California Case Summaries

2nd District Court of Appeal

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

Muradyan v. Bonta — Lifetime Sex Offender Registration for Child Luring Offense Survives Equal Protection Challenge

automatic / July 15, 2026

California's Second District Court of Appeal affirmed that placing child-luring offenders in the lifetime sex offender registration tier does not violate equal protection, because the Legislature could rationally find that the predatory, premeditated nature of luring crimes signals a higher risk of recidivism than other sex offenses.

2nd District Court of Appeal, Estate Planning, Probate and Tax Law, Family Law, Probate

Jackson v. Meyer — Trust Revocation During Divorce Proceedings Valid Despite Failure to File With Court

automatic / July 14, 2026

California's Second District Court of Appeal held that a spouse's trust revocation during pending divorce proceedings is valid even though it was never filed with the court, as long as the other spouse received actual notice of the revocation as required by the trust instrument.

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

In re Melson — Murder Conviction Vacated After Prosecution Failed to Correct False Eyewitness Testimony and Defense Counsel Did Not Review Police Interview Transcripts

automatic / July 2, 2026

The Second District Court of Appeal grants habeas corpus and vacates a second-degree murder conviction after finding the prosecution allowed false eyewitness testimony to stand uncorrected — and defense counsel failed to cross-examine the witnesses with their own prior contradictory police statements — in a gang-related retrial.

2nd District Court of Appeal, Family Law

In re Landon M. — Appeal Dismissed as Moot; Court Clarifies That Allowing Armed Father Access Does Not Constitute Reportable ‘Severe Neglect’ Under CACI

automatic / July 2, 2026

The Second District dismisses a mother's dependency appeal as moot after the juvenile court terminated jurisdiction and granted her sole custody, holding that allowing a father with known guns access to children constitutes 'general neglect' — not the 'severe neglect' that would trigger a reportable CACI listing.

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

Jung v. Acosta — Union Judicial Panel Proceedings Are “Official Proceedings” Protected by California’s Anti-SLAPP Statute

automatic / June 25, 2026

Internal union disciplinary proceedings authorized by the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act are "official proceedings authorized by law" under California's anti-SLAPP statute, the Second District holds, affirming dismissal of claims arising from participation in those proceedings.

2nd District Court of Appeal, Business Transactions, Litigation

Pitt v. Shefler — Russian Billionaire’s Purchase of Jolie’s California Company Subjects Him to California Jurisdiction

automatic / June 24, 2026

The Second District reverses a quashal of service, holding that Yuri Shefler — Swiss-resident billionaire and beneficial owner of SPI Group — is subject to personal jurisdiction in California because he directed, financed, and personally communicated about the purchase of Angelina Jolie's California LLC (Nouvel) in a deal governed by California law.

2nd District Court of Appeal, Constitutional Law, Litigation, Tax (non-estate)

Nguyen v. City of Los Angeles — SoCalGas Franchise Fee and Customer Surcharge Are Not a Tax Under Proposition 26

automatic / June 22, 2026

The Second Appellate District affirmed summary judgment for the City of Los Angeles, holding that the 5.5% SoCalGas franchise fee — including a 3.5% surcharge billed to customers — is a charge for use of City streets exempt from Proposition 26's voter-approval requirement, and that no independent reasonableness showing is required under the exemption.

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