In a firm reminder that Family Code §3044 isn’t just a suggestion, the Third Appellate District reversed a trial court’s joint custody order, holding that courts cannot sidestep the legal presumption against awarding custody to abusers—even if both parents agree to share custody. In this case, the
The Ninth Circuit has affirmed the dismissal of a lawsuit brought by a former University of Arizona official who claimed he was harassed and fired in retaliation for his husband’s whistleblowing about a politically charged hiring. Despite the compelling narrative—favoritism, university politics, and alleged corruption—the court found
In a significant win for accountability, the Fourth Appellate District affirmed that corporate officers—not just the company—can be personally liable under IRC §7434 for willfully filing fraudulent 1099 forms. After engineer Hovik Nazaryan settled a stock dispute with FemtoMetrix, Inc., the company’s CFO and president classified his
In a win for injured cyclists (and common sense), the California Supreme Court ruled that a liability waiver signed by Ty Whitehead before a recreational bike ride through Oakland didn’t shield the city from being sued for a head-cracking pothole. The court held that public entities can’t contract
The Ninth Circuit just delivered a major blow to corporate cloak-and-dagger defenses, affirming that the Pangang Companies—accused of conspiring to steal DuPont’s chloride-route titanium dioxide (TiO) technology—aren’t immune from prosecution under the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act (FSIA) or federal common law. Despite their links to China’
In a unanimous decision, the U.S. Supreme Court sided with a Coast Guard reservist and federal air traffic controller who served active duty “during” a national emergency—and held that yes, he’s owed differential pay. The federal government tried to argue that his service needed a direct link
When is a waiver too broad? In Diamond v. Schweitzer Motorsports, the Fifth Appellate District reminded us that "related to the event" can stretch surprisingly far. After a raceway brawl left a man with a fractured skull, he sued the venue for failing to protect him. But the
In Rayant v. Marino, the Second Appellate District reinforced California's strong presumption of open court records. After a civil harassment restraining order was issued (and later dismissed), the defendant asked to seal the entire court file, citing reputational harm and TSA headaches. But the court wasn’t buying
As wearable tech like smartwatches and fitness trackers collect mountains of personal health data, personal injury litigation is moving into new, digital territory. In lawsuits where health or activity levels are key issues, data from a plaintiff’s or defendant’s device could make or break a case. But courts
In New England Country Foods v. VanLaw Food Products, the California Supreme Court answered a certified question from the Ninth Circuit, holding that contract clauses limiting liability for intentionally inflicted harm are invalid under Civil Code §1668. After VanLaw allegedly poached Trader Joe's as a client by cloning
In a clear endorsement of the hot-pursuit exception, the Ninth Circuit upheld summary judgment in favor of San Bernardino County deputies who entered a private home without a warrant while chasing a fleeing felony suspect. The court found that deputies had probable cause to believe the suspect—who had evaded
In Monsalvo Velázquez v. Garland, the Supreme Court reversed the Tenth Circuit and clarified a deceptively simple question: What happens when a statutory deadline falls on a weekend? The Court held that under 8 U.S.C. §1229c(b)(2), a voluntary departure deadline that lands on a Saturday, Sunday,