Case # | Name | Category | Court | Judge | Published |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
C087140
|
County of Yolo v. American Surety Co.
The court may eschew immediate bail forfeiture in favor of a reasonable continuance if it finds the defendant has a sufficient excuse for their non-appearance. |
Criminal Law and Procedure |
|
H. Hull | Dec. 19, 2019 |
B295959
|
People v. Zaldana
'One Strike Law' mandates defendant's previous unauthorized sentence be increased to five 25-years-to-life terms because of multiple underage victims. |
Criminal Law and Procedure |
|
T. Bigelow | Dec. 19, 2019 |
F076911
|
People v. Ramirez
A prosecutor's closing argument characterization of the defense theory as unreasonable is permissible; it does not suggest the jury need not find the defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. |
Criminal Law and Procedure |
|
M. Snauffer | Dec. 19, 2019 |
C085433
|
McDermott Ranch v. Connolly Ranch
Trial court carefully evaluated trustworthiness of evidence, including evidence of declarant's stake in outcome of dispute; thus, hearsay statements under Evidence Code Section 1323 were admissible. |
Evidence |
|
P. Krause | Dec. 19, 2019 |
F077032
|
Visalia Unified School Dist. v. Superior Court (Tulare)
Education Code 44114 protects reporting employees from retaliation but Government Code 818 still prohibits punitive damage suit against public school district. |
Civil Procedure |
|
M. Snauffer | Dec. 19, 2019 |
A156489
|
In re William M.W.
Social Services Agency can meet its discovery obligations under California Rule of Court 5.546 by making all discoverable materials available for inspection and copying. |
Dependency |
|
G. Sanchez | Dec. 19, 2019 |
09-99027
|
Kayer v. Ryan
Order |
|
Dec. 19, 2019 | ||
18-35833
|
Stimpson v. Midland Credit Management
A debt collection letter need not notify the debtor that the debt is time-barred; passive notification that the debtor will not be sued satisfies the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. |
Consumer Law |
|
S. Ikuta | Dec. 19, 2019 |
17-16299
|
Lima v. Educational Credit Management Corp.
Nonprofit guaranty agency, which operates as intermediary between student-loan lender and U.S., was exempt from definition of 'debt collector' and thus not subject to violations of Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. |
statutory_interpretation |
|
S. Graber | Dec. 19, 2019 |
18-35441
|
Muckleshoot Indian Tribe v. Tulalip Tribes
Matter properly dismissed where provision of original decision only allows for continuing jurisdiction as to determinations not already made. |
Native American Affairs |
|
J. Rakoff | Dec. 19, 2019 |
H046762
|
People v. Wetle
Incorrect jury instructions given at trial where reasonably jury would not have likely convicted the defendant had all elements of the crime been given correctly. |
Criminal Law and Procedure |
|
F. Elia | Dec. 18, 2019 |
D074347
|
Loeb v. County of San Diego
'Trail immunity' properly granted to County because injury occurred at County park being used for at least some recreational activity. |
Civil Procedure |
|
J. Haller | Dec. 18, 2019 |
C077711
|
People v. Warner
The relevant circumstances demonstrating intent to kill under 'kill zone' theory lead to conclusion that defendant intended to kill everyone in zone of harm to ensure target's death. |
Criminal Law and Procedure |
|
C. Blease | Dec. 18, 2019 |
A152827
|
Taniguchi v. Restoration Homes LLC
Civil Code Section 2953's anti-waiver rule prevents a lender from forcing a borrower to contract away their statutory right to cure a mortgage default under Section 2924c. |
Real Property |
|
M. Miller | Dec. 18, 2019 |
A154220
|
In re Anthony L.
