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July 29, 2021
The Under-Utilized Table of Contents: Judge Bacharach on Legal Writing

You are wasting your best opportunity to persuade if you are not prepare complete tables of contents in your briefs, Judge Robert Bacharach of the 10th Circuit tells Jeff Lewis and me. The table of contents shows your reader the gist and structure of your brief. Yet probably half of litigants are leaving this rich vein unmined....

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July 29, 2021
Defective Appeal Results in Loss of Entire Case to Five-Year Rule

One of the first questions an appellate attorney tries to answer is whether there is an appealable order. It is pretty obvious why this is important: if the order is not appealable, your appeal will lose. But have you also considered: if you appeal from a nonappealable order, your entire case might lose? That is...

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July 28, 2021
"Throat-Clearing" and Soft Sentence Openers: Judge Bacharach on Legal Writing

Avoid "throat-clearing" in your writing, but have a care for when "softening" may be needed. Judge Robert Bacharach of the 10th Circuit tells appellate attorneys Jeff Lewis and me that meaningless expressions, like, "It should be noted that," are largely overused. But they can serve a useful purpose. I recalled this anecdote about novelist James Thurber, who...

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July 28, 2021
Statement of Decision Missteps in Three Recent Appeals

Did you request a statement of decision? Did you object to the proposed statement of decision? These are among the first questions I ask after there has been a bench trial. Three recent appellate decisions demonstrate how easy it can be to forfeit strong issues on appeal by failing to request a statement of decision,...

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July 27, 2021
Angelina Jolie's Writ Petition Granted to Disqualify Judge for Appearance of Bias

As the legal community tests the waters with in-person trials after the Covid lockdowns, pro tem judges may continue to be an attractive option. Like private arbitration, pro tem judges offer more flexibility and availability than Superior Court judges. And contrary to arbitration, parties electing to use a pro tem judge preserve their right to...

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July 26, 2021
Differences of Typographical Opinion

Are the briefing limits in your court based on page count? Or word count? If page count, you still may be better off using Times New Roman, says appellate attorney Frank Lowrey in this edition of the world famous CAL Podcast's Lightning Round. Other vexing questions discussed: One space after a comma, or two? Pled,...

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July 26, 2021
Lawsuit Against Judge in Disney Estate Case, Dismissed by District Court, Held Moot by 9th Circuit Because Judge Reassigned Himself

In the ongoing probate litigation over the Disney estate in Lund v. Cowan, No. 20-55764 (9th Cir. 2021), the 9th Circuit recently called probate court "the Unhappiest Place on Earth" in response to Los Angeles Superior Court Judge David Cowan's actions against Walt Disney's grandson, Bradford Lund. Lund had already waited 15 years for his...

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July 23, 2021
Choose Your Appellate Issues Wisely: Appeal Rejected Because Most Issues Were Forfeited or Improperly Briefed

When I wrote about Wong v. Lee (D2d1 Jul. 15, 201) no. B293892 (nonpub. opn.) last month, I noted its analysis and holding of the limits of the appellate stay doctrine. But after the opinion was modified (nonsubstantively) after petitions for rehearing, I noticed the case raises several other common appellate missteps that trial attorneys may find instructive....

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July 22, 2021
Rare Reversal of Probate Judgment for Lack of Substantial Evidence

A "substantial evidence" appeal is among the toughest to reverse. That is when the challenge to the judgment is based on one of the trial court's factual findings. An appellate court will almost never disturb a trial court's finding on a factual question. To get a reversal, you have to show there is literally no...

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July 22, 2021
Choosing the Right Verdict Forms for Your Case

Are you using general verdict forms at your next trial? Or special? This can be a critical choice, as appellate attorney Frank Lowrey explains on the California Appellate Law Podcast. A simple general verdict form cannot tell you whether a certain alleged error at trial influenced the verdict. On the other hand, a special verdict...

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July 21, 2021
Have you Noticed a Decline in Civility?

