Carolin Pacheco | Marshall Dennehey In a recent opinion from the Fourth District Court of Appeals, the court found that it is not the function of a trial judge or the appellate court to reweigh evidence on a motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict, reversing the trial court’s final judgment. The homeowners brought a declaratory… Continue reading Fourth District Court Held Trial and Appellate Courts May Not Reweigh Evidence on Judgment Notwithstanding the Verdict, Reversing Decision
Coverage Denied: Residence Premises Requirement Bars Claim Despite Premiums and Initial Payment
Kelly Phan | Marshall Dennehey Two years prior to Evelyn Pitts’ death, she placed her property in a revocable living trust, entered an assisted living facility and then rented her property to tenants. After Evelyn’s passing, her son reported water damage to the property to Universal Property & Casualty Insurance Company. Universal initially extended coverage… Continue reading Coverage Denied: Residence Premises Requirement Bars Claim Despite Premiums and Initial Payment
New California Construction Laws Taking Effect in 2026
Michelle Akerman, Tom Li and Bianca Velez | Hanson Bridgett This article summarizes changes in California construction law taking effect in 2026. California’s Housing and Infrastructure Reform Legislation AB 130 and SB 131 – Comprehensive Reforms to California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) Effective January 1, 2026, CEQA undergoes significant statutory streamlining under 2025 legislation, primarily… Continue reading New California Construction Laws Taking Effect in 2026
Effective January 1, 2026 California SB 61 Caps Retention at 5% on Private Construction Projects
Kendall Woods | Buchalter California passed Senate Bill 61 (SB 61), a new law intended to help ease financial risk for contractors and subcontractors on private construction projects. With the passage of SB 61, signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom on July 14, 2025, retention practices for private construction projects will undergo a significant… Continue reading Effective January 1, 2026 California SB 61 Caps Retention at 5% on Private Construction Projects
Substantial Completion: Close, but the Case Hasn’t Settled
Nancy Holtz | JAMS Not every mediation ends with a settlement at the close of the formal mediation session. But sometimes there is enough progress made to reach “substantial completion”: A lot of ground has been covered, the issues have been narrowed and the parties’ positions have moved closer. But they are not close enough… Continue reading Substantial Completion: Close, but the Case Hasn’t Settled