[The name of each client in the case title, and any associated brief, is replaced by the appropriate form of the word "client."]

Client v. Superior Court (Healy) (1982) First District, California Court of Appeal (petitioner, denied) Client, 35 year-old housewife mother of seven-year old twin sons, jogging in running shorts and singlet, four blocks from her home in residential neighborhood of Oakland. Police officers used excessive force, including carotid artery choke hold, to detain client, on pretext that she looked as if she were involved in criminal conduct. Detention based on police officer assertion that site of detention was high crime area. Client brought action for violation of civil rights. Superior Court denied motion to compel Oakland Police Department to produce all crime statistics for area of detention in relevant time period. Court of Appeal denied petition for writ. [brief in process of conversion to HTML]

Client v. Healy (1984) First District, California Court of Appeal, Civ. No. A015386 (appellant, won reversal) Client, 35 year-old housewife mother of seven-year old twin sons, jogging in running shorts and singlet, four blocks from her home in residential neighborhood of Oakland. Police officers used excessive force, including carotid artery choke hold, to detain client, on pretext that she looked as if she were involved in criminal conduct. Detention based on police officer assertion that site of detention was high crime area. As a result, client suffered Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, causing her to leave husband and children. Client brought action for violation of civil rights. Defense verdict. Jury instruction did not permit jury to consider whether police officers had reasonable belief that site of detention was high crime area. Court of Appeal reversed. [brief in process of conversion to HTML]

Client v. Contra Costa County Merit Board (1985) First District, California Court of Appeal, Civ. No. A023209 (appellant, lost) Client, probationary Deputy Sheriff charged with, but never convicted of, torching personal automobile for insurance proceeds, discharged on testimony of unreliable, drug-addicted jail house informant. Discharge affirmed by Civil Service function. Court of Appeal affirmed. [brief in process of conversion to HTML]

State of California v. Superior Court (Client) (1993) Fifth District, California Court of Appeal (respondent, won denial) Client injured while incarcerated in prison for drug possession. Government claim not filed within statutory six months. Won excuse from Superior Court for late-filing of government claim, due to intimidating environment of prison. Court of Appeal denied State of California petition for writ. [brief in process of conversion to HTML]

Client v. SunWorld (1995) 5th Civ. No. F022040 (appellant, appeal dismissed because respondent filed for bankruptcy before oral argument) Client, 51 year old farmworker mother of 4 adult children each with professional status, contracted photo- dermatitis from exposure to pesticide while working in greenhouse for grower. Superior Court granted summary judgment for grower, based on exclusive remedy of worker's compensation law, in face of argument that grower violated important public policy based on agriculture being important state industry, and state regulation that culpable pesticide not be used in confines of greenhouse. Appeal dismissed when defendant grower filed for bankruptcy before oral argument. [brief in process of conversion to HTML]

Client v. Uniroyal (1996) 5th Civ. No. F024241 (appellant, lost) Client, 51 year old farmworker mother of 4 adult children each with professional status, contracted photodermatitis from exposure to pesticide while working in defendant grower's greenhouse. Superior Court granted summary judgment for pesticide manufacturer, based on preemption of federal law. Court of Appeal affirmed. [brief in process of conversion to HTML]

Clients v. Santa Monica Hospital (Grossburger) (1996) Second District, California Court of Appeal, 2d Civ. No. B084702 (appellants, won reversal) Adverse defendant physician in wrongful death/medical malpractice action, obtained court leave to set motion for summary judgment less than 30 days before trial. Due of defendant-caused delay in taking relevant depositions, and advancement of motion, opinion of clients' expert could not be included in opposing papers. Due to earthquake week before scheduled hearing on motion, court canceled hearing, granted summary judgment on papers, with representation that any party disagreeing with ruling, would have opportunity to set hearing. Upon clients' application for hearing, court refused to set hearing, which would have revealed that clients' expert would testify that defendant physician acted below applicable standard of care. Court of Appeal reversed. [brief in process of conversion to HTML]

Clients v. Santa Monica Hospital (Paras) (1997) 2d Civ. No. B091941 (respondents, won affirmation) Plaintiff clients prevailed in jury trial of wrongful death/medical malpractice action. Clients won motion in limine to preclude defendant physician from mentioning co-defendant physician, who had been dismissed pursuant to summary judgment, which was on appeal. Defendant physician took frivolous appeal on basis that trial court should have continued trial until resolution of appeal of co-defendant physician. [brief in process of conversion to HTML]

