California Case Summaries

Administrative Law

Secondary practice area

1st District Court of Appeal, Administrative Law, Constitutional Law, Real Estate Law

Hiller v. Marin Municipal Water District — Ratepayer’s Proposition 218 Challenge Barred by Validation Statutes After Failure to Respond to District’s Validation Action

automatic / June 2, 2026

First District holds that a ratepayer’s Proposition 218 challenge to water rates is permanently barred after she failed to participate in the water district’s validation action within the 120-day window set by Government Code section 53759.

Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, Administrative Law, Constitutional Law, Litigation

Thakur v. Trump — Ninth Circuit Rules Terminating Research Grants Over DEI Viewpoints Likely Violates the First Amendment

automatic / May 26, 2026

The Ninth Circuit held that federal agencies likely violated the First Amendment by terminating University of California research grants based on recipients' perceived viewpoints on DEI and environmental justice, while ruling that a separate class of grant termination challenges falls outside district court jurisdiction under the Tucker Act.

3rd District Court of Appeal, Administrative Law, Labor & Employment Law

Dept. of Human Resources v. CCPOA — Court of Appeal Upholds Arbitrator’s Award Reversing Union Rep’s 60-Day Suspension

automatic / May 15, 2026

The Third District Court of Appeal reversed the trial court and upheld an arbitrator’s award that set aside a correctional officer’s 60-day suspension, holding that the award did not contravene any explicit public policy despite conflicting with the State Personnel Board’s earlier ruling.

1st District Court of Appeal, Administrative Law, Labor & Employment Law, Litigation

Gibbs v. County of Humboldt — County Liable for Failing to Enroll Employee in CalPERS and Losing Personnel Records

automatic / May 13, 2026

California appeals court holds that Humboldt County can be sued for failing to enroll a 40-year court reporter in CalPERS and losing her personnel records, establishing that pension enrollment and record-keeping are mandatory duties enforceable under Government Code section 815.6.

Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, Administrative Law, Business Transactions

Twenty-Nine Palms Band of Mission Indians v. Blanche — Ninth Circuit Holds California Cigarette Tax and Licensing Laws Apply to a Tribe’s Cigarette Sales to Other California Tribes

automatic / May 6, 2026

The Ninth Circuit affirms placement of a southern-California tribe on ATF's PACT Act non-compliant list, holding that the tribe's remote cigarette sales to other California tribes are off-reservation activities subject to California's licensing and excise-tax laws.

2nd District Court of Appeal, Administrative Law, Criminal Law

Garner v. California Victim Compensation Board — Vacatur Under Section 1172.6 Resentencing Statute Does Not Establish “Erroneous Conviction” Required for Compensation Under Section 4900

automatic / April 29, 2026

Second District holds that vacatur of a murder conviction under Penal Code section 1172.6 does not establish an "erroneous conviction" entitling the former defendant to compensation under section 4900, because Senate Bill 1437's narrowing of murder liability was a legislative act of lenity, not a determination that prior convictions were wrong.

California Supreme Court, Administrative Law, Real Estate Law

Shear Development Co. v. California Coastal Commission — Courts Decide Coastal Commission Jurisdiction Independently, and the Commission Cannot Take Appeals Just Because a Site Allows Multiple Principal Uses

automatic / April 23, 2026

The California Supreme Court holds that courts must independently review whether the Coastal Commission has appellate jurisdiction over a local permit decision and that the Commission cannot exercise that jurisdiction merely because a site allows multiple principal uses.

1st District Court of Appeal, Administrative Law, Litigation

Cleare v. Superior Court — School District Cannot Claim Impossibility Defense to Teacher Credentialing Requirements Without Exhausting State Waiver Process

automatic / April 17, 2026

First District holds that the West Contra Costa Unified School District failed to establish the impossibility defense to teacher credentialing requirements because it did not show it had exhausted available waiver processes before the Commission on Teacher Credentialing and the State Board of Education.

2nd District Court of Appeal, Administrative Law, Labor & Employment Law

L.A. County Professional Peace Officers Assn. v. County of L.A. — Union Did Not Clearly and Unmistakably Waive Right to Bargain Over Outsourcing Decision

automatic / April 10, 2026

Second District holds that a public employee union did not clearly and unmistakably waive its right to bargain over an outsourcing decision through an MOU clause referring to "reorganization," reversing dismissal of an unfair practice charge against Los Angeles County.

1st District Court of Appeal, Administrative Law, Constitutional Law

Independent Office of Law Enforcement Review v. Sonoma County Sheriff — County sheriff oversight entities have subpoena power for whistleblower investigations under Government Code section 25303.7

automatic / March 26, 2026

First District holds that Sonoma County's IOLERO has subpoena authority under Government Code section 25303.7 to investigate whistleblower complaints against the Sheriff and orders enforcement of subpoenas issued to deputies.

5th District Court of Appeal, Administrative Law, Constitutional Law

City of Fresno v. Superior Court — ‘Great bodily injury’ in Penal Code section 832.7 means significant or substantial physical injury, not the narrower ‘serious bodily injury’ standard

automatic / March 23, 2026

Fifth District holds that 'great bodily injury' in Penal Code section 832.7 carries the long-established Penal Code section 12022.7 definition of significant or substantial physical injury, requiring broader disclosure of police K-9 use-of-force records under the CPRA.

4th District Court of Appeal, Administrative Law, Litigation

Dion v. Weber — Secretary of State cannot relitigate fraud claim’s merits in payment proceeding from Victims of Corporate Fraud Compensation Fund; $50,000 per claimant cap enforced

automatic / March 18, 2026

Fourth District holds that the Secretary of State cannot relitigate the merits of an underlying fraud claim in a Victims of Corporate Fraud Compensation Fund proceeding but enforces the $50,000 per claimant statutory cap on awards.

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