Latest 2 Cases: K.J. v. Los Angeles Unified School District (Civil Procedure), People v. Hoyt (Criminal Law)

Should Animals Be Allowed to Sue?

SHERRY F. COLB

Cornell law professor Sherry F. Colb comments on case in which Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF) brought a civil damages suit on behalf of an abused horse, now named Justice, against the horse’s former owner. Colb dismantles three arguments critics raise in opposition to recognizing abused animals as plaintiffs in lawsuits such as this one.

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K.J. v. Los Angeles Unified School District

Docket: S241057

Opinion Date: January 30, 2020

Judge: Groban

Areas of Law: Civil Procedure, Personal Injury

The Supreme Court reversed the decision of the court of appeal dismissing an appeal of an order directing an attorney to pay sanctions because the notice of appeal identified the attorney's client as the appealing party but other indicia made it clear that the attorney was the party seeking review, holding that, under the circumstances of this case, the notice of appeal should be construed to include the omitted attorney. Attorney represented K.J. in a negligence action against the Los Angeles Unified School District (collectively, LAUSD). During the litigation, LAUSD filed an application seeking sanctions from Attorney. The trial court awarded sanctions based on its finding that Attorney had violated discovery statutes. A notice of appeal was filed by K.J.'s attorney. The court of appeal dismissed the appeal for lack of jurisdiction, holding that when a sanctions order is entered against an attorney, the right of appeal is vested in the attorney and not the attorney's client. The Supreme Court reversed, holding that when it is clear from the record that the omitted attorney intended to participate in the appeal and the respondent was not misled or prejudiced by the omission, the rule of liberal construction requires that the notice be construed to include the omitted attorney.

People v. Hoyt

Docket: S113653

Opinion Date: January 30, 2020

Judge: Kruger

Areas of Law: Criminal Law

The Supreme Court affirmed Defendant's conviction of first-degree murder and kidnapping and sentence of death, holding that Defendant was not entitled to relief. Specifically, the Court held (1) the superior court did not err in exercising its jurisdiction in this matter; (2) the trial court did not err in the voir dire proceedings; (3) Defendant's argument that there was a material variance between the kidnap alleged in the indictment and the prosecutor's argument regarding his actual offense was unavailing; (4) the trial court did not err in admitting Defendant's custodial confession; (5) the trial court did not err by compelling Defendant to testify as a foundation for testimony by Defendant's expert that his confession was false; (6) the trial court did not err by limiting expert witness testimony; (7) the trial court did not err by compelling Defendant to undergo a prosecution-conducted psychiatric examination; (8) the prosecutor did not commit misconduct during the guilt phase closing argument; (9) there was no instructional error; (10) there was sufficient evidence to support the kidnap-murder special circumstance; (11) Defendant's claims of prosecutorial misconduct during the penalty phase closing argument lacked merit; and (12) Defendant's remaining penalty phase claims were unavailing.