Welfare and Institutions Code Section 625.6 is not subject to the exclusionary rule; a minor's statements are admissible despite the police not providing minor with counsel prior to questioning, as required by statute. |
Criminal Law and Procedure |
|
A. Tucher | Dec. 18, 2019 |
B287272
|
Modification: People v. Wilson
Senate Bill 1393 does not allow the trial court discretion to strike a prior serious felony enhancement from a negotiated plea agreement. |
Criminal Law and Procedure |
|
H. Dhanidina | Dec. 18, 2019 |
A152455
|
People v. Rubio
Gunshots fired outside a dwelling do not justify a warrantless search inside the dwelling; the police must articulate specific facts that establish an emergency situation is occurring inside the dwelling. |
Criminal Law and Procedure |
|
A. Tucher | Dec. 17, 2019 |
A154286
|
Wong v. Wong
Anti-SLAPP motion properly denied because plaintiffs' claims were premised on defendants' alleged breach of obligation to indemnify plaintiffs for liabilities, rather than defendants' prior litigation against plaintiffs. |
Anti-SLAPP |
|
J. Humes | Dec. 17, 2019 |
A158011
|
Modification: Ashmus v. Superior Court (San Mateo)
Trial court clearly erred in transferring habeas corpus petition to a court that was not 'the court which imposed the sentence' as Penal Code Section 1509 dictates. |
Civil Procedure |
|
M. Miller | Dec. 17, 2019 |
H045577
|
Kim v. County of Monterey
Triable issues exist where reasonable jury could find defendants' staging of racing event was "severe departure" from contractual obligations. |
Torts |
|
A. Danner | Dec. 17, 2019 |
D074474
|
Holden v. City of San Diego
City reasonably concluded that project is compatible with General Plan and Community Plan; thus, project was exempt from CEQA requirements. |
Environmental Law |
|
C. Aaron | Dec. 17, 2019 |
E069293
|
People v. Taylor
Counts of forcible lewd acts could not be charged in addition to counts of aggravated sexual assault because former were part of 'indivisible course of conduct.' |
Criminal Law and Procedure |
|
F. Menetrez | Dec. 17, 2019 |
H046492
|
People v. Trout-Lacy
Victim restitution orders are governed by tort law principles; when mutliple causes are not independent but act in concert, the court will apply the but-for test to decide liability. |
Criminal Law and Procedure |
|
F. Elia | Dec. 17, 2019 |
09-99012
|
Andrews v. Davis
Had jury heard that petitioner was subjected to brutal abuse by state custodians at segregated 'penal colony' for African American children, there is reasonable probability that one juror would have spared his life. |
Criminal Law and Procedure |
|
M. Murguia | Dec. 17, 2019 |
16-17138
|
Crawford v. City of Bakersfield
Testimony from mother of deceased as to her son's history of mental illness relevant to question of whether police officer acted reasonably in using lethal force to subdue him. |
Evidence |
|
G. Feinerman | Dec. 17, 2019 |
17-10275
|
U.S. v. Wang
Mail fraud convictions that include immigration or visa fraud within the larger indictment should be sentenced pursuant to United States Sentencing Guideline Section 2L2.1, not Section 2B1.1. |
Criminal Law and Procedure |
|
M. Smith | Dec. 17, 2019 |
S244166
|
People v. Arredondo
Defendant's right of confrontation was violated when trial court positioned computer monitor so that witness could not see defendant and he could not see her when she testified. |
Criminal Law and Procedure |
|
M. Chin | Dec. 17, 2019 |
H043723
|
Mathews v. Happy Valley Conference Center, Inc.
Although trial court erred by failing to highlight centralized control of labor relations as a critical factor in the 'integrated enterprise' test, error was harmless because substantial evidence supported that factor. |
Employment Law |
|
A. Grover | Dec. 16, 2019 |
A155286
|
Luke v. Sonoma County
The requirement that local governments obtain an actuarial statement before increasing pension payments is a one-time obligation; subsequent pension payments are not continuing violations that can overcome the three-year statute-of-limitations. |
Civil Procedure |
|
M. Simons | Dec. 16, 2019 |
G056344
|
Kiluk v. Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC
Although Song-Beverly Act generally binds only distributors and retail sellers in sale of used goods, defendant/manufacturer stepped into that role by issuing express warranty on sale of used vehicle. |
Contracts |
|
R. Ikola | Dec. 16, 2019 |