183 karma · joined June 8, 2010
The person who represents Coca Cola may not be a licensed attorney, even if they work for the corporation. (See Code of Civ. Proc., § 116.530, subd. (a) and (b).) Corporations typically send a non-attorney member of their legal staff to appear for them.
Note that you cite CCP 116.540, but subdivision (m) specifically states:
(m) Nothing in this section shall operate or be construed to authorize an attorney to participate in a small claims action except as expressly provided in Section 116.530.
Thus, the the general rule of CCP 116.530 applies, despite the language you quote in CCP 116.540, subd. (b).
The controlling language in CCP 116.530 is:
(a) Except as permitted by this section, no attorney may take part in the conduct or defense of a small claims action.
(b) Subdivision (a) does not apply if the attorney is appearing to maintain or defend an action in any of the following capacities:
(1) By or against himself or herself.
(2) By or against a partnership in which he or she is a general partner and in which all the partners are attorneys.
(3) By or against a professional corporation of which he or she is an officer or director and of which all other officers and directors are attorneys.
(I serve as a temporary judge in CA and have presided over many small claims matters so I deal with this problem regularly.)
[1] https://www.criminallegalnews.org/news/2021/sep/15/clash-bet...
Source: https://blog.pocketcasts.com/2019/09/18/major-new-update/
In his view, based on previous precedent, it does not. As a matter of previous precedent, the majorities approach is somewhat legally strained based on the Due Process Clause. But as a matter of policy, the majority's decision seems correct.
This is wrong. $10,000 is the absolute damages cap in small claims court and the small claims appeal (which is really just a new trial). See California Code of Civil Procedure Section 116.220 and 116.221. The exact same claim is simply heard in front of a new judicial officer. It is not possible to amend the claim to add more damages in the appeal. See California Code of Civil Procedure Section 116.770(d).
A judge could award another $1000 but only if the appeal was frivilous. See California Code of Civil Procedure 116.790. This happens rarely.
* I'm a CA licensed attorney and just happened to attend the temporary judge small claims training just a couple weeks ago.
The DA must follow this rule: http://codes.findlaw.com/ca/penal-code/pen-sect-1054-1.html.
The DA also has obligations under Brady v. Maryland: https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=955043312626967...
The defense must follow this rule: http://codes.findlaw.com/ca/penal-code/pen-sect-1054-3.html
Not quite. Prosecutors must disclose exculpatory evidence that is in the possession of the prosecution team. In terms of the example I gave, facebook would not be considered part of the prosecution team. Thus, the prosecution does not possess the video. Thus, the Brady obligation to disclose exculpatory evidence does not apply.
As a general matter, the “prosecution team” includes persons or agencies (1) “acting on the government’s behalf in the case,” People v. Zambrano, 41 Cal. 4th 1082, 1132 (2007), overruled on other grounds, People v. Doolin, 45 Cal. 4th 390, 421 n.22 (2009); Kyles v. Whitley, 514 U.S. 419, 437 (1995); and (2) “assisting the government’s case,” In re Brown, 17 Cal. 4th 873, 881 (1998).
The prosecution has no “duty to conduct the defendant’s investigation for him.” People v. Verdugo, 50 Cal. 4th 263, 288–89 (2010) (citation and internal quotations omitted); People v. Williams, 58 Cal. 4th 197, 257 (2013); People v. Zambrano, 41 Cal. 4th 1082, 1134 (2007), overruled on other grounds, People v. Doolin, 45 Cal. 4th 390, 421 n.22 (2009); People v. Salazar, 35 Cal. 4th 1031, 1048–50 (2005).
Because “the law does not ‘impose a general duty on prosecutorial officials to serve as defense investigators,’ ” People v. Moore, 50 Cal. App. 3d 989, 993 (1975) (quoting People v. Beagle, 6 Cal. 3d 441, 450–51 (1972), superseded on other grounds, Cal. Const., art. I, § 28), police are not generally required to collect particular items of evidence, People v. Montes, 58 Cal. 4th 809, 837 (2014); In re Michael L., 39 Cal. 3d 81, 86 (1985) (“police cannot be expected to gather up everything which might eventually prove useful to the defense”) (citation and internal quotations omitted); People v. Frye, 18 Cal. 4th 894, 943 (1998) (“as a general matter, due process does not require the police to collect particular items of evidence”), overruled on other grounds, People v. Doolin, 45 Cal. 4th 390, 421 n.22 (2009); People v. Callen, 194 Cal. App. 3d 558, 561 (1987) (“[The] law does not impose upon law enforcement agencies the requirement that they take the initiative, or even any affirmative action, in procuring … evidence deemed necessary to the defense of an accused.”) (citation and internal quotations omitted); People v. Bradley, 159 Cal. App. 3d 399, 407 (1984) (same).
Throw the case names and citations into Google Scholar to find the full text of the cases - which provide reasoning (unpersuasive, in my view).
In short, you can do that. But in real life, you typically won't get the data. That's why police and prosecutor bust down your door instead of mailing you a subpoena asking you to bring incriminating evidence to the police station.
Note that under 18 U.S. Code § 2704, a related problem is that only governmental entities can require preservation of data.
I have not seen any legal authority for the defense getting a search warrant. If you can find any authority or precedent for that, I would love to see it. It's an awesome idea.
Before 180 days, you need a warrant. After 180 days, you need a (d) order. Can the defense can get it using a 18 U.S. Code § 2703(d) order? In my view, the answer is no. The statute specifically refers to a "governmental entity" being able to seek the order. I don't believe that includes criminal defendants.
See: https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/2703
"A court order for disclosure under subsection (b) or (c) may be issued by any court that is a court of competent jurisdiction and shall issue only if the governmental entity offers specific and articulable facts showing that there are reasonable grounds to believe that the contents of a wire or electronic communication, or the records or other information sought, are relevant and material to an ongoing criminal investigation."