4th District Court of Appeal, Civil Procedure, Family Law

Arora v. Arora — Family-Code Sanctions May Include Fees From Unsuccessful Contempt Proceedings

automatic / October 22, 2026

The Fourth District affirmed. Section 1218 and Family Code section 271 address different conduct and serve different purposes. Section 1218 permits a successful contempt movant to recover fees but does not create a reciprocal award for the alleged contemner. Section 271, by contrast, is a family-law sanction designed to encourage cooperation, settlement, and proportionate litigation. Applying section 271 to conduct occurring during contempt proceedings does not convert section 1218 into a reciprocal fee statute.

3rd District Court of Appeal, Administrative Law, Criminal Law

In re C.M. — Adult Ward’s Juvenile Cases Could Not Be Shifted to Parents’ County

automatic / October 22, 2026

The Third District reversed both transfers. Although juvenile-court jurisdiction can continue after age 18, the Legislature used “minor” deliberately in section 750. Once C.M. became an adult, his residence could not automatically be derived from his parents’ residence. The transfer courts therefore erred at the threshold by treating Mariposa County as his residence without determining where C.M. himself resided.

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

Molina v. Triumph Residential Services — Mandatory Arbitration Agreement Unenforceable When FAA Does Not Apply

automatic / October 22, 2026

The Second District affirmed denial of arbitration. The Legislature added the FAA language in an attempt to avoid federal preemption; it protects only agreements that are actually enforceable under the federal statute. When the FAA does not apply, ordinary California contract principles remain in force, including the rule that courts will not enforce a contract that was illegal to form. A section 432.6 violation can therefore make a non-FAA arbitration agreement unenforceable.

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

People v. Thomas — Investigatory Car Search Could Not Be Justified as an Inventory

automatic / October 22, 2026

The Second District reversed and ordered suppression. An inventory search must be tied to a legitimate caretaking purpose, such as protecting property, protecting police from claims, or removing a vehicle that threatens traffic or public safety. It cannot be used as a substitute for probable cause when officers hope to find evidence. The prosecution bears the burden of proving the exception.

2nd District Court of Appeal, Criminal Law, Litigation

People v. Perkins — Prosecutors Forfeited Challenge to Renewed Romero Motion

automatic / October 20, 2026

The Court of Appeal held that prosecutors forfeited their objection to a renewed Romero motion and upheld dismissal of a prior strike.

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

People v. Andrade — Exigency Did Not Justify Warrantless Cell-Location Search

automatic / October 20, 2026

The Sixth District ordered cell-location evidence suppressed because an armed carjacking investigation did not establish a case-specific emergency excusing a warrant.

1st District Court of Appeal, Business Transactions, Litigation, Real Estate Law

USPA City Center v. Estavillo — Landlord Properly Recovered Future Rent After Tenant Default

automatic / October 19, 2026

The First District upheld a $1.2 million future-rent award because it compensated actual lease loss and the tenant did not prove greater mitigation.

2nd District Court of Appeal, Criminal Law, Litigation

People v. Superior Court (C.M.) — Juvenile Assault Record Could Be Sealed After Probation

automatic / October 19, 2026

The Second District held that a juvenile’s assault offense was not expressly within the statutory list barring dismissal and record sealing after probation.

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

Cruz v. Hermosa Beach — Police Officer Termination Was Not Subject to POBRA Procedures

automatic / October 16, 2026

The Second District held that POBRA did not govern an officer’s termination for failing to meet a generally applicable vaccination qualification.

2nd District Court of Appeal, Civil Procedure, Family Law

Sterndahl v. Sterndahl — Interim Spousal-Support Ruling Was Not Appealable

automatic / October 15, 2026

The Second District dismissed an appeal from a temporary-support ruling because the trial court retained power to revise the award retroactively.

4th District Court of Appeal, Construction Law, Insurance Law, Litigation

Scottsdale v. California Military Department — Rescission Defeated Additional-Insured Coverage

automatic / October 14, 2026

The Fourth District held that valid rescission for a contractor’s material application misrepresentations also eliminated an additional insured’s coverage.

