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Torts/Personal Injury

Nov. 5, 2026

Aging plaintiffs' requests for faster trials pit urgency against defense preparation

California attorneys disagree over expedited trials for elderly and seriously ill plaintiffs, balancing their opportunity to participate against defendants' preparation needs as restrictions on damages after a plaintiff's death return.

Aging plaintiffs' requests for faster trials pit urgency against defense preparation
Christopher B. Dolan of The Dolan Law Firm

California attorneys are divided over expedited trials for elderly and seriously ill plaintiffs, with plaintiffs' lawyers arguing that delays can deprive injured people of justice and defense attorneys warning that accelerated schedules can undermine their ability to prepare cases.

The dispute has taken on renewed significance since a temporary California law allowing recovery for a deceased plaintiff's pain and suffering expired for lawsuits filed beginning in 2026.

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