California Appeals Court Upholds Partner's Half Share of Pension Earned Before Marriage
A state appeals court held that a law shielding East Bay utility pensions from assignment does not block a partner's claim under a cohabitation agreement.
California Court of Appeal
California Appeals Court Upholds Santa Clara County's Emergency Sales-Tax Election
The Sixth District gave Proposition 218's emergency exception its ordinary meaning and deferred to the county board's findings on federal funding cuts.
California Court Rules Police Bill of Rights Does Not Cover Vaccine-Mandate Firing
A Hermosa Beach officer fired for failing the city's COVID-19 vaccination requirement had no right to a POBRA administrative appeal, a state appeals court held.
California Court Rejects Oil Operator's Bid to Skip Environmental Review of New Wells
The Fifth District reversed a writ ordering CalGEM to exempt up to 12 Kern County wastewater injection wells from CEQA and declared a grandfathering rule invalid.
Calif. Appeals Court Lets Scottsdale Rescind Contractor's Policies After Base Fire
A state appeals court held that a contractor's false insurance applications let Scottsdale void its policies, leaving California's Military Department without coverage.
California Appeals Court Rejects Trustee's Bid for Personal Legal Fees From Brother
Probate courts' equitable power to shift fees onto a bad-faith beneficiary protects the trust estate, not a trustee who pays to defend herself, the Fourth District held.
California Appeals Court Says Fair Chance Act Doesn't Let Juries Second-Guess Employers
The Second District affirmed a judgment for the UC Regents, holding the law governs an employer's process, not its judgment that a conviction relates to the job.
California Appeals Court Upholds New Trial After Jurors Discussed Defendant's Wealth
The Fifth District affirmed an order voiding a $55,000 car-crash verdict after two jurors swore the panel discussed the defendant's wealth and insurance.
California Appeals Court Bars Medi-Cal From Billing Estates for Excess Managed-Care Fees
The Second District held that Medi-Cal may recover from a dead member's estate only what was paid for care the member received, and voided the state's regulation.
California Appeals Court Says Japan's Fanuc Cannot Be Sued in State Over Robot Injury
A state appeals panel ordered a San Bernardino County court to quash service on Fanuc Corp., holding California courts lack jurisdiction over the Japanese robot maker.
California Appeals Court Tosses Doxing Claim Over Top Dawg's Naming of Jane Doe Accusers
The label's press release naming two women who sued under pseudonyms was protected, the court held, because they never asked a judge for permission to stay anonymous.
California Appeals Court Revives Suit Over Stanton's Demolition of Low-Income Homes
A state appellate panel said residents adequately alleged Stanton bought and razed fourplexes over 17 years without the replacement housing state law requires.
California Court Says Unpaid Leave Accommodated Teacher Who Refused COVID Vaccine
An appeals panel affirmed summary judgment for Burbank Unified, holding indefinite unpaid leave was a reasonable FEHA accommodation of a teacher's religious vaccine exemption.
California Appeals Court Says Courts Must Defer to Boards on Bids to End Probation Early
The Third District held that a psychologist's petition to end her five-year probation early gets deferential substantial-evidence review, not independent judgment.
Appeals Court Says Los Gatos Cul-de-Sac Dedication Required Environmental Review
The Sixth District held that a lot line adjustment bundled with the town's acceptance of a street easement was discretionary and not exempt from CEQA.
California Appeals Court Limits FEHA Strict Liability to Harassment by Victim's Own Supervisor
The Second District held that an employer faces strict liability only when the harasser supervises the plaintiff, not when the harasser supervises other employees.
California Appeals Court Says DoorDash Worker Waived EFAA by Withholding Harassment Claim
A divided Second District panel reversed trial court orders that had invalidated an arbitration agreement, holding that strategic delay in asserting a sexual harassment claim forfeited the federal statute's protections.