» 2016

Supreme Court allows court-awarded attorney’s fees to be included in punitive-damage calculus in insurance bad-faith cases

Nickerson v. Stonebridge Life Ins. Co. (2016) 63 Cal.4th 363 Held that Brandt fees awarded by trial court post-trial can properly be included in ratio of compensatory to punitive damages for purpose of federal due process review of punitive-damage award, reversing prior cases holding otherwise. Read More

Landmark rest-break case affirms $90 million summary judgment for plaintiff class

Augustus v. ABM Security Services, Inc. (2016) 2 Cal.5th 257 Obtained affirmance of $90 million summary judgment in favor of plaintiff class in rest-break class action, reversing adverse Court of Appeal opinion. The Supreme Court held that under California law, employers cannot required employees to remain “on call” during rest breaks. Read More