District Judge (ret.)
JAMS
Retired April 2020. Took senior status in December 2018. Appointed to the Central District by President George W. Bush in 2003. Municipal and superior court judge in Los Angeles. Deputy city attorney for 11 years, regional counsel for Southern Pacific Railroad.
Stanford Law School, 1976
Judicial Profiles
| Title | Court | Published |
|---|---|---|
| S. James Otero | Central District of California (Los Angeles) | Oct. 7, 2014 |
| Settlement Savvy | U.S. District Court, Central (Los Angeles) | Oct. 22, 2006 |
Rulings
| Case | Category | Published |
|---|---|---|
|
Richards v. County of San Bernardino
reversed and remanded
|
Civil Rights | Jun. 24, 2022 |
|
Wong v. Flynn-Kerper
reversed and remanded
|
Remedies | Jun. 8, 2021 |
|
U.S. v. Ghanem
vacated and remanded
|
Criminal Law and Procedure | Apr. 13, 2021 |
|
U.S. v. Hardiman
affirmed
|
statutory_interpretation | Dec. 16, 2020 |
|
KST Data v. Enterprise Services
reversed and remanded
|
Civil Procedure | Nov. 18, 2020 |
|
Infante v. Martel
affirmed
|
Criminal Law and Procedure | Mar. 16, 2020 |
|
Courthouse News Service v. Planet
affirmed in part
|
Constitutional Law | Jan. 21, 2020 |
|
Park v. Barr
reversed and remanded
|
Immigration | Jan. 8, 2020 |
|
Amended Opinion: U.S. v. Benamor
affirmed
|
Criminal Law and Procedure | Sep. 6, 2019 |
|
U.S. v. Benamor
affirmed
|
Criminal Law and Procedure | Jun. 7, 2019 |
|
U.S. v. Wijegoonaratna
affirmed in part
|
Criminal Law and Procedure | Apr. 29, 2019 |
|
Californians for Renewable Energy v. CPUC
affirmed in part
|
Utilities | Apr. 25, 2019 |
|
Horton v. City of Santa Maria
affirmed in part
|
Qualified Immunity | Feb. 4, 2019 |
|
Robles v. Domino's Pizza
reversed
|
Disability Discrimination | Jan. 16, 2019 |
|
Vogel v. Harbor Plaza Center
vacated and remanded
|
Civil Procedure | Jun. 26, 2018 |
|
Ellis v. Harrison
affirmed
|
Attorneys | Jun. 8, 2018 |
|
Alamillo v. BNSF Railway Co.
affirmed
|
Employment Law | Aug. 28, 2017 |
Verdicts & Settlements
| Case Name | Topic | Role | Published |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allstate Insurance Company, an Illinois insurance company, v. Kia Motors America, Inc., a California corporation, and Kia Motors Corporation, a foreign corporation | Intellectual Property | judge | Feb. 16, 2018 |
| Brian Cesar Zamora v. Deputy Sheriff Bennalous, City of Glendale, County of Los Angeles, Does, Deputy Sheriff Esqueda and Deputy Sheriff Melansen | Civil Rights | judge | Aug. 11, 2017 |
| Kelly Mergens, on behalf of herself and all others similarly situated v. Sloan Valve Company, and Does 1 to 10, inclusive | Consumer Law | judge | Jul. 7, 2017 |
| Los Angeles Turf Club, Incorporated; Pacific Racing Association, a California Corporation; Pacific Racing Association II; Gulfstream Park Racing Association Inc.; Oregon Racing Inc.; Maryland Jockey Club of Baltimore City Inc.; and Laurel Racing Association Inc. v. Horse Racing Labs, LLC (also known as Immerse LLC) dba Derbywars, and Does 1 through 10, inclusive | Torts | judge | Jun. 30, 2017 |
| Miguel Fernandez v. County of Los Angeles, Victor Montes, Doe Reiley, Lee Baca and Does 1-10 | Civil Rights | judge | Apr. 19, 2008 |
| Confidential | Contracts | judge | Oct. 22, 2005 |
