Schmidt, Sethi & Akmajian Blog

Courts: Judicial Recusal

Posted by Ted A. Schmidt | Aug 21, 2025 | 0 Comments

Contreras v. Bourke, No. CV 24-0217-PR (August 21, 2025) (J. Cruz) https://www.azcourts.gov/Portals/0/OpinionFiles/Supreme/2025/CV240217PR.pdf ONCE JUDGE RECUSES JUDGE MAY NOT MAKE DECISION ON CASE EVEN IF REASON FOR INITIAL RECUSAL IS ABSENT, WITHOUT GIVING PARTIES NOTICE AND AN OPPORTUNITY TO ...

Continue Reading

Insurance: Auto Liability Coverage for Non-Owned Vehicle “ Operated in “Connection with Your Business”/Validity of Morris Agreement with Contingency

Posted by Ted A. Schmidt | Aug 07, 2025 | 0 Comments

Cravens v. Montano, No. CV-24-0143-PR (April 29, 2025) (VCJ Lopez) https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=2227252367529046442&hl=en&as_sdt=6&as_vis=1&oi=scholarr LIABILITY COVERAGE FOR A BUSINESS BASED UPON THE NEGLIGENT OPERATION OF A NONOWNED AUTO DEPENDS UPON THE NONOWNED AUTO BE OPERAT...

Continue Reading

Judgment Based Upon Fraud on Court

Posted by Ted A. Schmidt | Aug 04, 2025 | 0 Comments

Garcia v. Ison, No. 1 CA-CV 24-0352 FC (Ct. App. Div. I, July 22, 2025) (J. Cattani) ) https://coa1.azcourts.gov/Portals/0/OpinionFiles/Div1/2025/1%20CA-CV%2024-0352%20FC.pdf PARTY PARTICIPATING IN FRAUD ON COURT TO OBTAIN JUDGMENT CANNOT OBTAIN RELIEF FROM JUDGMENT BASED UPON TRUTH EVEN WHERE A...

Continue Reading

THE ORGAN DONATION SCANDAL

Posted by Peter Akmajian | Aug 01, 2025 | 0 Comments

The US organ donation system has recently come under fire after reports from Kentucky and elsewhere that patients who still showed signs of recovery were being rushed towards ending their lives for organ donation. See https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/06/us/kentucky-organ-donations.html The invest...

Continue Reading

Torts/Governmental Liability—County Sheriff and Not County Vicariously Liable for Negligence of Deputy Conducting Enforcement Duties/Notice of Claim

Posted by Ted A. Schmidt | Jul 23, 2025 | 0 Comments

Sanchez v. Maricopa County, No. CV-24-0013-PR (July 21, 2025) (J. Montgomery) https://opinions.azcourts.gov/Portals/0/OpinionFiles/Supreme/2025/CV240013PR.pdf COUNTY HAS NO CONTROL OVER DEPUTY SHERIFF AND IS NOT VICARIOUSLY LIABLE FOR DEPUTY CONDUCTING LAW ENFORCEMENT WHO REARENDS PLAINTIFF/COUN...

Continue Reading

Wills: Signature Requirement for Holographic Wills

Posted by Ted A. Schmidt | Jul 18, 2025 | 0 Comments

In Re Estate of Bixby, No. 2 CA-CV 2024-0366 (App. Div. II, July 11, 2025) (J. O'Neil) https://www.appeals2.az.gov/decisions/CV20240366Opinion.pdf “XO” AT THE END OF AN ALLEGED TESTAMENTARY NOTE DOES NOT MEET THE HOLIGRAPHIC WILL SIGNATURE REQUIREMENT Decedent left behind two sticky notes befor...

Continue Reading

Insurance: Underinsured Motorist Coverage Statute A.R.S. § 20-259.01(B) & Financial Responsibility Act A.R.S. § 28-4135(A) Read Together Do Not Require UIM Coverage for Off-Road ATV Accident

Posted by Ted A. Schmidt | Jun 02, 2025 | 0 Comments

State Farm Auto. Ins. Co. v. Orlando, No. CV-23-0228-PR (May 29, 2025) (J. Montgomery) https://opinions.azcourts.gov/Portals/0/OpinionFiles/Supreme/2025/CV230228PR.pdf A.R.S. § 20-259.01(B) DOES NOT REQUIRE UIM COVERAGE APPLY TO OFF-ROAD ACCIDENT INVOLVING ATV  Defendant suffered a serious leg...

Continue Reading

Evidence: Clergy—Penitent Privilege

Posted by Ted A. Schmidt | May 13, 2025 | 0 Comments

Rodriguez-Ramirez v. State, No. 1 CA-SA 230182 (App. Div. I, April 29, 2025) (J. Gass) https://www.azcourts.gov/Portals/0/OpinionFiles/Div1/2025/Rodriguez-Ramirez%20Final.pdf A.R.S. § 13-4062.3  PRECLUDES ADMISSION OF A CONFESSION MADE BY A PRIEST TO A CO-PRIEST ACTING IN A PROFESSIONAL CAPACITY...

Continue Reading

Understanding Arizona's Comparative Fault Rule

Posted by Dev Sethi | Jan 22, 2025 | 0 Comments

When you're injured in an accident in Arizona, determining who is at fault is a critical part of securing fair compensation. Arizona follows a "comparative fault rule," which can significantly impact the outcome of your personal injury claim. Understanding how this rule works is essential to prot...

Continue Reading

CHALLENGES OF THE ER MALPRACTICE CASE

Posted by Peter Akmajian | Jan 15, 2025 | 0 Comments

Many of the potential cases we consider relate to care in the Emergency Room.  These are challenging cases in part because the Arizona legislature imposed a requirement that such cases be proven by “clear and convincing” evidence, and at least one Arizona court has added to the difficulties surro...

Continue Reading

Fundamental & Prejudicial Error in Jury Deliberations

Posted by Ted A. Schmidt | Dec 12, 2024 | 0 Comments

State v. Mekeel, No. 1 CA-CR 23-0102 (App. Div. I, December 5, 2024) (J. Brown) https://www.azcourts.gov/Portals/0/OpinionFiles/Div1/2024/Mekeel%20-%201%20CA-CR%2023-0102%20-%20Opinion.pdf PROVIDING JURY WITH EXHIBIT NOT ADMITTED INTO EVIDENCE CONSTITUTED FUNDAMENTAL ERROR BUT WHERE JURY GAVE LI...

Continue Reading

THE CRISIS IN PEDIATRIC EMERGENCY CARE

Posted by Peter Akmajian | Nov 12, 2024 | 0 Comments

A recent study by the American Medical Association exposes a disturbing public health crisis—more than 80% of emergency departments (ERs) in the U.S. are not fully prepared for pediatric cases.   This is despite the fact that pediatric ER visits make up about 20% of total ER visits each year.   T...

Continue Reading

  • 2 of 37

Our team works together - for you!

Our award-winning lawyers are backed by a talented, caring team of legal professionals, paralegals, bilingual assistants, notaries, and others - all dedicated to you, your case, and the compensation you deserve.

No fees and no costs until we win.

As such we always have your case and your best interest in mind. When you win, we win too by providing the best legal care possible.

Thorough investigation and preparation.

We tirelessly and thoughtfully prepare every case we represent as though it was going to trial. This lets insurance companies know that we are a force to be reckoned with. As such, we settle successfully 98% of the time.