Latest from California Case Summaries

In the newest episode of the Trial Alchemy™ podcast I’m re-releasing my earlier interview with Bill Shapiro, who was sworn in as the 2026 President of National ABOTA in January of this year. We talk about what works, and what doesn’t work in civil jury trials. Watch above or listen below to learn from a civil jury trial expert!    
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New California Employment CaseWho is a volunteer and who is an employee? 
The Court of Appeal addressed this issue last month. Below is my one-paragraph case summary from my online publication California Case Summaries™
Spilman v. The Salvation Army (2026) _ Cal.App.5th _ , 2026 WL 35953: The Court of Appeal reversed the trial court’s order granting defendant’s motion for

In the newest episode of Trial Alchemy™ we turn the tables and I am the person being interviewed by our guest host, ABOTA member Anton C. Gerschler, Esq. We talk about what works, and what doesn’t work in civil jury trials. Watch above or listen below to learn from a civil jury trial expert!    
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In the newest episode of Trial Alchemy™ I interview ABOTA member and outstanding defense trial lawyer Chris Beeman, Esq. about what works, and what doesn’t work in civil jury trials. Watch or listen today to learn from a civil jury trial expert!    
Click here to listen to complete podcast.To listen to this and all episodes on Spotify, click here.To listen to this and

In the newest episode of Trial Alchemy™ I interview father and son, ABOTA members and outstanding plaintiff trial lawyers Dulin Kelly, Esq. and Clint Kelly, Esq. about what works, and what doesn’t work in civil jury trials. Watch or listen today to learn from a civil jury trial expert!   Watch the video above to listen to the complete podcast. 
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In my Trial Alchemy™ podcast I’ve asked several outstanding plaintiff and defense attorneys whether they think juries are acting differently since the COVID-19 pandemic. While the opinions vary, most think there has been a change. In my new podcast interview, I asked outstanding defense lawyer and ABOTA member Steve Pasarow, Esq. what he thinks. To hear his thoughts, click on the

In the newest episode of Trial Alchemy™ I interview ABOTA member and outstanding defense trial lawyer Steve Pasarow, Esq. about what works, and what doesn’t work in civil jury trials. Watch or listen today to learn from a civil jury trial expert!    
Click here to listen to complete podcast.To listen to this and all episodes on Spotify, click here.To listen to this and

New California Supreme Court Employment CaseDo you want to be sanctioned $10,000 and reported to the State Bar? Just file a brief with AI-generated fake case citations.  
Last month, the Court of Appeal issued a stern warning to all California attorneys about submitting fake AI-generated case citations in their briefs: 
Noland v. Land of the Free, L.P. (2025) __ Cal.App.5th

Welcome to the Trial Alchemy™ podcast, where I talk with top ABOTA plaintiff and defense trial lawyers, and ABOTA civil trial judges about what works, and what doesn’t work when trying a civil case to a jury. Listening to the podcast is a great way for all civil trial lawyers, whether they’ve tried no cases or lots of cases, to learn

In the newest episode of Trial Alchemy™, I interview ABOTA member and outstanding plaintiff trial lawyer Skip Babbitt, Esq. about what works, and what doesn’t work in civil jury trials. Listen today to learn from a civil jury trial expert!    
Click here to listen to complete podcast.To listen to this and all episodes on Spotify, click here.To listen to this and all