It's always a little bit interesting when a defendant gets found liable for fraud (and imposes punitive damages). It's a little more interesting when that defendant is an attorney. It's even more interesting when that attorney -- here, Gail Peterson -- is a prosecutor with the L.A. City Attorney's Office. Hence the interest in this case.
Ultimately, Justice Mosk reverses the award of punitive damages (on a somewhat dubious ground, in my opinion) and remands for a new trial on the fraud claim due to an erroneous jury instruction. Still, it's fun reading. Plus, you get to read a bit about Ms. Peterson's contemporary -- quite widespread -- real estate holdings.
Not bad on a City Attorney's salary.
