California Case Summaries

6th District Court of Appeal

6th District Court of Appeal, Criminal Law

People v. Scott — Three Strikes Prisoner Gets Full Resentencing After Prop 47 Win, But Must Still Clear Prop 36’s Public Safety Bar

automatic / June 11, 2026

A Three Strikes prisoner who successfully petitioned under Proposition 47 to redesignate a grand theft conviction as a misdemeanor is entitled to a full resentencing on all counts — but must still satisfy Proposition 36's public safety standard before the court can reduce his indeterminate Three Strikes sentence.

6th District Court of Appeal, Criminal Law, Litigation

People v. Landrine — Defendant Cannot “Satisfactorily Perform” Mental Health Diversion Without Substantially Complying with Diversion Requirements

automatic / April 21, 2026

Sixth District reverses dismissal of multiple criminal cases under Penal Code section 1001.36 mental health diversion, holding that a defendant who commits several dozen new crimes during diversion has not substantially performed the diversion requirements regardless of progress made afterward.

6th District Court of Appeal, Labor & Employment Law, Litigation

Paknad v. Superior Court — Employer’s Avoidable Consequences Defense Waives Work Product Protection for Investigator’s Factual Findings

automatic / April 17, 2026

Sixth District grants second writ of mandate, holding that an employer that raised the avoidable consequences defense waived work product protection over the investigator's factual findings, and that allowing redactions of all factual findings exceeded the scope of any remaining work product protection.

6th District Court of Appeal, Litigation, Personal Injury & Tort

Harcourt v. Tesla — Consumer Expectations Test Cannot Be Used to Prove Defect in Complex Vehicle Safety System

automatic / April 1, 2026

Sixth District affirms nonsuit for Tesla in case where toddler started Model X and ran over his pregnant mother, holding that the consumer expectations test does not apply to complex modern vehicle safety systems and the plaintiff failed to identify any specific design feature that violated ordinary consumer expectations.

6th District Court of Appeal, Constitutional Law, Criminal Law

Armstrong v. Superior Court — Probation department, not court, decides eligibility for young adult deferred entry of judgment under Penal Code section 1000.7

automatic / March 27, 2026

Sixth District holds that the probation department, not the trial court, decides eligibility for Penal Code section 1000.7's young adult deferred entry of judgment pilot program and rejects separation of powers and abuse of discretion challenges to a denial based on out-of-county residence.

6th District Court of Appeal, Administrative Law, Labor & Employment Law, Litigation

Zenith Insurance Co. v. Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board — WCAB Lacked Jurisdiction to Grant Reconsideration After 60-Day Statutory Deadline

automatic / February 10, 2026

Sixth District reverses a Workers' Compensation Appeals Board reconsideration order, holding the Board exceeded its jurisdiction by granting reconsideration after the former section 5909 60-day deadline ran and that the narrow grounds for equitable tolling were not satisfied.

6th District Court of Appeal, Administrative Law, Litigation

Santa Clara Valley Water District v. Eisenberg — Preliminary Injunction Compelling Director to Return Confidential Investigation Reports Affirmed

automatic / January 30, 2026

Sixth District affirms a mandatory preliminary injunction compelling a sitting Santa Clara Valley Water District board member to return two confidential investigation reports she removed from district facilities, holding the claim-and-delivery law did not bar parallel injunctive relief.

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