| J.P. Turnbull, et al. v. American Broadcasting Companies, et al. | Torts | judge | Dec. 28, 2004 |
| Confidential | Civil Rights | judge | Nov. 2, 2004 |
| Wickersham v. Manson Construction Co. | Maritime Law | judge | Aug. 10, 2004 |
| Ruben Gonzalez v. United States Postal Office | Personal Injury | judge | Jul. 29, 2003 |
| Confidential | Employment Law | judge | Mar. 11, 2003 |
| Caryn Conley v. County of Los Angeles, et al. | Civil Rights | judge | Sep. 24, 2002 |
| Tabibzadeh v. Blank | Personal Injury (Non-Vehicular) | judge | Sep. 4, 2002 |
| Howard Edelman, Brigitte Edelman v. Donald Minckler | Personal Injury (Non-Vehicular) | judge | Oct. 18, 2001 |
| Eliza Zerehi v. Rheumatology Diagnostic Laboratories Inc., Barbara Morris | Employment Law | judge | Nov. 2, 2000 |
| Confidential | Torts | judge | Jun. 15, 2000 |
| Confidential | Employment Law | judge | Sep. 17, 1998 |
| Confidential | Personal Injury (Vehicular) | judge | Aug. 29, 1998 |
| Confidential | Personal Injury | judge | Apr. 2, 1998 |
| Confidential | Personal Injury | judge | Mar. 5, 1998 |
| Confidential | Attorneys | judge | Feb. 28, 1998 |
| Confidential | Personal Injury (Non-Vehicular) | judge | Dec. 13, 1997 |
| Confidential | Personal Injury (Non-Vehicular) | judge | Nov. 15, 1997 |
| Confidential | Landlord/Tenant | judge | Sep. 6, 1997 |
| Confidential | Personal Injury (Non-Vehicular) | judge | Jan. 18, 1997 |
| Cynthia Collard v. City of Burbank | Personal Injury (Non-Vehicular) | judge | Oct. 5, 1996 |
| Confidential | Personal Injury (Vehicular) | judge | Sep. 7, 1996 |
| Confidential | Personal Injury (Vehicular) | judge | Aug. 31, 1996 |
| Confidential | Personal Injury (Non-Vehicular) | judge | Aug. 24, 1996 |
| Madden v. Ralphs | Personal Injury (Non-Vehicular) | judge | Aug. 24, 1996 |
| Confidential | Personal Injury (Vehicular) | judge | Jun. 8, 1996 |
| Roberto Ramirez v. Paul Grynick | Personal Injury (Non-Vehicular) | judge | May 4, 1996 |
| Confidential | Personal Injury (Non-Vehicular) | judge | Apr. 20, 1996 |
| Hugo Mosquera, et al. v. Stuart Anderson Black Angus, et al. | Personal Injury (Non-Vehicular) | judge | Apr. 13, 1996 |
| Confidential | Personal Injury (Non-Vehicular) | judge | Mar. 30, 1996 |
| Sarah Hunley v. John Quinn, et al. | Personal Injury (Vehicular) | judge | Nov. 25, 1995 |
| Daterig Kechichian v. Mardiros Mihranian, M.D., et al. | Personal Injury (Non-Vehicular) | judge | Oct. 28, 1995 |
| Josephina Israel v. Memmet Kasim, M.D., et al. | Personal Injury (Non-Vehicular) | judge | Oct. 28, 1995 |
| Confidential | Personal Injury (Vehicular) | judge | Oct. 21, 1995 |
| Aram, Karine and Hovsep Agvinyan v. Lori and John Seip, et al. | Personal Injury (Vehicular) | judge | Oct. 14, 1995 |
| Confidential | Personal Injury (Non-Vehicular) | judge | Sep. 16, 1995 |
| James Encao v. Builders Emporium, et al. | Personal Injury (Non-Vehicular) | judge | Sep. 9, 1995 |
| Confidential | Personal Injury (Vehicular) | judge | Jul. 22, 1995 |
| Confidential | Personal Injury (Vehicular) | judge | Jul. 1, 1995 |
| Confidential | Personal Injury (Non-Vehicular) | judge | Jun. 17, 1995 |
| Confidential | Personal Injury (Non-Vehicular) | judge | Jun. 17, 1995 |
| Confidential | Personal Injury (Non-Vehicular) | judge | Jun. 10, 1995 |
