Business Law Journal

On September 30, 2023, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law Senate Bill (SB) No. 235, now codified as California Code of Civil Procedure section 2016.090, introducing a significant shift towards encouraging proactive initial disclosures in state court civil litigation. This legislative change amends California’s Civil Discovery Act to include proactive initial disclosure rules that align with those used in Federal Court. Effective for almost all civil cases filed after January 1, 2024, until January 1, 2027, this amendment heralds a new era of discovery rules in California that aim to foster judicial efficiency, transparency, and fairness in civil litigation.

The recent decision in Epochal Enterprises, Inc. v. LF Encinitas Properties, LLC, 2024 WL 358231 (1/31/24), asks the question: Will common exculpatory lease terms protect the landlord from an adverse jury verdict of gross negligence?  Ultimately, the answer is “No.”