There is a small but growing number of cases holding that incivility can bite you in your attorneys’ fees motions. But are the courts serious about that? Mess around and find out, is the lesson from Madison v. Theodore (D2d7, Jan. 8, 2025, No. B310551) [nonpub. opn.]. During a long court trial, the proceedings "took...
There was a bit in an old radio show (Kevin-and-Bean KROQ old, not Little Orphan Annie old) had Ralph Garman review movies he’d never seen, based only on watching the trailers. In this episode, we review some cases we haven’t read. We discuss the cases below, which lead to some good tangents. Other items discussed...
This is why your teenagers are anxious: TikTok’s fate hangs in the balance at the Supreme Court. We discuss the recent oral arguments, and Donald Trump’s amicus brief asking the Court to sit tight and he’ll make a fantastic deal that will be fantastic and make the Court very happy and everyone will be very...
Here are a few cases I did not have time to write up but seemed either important or irritating enough to mention: File for attorneys’ fees within the appeal deadline: Remember that the deadline to file a motion for fees is the same as the deadline to appeal. That means 60 days after the notice...
Trial courts get busy sometimes. They making a ruling, but might overlook ever to enter a formal order. Sometimes it is a statement of decision (which is not appealable). Sometimes it is in a minute order that directs a party to propose a formal order (also not appealable), like the nonsuit ruling in Blauser v....
Here is our 2024 roundup, and in exchange we have a request for suggestions for 2025 content. If you are an attorney, what content do you prefer? Check out the poll. Now here’s the roundup of updates for 2025: 📅 MSJ Deadlines Are Updated: Remember 81-20-11. With the MSJ hearing as the target, motions must...
The important appellate tip in the denial-of-coverage insurance case of Saydman v. Aegis Sec. Ins. Co. (Cal. Ct. App. Dec. 20, 2024 No. G063209) (nonpub. opn.) is: get a court reporter. Even when the hearing is on a routine motion for attorneys’ fees involving no testimony, expect the appellate court to affirm if you don’t...
Jackie Gardina shares dispaches from the Blue Ribbon Commission on reforming the Bar Exam, covering recent reforms, the ongoing debate about the exam’s effectiveness, and the rise of alternative pathways to legal licensure. Some takeaways: Jackie Gardina biography, LinkedIn profile, and Twitter feed. Appellate Specialist Jeff Lewis' biography, LinkedIn profile, and Twitter feed. Appellate Specialist...
Here are a few cases I did not have time to write up but seemed either important or irritating enough to mention: Do not trifle with judgment enforcement. Just because you are not a party doesn't mean you can't be in contempt. Big time sanctions awarded In Ofek Rachel, Ltd. v. Suki Ben Zion. (2D2d...
There is a 700-appellate case backlog in Los Angeles and only around 450 attorneys on the California Appellate Project—Los Angeles panel. CAP-LA attorneys Jennifer Hansen and Jennifer Peabody share how the rest of us can pitch in to assuage this gap in the administration of justice. Why work as a panel attorney? Tune in to...
CEB DailyNews has published my article, “Late Objections to RFAs Do Not Invalidate Otherwise Substantive Responses, Fourth District Holds”. When discovery objections have been waived, does serving responses that still contain objections (which have been waived) count as “substantial compliance”? Yes, says Katayama v. Cont'l Inv. Grp. (D4d3 Oct. 9, 2024 No. G063872) [published]. Deeming...
Attorneys still wrestling with Microsoft Word to finish a brief need to be acquainted with Chris Dralla’s product Typelaw, the groundbreaking tool that lets attorneys turn plain text into fully formatted, cited, hyperlinked, local rule-compliant briefs. If your practice depends on producing high-quality briefs, here is why you need Typelaw in your life: Chris Dralla’s...
Here are a few cases I did not have time to write up but seemed either important or irritating enough to mention: Judicial bias is nonwaivable, but not nonforfeitable: In N. Am. Title Co. v. The Superior Court. (Cal. Oct. 28, 2024 No. S280752), the trial judge made comments suggesting that the insurance carrier was...
In this episode, Tim and Jeff dive into the recent heated exchange between Fifth Circuit Judge Edith Jones and Georgetown Professor Stephen Vladeck at the Federalist Society’s Lawyers National Lawyers Conference. The debate centered on the tension between judicial independence and the criticism of judge shopping in high-profile cases. Tim and Jeff analyze the arguments...
My “Moneyball” lesson for trial success: get more of your evidence and arguments into the record than your opponent does. MyLawCLE has published my presentation, “Mastering Trial Strategy: Advanced Techniques, Ethical Insights, and Critical Mistakes Every Attorney Should Avoid.” The two-part presentation on federal trial strategy begins with trial attorney James Susag’s coverage of developing...
