Assistant Presiding Judge
Civil/ Probate
San Luis Obispo County Superior Court
San Luis Obispo Courthouse
Department/Division:
4
Days:
M-F
1050 Monterey Street
San Luis Obispo , CA 93401
Appointed to the San Luis Obispo Superior Court bench by Gov. Jerry Brown, May 22, 2017; partner, Coates & Coates LLP, San Luis Obispo, 2009-17; partner, James R. Murphy, Jr. and Tana L. Coates ALC, Arroyo Grande, 2005-09; associate, James R. Murphy, Jr. ALC, Arroyo Grande, 1991-05
University of Houston Law Center, 1991
Judicial Profiles
| Title | Court | Published |
|---|---|---|
| Keep Them Talking | San Luis Obispo County (San Luis Obispo) | May 8, 2018 |
Rulings
| Case | Category | Published |
|---|---|---|
|
Lowry v. Port San Luis Harbor Dist.
affirmed
|
Employment Discrimination | Feb. 27, 2025 |
|
Jenkins v. Dermatology Management, LLC
affirmed
|
Arbitration | Dec. 20, 2024 |
|
Cave Landing, LLC v. California Coastal Commission
affirmed
|
Real Property | Aug. 18, 2023 |
|
Friends of Oceano Dunes v. California Coastal Commission
affirmed
|
Civil Procedure | Apr. 20, 2023 |
|
Colebrook v. CIT Bank, N.A.
affirmed
|
Civil Procedure | May 19, 2021 |
Verdicts & Settlements
| Case Name | Topic | Role | Published |
|---|---|---|---|
| Melissa Duflock, in her capacity as Trustee of the Melissa Duflock Revocable Trust, and Marguerite Avila, on behalf of themselves and all others similarly situated vs. Chevron Corporation, Chevron U.S.A, Inc., Chevron San Ardo Energy Company, and Does 1 through 50 | Contracts | judge | May 29, 2020 |
| Moises Lopez, Gorgonia Lopez v. Boone Street Market Inc. | Personal Injury | Plaintiff | Apr. 18, 2015 |
| Title | Court | Published |
|---|---|---|
| Keep Them Talking | San Luis Obispo County (San Luis Obispo) | May 8, 2018 |
| Case | Category | Published |
|---|---|---|
|
Lowry v. Port San Luis Harbor Dist.
affirmed
|
Employment Discrimination | Feb. 27, 2025 |
|
Jenkins v. Dermatology Management, LLC
affirmed
|
Arbitration | Dec. 20, 2024 |
|
Cave Landing, LLC v. California Coastal Commission
affirmed
|
Real Property | Aug. 18, 2023 |
|
Friends of Oceano Dunes v. California Coastal Commission
affirmed
|
Civil Procedure | Apr. 20, 2023 |
|
Colebrook v. CIT Bank, N.A.
affirmed
|
Civil Procedure | May 19, 2021 |
| Case Name | Topic | Role | Published |
|---|---|---|---|
| Melissa Duflock, in her capacity as Trustee of the Melissa Duflock Revocable Trust, and Marguerite Avila, on behalf of themselves and all others similarly situated vs. Chevron Corporation, Chevron U.S.A, Inc., Chevron San Ardo Energy Company, and Does 1 through 50 | Contracts | judge | May 29, 2020 |
| Moises Lopez, Gorgonia Lopez v. Boone Street Market Inc. | Personal Injury | Plaintiff | Apr. 18, 2015 |