Appellate attorney Frank Lowrey exchanges perspectives with Jeff Lewis and Tim Kowal about the recent Mahoney case in which a California Court of Appeal held an attorney in contempt for impugning the court's integrity, and discusses whether the level of civility has declined in the legal profession, and whether perhaps the Court of Appeal overreached by suggesting...

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July 21, 2021
Appellant Disobeyed Injunction, Incorrectly Believing Her Appeal Stayed It; Appeal Dismissed

Did you know that, when you appeal a mandatory preliminary injunction, the injunction is automatically stayed? An appeal in that instance can be very powerful. But when is an injunction truly mandatory? Whether an appeal is mandatory or prohibitory can be very tricky to determine. Getting it wrong can be devastating, as the appellant learned...

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July 20, 2021
Pop Culture References and "Too Artful" Advocacy

Judge Robert Bacharach of the 10th Circuit is not a fan pop-culture references in legal writing. Too much levity in judicial opinions, the judge says, may tend to relax the standards of professionalism among the bar. The parties, particularly at the appellate level, are entitled to respect, and "artful" advocacy may be seen as disrespectful....

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July 19, 2021
Appellate Court Acknowledges "The Rules Governing the Timeliness of an Appeal Are Complex"​; Appeal Dismissed

Filing a notice of appeal is deceptively simple. There is a Judicial Council form you can use. Everyone knows there is a 60-day deadline to file the notice of appeal (though when it starts running can be a little mysterious). There is no reason to consult an appellate attorney for something so simple as filing...

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July 16, 2021
$1 Million Cost Denial Reversed on Appeal for Failure to Exercise Discretion

A recent case shows how recovery of costs can involve large dollar amounts – over $1.5 million – and the application of subtle legal principles and appellate procedure. In City of Los Angeles v. Pricewaterhousecoopers, LLP (D2d5 Jul. 8, 2021) no. B305583 (nonpub. opn.), a contractor agreed to modernize the billing system for the water and power...

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July 16, 2021
Why Don't Appellate Judges Ask More Questions?

Why aren’t the judges asking me any questions? Is it because I am winning? Or because I am losing? Or because the judges have gone to their happy place? Appellate attorney Frank Lowrey exchanges experiences with Jeff Lewis and me about cold benches. Watch the clip here. Appellate attorneys Jeff Lewis and Tim Kowal's entire interview with...

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July 14, 2021
Do Curative Instructions Cure Anything?

Here is one reason why trials are so stressful: What do you do after the jury hears something improper? Object and draw attention to it? Or do nothing and waive? Appellate attorney Frank Lowrey discusses the options with Jeff Lewis and me. The law presumes that curative instructions purge any prejudice by the offending statements. But one...

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July 14, 2021
Family Judge's Refusal to Consider a Pre-Dissolution Mental Evaluation Is an Abuse of Discretion

Family court appeals are difficult because they delay an already bitter experience. The Court of Appeal is aware of this when it admonishes the family court that a recent appeal "might never have arisen had the trial court exercised its authority to make a capacity determination." Despite repeated objections by the wife that the husband's recent life-threatening...

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July 13, 2021
What Science Says About Crafting Persuasive Sentences: Judge Bacharach on Legal Writing

Legal Writing Tip for the Day: Your readers pay most attention to the end of a sentence. Judge Robert Bacharach of the 10th Circuit tells Jeff Lewis and me that, according to many psycholinguists, readers' comprehension and focus is at its height at the end of a sentence. Craft your sentences accordingly! Watch the clip here. This...

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July 13, 2021
Appeal of Excessive Damages Rejected Because Not First Raised in New Trial Motion

The first question any trial attorney must be able to answer is: What is the theory of my case at trial? Once you've answered that, the next question to consider is: What is the theory of my case on appeal? The attorneys in Mahanuntawong v. Kittithanyaphak (D1d1 Jul. 9, 2021) no. A158610 (nonpub. opn.) had a pretty...