Responding to a decades-long lack of court reporters, the Los Angeles Superior Court in September 2024 ordered that electronic recordings may be made. This arguably violates a statute prohibiting the use of electronic recordings. But Erin Smith, co-founder of the Family Violence Appellate Project, explains why the lack of meaningful access to an appellate record...
When discovery objections have been waived, does serving responses that still contain objections (which have been waived) count as “substantial compliance”? Yes, says Katayama v. Cont'l Inv. Grp. (D4d3 Oct. 9, 2024 No. G063872) [published]. What happened is plaintiff failed to respond to requests for admissions. Defendant then moved to deem the requests admitted, but...
CEB Dailynews has published my article, “Prevailing on a Contract Affirmative Defense Gives Rise to Civ. Code § 1717 Fees.” The article is about what happens when you prevail on a contract, but the contract is only raised as an affirmative defense—and not as a claim. The Supreme Court previously said no: an affirmative defense...
Erin Smith’s Family Violence Appellate Project has over 50 published cases under its belt—which is even more impressive considering how difficult it is to get a good record in these cases. In this first part of our conversation, we discuss the FVAP’s work, and the kind of mistakes trial judges make in domestic violence cases....
Here are a few cases and stories I did not have time to write up but seemed either important or irritating enough to mention: (Artwork by Randall Holbrook, RNDL.DESIGN.) Related Posts: YOU MAY BE ABLE TO LIMIT “CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES" IN YOUR CONTRACTS SLAPP NEWS: CALIFORNIA SUPREME COURT REITERATES, AGAIN, THAT WRONGDOING IS NOT “SPEECH” JUST...
At the trial in a Latino-on-Latino attempted murder in People v. Sanmiguel (D2d6 Oct. 8, 2024 no. B328160) [partial. pub.], the prosecutor exercised a peremptory challenge of a Latino prospective juror. Under the Racial Justice Act, upon the defendant’s objection the prosecutor had to explain the reasons for the strike to satisfy the court that...
Couldn’t make this year’s ClioCon? Don’t know why you would if you could? Jeff is on location in Austin, Texas, and reports in on the latest legal tech trends, like: We also discuss the new Doxing Victims Recourse Act, Civil Code section 1708.89, which creates a cause of action for online doxing—publishing a person’s personal...
In a (non)definitive survey of writing instruments, big-law attorney turned solo employer counsel Michelle Strowhiro reveals her pick for the best pen for lawyers. Then we turn to the U.S. District Court of Texas ruling in Ryan LLC v. FTC, blocking an FTC rule that would ban non-competes. This rule would eliminate trade restraints already...
The Supreme Court of California isn’t always interested in money disputes, but throw attorney misconduct into the mix and you get the City of LA v. Pricewaterhousecoopers reinstating a sanction for “egregious” city attorney’s office collusion totaling $2.5 million. Angling for contractual attorneys’ fees in your defense? The recent Am. Bldg. Innovation v. Balfour Beatty...
Los Angeles Superior Court will now offer electronic recordings where a court reporter is not available. But not all courts have the equipment. And even if they do, by statute these recordings may not be used to create an appellate record. So what does it mean? Also, the Supreme Court in Meinhardt v. City of...
In motions for summary judgment, the separate statement is a very important document because the trial judge uses it as a roadmap to the evidence. But on appeal, the court uses a different roadmap to the evidence: your brief. And if your brief just cites to the separate statement—or worse, merely to the trial court...
CEB has published my article, “Are Anti-SLAPP Orders Judgments?” The article is about the anti-SLAPP judgment in Wastexperts, Inc. v. Arakelian Enters. (D2d4 Jul. 11, 2024 No. B325299) [pub. opn.]. After the court entered the anti-SLAPP judgment, the plaintiff where appealed from the anti-SLAPP order—not the judgment. The defendant moved to dismiss the appeal because,...
It’s very clear that you are entitled to contractual attorneys’ fees for prevailing on a contract claim. But what about prevailing on a contract affirmative defense? There was some unfortunate confusion on that point in the California Supreme Court’s decision in Mountain Air Enterprises, LLC v. Sundowner Towers, LLC (2017) 3 Cal.5th 744, 751, where...
CEB DailyNews has published my article, “Courts Cannot Limit Code of Civil Procedure Section 170.6 Challenges By Local Rule, Fourth District Holds.” The article is about the published opinion in *Lorch v. Superior Court* (D4d1 May 16, 2024 No. D083609), about peremptory challenges to a trial judge. In a “master calendar” court, rather than the...
After discussing SCOTUS voting blocs and public perception, in part two of our discussion Adam Feldman rounds up the 2023-2024 term. We cover: Adam Feldman biography, LinkedIn profile, and Twitter feed. Appellate Specialist Jeff Lewis' biography, LinkedIn profile, and Twitter feed. Appellate Specialist Tim Kowal's biography, LinkedIn profile, Twitter feed, and YouTube page. Sign up...
