California Case Commentaries

Enforceability of Revocable Bids under Promissory Estoppel: Drennan v. Star Paving Company

Date: Jan 1, 1959

Enforceability of Revocable Bids under Promissory Estoppel: Drennan v. Star Paving Company Introduction Drennan v. Star Paving Company, 51 Cal.2d 409 (1958), is a seminal case decided by the Supreme...

Mattei v. Hopper: Affirming the Enforceability of 'Satisfaction' Clauses in Real Estate Contracts

Date: Oct 25, 1958

Mattei v. Hopper: Affirming the Enforceability of 'Satisfaction' Clauses in Real Estate Contracts Introduction Mattei v. Hopper, 51 Cal.2d 119 (1958), is a landmark decision by the Supreme Court of...

Anticipatory Repudiation in Contract Law: Insights from GUERRIERI v. SEVERINI

Date: Oct 18, 1958

Anticipatory Repudiation in Contract Law: Insights from GUERRIERI v. SEVERINI Introduction Guerrieri et al. v. Severini et al. (51 Cal.2d 12) is a landmark case decided by the Supreme Court of...

People v. McShann: Judicial Standards for Informant Identity Disclosure

Date: Oct 2, 1958

People v. McShann: Judicial Standards for Informant Identity Disclosure Introduction People v. Robert McShann, 50 Cal.2d 802 (1958), is a landmark decision by the Supreme Court of California...

Priestly v. Superior Court: Affirming the Right to Identify Informants in Establishing Probable Cause

Date: Oct 2, 1958

Priestly v. Superior Court: Affirming the Right to Identify Informants in Establishing Probable Cause Introduction Priestly v. Superior Court (50 Cal.2d 812, 1958) is a landmark case decided by the...

Implied Covenant of Good Faith: Traders and General Insurance Company's Liability Beyond Policy Limits

Date: Jul 23, 1958

Implied Covenant of Good Faith: Traders and General Insurance Company's Liability Beyond Policy Limits Introduction The case of Anthony J. Comunale v. Traders and General Insurance Company addresses...

Establishing Rebuttable Presumption of Negligence in Vehicle Code Violations: Alarid v. Vanier

Date: Jul 18, 1958

Establishing Rebuttable Presumption of Negligence in Vehicle Code Violations: Alarid v. Vanier Introduction Claude Alarid (Appellant) filed a lawsuit against Alexander J. Vanier (Respondent) for...

Defining Conspirator Liability for Antecedent Acts: Insights from People v. Weiss et al., 50 Cal.2d 535 (1958)

Date: Jun 28, 1958

Defining Conspirator Liability for Antecedent Acts: Insights from People v. Weiss et al., 50 Cal.2d 535 (1958) Introduction People v. James A. Weiss et al. is a landmark decision by the Supreme Court...

Fixed vs. Fluctuating Pensions: California Supreme Court Upholds Vested Rights

Date: Jun 7, 1958

Fixed vs. Fluctuating Pensions: California Supreme Court Upholds Vested Rights Introduction The case of Ruth Abbott et al. v. City of Los Angeles et al. represents a pivotal moment in California's...

Clarification of Kidnaping Under Penal Code §209 and Capital Punishment: People v. Wein (1958)

Date: May 28, 1958

Clarification of Kidnaping Under Penal Code §209 and Capital Punishment: People v. Wein (1958) Introduction People v. Edward Simon Wein is a landmark decision by the Supreme Court of California dated...

Judicial Discretion in Verdict Modification: People v. Borchers (1958)

Date: May 17, 1958

Judicial Discretion in Verdict Modification: The People v. Borchers (1958) Introduction The People v. Walter G. Borchers, Jr. epitomizes the critical judicial discretion involved in modifying a...

Enhanced Standards for Corroborating Accomplice Testimony: People v. Lowell Lyons

Date: Apr 30, 1958

Enhanced Standards for Corroborating Accomplice Testimony: People v. Lowell Lyons Introduction In the landmark 1958 decision of People v. Lowell Lyons, the Supreme Court of California addressed...

Res Ipsa Loquitur and Jury Instruction: Insights from Shaw v. Pacific Greyhound Lines

Date: Mar 29, 1958

Res Ipsa Loquitur and Jury Instruction: Insights from Shaw v. Pacific Greyhound Lines Introduction In the landmark case of Ernest Shaw v. Pacific Greyhound Lines, 50 Cal.2d 153 (1958), the Supreme...

Exclusive Representation and Proper Substitution of Counsel: Insights from Garlan Epley v. Amelia Califro

Date: Mar 27, 1958

Exclusive Representation and Proper Substitution of Counsel: Insights from Garlan Epley v. Amelia Califro Introduction The Supreme Court of California, in the landmark case of Garlan Epley v. Amelia...

Affirming Conspiracy Charges in Labor-Related Assault Cases: People v. Osslo et al.

Date: Mar 27, 1958

Affirming Conspiracy Charges in Labor-Related Assault Cases: People v. Osslo et al. Introduction The case of The People v. Max Osslo et al. (50 Cal.2d 75, 1958) brings to the forefront significant...

Reconsideration of Unavoidable Accident Instructions in Negligence Cases: Butigan v. Yellow Cab Company

Date: Jan 29, 1958

Reconsideration of Unavoidable Accident Instructions in Negligence Cases: Butigan v. Yellow Cab Company Introduction George Butigan et al. v. Yellow Cab Company et al., 49 Cal.2d 652 (1958), is a...

Third-Party Beneficiary Recovery for Negligent Execution of Wills: Vinka Biakanja v. Irving

Date: Jan 18, 1958

Third-Party Beneficiary Recovery for Negligent Execution of Wills: Vinka Biakanja v. Irving Introduction Vinka Biakanja v. Thomas J. Irving is a pivotal case adjudicated by the Supreme Court of...

Clarifying Double Punishment under Penal Code Section 654: People v. Lois Brown (1958)

Date: Jan 8, 1958

Clarifying Double Punishment under Penal Code Section 654: People v. Lois Brown (1958) Introduction People v. Lois Brown is a landmark decision by the Supreme Court of California in 1958 that...

Establishing Probable Cause and Permissible Search Incident to Arrest in Bookmaking Charges: People v. Fischer (1957)

Date: Nov 23, 1957

Establishing Probable Cause and Permissible Search Incident to Arrest in Bookmaking Charges: People v. Fischer (1957) Introduction People v. Fischer is a landmark case decided by the Supreme Court of...

Harsh and Unkind Treatment: Establishing the Void for Vagueness in Criminal Statutes

Date: Nov 20, 1957

Harsh and Unkind Treatment: Establishing the Void for Vagueness in Criminal Statutes Introduction In the landmark case The People v. Velva Irene McCaughan (49 Cal.2d 409), the Supreme Court of...