| Lois Tredway v. Verdugo Radiology, et al. | Personal Injury (Non-Vehicular) | judge | Jun. 10, 1995 |
| Confidential | Construction | judge | Jun. 10, 1995 |
| Elodie McKee v. City of Burbank, et al. | Civil Rights | judge | Apr. 8, 1995 |
| Confidential | Personal Injury (Vehicular) | judge | Apr. 1, 1995 |
| Arshavir Haritonins and Onik Waskanian v. The May Department Store, et al. | Personal Injury (Non-Vehicular) | judge | Mar. 18, 1995 |
| Confidential | Personal Injury (Non-Vehicular) | judge | Mar. 18, 1995 |
| Confidential | Personal Injury (Non-Vehicular) | judge | Mar. 2, 1995 |
| Confidential | Personal Injury (Non-Vehicular) | judge | Jan. 14, 1995 |
| Confidential | Personal Injury (Vehicular) | judge | Jan. 14, 1995 |
| Susan and Jason Poplar v. Erin L. Ward | Personal Injury (Vehicular) | judge | Dec. 31, 1994 |
| Confidential | Personal Injury (Vehicular) | judge | Dec. 24, 1993 |
| Confidential | Employment Law | judge | Dec. 18, 1993 |
| Confidential | Personal Injury (Non-Vehicular) | judge | Dec. 11, 1993 |
| Confidential | Personal Injury (Vehicular) | judge | Dec. 4, 1993 |
| Confidential | Personal Injury (Non-Vehicular) | judge | Nov. 20, 1993 |
| Confidential | Personal Injury (Non-Vehicular) | judge | Oct. 16, 1993 |
| Confidential | Personal Injury (Non-Vehicular) | judge | Oct. 9, 1993 |
| Confidential | Personal Injury (Vehicular) | judge | Oct. 2, 1993 |
| Confidential | Personal Injury (Non-Vehicular) | judge | Sep. 18, 1993 |
| Donald Coisman v. Jill Ingallis and Brothers Tresback Construction, Incorporated | Personal Injury (Vehicular) | judge | Sep. 18, 1993 |
| Elfahil v. K Mart Corporation, et al. | Personal Injury (Non-Vehicular) | judge | Sep. 11, 1993 |
| Title | Court | Published |
|---|---|---|
| S. James Otero | Central District of California (Los Angeles) | Oct. 7, 2014 |
| Settlement Savvy | U.S. District Court, Central (Los Angeles) | Oct. 22, 2006 |
| Case | Category | Published |
|---|---|---|
|
Richards v. County of San Bernardino
reversed and remanded
|
Civil Rights | Jun. 24, 2022 |
|
Wong v. Flynn-Kerper
reversed and remanded
|
Remedies | Jun. 8, 2021 |
|
U.S. v. Ghanem
vacated and remanded
|
Criminal Law and Procedure | Apr. 13, 2021 |
|
U.S. v. Hardiman
affirmed
|
statutory_interpretation | Dec. 16, 2020 |
|
KST Data v. Enterprise Services
reversed and remanded
|
Civil Procedure | Nov. 18, 2020 |
|
Infante v. Martel
affirmed
|
Criminal Law and Procedure | Mar. 16, 2020 |
|
Courthouse News Service v. Planet
affirmed in part
|
Constitutional Law | Jan. 21, 2020 |
|
Park v. Barr
reversed and remanded
|
Immigration | Jan. 8, 2020 |
|
Amended Opinion: U.S. v. Benamor
affirmed
|
Criminal Law and Procedure | Sep. 6, 2019 |
|
U.S. v. Benamor
affirmed
|
Criminal Law and Procedure | Jun. 7, 2019 |
|
U.S. v. Wijegoonaratna
affirmed in part
|
Criminal Law and Procedure | Apr. 29, 2019 |
|
Californians for Renewable Energy v. CPUC
affirmed in part
|
Utilities | Apr. 25, 2019 |
|
Horton v. City of Santa Maria
affirmed in part
|
Qualified Immunity | Feb. 4, 2019 |
|
Robles v. Domino's Pizza
reversed
|
Disability Discrimination | Jan. 16, 2019 |
|
Vogel v. Harbor Plaza Center
vacated and remanded
|
Civil Procedure | Jun. 26, 2018 |
|
Ellis v. Harrison
affirmed
|
Attorneys | Jun. 8, 2018 |
|
Alamillo v. BNSF Railway Co.
