Family Law

• Child Abuse
  The Supreme Court reversed summary judgment, holding that the county sheriff's department had a mandatory duty under the Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act (Penal Code, section 11166(k)) to cross-report to child welfare agency of initial 911 emergency phone call in which nonmandated reporter noted possible abuse of child.

Criminal Law

• Wrongful Death
• Sex Crimes
  Victims of child molestation by priest brought action against the Archdiocese for vicarious liability and negligence. Defendants filed an anti-SLAPP motion which was denied by the trial court. Court of appeal affirmed.
• Assault

Property Law

• Premises Liability
  In an action for negligence and premises liability, the trial court erred in giving the jury an assumption of risk instruction, and the jury's subsequent finding for defendant on this defense, which barred all liability, compelled reversal and remand for a new trial.

Health Law

• Personal Injury
  In an action brought by a deceased smoker's son against cigarette manufacturer for wrongful death, the appellate court affirmed the jury's verdict awarding son $12.8 million in damages, finding that the smoker's prior personal injury recovery did not limit son's loss of consortium damages to the value of smoker's consortium in his "pre-death diminished condition."
• Medical Malpractice
  In an action alleging that a dermatologist "negligently and carelessly examined, cared for, followed up on, and treated" plaintiff, the Court of Appeal held that a prior order granting summary adjudication of the plaintiff's medical malpractice claim did not preclude the plaintiff from proceeding with her claim of negligence based on the failure to maintain a laser machine that malfunctioned during the treatment.