Appeals and Writs
When a civil litigation case produces an unsatisfactory result or you need to defend your judgment, we at Makovoz Law group have 25+ years of experience representing clients in the appellate courts.
Our firm has handled appeals related to employment litigation, business disputes, real estate litigation, and many other practice areas. We have successfully defended appeals as a Respondent, and we are one of the few firms that has successfully had a reversal on appeal allowing our client a brand new trial before a brand new judge! We are also one of the few to have had a published appellate decision that created California law, in Khoiny v. Dignity Health (2022) 76 Cal.App.5th 390, which decision has been cited in two dozen treatises and even in jury instructions. We are proud to have been a part in setting key laws in California.
Winning an appeal or a writ (a faster form of appeal) is very difficult. The likelihood of success is in the teens percentage wise for most appeals, and even less for writs, and yet our track record at Makovoz Law far exceeds the norm because our cases have not only been successful but produced published law cited in 22+ treatises and journals. See Khoiny v. Dignity Health (2022) 76 Cal.App.5th 390
Having a judge rule against you in the trial court may create a sense of hopelessness and finality, but appeals can make a profound difference if prosecuted properly. Indeed, there are many published (and unpublished) decisions on the books reflecting the appellate court undoing trial court rulings or judgments. If you win on an appeal in many cases you will have the opportunity to have a new judge decide or run your case after filing a challenge, and/or have a trial before a new jury.
Having the right strategy is key, including in post-trial motions such as for a new trial or for judgment notwithstanding the verdict, so the appeals process begins far sooner than you might think. Having experienced counsel helping you prepare for and then navigate the appellate process is key. Don't give up before you know the last word on your case. Surviving litigation sometimes means putting one foot in front of the other, even when everything seems against you. We can help...