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M. Bruce Smith

See more on M. Bruce Smith

Associate Justice
California Courts of Appeal
5th Appellate District
Days: M-F

2424 Cesar Chavez Blvd.
Fresno , CA 93721-3004
(559) 445-5640



Appointed to the 5th District Court of Appeal by Gov. Jerry Brown, Nov. 12, 2014; Fresno County Superior Court judge, 2000-14; partner, associate, Stammer, McKnight, Barnum & Bailey LLP, 1988-2000; deputy district attorney, Fresno County, 1983-88; associate, Johnson & Hoffman, 1982

UC Hastings College of the Law, 1981



Judicial Profiles
Title Court Published
Amiable but Effective 5th District Court of Appeal (Fresno) Jan. 17, 2018

Rulings
Case Category Published
Modification: Wash v. Banda-Wash
author
 Civil Procedure Mar. 5, 2025
Wash v. Banda-Wash
author
 Civil Procedure Feb. 4, 2025
Kern County Hospital Authority v. Public Employment Relations Board
author
 Labor Law Mar. 19, 2024
Modification: North American Title Company v. Superior Court (Cortina)
author
 Judges Jun. 14, 2023
Beebe v. Wonderful Pistachios
reversed and remanded
 Torts Jun. 7, 2023
North American Title Company v. Superior Court (Cortina)
author
 Judges May 22, 2023
Atalla v. Rite Aid Corporation
author
 Employment Law Mar. 15, 2023
Whitlach v. Premier Valley, Inc.
author
 Employment Law Dec. 20, 2022
Kaur v. Foster Poultry Farms LLC
author
 Civil Procedure Sep. 15, 2022
Magallanes de Valle v. Doctors Medical Center of Modesto
author
 Health Care Jul. 6, 2022
Panterra GP, Inc. v. Superior Court (Rosedale Bakersfield Retail VI, LLC)
dissenting
 Contracts Feb. 2, 2022
Johnson v. Little Rock Ranch
author
 Real Property Jan. 5, 2022
Pearce v. Briggs
author
 probate_and_trusts Sep. 2, 2021
Stand Up for California! v. State of Cal.
author
 Native American Affairs May 17, 2021
Modification: People v. Jaimes
author
 statutory_interpretation Feb. 25, 2021
Modification: People v. Jaimes
author
 statutory_interpretation Jan. 29, 2021
People v. Jaimes
author
 statutory_interpretation Jan. 27, 2021
People v. The North River Insurance Co.
author
 statutory_interpretation Dec. 9, 2020
Robin v. Crowell
author
 Real Property Oct. 12, 2020
People v. Nash
concurring
 statutory_interpretation Aug. 5, 2020
Modification: People v. Son
author
 Criminal Law and Procedure Jun. 2, 2020
People v. Son
author
 Criminal Law and Procedure Jun. 1, 2020
People v. Rodriguez
affirmed
 Criminal Law and Procedure May 22, 2020
People v. Bell
concurring
 Criminal Law and Procedure Apr. 2, 2020
County of Kern v. Alta Sierra Holistic etc.
concurring
 statutory_interpretation Mar. 10, 2020
Beames v. City of Visalia
author
 Civil Rights Dec. 23, 2019
People v. McDaniel
author
 Evidence Aug. 20, 2019
People v. Henson
dissenting
 Criminal Law and Procedure Oct. 23, 2018
People v. Lopez
author
 Criminal Law and Procedure Aug. 22, 2018
Modification: People v. Warren
author
 Criminal Law and Procedure Jul. 25, 2018
People v. Warren
author
 Criminal Law and Procedure Jul. 2, 2018
People v. Sanchez
author
 Criminal Law and Procedure Dec. 21, 2017
People v. Brewer
dissenting
 Juveniles Nov. 20, 2017
In re Trever P.
author
 Criminal Law and Procedure Aug. 16, 2017

