Decedent committed suicide 25 days after writing his will leaving his estate to his various children, grandchildren and one other child of a previous wife. Decedent had possession of his original will, but no one could find it after his death. Several of the children filed petitions to probate a copy of the will, but decedent’s […]
Orgasm “Merely A Physiological Reaction To Physical Stimulation” Testimony Properly Received In Child Molest Case.
Defendant was convicted of molesting his step-daughter while his wife was out of the country. The victim said defendant has a bad temper and kept guns in the house, and she was afraid he would get angry if she refused. She said that although she experienced orgasms when he orally copulated her, she received no enjoyment. A prosecution […]
Trial Court Lacked Evidence To Grant A Motion In Limine So The Jury Verdict Was Reversed.
In a business dispute after a 20-year business relationship, goods were delivered by plaintiff to defendant, and the invoices correctly listed the agreed upon price of the goods. The trial court denied plaintiff’s motion in limine to preclude evidence that would vary the express terms of 33 invoices, interest payments as late charges. But in purportedly […]
In FEHA Action, No Need To Show Action Frivolous In Order To Obtain Ordinary Costs.
The trial court granted a motion for summary judgment in favor of a fire department in a FEHA case [California Fair Employment and Housing Act; Government Code section 12900], and then ordered plaintiff to pay costs of $5,368.88. On appeal, the court stated: “The issue presented is whether the District, as the prevailing party, must show […]
Defendant’s Submitted A Different Arbitration Agreement To The Court, Not The One Signed By Plaintiffs.
Defendants’ petition to individually arbitrate plaintiffs’ wage and hour claims was denied by the trial court. The appellate court affirmed in light of evidence plaintiffs signed an arbitration agreement issued by a previous owner, but the arbitration agreement defendants presented to the court had been subsequently revised. Avery v. Integrated Healthcare Holdings (Cal. App. Fourth Dist., […]
Disney’s Procedures Did Not Amount To A Lack Of Reasonable Accommodation.
Disabled woman brought an action against Disney because Disneyland has a policy barring Segway devices from the park. The trial court granted summary judgment to Disney after finding it established that a Segway is an unstable two-wheeled device that could accelerate quickly, either forward or backward and injure the rider and/or others if the rider is […]
GPS: What’s A Hardworking Robber To Do In This Electronic Age?
A victim of a robbery had a smart phone in her stolen handbag. The police located the phone at a particular intersection by “pinging” the phone’s GPS system, which the victim and owner of the cell phone authorized the police to do. Defendant was arrested within 45 minutes of the robbery. He challenged the legality of […]
Riverisland Parol Evidence Holding Applied.
The parties entered into a restaurant lease agreement which contained an integration clause. When they did a walk-through, the lessor told the lessee “if anything was not working, he would fix it,” according to the lessee. There were significant problems with the equipment and plumbing and the restaurant closed after several months. The parties sued each […]
Elder Abuse And Patient’s Bill Of Rights.
A 79-year-old patient in a licensed nursing home fell nine times in 35 days while getting out of bed to go to the bathroom. On the ninth occasion, nurses reached his room two minutes after the bed alarm went off. While one nurse was turning off the alarm and the other stood in the doorway, the patient […]
Use Of Declaration In Limited Jurisdiction Court Abuse Of Discretion.
The only evidence admitted by plaintiff bank in a limited jurisdiction action for breach of contract and common counts was a declaration admitted pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure section 98. Judgment of $7,788.30 was entered for plaintiff. The declaration included a statement that the declarant was available for 20 days prior to trial for service […]