California Case Commentaries

Arbitral Finality and Interpretation of Attorney Fees Clauses: Insights from Moshonov v. Walsh

Date: Apr 18, 2000

Arbitral Finality and Interpretation of Attorney Fees Clauses: Insights from Moshonov v. Walsh Introduction The case of Robin Moshonov v. John D. Walsh et al., decided by the Supreme Court of...

Martinez v. The People: Clarifying the State and Federal Speedy Trial Rights in California

Date: Apr 7, 2000

Martinez v. The People: Clarifying the State and Federal Speedy Trial Rights in California Introduction In Martinez v. The People (22 Cal.4th 750, 2000), the Supreme Court of California addressed...

Establishment of Strict Standards for Jury Instructions in Capital Cases: People v. Waidla

Date: Apr 7, 2000

Establishment of Strict Standards for Jury Instructions in Capital Cases: People v. Waidla Introduction People v. Tauno Waidla (22 Cal.4th 690, 2000) is a landmark decision by the Supreme Court of...

Factual Impossibility Does Not Preclude Conviction Under Prop 187's Section 113

Date: Apr 4, 2000

Factual Impossibility Does Not Preclude Conviction Under Prop 187's Section 113 Introduction In the landmark case The People v. Jose Rizo et al., decided by the Supreme Court of California on April...

Full Application of Firearm Use Enhancements in Indeterminate Sentencing: THE PEOPLE v. PATRICK P. FELIX

Date: Mar 31, 2000

Full Application of Firearm Use Enhancements in Indeterminate Sentencing: THE PEOPLE v. PATRICK P. FELIX Introduction The landmark case of THE PEOPLE v. PATRICK P. FELIX (22 Cal.4th 651) addressed...

Compulsory Travel Time as Compensable Hours: Morillion v. Royal Packing Company

Date: Mar 28, 2000

Compulsory Travel Time as Compensable Hours: Morillion v. Royal Packing Company Introduction Morillion v. Royal Packing Company is a landmark decision by the Supreme Court of California that...

Affirmation of Felony-Murder Conviction and Procedural Standards: People v. Sakarias

Date: Mar 28, 2000

Affirmation of Felony-Murder Conviction and Procedural Standards: People v. Sakarias Introduction People v. Peter Sakarias (22 Cal.4th 596, 2000) is a significant case decided by the Supreme Court of...

Paz v. State of California: Negligent Undertaking and Duty of Care in Public Safety Projects

Date: Mar 21, 2000

Paz v. State of California: Negligent Undertaking and Duty of Care in Public Safety Projects Introduction The case of Francisco Paz vs. State of California et al. (22 Cal.4th 550) adjudicated by the...

People v. Hernandez: Reinforcing the Integrity of Insanity Pleas under Penal Code §1385(a)

Date: Mar 17, 2000

People v. Hernandez: Reinforcing the Integrity of Insanity Pleas under Penal Code §1385(a) Introduction People v. Hernandez (22 Cal.4th 512, 2000) is a landmark decision by the Supreme Court of...

Balancing Adoption and Parental Relationships in Juvenile Dependency Proceedings: Insights from In Re Jasmine D.

Date: Mar 15, 2000

Balancing Adoption and Parental Relationships in Juvenile Dependency Proceedings: Insights from In Re Jasmine D. Introduction In Re Jasmine D. is a pivotal case adjudicated by the Court of Appeal of...

Liability of Municipal Entities under Government Code §815.6: An Analysis of Paul Haggis v. City of Los Angeles

Date: Mar 10, 2000

Liability of Municipal Entities under Government Code §815.6: An Analysis of Paul Haggis v. City of Los Angeles Introduction Paul Haggis v. City of Los Angeles (22 Cal.4th 490) is a pivotal case...

Lane v. Hughes Aircraft Co.: Reinforcing Standards for New Trial Orders and Punitive Damages Evaluation

Date: Mar 7, 2000

Lane v. Hughes Aircraft Co.: Reinforcing Standards for New Trial Orders and Punitive Damages Evaluation Introduction Lane v. Hughes Aircraft Co. is a landmark case decided by the Supreme Court of...

Rule 412(b) and Section 654: Establishing Clear Boundaries on Double Punishment in THE PEOPLE v. GEORGE R. HESTER

Date: Feb 18, 2000

Rule 412(b) and Section 654: Establishing Clear Boundaries on Double Punishment in The People v. George R. Hester Introduction The People v. George R. Hester, decided by the Supreme Court of...

Clarifying Double Jeopardy Protections: California Supreme Court’s Ruling in People v. Hatch

Date: Feb 1, 2000

Clarifying Double Jeopardy Protections: California Supreme Court’s Ruling in People v. Hatch Introduction People v. Daniel William Hatch is a landmark decision by the Supreme Court of California that...

Reinforcing Trial Court Discretion on Evidence and Procedures in Death Penalty Cases: PEOPLE v. PHILLIPS

Date: Jan 25, 2000

Reinforcing Trial Court Discretion on Evidence and Procedures in Death Penalty Cases: People v. Richard Louis Arnold Phillips Introduction People v. Richard Louis Arnold Phillips (22 Cal.4th 226) is...

Clarifying Entrapment Standards in Decoy Police Operations: People v. Watson

Date: Jan 21, 2000

Clarifying Entrapment Standards in Decoy Police Operations: People v. Watson Introduction The case of The People, Plaintiff and Respondent, v. Tray Edward Watson, Defendant and Appellant, decided by...

Attorney-Client Privilege Affirmed in Trustee-Beneficiary Disputes: Insights from Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. v. Superior Court of Los Angeles County

Date: Jan 14, 2000

Attorney-Client Privilege Affirmed in Trustee-Beneficiary Disputes: Insights from Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. v. Superior Court of Los Angeles County Introduction The case of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. v....

Admissibility of Uncertified Computer Printouts under Official Records Exception in People v. Martinez

Date: Jan 11, 2000

Admissibility of Uncertified Computer Printouts under Official Records Exception in People v. Martinez Introduction The case of The People v. Larry Salvador Martinez (22 Cal.4th 106, 2000) presented...

Affirmation of Death Penalty in Murder-for-Hire Case and Upholding Joint Trial Procedures

Date: Jan 7, 2000

Affirmation of Death Penalty in Murder-for-Hire Case and Upholding Joint Trial Procedures Introduction Case: The People, Plaintiff and Respondent, v. Curtis Lee Ervin, Defendant and Appellant. Court:...

Defendant Bears Burden of Proof for Discovery Period in Attorney Malpractice Claims

Date: Dec 31, 1999

Defendant Bears Burden of Proof for Discovery Period in Attorney Malpractice Claims Introduction In the landmark case of Arlayna Samuels v. Terence J. Mix et al., adjudicated by the Supreme Court of...