Earlier this month, Governor Jerry Brown signed legislation aimed at helping courts dispose of motions for summary judgment and summary adjudication more quickly.  Under Senate Bill 470, sponsored by the Judicial Council and California Judges Association, courts deciding summary judgment and adjudication motions need only consider evidentiary objections they deem material to the motion.  Objections not ruled on by the judge will be preserved for appellate review.

The goal of the bill is to “reduce and better direct the time and effort of trial courts” in ruling on these motions.  The impact of the legislation on practitioners remains uncertain, but in light of this new rule, attorneys would be well advised to consider streamlining their objections on summary judgment in order to minimize the risk that important ones are not overlooked.