In an en banc published opinion, the Commonwealth Court holds that Whistleblower Law claims against Commonwealth agencies fall within its exclusive original jurisdiction and are not subject to the Section 761(a)(1)(v) exception for tort-like actions, resolving the question with binding precedent for the first time.
In a published opinion, the Commonwealth Court declares that simple assault is not a crime of violence under Act 235 and that PSP exceeded its statutory authority by creating a regulatory catch-all allowing denial of lethal-weapons certification for “any other crime” beyond the enumerated crimes of violence.
The First District affirms dismissal of a collateral attack on 2007 administrative paternity and support orders, holding the petitioner failed to prove the Department lacked jurisdiction.
The Fourth District holds that the CPRA’s “promptly available” production standard is a flexible, context-dependent requirement — not a fixed deadline — and sets out a multi-factor test for courts to evaluate agency compliance.
The Eleventh District dismissed a mandamus petition challenging a city’s billboard moratorium, holding that the relator failed to name the building administrator (the individual with the duty to act) and that the city building department, as a non-sui juris entity, could not be a mandamus respondent.
The Ninth Circuit held that federal agencies likely violated the First Amendment by terminating University of California research grants based on recipients’ perceived viewpoints on DEI and environmental justice, while ruling that a separate class of grant termination challenges falls outside
The Ninth Circuit affirmed dismissal of motel owners’ constitutional challenge to Los Angeles’s revocation of their use permit after the city declared the property a public nuisance linked to prostitution and criminal activity.
The Supreme Court declines to hear Florida’s original jurisdiction challenge to California and Washington CDL licensing practices for noncitizen drivers, over a dissent from Justices Thomas and Alito arguing the Court must exercise its original jurisdiction.
Sixth District holds that an electric bicycle is not a ‘motor vehicle’ under the Vehicle Code, and the DMV cannot suspend a rider’s driver’s license for refusing a blood-alcohol test after being stopped while riding an e-bike under the influence.
Ninth Circuit vacates a Northern District of California ruling that found fluoride in drinking water at 0.7 mg/L poses unreasonable health risks, holding the judge violated the party presentation principle by commandeering the evidentiary record over both parties’ objections.
The Third District Court of Appeal held that a renewed LPS conservatorship begins on the date the court issues its reappointment order, not retroactively on the day after the prior conservatorship expired.
The Third District Court of Appeal reversed the trial court and upheld an arbitrator’s award that set aside a correctional officer’s 60-day suspension, holding that the award did not contravene any explicit public policy despite conflicting with the State Personnel Board’s earlier ruling.
California appeals court holds that Humboldt County can be sued for failing to enroll a 40-year court reporter in CalPERS and losing her personnel records, establishing that pension enrollment and record-keeping are mandatory duties enforceable under Government Code section 815.6.
Ninth Circuit orders EPA to strengthen regulation of decaBDE, a toxic flame retardant, holding the agency failed to justify exemptions for recycling, waste disposal, wastewater, and sewage sludge under TSCA’s expedited rulemaking mandate.
The Ninth Circuit affirms placement of a southern-California tribe on ATF’s PACT Act non-compliant list, holding that the tribe’s remote cigarette sales to other California tribes are off-reservation activities subject to California’s licensing and excise-tax laws.
The Fifth District holds that body-worn camera footage showing an officer left a DUI suspect alone in a patrol car during the required 15-minute observation period is sufficient to rebut the presumption that breath test procedures were properly followed.
Second District holds that vacatur of a murder conviction under Penal Code section 1172.6 does not establish an “erroneous conviction” entitling the former defendant to compensation under section 4900, because Senate Bill 1437’s narrowing of murder liability was a legislative act o
The California Supreme Court holds that courts must independently review whether the Coastal Commission has appellate jurisdiction over a local permit decision and that the Commission cannot exercise that jurisdiction merely because a site allows multiple principal uses.
First District holds that the West Contra Costa Unified School District failed to establish the impossibility defense to teacher credentialing requirements because it did not show it had exhausted available waiver processes before the Commission on Teacher Credentialing and the State Board of Educat
Second District holds that a public employee union did not clearly and unmistakably waive its right to bargain over an outsourcing decision through an MOU clause referring to “reorganization,” reversing dismissal of an unfair practice charge against Los Angeles County.
First District holds that Sonoma County’s IOLERO has subpoena authority under Government Code section 25303.7 to investigate whistleblower complaints against the Sheriff and orders enforcement of subpoenas issued to deputies.
First District grants writ requiring West Contra Costa Unified School District to comply with statutory teacher hiring procedures before invoking impossibility to defend its use of rolling and unauthorized substitutes.
First District holds that the DMV’s revised hearing structure satisfies due process and rejects the broader ‘appearance of bias’ approach used in Romane v. DMV (now before the California Supreme Court).
Fifth District holds that ‘great bodily injury’ in Penal Code section 832.7 carries the long-established Penal Code section 12022.7 definition of significant or substantial physical injury, requiring broader disclosure of police K-9 use-of-force records under the CPRA.