Byrom Zuniga Sanchez appeared in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California on Tuesday, and he is being held at Metropolitan Correction Center San Diego, according to federal records.

(Subscription required) Explaining how she handles the conflicting testimony in such cases, Lyons said it's the quality of the evidence litigants present, not just their words, that makes a difference. "Sometimes, one party may not be the most credible, but when I hear from a witness, sometimes things clear up. Unfortunately, sometimes, it works out where I have to just say, 'You know, it's dismissed because you haven't met the burden.'"

(Subscription required) Problems with personally serving Church of Scientology leader David Miscavige have stalled two Los Angeles County Superior Court lawsuits against him in recent weeks. As a result, plaintiffs' attorneys have accused him of purposefully evading service, with a party requesting permission to serve him by publication.

A state appeals court has ruled that San Diego County can’t invoke the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) to delay a development project that is compatible with zoning in the county’s general plan.