Verdicts & Settlements
Case Name Topic Role Published
C.S., as Guardian ad Litem for X.S., a Minor v. Clovis Unified School District, and Does 1 to 50, inclusive Personal Injury judge Sep. 8, 2017
Magdalena Rios v. National Seating & Mobility Inc., Ray Kent Personal Injury judge Jun. 10, 2006
Eltora Charles v. State of California, California Department of Transportation Employment Law Expert / medical May 27, 2006
Tong Moua Yang, Bee Yang, Cha Yang, Xue Yang, Xoua Yang, George Yang, Vang Neng Yang, Pakou Yang, Ka Youa Yang, et al. v. Mountain View Cemetery Personal Injury judge Jan. 21, 2006
Sandra Adams v. Gail Mallard-Warren Personal Injury judge Jul. 23, 2005
Title Court Published
Amiable but Effective 5th District Court of Appeal (Fresno) Jan. 17, 2018
Case Category Published
Modification: Wash v. Banda-Wash
author
 Civil Procedure Mar. 5, 2025
Wash v. Banda-Wash
author
 Civil Procedure Feb. 4, 2025
Kern County Hospital Authority v. Public Employment Relations Board
author
 Labor Law Mar. 19, 2024
Modification: North American Title Company v. Superior Court (Cortina)
author
 Judges Jun. 14, 2023
Beebe v. Wonderful Pistachios
reversed and remanded
 Torts Jun. 7, 2023
North American Title Company v. Superior Court (Cortina)
author
 Judges May 22, 2023
Atalla v. Rite Aid Corporation
author
 Employment Law Mar. 15, 2023
Whitlach v. Premier Valley, Inc.
author
 Employment Law Dec. 20, 2022
Kaur v. Foster Poultry Farms LLC
author
 Civil Procedure Sep. 15, 2022
Magallanes de Valle v. Doctors Medical Center of Modesto
author
 Health Care Jul. 6, 2022
Panterra GP, Inc. v. Superior Court (Rosedale Bakersfield Retail VI, LLC)
dissenting
 Contracts Feb. 2, 2022
Johnson v. Little Rock Ranch
author
 Real Property Jan. 5, 2022
Pearce v. Briggs
author
 probate_and_trusts Sep. 2, 2021
Stand Up for California! v. State of Cal.
author
 Native American Affairs May 17, 2021
Modification: People v. Jaimes
author
 statutory_interpretation Feb. 25, 2021
Modification: People v. Jaimes
author
 statutory_interpretation Jan. 29, 2021
People v. Jaimes
author
 statutory_interpretation Jan. 27, 2021
People v. The North River Insurance Co.
author
 statutory_interpretation Dec. 9, 2020
Robin v. Crowell
author
 Real Property Oct. 12, 2020
People v. Nash
concurring
 statutory_interpretation Aug. 5, 2020
Modification: People v. Son
author
 Criminal Law and Procedure Jun. 2, 2020
People v. Son
author
 Criminal Law and Procedure Jun. 1, 2020
People v. Rodriguez
affirmed
 Criminal Law and Procedure May 22, 2020
People v. Bell
concurring
 Criminal Law and Procedure Apr. 2, 2020
County of Kern v. Alta Sierra Holistic etc.
concurring
 statutory_interpretation Mar. 10, 2020
Beames v. City of Visalia
author
 Civil Rights Dec. 23, 2019
People v. McDaniel
author
 Evidence Aug. 20, 2019
People v. Henson
dissenting
 Criminal Law and Procedure Oct. 23, 2018
People v. Lopez
author
 Criminal Law and Procedure Aug. 22, 2018
Modification: People v. Warren
author
 Criminal Law and Procedure Jul. 25, 2018
People v. Warren
author
 Criminal Law and Procedure Jul. 2, 2018
People v. Sanchez
author
 Criminal Law and Procedure Dec. 21, 2017
People v. Brewer
dissenting
 Juveniles Nov. 20, 2017
In re Trever P.
author
 Criminal Law and Procedure Aug. 16, 2017
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