Clients v. Santa Monica Hospital (Paras) (1997) 2d Civ. No. B091941 (cross-appellants, won reversal) Plaintiff clients prevailed in jury trial of wrongful death/medical malpractice action against defendant physician. At time of trial, for convenience of parties and court, clients dismissed defendant hospital, although defendant physician ostensible agent of hospital. Defendant hospital, represented by same law firm as defendant physician, filed Memorandum of Costs, which was sustained by Superior Court in face of motion to tax. Costs of hospital were same costs as would have been expended on behalf of defendant physician, had he defended action alone. Court of Appeal reversed Memorandum of Costs for determination of any costs which would have been expended on behalf of hospital and not defendant physician. [brief in process of conversion to HTML]

Clients v. Campo De Carlos (1998) 2nd Civ. No. B113536 (appellants, lost) Clients invested in Mexican recreational development. Agreement contained "choice of law" and "forum selection" clauses, specifying Mexico venue. Superior Court granted summary judgment, despite both California statute that forum selection clause cannot deprive California of jurisdiction in disputes concerning securities and appellate case accepting identical type of investment as security. [brief in process of conversion to HTML]

Clients v. Glendora Community Hospital (1998) 2nd Civ. No. B096039 (appellant, won reversal) Clients were mother and infant child in medical malpractice action for birth injury. Child died after seven months. There were five complaints. Defendants were successful in obtaining court order to consolidate three of complaints. Superior Court granted summary judgment on the three consolidated complaints. When plaintiffs attempted to proceed on remaining two complaints, Superior Court ruled that summary judgment had been granted on all complaints, not just those ordered consolidated. Court of Appeal reversed. [brief in process of conversion to HTML]

Client v. Med Partners/Mullikin (1998) 2d Civ. B106445 (appellant, lost) Infant child client in medical malpractice action for birth injury. Defendant physician, designated as expert, had suffered $3,000,000 adverse judgment in similar case three years prior in same court. Superior Court denied client motion in limine to introduce evidence of prior adverse judgment to impeach defendant physician in capacity as expert. Defense verdict. Court of Appeal affirmed. [brief in process of conversion to HTML]

Client v. Superior Court (1998) Second District, Court of Appeal (petitioner, denied) Medical malpractice action for birth injury. Defendant physician, designated as expert, had suffered $3,000,000 adverse judgment in similar case three years prior in same court. Superior Court denied plaintiff motion in limine to introduce evidence of prior adverse judgment to impeach defendant physician in capacity as expert. Defense verdict. After verdict rendered, and jury dismissed, client plaintiff attorney gave dismissed jurors copies of prior adverse judgment against defendant physician. Superior Court held client plaintiff attorney in contempt, and imposed $1000 monetary sanction. Court of Appeal denied petition for writ. [brief in process of conversion to HTML]

McLaughlin v. Client (1998) 2d Civ. No. B117454, Client v. McLaughlin, (1998) 2d Civ. 119062 (appellant in two related appeals, appeals dismissed because case settled before oral argument) Purportedly pursuant to statute, former medical malpractice client of client attorney, sought Ventura County Bar Association arbitration in fee dispute. Client attorney brought separate action in Los Angeles County, against former client for breach of attorney's fees agreement. Ventura County Superior Court affirmed award of arbitration panel, despite timely amendment by client attorney to Los Angeles County action, to challenge arbitration award, and statute prohibiting arbitration of attorney's fees, in instances in which attorney's fees are determined by statute, as in medical malpractice. Demurrer granted to client's Los Angeles County Superior Court complaint, without leave to amend. Appeals dismissed because case settled before oral argument. [brief in process of conversion to HTML]

Clients v. Superior Court (Columbia/HCA Healthcare Corp.) (1998) Fourth District, Court of Appeal (petitioners, denied) Medical malpractice. Client wife and mother of two elementary school children, rendered comatose by anesthesiology misadventure. Superior Court denied clients' motion to include allegation for punitive damages against defendant medical health care provider. Court of Appeal denied petition for writ. [brief in process of conversion to HTML]

Clients v. Columbia/HCA Healthcare Corp. (1998) 4th Civ. No. G022854 (appellants, pending) Medical malpractice. Client wife and mother of two elementary school children, rendered comatose by anesthesiology misadventure. Superior Court granted demurrer to client children's allegations for loss of parental consortium, in face of no longer justified California precedent, that no damages for loss of parental consortium are permitted. [brief in process of conversion to HTML]