affirmed
|
Employment Law | Aug. 28, 2017 |
| Case Name | Topic | Role | Published |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allstate Insurance Company, an Illinois insurance company, v. Kia Motors America, Inc., a California corporation, and Kia Motors Corporation, a foreign corporation | Intellectual Property | judge | Feb. 16, 2018 |
| Brian Cesar Zamora v. Deputy Sheriff Bennalous, City of Glendale, County of Los Angeles, Does, Deputy Sheriff Esqueda and Deputy Sheriff Melansen | Civil Rights | judge | Aug. 11, 2017 |
| Kelly Mergens, on behalf of herself and all others similarly situated v. Sloan Valve Company, and Does 1 to 10, inclusive | Consumer Law | judge | Jul. 7, 2017 |
| Los Angeles Turf Club, Incorporated; Pacific Racing Association, a California Corporation; Pacific Racing Association II; Gulfstream Park Racing Association Inc.; Oregon Racing Inc.; Maryland Jockey Club of Baltimore City Inc.; and Laurel Racing Association Inc. v. Horse Racing Labs, LLC (also known as Immerse LLC) dba Derbywars, and Does 1 through 10, inclusive | Torts | judge | Jun. 30, 2017 |
| Miguel Fernandez v. County of Los Angeles, Victor Montes, Doe Reiley, Lee Baca and Does 1-10 | Civil Rights | judge | Apr. 19, 2008 |
| Confidential | Contracts | judge | Oct. 22, 2005 |
| J.P. Turnbull, et al. v. American Broadcasting Companies, et al. | Torts | judge | Dec. 28, 2004 |
| Confidential | Civil Rights | judge | Nov. 2, 2004 |
| Wickersham v. Manson Construction Co. | Maritime Law | judge | Aug. 10, 2004 |
| Ruben Gonzalez v. United States Postal Office | Personal Injury | judge | Jul. 29, 2003 |
| Confidential | Employment Law | judge | Mar. 11, 2003 |
| Caryn Conley v. County of Los Angeles, et al. | Civil Rights | judge | Sep. 24, 2002 |
| Tabibzadeh v. Blank | Personal Injury (Non-Vehicular) | judge | Sep. 4, 2002 |
| Howard Edelman, Brigitte Edelman v. Donald Minckler | Personal Injury (Non-Vehicular) | judge | Oct. 18, 2001 |
| Eliza Zerehi v. Rheumatology Diagnostic Laboratories Inc., Barbara Morris | Employment Law | judge | Nov. 2, 2000 |
| Confidential | Torts | judge | Jun. 15, 2000 |
| Confidential | Employment Law | judge | Sep. 17, 1998 |
| Confidential | Personal Injury (Vehicular) | judge | Aug. 29, 1998 |
| Confidential | Personal Injury | judge | Apr. 2, 1998 |
| Confidential | Personal Injury | judge | Mar. 5, 1998 |
| Confidential | Attorneys | judge | Feb. 28, 1998 |
| Confidential | Personal Injury (Non-Vehicular) | judge | Dec. 13, 1997 |
| Confidential | Personal Injury (Non-Vehicular) | judge | Nov. 15, 1997 |
| Confidential | Landlord/Tenant | judge | Sep. 6, 1997 |
| Confidential | Personal Injury (Non-Vehicular) | judge | Jan. 18, 1997 |
| Cynthia Collard v. City of Burbank | Personal Injury (Non-Vehicular) | judge | Oct. 5, 1996 |
| Confidential | Personal Injury (Vehicular) | judge | Sep. 7, 1996 |
| Confidential | Personal Injury (Vehicular) | judge | Aug. 31, 1996 |
| Confidential | Personal Injury (Non-Vehicular) | judge | Aug. 24, 1996 |
| Madden v. Ralphs | Personal Injury (Non-Vehicular) | judge | Aug. 24, 1996 |
| Confidential | Personal Injury (Vehicular) | judge | Jun. 8, 1996 |
