Judge
Civil
Los Angeles County Superior Court
West District - Santa Monica Courthouse
Department/Division:
I
Courtroom/Floor:
A103
1725 Main St
Santa Monica , CA 90401-3299
(310) 255-1854
Appointed to the Los Angeles Superior Court by Gov. Jerry Brown, 2016; partner, associate, Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP, Los Angeles, 1988-16; law clerk, U.S. Supreme Court Justice William J. Brennan Jr., 1987-88; law clerk to Justice Edward Panelli, California Supreme Court, 1986-87; law clerk to Judge Stanley Weigel, U.S. District Court, Northern District of California, 1985-86
UC Berkeley School of Law, 1985
Judicial Profiles
| Title | Court | Published |
|---|---|---|
| Learning the Ropes | Los Angeles County (Los Angeles) | Apr. 19, 2018 |
Rulings
| Case | Category | Published |
|---|---|---|
|
Dubac v. Itkoff
affirmed
|
Anti-SLAPP | Apr. 22, 2024 |
|
VFLA Eventco v. William Morris Endeavor Entertainment
affirmed
|
Contracts | Mar. 7, 2024 |
|
Hacala v. Bird Rides, Inc.
reversed in part
|
Torts | Apr. 10, 2023 |
|
Jane Doe No. 1 v. Uber Technologies, Inc.
affirmed
|
Torts | Jun. 2, 2022 |
|
Modification: W.M. v. V.A.
reversed and remanded
|
Family Law | Jan. 4, 2019 |
|
W.M. v. V.A.
reversed and remanded
|
Family Law | Dec. 17, 2018 |
Verdicts & Settlements
| Case Name | Topic | Role | Published |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hertzel Illulian, et al. v. Ze'Ev Rav-Noy, et al. | Fraud | judge | Jul. 5, 2024 |
| Walter D. Solorzano v. Elizabeth Dana | Personal Injury | judge | Nov. 3, 2023 |
| Victor Franco Noval v. Jona S. Rechnitz | Fraud | judge | Oct. 13, 2023 |
| VFLA Eventco LLC v. William Morris Endeavor Entertainment LLC, Starry US Touring Inc., Kali Uchis Touring Inc, Big Grrrl Big Touring Inc., and Does 1-20, inclusive | Contracts | judge | Jan. 13, 2023 |
| James Estakhrian and Abdi Naziri, on behalf of themselves and all others similarly situated v. Mark Obenstine, Benjamin F. Easterlin IV, Terry A. Coffing, King & Spalding LLP, and Marquis & Aurbach PC | Attorneys | Defendant | Mar. 12, 2016 |
| Angela Bates v. KB Home, et al. | Business Law | Defendant | May 7, 2011 |
| John Creighton, James Fitzpatrick and William Galvin, on behalf of themselves and others similarly situated v. Unisource Worldwide Inc. | Employment Law | Defendant | Dec. 27, 2008 |
| Confidential | Contracts | Defendant | Feb. 18, 2004 |
| Title | Court | Published |
|---|---|---|
| Learning the Ropes | Los Angeles County (Los Angeles) | Apr. 19, 2018 |
| Case | Category | Published |
|---|---|---|
|
Dubac v. Itkoff
affirmed
|
Anti-SLAPP | Apr. 22, 2024 |
|
VFLA Eventco v. William Morris Endeavor Entertainment
affirmed
|
Contracts | Mar. 7, 2024 |
|
Hacala v. Bird Rides, Inc.
reversed in part
|
Torts | Apr. 10, 2023 |
|
Jane Doe No. 1 v. Uber Technologies, Inc.
affirmed
|
Torts | Jun. 2, 2022 |
|
Modification: W.M. v. V.A.
reversed and remanded
|
Family Law | Jan. 4, 2019 |
|
W.M. v. V.A.
reversed and remanded
|
Family Law | Dec. 17, 2018 |
| Case Name | Topic | Role | Published |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hertzel Illulian, et al. v. Ze'Ev Rav-Noy, et al. | Fraud | judge | Jul. 5, 2024 |
| Walter D. Solorzano v. Elizabeth Dana | Personal Injury | judge | Nov. 3, 2023 |
| Victor Franco Noval v. Jona S. Rechnitz | Fraud | judge | Oct. 13, 2023 |
| VFLA Eventco LLC v. William Morris Endeavor Entertainment LLC, Starry US Touring Inc., Kali Uchis Touring Inc, Big Grrrl Big Touring Inc., and Does 1-20, inclusive | Contracts | judge | Jan. 13, 2023 |
| James Estakhrian and Abdi Naziri, on behalf of themselves and all others similarly situated v. Mark Obenstine, Benjamin F. Easterlin IV, Terry A. Coffing, King & Spalding LLP, and Marquis & Aurbach PC | Attorneys | Defendant | Mar. 12, 2016 |
| Angela Bates v. KB Home, et al. | Business Law | Defendant | May 7, 2011 |
| John Creighton, James Fitzpatrick and William Galvin, on behalf of themselves and others similarly situated v. Unisource Worldwide Inc. | Employment Law | Defendant | Dec. 27, 2008 |
| Confidential | Contracts | Defendant | Feb. 18, 2004 |