash over Sacramento Diocese bankruptcy deal
By Malcolm Maclachlan
Two insurer groups are challenging a deal in the Sacramento Diocese bankruptcy allowing four sexual abuse cases to proceed, in a hearing that could influence...
Civil Litigation
Judge weighs timing dispute in ex-probation chief's whistleblower suit
By Skyler Romero
A Los Angeles judge is considering whether former county probation chief Adolfo Gonzales filed his whistleblower suit too late, potentially classifying it as...
Government, Corporate
Bonta approves OpenAI restructuring, saying he got concessions
By Craig Anderson
California Attorney General Rob Bonta on Tuesday approved OpenAI's restructuring plan, allowing its for-profit arm to operate as a public benefit corporation...
Ethics/Professional Responsibility, Civil Litigation
Judge rebukes lawyer for 'insult' during Warriors suite dispute hearing
By James Twomey
A San Francisco judge admonished an attorney for "insulting" remarks during a hearing in a $5 million dispute involving the Golden State Warriors, Bauman Lan...
Government, Corporate
Bonta approves OpenAI restructuring, saying he got concessions
By Craig Anderson
California Attorney General Rob Bonta on Tuesday approved OpenAI's restructuring plan, allowing its for-profit arm to operate as a public benefit corporation...
Ethics/Professional Responsibility, Civil Litigation
Judge rebukes lawyer for 'insult' during Warriors suite dispute hearing
By James Twomey
A San Francisco judge admonished an attorney for "insulting" remarks during a hearing in a $5 million dispute involving the Golden State Warriors, Bauman Lan...
Columns
Will Cuba face takings liability?
By Michael M. Berger
The Supreme Court is taking up two cases that could hold Cuba accountable for seizing American property -- an unexpected legal...
Technology
How Generative AI can strengthen, not weaken, legal reasoning
By Daniel Gold
Generative AI offers tremendous promise for the legal profession--but without intentional use, it can erode the refined judgme...
Par for the course: Legal issues in golf
By Clifford L. Klein
Golf may seem peaceable, but from errant shots to exclusionary policies, players can find themselves in unexpected legal sand ...
Verdicts & Settlements
| Breach of Contract | Shashikant Jogani v. Haresh... | $10,000,000,000 |
| Premises Liability | Victor Angelo Hipolito, a m... | $30,000,000 |
| Dangerous Condition of Public Property | Jean Yuna Horihata, Mark Ra... | $9,500,000 |
| Excessive Force | Maritza Padilla, individual... | $3,060,000 |
| Intentional Concealment | DJCBP Corporation dba Tier ... | $1,829,000 |
| Auto v. Pedestrian | John Doe v. Jane Roe, Roe M... | $1,515,000 |
| Negligent Care | Jane Doe v. Roe Nursing Fac... | $975,000 |
| Mortuary Negligence | Sheila Esfahani Goe, et al.... | $950,000 |
| Auto v. Auto | John Doe and Jane Doe v. Un... | $520,000 |
| Premises Liability | Wanda Rudison, Ryan Pennell... | $400,000 |
On the Move
Knobbe Martens
Charlene Azema was elected co-chair of trademark and brand protection group of the Irvine office of Knobbe Martens. Her tenure was effective Oct. 22, 2025.
Greg Phillips was elected co-chair of trademark and brand protection group of the Irvine office of Knobbe Martens.
Details
Knobbe Martens has 300 attorneys in 7 offices including Los Angeles, Irvine, San Diego, San Francisco . Among the law firm’s key practice areas are Intellectual Property . The firm’s website is https://www.knobbe.com
Featured Content
No matter how small your business, here's a quick blueprint for strengthening your defense against common cyber threats.
Insights from experienced mediators on preparation, breaking impasses and guiding clients through multifaceted disputes
Complex mediation tactics from veteran mediators
Community News
Maurice Mandell II of Newport Beach, U.S. District Judge David O. Carter and Jeff S. Westerman of Zimmerman Reed LLP
Bienert Katzman Littrell Williams LLP’s Reuben C. Cahn and Steven J. Katzman, U.S. Attorney Jennifer L. Waier, Katherine T. Corrigan of Corrigan Welbourn & Stokke APLC, and John L. Littrell of Bienert Katzman Littrell Williams LLP
N. Yvonne Stoddard Beeler of Kirkland & Ellis LLP and (Ret.) Judge Andrew J. Guilford of Judicate West
Chief District Judge Dolly M. Gee
Chief Magistrate Judge Karen L. Stevenson
OCFBA’s newly installed President Elizabeth M. Weldon of Haynes Boone LLP and Immediate Past President Chase A. Scolnick of Keller Anderle Scolnick LLP
U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge Erithe A. Smith presenting the “Judge Alicemarie H. Stotler Award” to the late Chief Bankruptcy Judge Theodor C. Albert’s former law clerk Amna R. Chaudhary
Stradling Yocca Carlson & Rauth LLP’s Morgan H. Williams, Michael B. Mosher and Jason H. Anderson; U.S. District Judge Fred W. Slaughter and Shawn K. Collins of Stradling Yocca Carlson & Rauth LLP
Haynes and Boone LLP’s Kenneth G. Parker, Letitia Johnson-Smith and Elizabeth M. Weldon, OCFBA’s newly installed President
OCFBA’s newly installed President Elizabeth M. Weldon with fellow Haynes and Boone LLP associates Kevin A. Crisp, David B. Clark and Jessica M. Ewert
U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge Erithe A. Smith, Bienert Katzman Littrell Williams LLP’s Steven J. Katzman and Reuben C. Cahn
Peter W. Lianides of Winthrop Golubow Hollander LLP, Aaron J. Malo of Sheppard Mullin and U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge Mark D. Houle
U.S. Bankruptcy Court attorney Amna R. Chaudhary, U.S. Magistrate Judge Autumn D. Spaeth and OCFBA’s treasurer Robert S. Marticello of Raines Feldman Littrell LLP
Gregory Mikhanjian, summer associate at Best Best & Krieger LLP and Richard Hovsepyan, law clerk at Buchalter
At the Orange County Federal Bar Association's Annual Judges' Night, Chief U.S. District Judge Dolly M. Gee warned of growing threats to judicial independence and urged lawyers to defend the rule of law. The event also honored the late Chief Bankruptcy Judge Theodor C. Albert with the Judge Alicemarie H. Stotler Award and welcomed new OCFBA President Elizabeth M. Weldon.
Podcasts
In the Counsel's Chair: John Nadolenco on leadership
In the first episode of In the Counsel's Chair, John Nadolenco talks career moves, leadership lessons and his advice for young...
Daily Appellate Report
Criminal Law and Procedure
Nevarez v. Superior Court (People)
Liability for murder does not automatically end the moment an intoxicated driver ceases driving--in this case, liability was properly imposed on a driver who had ceased driving two minute...
Civil Procedure
Backlund v. Stone
Renewing default judgment was appropriate even though complaint did not state amount of damages sought because the suit was for personal injury claims, and statement of damages had been s...
Family Law
Hart v. Hart
Under Family Code section 6345(a), family court had no discretion to renew a domestic violence restraining order for less than five years.
Real Property
Pacho Limited Partnership v. Eureka Energy Co.
Where the property lease's primary purpose was not agricultural, the trial court erred in applying Civil Code section 717's 51-year limit, particularly where enforcement would result in u...
Criminal Law and Procedure
People v. Sevilla
Trial court properly refused defendant's request for involuntary manslaughter instruction when evidence supported defendant's deliberate shooting was more than mere criminal negligence