Category Archives: Courts
VIRTUAL PRESENCE NOT SUFFICIENT BASIS FOR LIABILITY
The sender of a text message was granted summary judgment against plaintiffs in a New Jersey personal injury action in which the recipient, while reading that text message, sideswiped the motorcycle driven by the plaintiffs. The plaintiffs, a husband and wife who both lost their left leg in the collision, named both the driver… Read More »
The Duty to Disclose STDs — The One that Never Goes Away
In a recent local case [Behr v. Redmond, (2011) 193 Cal. App. 4th 517], the plaintiff sued the defendant for damages arising from the alleged tortious transmission of genital herpes. Essentially, the plaintiff alleged that the defendant committed fraud when he misrepresented to her that he was free of STDs, knowing this to be… Read More »
COURTS IN CHAOS
Heiting & Irwin Over the past week the Los Angeles Superior Court system has announced the closure of four civil courtrooms in Pomona. The San Bernardino Superior Court system is apparently mulling over its options in the face of budget cuts, expected to be reached up to 18 percent. Similar courtroom closures or furlough… Read More »
KNOW YOUR LIMITATIONS
Heiting & Irwin “Statutes of Limitations” are the laws which place a time limit upon the length of time one has to file a lawsuit, whether it be a civil complaint or the prosecution of someone for committing a crime. The time limits vary depending upon the nature of the claim or the crime… Read More »
The Benefits of a Large Auto Insurance Policy
If you own and drive a car in California, not only does the law require that you have auto insurance, it is also a good idea. Technically, the law doesn’t require you to have an auto insurance policy. In fact, as an alternative to insurance, one can post with the DMV a thirty-five thousand… Read More »
UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION 7TH AMENDMENT. THE RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY.
“In suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury shall be otherwise re-examined in any Court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law,” (United States Constitution, Amendment… Read More »
Commitment to Service: Orange County’s High School Mock Trial Competition
I recently had the pleasure of observing (and scoring) a mock trial competition in Orange County. That evening, myself and the other legal professionals, judges, and volunteers rallied at the end of our long day to kick off the opening round of the 31st Annual Orange County High School Mock Trial Competition, organized by… Read More »
What Factors Determine Noneconomic Damages in Personal Injury Cases?
Recently, I was asked by a reporter, “what factors determine noneconomic damages in personal injury cases?” Noneconomic damages are individualized and not subject to formula and standardization, especially for larger cases. Damages are dependent on the circumstances and apparent motivations of the individuals involved. The jury will evaluate these factors in developing their impressions… Read More »
Injuries to Pets – Accountability for Intentional Harm to Animals
The matter of Kimes v. Grosser deals with a cat owner’s ability to sue for vet bills to keep his cat, Pumkin, alive after being shot by a neighbor. Kimes v. Grosser (2011) 195 Cal. App. 4th 1556. The Plaintiff, Kevin Kimes, adopted a stray cat, who he named Pumkin. While perched on a… Read More »
It is GPS Monitoring, not GPS Tracking
“Wow…thank you. I didn’t realize GPS would be so interesting.” That was the most repeated comment by attendees at the last meeting of the Riverside County Barristers Association after Petra Fuhriman co-owner of GPS Monitoring Solutions explained the difference between tracking and real-time, 24/7 GPS monitoring. Although it was the second meeting of the… Read More »
