Court: Companies Did Not Include Key Evidence, Reverses Summary Judgments

SAN FRANCISCO-A California Court of Appeal has reversed summary judgment for two employers in a wrongful death case after finding that the companies failed to provide sufficient evidence that no triable issues remain. Sandra J. Patterson et al. v. Chevron U.S.A., Inc. and Unocal Corp. Nos. A100951, A101214 (Calif. Ct. App., 1st Dist., Div. 4)

In its Feb. 23 opinion, California's First Appellate District, Division Four, found that Chevron U.S.A. and Unocal Corp. did not include key facts in their evidence supporting summary judgment, including testimony from witnesses outside of the plaintiffs' family, and therefore reversed the rulings.

Charles A. …