Litigation

4th District Court of Appeal, Insurance Law, Litigation

People ex rel. Henggeler v. Dauod — Insurance-Fraud Qui Tam Suit Survives Public-Disclosure Bar Even When Based on Trial Testimony

automatic / January 6, 2026

Fourth District holds the public-disclosure bar in California's Insurance Frauds Prevention Act stops a qui tam plaintiff only when the suit is based on publicly disclosed allegations or transactions of fraud — not when it merely uses publicly available information.

1st District Court of Appeal, Civil Procedure, Environmental Law, Litigation

In re Fuel Industry Climate Cases — California Has Specific Personal Jurisdiction Over Out-of-State Oil Company in Climate-Damages Suit

automatic / January 5, 2026

First District holds California courts may exercise specific personal jurisdiction over Citgo Petroleum in coordinated climate-damages litigation brought by California cities and counties, based on Citgo's longstanding gasoline supply contracts with California retailers.

4th District Court of Appeal, Administrative Law, Litigation

American Medical Response of Inland Empire v. County of San Bernardino — County Had Discretion to Pick a Different EMS Bidder Even When AMR Scored Highest

automatic / January 5, 2026

Fourth District reverses a preliminary injunction that had blocked San Bernardino County from awarding its exclusive EMS contract to a fire-services bidder over incumbent AMR, holding the County retained discretion to weigh proposals and was not required to advance only the highest-scoring bid.

4th District Court of Appeal, Criminal Law, Litigation

People v. Aguilar — Conviction Reversed Where Prosecutor Struck Latina Juror Without Substantial Evidence of Confusion

automatic / January 2, 2026

Fourth District reverses a multi-count conviction because the trial court accepted, without substantial supporting evidence, the prosecution's stated reason for striking the only Latina juror under amended Code of Civil Procedure section 231.7.