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July 12, 2021
Stupid Motions in Limine

Filing a critical motion in limine could be key to your trial. What about 40 motions in limine? Appellate attorney Frank Lowrey says he’s heard trial judges refer to these as "stupid motions in limine." Watch the clip here. You can listen to Jeff Lewis and Tim Kowal's entire interview with Frank Lowrey at episode 13...

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July 12, 2021
$3.5MM Emotional Distress Verdict Reduced on Appeal as Influenced by Improper Closing Argument

Awards for emotional distress can add tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars to a workplace-retaliation claim. But there are limits. And in this recent case, the court pointed to counsel's personal attack during closing argument as evidence the verdict was based on improper factors. In Briley v. City of West Covina (D2d4 Jul. 1, 2021) no....

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July 9, 2021
Losing Your Reader with Acronyms: Judge Bacharach on Legal Writing

How do you use acronyms in your briefs? Judge Robert Bacharach of the 10th Circuit told Jeff Lewis and me that he wishes that whoever invented acronyms hadn’t: "If you can avoid acronyms, do it." When you make the judge flip back in your brief to look up what an acronym means, or who a party is,...

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July 9, 2021
"Related"​ Appealable Orders May Be Reviewed Even If Appellant Fails to Appeal Them

One reason I like to read unpublished opinions is they are a little bit less guarded in their analyses. Even if the outcomes would not be different had the opinion been published, the courts sometimes offer analyses that seem somewhat unusual, or incomplete, or even surprising, and these can give a glimpse into how the...

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July 8, 2021
When Does a Motion in Limine Preserve Trial Objections?

Do you still have to object if you filed a motion in limine? While a denial of a MIL preserves your objections, a deferred ruling preserves nothing. Counsel must be prepared to make contemporaneous objections at every instance to preserve the objection. Watch the clip here. You can listen to Jeff Lewis and Tim Kowal's entire...

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July 8, 2021
To Start the 60-Day Clock for Your Opponent to Appeal, You Must Include a Proof of Service with Your Notice of Entry

Starting the 60-day clock for your opponent to file a notice of appeal requires strict compliance with the California Rules of Court, including the service requirements. That means a proof of service. Even actual notice in court is no substitute.Also, if an unlawful detainer doesn't suit you, have you considered an elder abuse restraining order?...

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July 2, 2021
Trial Judge's Incorrect Ruling on Evidence Leads to Reversal on Appeal

"I have done a lot of appeals," a colleague told me recently discussing how important evidentiary objections were at trial, "and I have never seen a court reverse because of an evidentiary ruling." It is true that a trial judge's rulings on evidence are rarely fertile grounds for reversal on appeal. That is because those...

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July 1, 2021
"But" vs "However" Judge Bacharach on Legal Writing

Legal writing expert Laura Genovich wrote recently that writers should begin their sentences with real things rather than concepts – concretes over abstracts. Judge Robert Bacharach of the 10th Circuit said the same when he joined Jeff Lewis and me on the California Appellate Law Podcast in June 2021. “Shareholders who are anxious,” not, “Anxiety among shareholders.” That brought to...

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June 30, 2021
Appeal of Anti-SLAPP Ruling Does Not Stay the Rest of the Case from Going Forward

One tactical benefit of filing an appeal is the potential to stay the underlying proceedings. The automatic stay rule observes that only one court at a time may have jurisdiction over an issue, and protects the appeal from becoming moot before the appellate court has an opportunity to reach the merits. But the automatic stay...

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June 30, 2021
Legal Writing Tip for the Day: Effective Sentences Are Short Sentences

Judge Robert Bacharach of the 10th Circuit says the science of linguistics demonstrates short sentences tend to be more effective. But take care not to cross the line into writing sentences that are strident or glib. Do not dare your reader to prove you wrong! When Judge Bacharach visited Jeff Lewis and me on the California...

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