Second District affirms denial of a writ challenge to Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass’s 2023 housing-and-homelessness emergency declaration, holding section 8.33 of the Los Angeles Administrative Code is not preempted by the California Emergency Services Act.
Second District affirms a trial-court ruling declaring an inactive California attorney a vexatious litigant and barring his future pro per suits absent pre-filing approval and posted security, in light of a long history of dismissed federal cases and frivolous filings.
Second District conditionally affirms a $6.85 billion verdict in a five-month trial over the Jogani brothers’ real-estate partnership, but orders a remittitur because Shashi Jogani’s damages expert testified to an undisclosed lost-profits opinion exceeding $1.9 billion.
Second District grants writ of mandate, holding that an indigent petitioner under California’s Racial Justice Act must show only a ‘plausible allegation’ of a violation to obtain counsel — not a prima facie showing of entitlement to relief — and may amend his petition to meet that standard.
Second District holds California exemption law applies to collection actions in California courts regardless of where the judgment debtor lives, and that funds rolled over from a surrendered life insurance policy into IRAs are not categorically exempt from levy.
Second District reverses an order staying a Song-Beverly action against Thor Motor Coach, holding the warranty’s Indiana forum-selection clause is unenforceable even when accompanied by a stipulation that California law would govern.
Second District affirms denial of section 1172.6 resentencing relief for a defendant convicted of four counts of first-degree murder, holding she remained guilty under current law as a direct aider and abettor with intent to kill — a theory that survived Senate Bill 1437.
Second District holds that a juvenile court ordering monitored visitation by a paid professional must first consider the parent’s ability to pay and the availability of reasonable alternatives, where the parent has timely raised an inability-to-pay objection.
Second District holds that California’s prohibition on parental contractual waiver of child-support arrearages applies even after the children have reached the age of majority and there is no current support order in place.
Second District reverses convictions of former UCLA gynecologic oncologist James Heaps, holding the trial court’s ex parte communications with the jury through a judicial assistant — without notifying counsel — deprived defendant of counsel at a critical stage and the prosecution failed to prove the error was harmless.