California Case Commentaries

Interpretation of "Illegal Act" Exclusion in Homeowner's Insurance Policies: Safeco v. Robert S.

Date: Aug 21, 2001

Interpretation of "Illegal Act" Exclusion in Homeowner's Insurance Policies: Safeco v. Robert S. Introduction In the landmark case of Safeco Insurance Company of America v. Robert S. et al. (2001),...

RENEE J. v. SUPERIOR COURT OF ORANGE COUNTY: Clarifying Reunification Services Under Welfare and Institutions Code Section 361.5

Date: Aug 17, 2001

RENEE J. v. SUPERIOR COURT OF ORANGE COUNTY: Clarifying Reunification Services Under Welfare and Institutions Code Section 361.5 Introduction The case of RENEE J. v. SUPERIOR COURT OF ORANGE COUNTY...

Duty of Reasonable Care in Highway Traffic Stops: An Analysis of CECELIO LUGTU v. CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROL

Date: Aug 17, 2001

Duty of Reasonable Care in Highway Traffic Stops: An Analysis of CECELIO LUGTU v. CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROL Introduction The case of CEC Elio Lugtou et al. v. CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROL et al. (26...

Ownership of Attorney Fees Under FEHA: Flannery v. Prentice Establishes Attorneys’ Rights in Absence of Contract

Date: Aug 14, 2001

Ownership of Attorney Fees Under FEHA: Flannery v. Prentice Establishes Attorneys’ Rights in Absence of Contract Introduction In the landmark case of Leslie Flannery v. John F. Prentice et al., the...

School Officials' Authority to Detain Students Without Reasonable Suspicion: Insights from IN RE RANDY G.

Date: Aug 14, 2001

School Officials' Authority to Detain Students Without Reasonable Suspicion: Insights from IN RE RANDY G. Introduction The IN RE RANDY G. case, adjudicated by the Supreme Court of California on...

Reaffirmation of Felony-Murder Rule and Capital Sentencing Standards in People v. Seaton

Date: Aug 10, 2001

Reaffirmation of Felony-Murder Rule and Capital Sentencing Standards in People v. Seaton Introduction The Supreme Court of California, in the landmark case The People v. Ronald Harold Seaton,...

Conservatorship and Life-Sustaining Treatment: Establishing Clear Evidentiary Standards in Wendland v. Conservatorship of Robert Wendland

Date: Aug 10, 2001

Conservatorship and Life-Sustaining Treatment: Establishing Clear Evidentiary Standards in Wendland v. Conservatorship of Robert Wendland Introduction Wendland v. Conservatorship of Robert Wendland...

Affirmation of Death Penalty in PEOPLE v. OCHOA: An Analysis of Aggravating Circumstances and Procedural Safeguards

Date: Aug 7, 2001

Affirmation of Death Penalty in PEOPLE v. OCHOA: An Analysis of Aggravating Circumstances and Procedural Safeguards Introduction Case Citation: People v. Sergio Ochoa, 26 Cal.4th 398 (2001) The...

Supreme Court of California Reinforces Firearm Manufacturer Immunity Under Civil Code §1714.4: MERRILL v. NAVEGAR, INC.

Date: Aug 7, 2001

Supreme Court of California Reinforces Firearm Manufacturer Immunity Under Civil Code §1714.4: MERRILL v. NAVEGAR, INC. Introduction In the landmark case of Marilyn Merrill et al. v. Navegar, Inc....

Ensuring Voluntariness: Collins v. The People and the Integrity of Jury Waivers

Date: Aug 3, 2001

Ensuring Voluntariness: Collins v. The People and the Integrity of Jury Waivers Introduction In The People v. Damani Collins (26 Cal.4th 297, 2001), the Supreme Court of California addressed a...

Upholding Death Penalty in the Presence of Impaired Witness Credibility: Analysis of THE PEOPLE v. RAYMOND ANTHONY LEWIS

Date: Aug 3, 2001

Upholding Death Penalty in the Presence of Impaired Witness Credibility: Analysis of THE PEOPLE v. RAYMOND ANTHONY LEWIS Introduction In THE PEOPLE v. RAYMOND ANTHONY LEWIS (26 Cal.4th 334, 2001),...

Enhancement of Gang-Related Penalties Under the STEP Act: Insights from People v. Say Sengpadychith

Date: Aug 3, 2001

Enhancement of Gang-Related Penalties Under the STEP Act: Insights from People v. Say Sengpadychith Introduction People v. Say Sengpadychith is a pivotal decision by the Supreme Court of California...

RRL Corp. v. Donovan: Unilateral Mistake and Contract Rescission in Vehicle Sales Advertisements

Date: Jul 31, 2001

RRL Corp. v. Donovan: Unilateral Mistake and Contract Rescission in Vehicle Sales Advertisements Introduction In RRL Corporation v. Donovan, the Supreme Court of California addressed pivotal issues...

MONTENEGRO v. DIAZ: Affirming the Best Interest Standard Over Changed Circumstances in Custody Modifications

Date: Jul 31, 2001

MONTENEGRO v. DIAZ: Affirming the Best Interest Standard Over Changed Circumstances in Custody Modifications Introduction MONTENEGRO v. DIAZ (26 Cal.4th 249) is a landmark decision by the Supreme...

Precedent on Prior-Murder Special Circumstances: PEOPLE v. TREVINO

Date: Jul 27, 2001

Precedent on Prior-Murder Special Circumstances: PEOPLE v. TREVINO Introduction PEOPLE v. TREVINO is a landmark decision by the Supreme Court of California rendered on July 26, 2001. The case...

Admissibility of Multiple Hearsay in SVP Proceedings: Analysis of The People v. Jimmie Dale Otto

Date: Jul 24, 2001

Admissibility of Multiple Hearsay in SVP Proceedings: Analysis of The People v. Jimmie Dale Otto Introduction The People v. Jimmie Dale Otto is a seminal case decided by the Supreme Court of...

Establishing the Offense of Attempted Criminal Threat: Analysis of PEOPLE v. TOLEDO

Date: Jul 24, 2001

Establishing the Offense of Attempted Criminal Threat: Analysis of PEOPLE v. TOLEDO Introduction People v. Ryan Patrick Toledo, 26 Cal.4th 221 (2001), is a landmark decision by the Supreme Court of...

Appellate Courts' Inherent Authority to Correct Abstracts of Judgment: Insights from The People v. Willie Ross Mitchell

Date: Jul 20, 2001

Appellate Courts' Inherent Authority to Correct Abstracts of Judgment: Insights from The People v. Willie Ross Mitchell Introduction The People v. Willie Ross Mitchell (26 Cal.4th 181) is a pivotal...

Affirmation of Double Murder Conviction by Administration of Paraquat Poison: Legal Reasoning and Precedents

Date: Jul 17, 2001

Affirmation of Double Murder Conviction by Administration of Paraquat Poison: Legal Reasoning and Precedents Introduction In the landmark case of The People, Plaintiff and Respondent, v. Steven David...

Design Immunity and Jury Trial Rights: Insights from STACY CORNETTE v. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Date: Jul 13, 2001

Design Immunity and Jury Trial Rights: Insights from STACY CORNETTE v. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Introduction In the landmark case of Stacy Cornette et al. v. Department of Transportation, the...