2nd District Court of Appeal, Constitutional Law, Litigation

Luna v. Top Dawg Entertainment — Fair-Report Privilege Defeats Doxing Claim

automatic / October 8, 2026

The Court of Appeal reversed and directed the trial court to strike the doxing claim.

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

Seeboth v. State Department of State Hospitals — Sexually Violent Predator Patients Have No Statutory Right to Unopened Mail

automatic / October 7, 2026

The Fifth District held that sexually violent predator patients are governed by regulations permitting contraband inspection, not the LPS Act's right to unopened correspondence.

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

Smith v. Burbank Unified School District — Unpaid Leave Was a Reasonable Religious Accommodation to Vaccine Mandate

automatic / October 7, 2026

The Second District held that unpaid leave reasonably accommodated a teacher's religious objection to a COVID-19 vaccine mandate where in-person work posed an undue hardship.

4th District Court of Appeal, Administrative Law, Litigation, Real Estate Law

Tina-Pacific Residents Association v. City of Stanton — Residents May Pursue Redevelopment Housing and Relocation Claims

automatic / October 7, 2026

A published California appellate decision revived residents’ claims that Stanton failed to meet affordable-housing replacement and relocation-planning duties during a long-running neighborhood acquisition project.

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

People v. Jimenez — Racial Justice Act Claim Requires Comparisons to Similarly Situated Offenders

automatic / October 6, 2026

People v. Jimenez: Racial Justice Act Claim Requires Comparisons to Similarly Situated Offenders.

4th District Court of Appeal, Criminal Law, Litigation

People v. U.S. Fire Insurance — Surety Remains Liable After Failure to Arrange Required GPS

automatic / October 6, 2026

People v. U.S. Fire Insurance: Surety Remains Liable After Failure to Arrange Required GPS.

3rd District Court of Appeal, Administrative Law, Healthcare Law

Bombardini v. Board of Psychology — Challenge to Discipline Was Untimely and Probation Ruling Stands

automatic / October 6, 2026

Bombardini v. Board of Psychology: Challenge to Discipline Was Untimely and Probation Ruling Stands.

6th District Court of Appeal, Administrative Law, Environmental Law, Real Estate Law

Steer v. Town of Los Gatos — Discretionary Street Dedication Defeats CEQA Ministerial Exemption

automatic / October 6, 2026

Steer v. Town of Los Gatos: Discretionary Street Dedication Defeats CEQA Ministerial Exemption.

Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, Constitutional Law, Labor & Employment Law

Schmidt v. City of Pasadena — PREP Act Immunizes Workplace COVID Testing and Mask Policy

automatic / October 5, 2026

Schmidt v. City of Pasadena: PREP Act Immunizes Workplace COVID Testing and Mask Policy.

Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, Antitrust, Business Transactions

Snow v. Align Technology — Antitrust Plaintiffs May Test Claimed Business Reasons for Refusal to Deal

automatic / October 5, 2026

Snow v. Align Technology: Antitrust Plaintiffs May Test Claimed Business Reasons for Refusal to Deal.

Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, Criminal Law, Litigation

United States v. So — Foreign-Evidence Tolling Covered Bribery Conspiracy Charge

automatic / October 5, 2026

United States v. So: Foreign-Evidence Tolling Covered Bribery Conspiracy Charge.

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

Doe v. Wells Fargo — Employer Strict Liability Requires the Harasser to Supervise the Victim

automatic / October 5, 2026

Doe v. Wells Fargo: Employer Strict Liability Requires the Harasser to Supervise the Victim.

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

Chin v. DoorDash — Employee Waived EFAA Protection by Withholding Known Harassment Claim

automatic / October 5, 2026

Chin v. DoorDash: Employee Waived EFAA Protection by Withholding Known Harassment Claim.

2nd District Court of Appeal, Criminal Law

People v. Flint — Off-duty deputy remained a peace officer for felony-murder resentencing

automatic / October 2, 2026

A published California decision holds that an off-duty deputy retained peace-officer authority, making a felony-murder defendant ineligible for section 1172.6 resentencing.