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
The Evening Docket
Five stories you should read before signing off.
Judge questions power to order bar to provide attorneys
Judge OKs LA sex-abuse fund distribution system and trustee
ChatGPT is giving legal advice and getting it catastrophically wrong
The hidden pipeline: How California lawyers can turn internal referrals into revenue
Santa Ana settles zoning dispute with nonprofit medical clinic
Today's News
Los Angeles County won summary judgment against former probation chief Adolfo Gonzales, with a judge ruling his wrongful termination suit was barred for fail...
Government
Essayli barred from acting US attorney title, can perform duties as first assistant
By Craig Anderson
A federal judge has ruled that Acting U.S. Attorney Bilal A. Essayli of Los Angeles is not lawfully serving in his role, but he can continue running the nati...
Intellectual Property
Cameo sues OpenAI over use of its name in Sora video app
By Craig Anderson
Baron App Inc., which operates the celebrity video platform Cameo, sued OpenAI in San Francisco federal court, alleging that OpenAI's Sora app infringes on i...
Civil Litigation
Santa Ana settles zoning dispute with nonprofit medical clinic
By Skyler Romero
Santa Ana agreed to pay $550,000 to settle a federal lawsuit by nonprofit Share Our Selves, which accused the city of using zoning laws to block a downtown c...
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...
Judges and Judiciary
Judge questions power to order bar to provide attorneys
By James Twomey
A San Francisco felony judge is considering whether he can order the local bar association to supply more lawyers for indigent defendants amid a worsening pu...
Columns
Technology
ChatGPT is giving legal advice and getting it catastrophically wrong
By Brandon Ortiz
ChatGPT gave wrong legal advice in five of six tests using real California cases, contradicted itself based on who asked, and ...
Tax
Repaying compensation to employer? How to recover withheld taxes
By Robert W. Wood
Whether it's an unearned bonus or pay returned for other reasons, such as legal violations, you can often recoup the taxes -- ...
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...
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
People v. Mirabal
Battery was a lesser included offense of rape of an intoxicated person that the jury should have been instructed on based on the evidence produced at trial.
Criminal Law and Procedure
People v. Taito
Trial court properly denied Penal Code section 1172.6 petition, where jury's true finding on felony-murder special circumstance rendered defendant ineligible for resentencing as a matter ...
Evidence, Family Law
Modification: Adoption of X.D.
As self-authenticating evidence, trial court abused its discretion in disallowing admission of texts biological father sent to his sister revealing threats to kill biological mother.
Contracts
Mass v. Regents of the University of California
University of California Retirement Plan's section 12.10 does not grant retroactive benefits to members who delayed applying for retirement.