The California Supreme Court recently issued an opinion in Beacon Residential etc. Assn. v. Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (July 3, 2014, S208173) 59 Cal. 4th 68 (2014), analyzing an issue that had not previously been decided by the California Supreme Court — whether an architect who provides services to a residential developer may be liable to the eventual purchasers of the residences for negligence in the rendition of those services in the absence of privity.

In July, The California Court of Appeal, Second Appellate District, Division Two (Los Angeles), published its opinion in Moua v Pittulo: 228 Cal. App. 4th 107 (2014), thanks to the efforts of Los Angeles Lewis Brisbois partner Ken Feldman, who drafted a publication request on behalf of the Association of Southern California Defense Counsel.