| Roberto Ramirez v. Paul Grynick | Personal Injury (Non-Vehicular) | judge | May 4, 1996 |
| Confidential | Personal Injury (Non-Vehicular) | judge | Apr. 20, 1996 |
| Hugo Mosquera, et al. v. Stuart Anderson Black Angus, et al. | Personal Injury (Non-Vehicular) | judge | Apr. 13, 1996 |
| Confidential | Personal Injury (Non-Vehicular) | judge | Mar. 30, 1996 |
| Sarah Hunley v. John Quinn, et al. | Personal Injury (Vehicular) | judge | Nov. 25, 1995 |
| Daterig Kechichian v. Mardiros Mihranian, M.D., et al. | Personal Injury (Non-Vehicular) | judge | Oct. 28, 1995 |
| Josephina Israel v. Memmet Kasim, M.D., et al. | Personal Injury (Non-Vehicular) | judge | Oct. 28, 1995 |
| Confidential | Personal Injury (Vehicular) | judge | Oct. 21, 1995 |
| Aram, Karine and Hovsep Agvinyan v. Lori and John Seip, et al. | Personal Injury (Vehicular) | judge | Oct. 14, 1995 |
| Confidential | Personal Injury (Non-Vehicular) | judge | Sep. 16, 1995 |
| James Encao v. Builders Emporium, et al. | Personal Injury (Non-Vehicular) | judge | Sep. 9, 1995 |
| Confidential | Personal Injury (Vehicular) | judge | Jul. 22, 1995 |
| Confidential | Personal Injury (Vehicular) | judge | Jul. 1, 1995 |
| Confidential | Personal Injury (Non-Vehicular) | judge | Jun. 17, 1995 |
| Confidential | Personal Injury (Non-Vehicular) | judge | Jun. 17, 1995 |
| Confidential | Personal Injury (Non-Vehicular) | judge | Jun. 10, 1995 |
| Lois Tredway v. Verdugo Radiology, et al. | Personal Injury (Non-Vehicular) | judge | Jun. 10, 1995 |
| Confidential | Construction | judge | Jun. 10, 1995 |
| Elodie McKee v. City of Burbank, et al. | Civil Rights | judge | Apr. 8, 1995 |
| Confidential | Personal Injury (Vehicular) | judge | Apr. 1, 1995 |
| Arshavir Haritonins and Onik Waskanian v. The May Department Store, et al. | Personal Injury (Non-Vehicular) | judge | Mar. 18, 1995 |
| Confidential | Personal Injury (Non-Vehicular) | judge | Mar. 18, 1995 |
| Confidential | Personal Injury (Non-Vehicular) | judge | Mar. 2, 1995 |
| Confidential | Personal Injury (Non-Vehicular) | judge | Jan. 14, 1995 |
| Confidential | Personal Injury (Vehicular) | judge | Jan. 14, 1995 |
| Susan and Jason Poplar v. Erin L. Ward | Personal Injury (Vehicular) | judge | Dec. 31, 1994 |
| Confidential | Personal Injury (Vehicular) | judge | Dec. 24, 1993 |
| Confidential | Employment Law | judge | Dec. 18, 1993 |
| Confidential | Personal Injury (Non-Vehicular) | judge | Dec. 11, 1993 |
| Confidential | Personal Injury (Vehicular) | judge | Dec. 4, 1993 |
| Confidential | Personal Injury (Non-Vehicular) | judge | Nov. 20, 1993 |
| Confidential | Personal Injury (Non-Vehicular) | judge | Oct. 16, 1993 |
| Confidential | Personal Injury (Non-Vehicular) | judge | Oct. 9, 1993 |
| Confidential | Personal Injury (Vehicular) | judge | Oct. 2, 1993 |
| Confidential | Personal Injury (Non-Vehicular) | judge | Sep. 18, 1993 |
| Donald Coisman v. Jill Ingallis and Brothers Tresback Construction, Incorporated | Personal Injury (Vehicular) | judge | Sep. 18, 1993 |
| Elfahil v. K Mart Corporation, et al. | Personal Injury (Non-Vehicular) | judge | Sep. 11, 1993 |