California Case Commentaries

Establishing Standards for Grand Jury Indictments in Criminal Conspiracy: Lorenson v. Superior Court of Los Angeles County

Date: Apr 5, 1950

Establishing Standards for Grand Jury Indictments in Criminal Conspiracy: Lorenson v. Superior Court of Los Angeles County Introduction Harry M. Lorenson v. The Superior Court of Los Angeles County...

Enforcement of Mutual Wills and Compulsion of Witness Testimony: Brown v. Superior Court of Los Angeles County (1949)

Date: Dec 29, 1949

Enforcement of Mutual Wills and Compulsion of Witness Testimony: Brown v. Superior Court of Los Angeles County (1949) Introduction Brown v. Superior Court of Los Angeles County is a landmark decision...

Affirming Arbitration Finality and Procedural Flexibility: Sapp v. Barenfeld

Date: Dec 7, 1949

Affirming Arbitration Finality and Procedural Flexibility: Sapp v. Barenfeld Introduction Sapp et al. v. Barenfeld et al., 34 Cal.2d 515 (1949), is a landmark decision by the Supreme Court of...

PEOPLE v. ADAMSON (1949): Establishing Habeas Corpus as the Proper Remedy Over Coram Nobis for Constitutional Violations in California

Date: Sep 30, 1949

PEOPLE v. ADAMSON (1949): Establishing Habeas Corpus as the Proper Remedy Over Coram Nobis for Constitutional Violations in California Introduction PEOPLE v. ADAMSON is a landmark 1949 decision by...

Rescission of Contracts Due to Lack of Consideration and Fraud: Simmons v. California Institute of Technology

Date: Sep 17, 1949

Rescission of Contracts Due to Lack of Consideration and Fraud: Simmons v. California Institute of Technology Introduction Edward E. Simmons, Jr., an inventor renowned for his ingenuity in the field...

Res Judicata and Partnership Liability: Irene Dillard v. General Jackson McKnight

Date: Aug 26, 1949

Res Judicata and Partnership Liability: Irene Dillard v. General Jackson McKnight Introduction The case of Irene Dillard et al. v. General Jackson McKnight et al. (34 Cal.2d 209) was adjudicated by...

Lawful Imposition of Subdivision Conditions Under Police Power: Ayres v. City of Los Angeles

Date: Jun 15, 1949

Lawful Imposition of Subdivision Conditions Under Police Power: Ayres v. City of Los Angeles Introduction Donald B. Ayres, the appellant, challenged the City Council of Los Angeles's imposition of...

Proportionate Allocation of Groundwater Rights: City of Pasadena v. California-Michigan Land and Water Co.

Date: Jun 4, 1949

Proportionate Allocation of Groundwater Rights: City of Pasadena v. California-Michigan Land and Water Co. Introduction The case of City of Pasadena v. California-Michigan Land and Water Co., 33...

Strict Adherence to Pleadings in Default Judgments: Insights from Burtnett v. King

Date: May 7, 1949

Strict Adherence to Pleadings in Default Judgments: Insights from Burtnett v. King Introduction The case of Edward M. Burtnett, Appellant, v. Eliijah B. King et al., Respondents (33 Cal.2d 805)...

Standard of Care and Expert Testimony in Medical Malpractice: Sinez v. Owens

Date: Apr 21, 1949

Standard of Care and Expert Testimony in Medical Malpractice: Sinez v. Owens Introduction Sinez v. Owens, 33 Cal.2d 749 (1949), is a seminal case in California medical malpractice law that addresses...

Enforcement of Arbitration Awards in Unlicensed Contractor Partnerships: The California Supreme Court’s Ruling in Loving Evans v. Blick

Date: Mar 19, 1949

Enforcement of Arbitration Awards in Unlicensed Contractor Partnerships: The California Supreme Court’s Ruling in Loving Evans v. Blick Introduction The case of Loving Evans (a Copartnership) v....

Res Ipsa Loquitur and Alter Ego Doctrine in Product Liability: Analysis of Gordon v. Aztec Brewing Co.

Date: Mar 1, 1949

Res Ipsa Loquitur and Alter Ego Doctrine in Product Liability: Analysis of Gordon v. Aztec Brewing Co. Introduction Gordon v. Aztec Brewing Company, 33 Cal.2d 514 (1949), is a pivotal case in...

Limitation of Pre-Marital Agreements to Original Marital Relationship: Barham v. Barham (1949)

Date: Feb 2, 1949

Limitation of Pre-Marital Agreements to Original Marital Relationship: Barham v. Barham (1949) Introduction The case of Arline C. Barham, Respondent, v. Frank F. Barham, Appellant (33 Cal.2d 416,...

Lockard v. City of Los Angeles: Judicial Deference to Municipal Zoning Authority

Date: Feb 2, 1949

Lockard v. City of Los Angeles: Judicial Deference to Municipal Zoning Authority Introduction Lockard et al. v. City of Los Angeles, 33 Cal.2d 453 (1949), was a pivotal case adjudicated by the...

Res Judicata and Spousal Privity: The Framework Set by Zaragosa v. Craven

Date: Jan 26, 1949

Res Judicata and Spousal Privity: The Framework Set by Zaragosa v. Craven Introduction Jennie Zaragosa v. Jerry Albert Craven, 33 Cal.2d 315 (1949), adjudicated by the Supreme Court of California,...

Admissibility of Specific Mental State Evidence in Capital Assault Cases Under Section 4500 of the California Penal Code

Date: Jan 26, 1949

Admissibility of Specific Mental State Evidence in Capital Assault Cases Under Section 4500 of the California Penal Code Introduction The People v. Wesley Robert Wells (33 Cal.2d 330) is a landmark...

Joint and Several Liability Affirmed in Summers v. Tice et al.

Date: Nov 18, 1948

Joint and Several Liability Affirmed in Summers v. Tice et al. Introduction In the landmark case of Charles A. Summers, Respondent, v. Harold W. Tice et al., decided by the Supreme Court of...

Sampsell v. Superior Court (1948): Establishing California Jurisdiction Over Child Custody Based on Domicile

Date: Oct 2, 1948

Sampsell v. Superior Court (1948): Establishing California Jurisdiction Over Child Custody Based on Domicile Introduction In the landmark case of Paul W. Sampsell, Jr. v. The Superior Court of Los...

Qualified Privilege in Intra-Church Defamation Cases: Brewer v. Second Baptist Church of Los Angeles

Date: Oct 2, 1948

Qualified Privilege in Intra-Church Defamation Cases: Brewer v. Second Baptist Church of Los Angeles (32 Cal.2d 791, 1948) Introduction The case of Reverend A.L. Brewer et al. v. Second Baptist...

Presumption of Separate Property Overcome by Evidence of Community Property: Nichols v. Mitchell, 32 Cal.2d 598 (1948)

Date: Sep 24, 1948

Presumption of Separate Property Overcome by Evidence of Community Property: Nichols v. Mitchell, 32 Cal.2d 598 (1948) Introduction In the landmark case of Nichols v. Mitchell, 32 Cal.2d 598 (1948),...