Legal Industry News in Brief Issue #2
By
Gemini Legal
News in Brief: New Gemini Legal e-Filing Platform Enhancements
California’s rapid expansion of e-filing—and the increasing need for streamlined, statewide coverage—has brought a wave of new enhancements to the Gemini Legal e-filing platform, expanding court access and elevating performance across the state.
Newly added counties—including San Bernardino, Ventura, Mono, Lake, Inyo, and more—are now available through the platform, giving firms broader coverage in one unified system. The company has also upgraded their technology to align with courts moving from Odyssey eFileCA to Journal Technologies, enabling quicker activation of new case types as courts modernize.
Behind the scenes, expanded development resources have accelerated improvements and enhanced platform speed and reliability.
Building on this momentum, the Gemini Legal platform is now integrated with TrueFiling, enabling seamless e-filing in the California Appellate courts. We anticipate the Judicial Council’s approval to go live any day now. Once final approval is issued, clients will be able to manage both trial and appellate filings seamlessly through Gemini Legal.
These improvements deliver greater speed, stability and coverage so filings move smoothly across an increasingly digital court landscape.
News in Brief: Industry and California County Courts
Governor Newsom Proposes Tightening Criteria for SIBTF Claims
California Governor Gavin Newsom is proposing reforms to the Subsequent Injuries Benefits Trust Fund (SIBTF) that would make it harder for injured workers to qualify for benefits. The governor’s proposal is included in a budget trailer bill posted to the Department of Finance website in early February.
60-Day Deadline for WCAB Reconsideration
The 6th District Court of Appeal annulled a WCAB decision that granted a petition for reconsideration after the statutory 60-day deadline had passed. The Court ruled that the Board acts in excess of its jurisdiction if it grants a petition for "further study" after the deadline without a valid factual basis for "equitable tolling" (such as a verified administrative error that prevented the Board from acting in time, combined with diligence by the petitioner). In this case (Chan), the Board's delay was not excused, and the original petition was deemed denied by operation of law.
DIR DWC IBR
The Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) and its Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC) recently posted a progress report on the department’s Independent Bill Review (IBR) program. IBR is a process used to resolve billing disputes for medical treatment and medical-legal services provided to injured workers.
New QME Process Regulation
The Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC) reminds all applicants for reappointment as a Qualified Medical Evaluator (QME) to fully satisfy the continuing education requirements of Labor Code section 55.1. by April 1, 2026. The regulation enacted new educational requirements for Qualified Medical Evaluators seeking reappointment after April 1, 2026.
AB 747: The SPARE Act and New Standards for California Process Servers
California’s legal landscape is set for a significant shift with the passage of AB 747, also known as the Service of Process Accountability, Reform and Equity (SPARE) Act. Beginning January 1, 2027, this legislation introduces rigorous new requirements aimed at increasing transparency and accountability in the service of process. Most notably, the Act defines "reasonable diligence" as requiring at least three separate attempts at personal delivery on different days and times before substituted service can be utilized. Furthermore, process servers will be required to provide enhanced proof of service that includes GPS coordinates, time stamps, and photographs of the service location, ensuring a “digital paper trail" for every assignment.
Impact on Litigation and Compliance
These changes are designed to protect the integrity of the judicial process by reducing bad serves and providing clearer standards for challenging improper service. For legal professionals and property owners, the Act also adjusts the requirements for Unlawful Detainer complaints, necessitating specific details on the date, time, and location of the service of termination notices.
At Gemini Legal, we are already preparing our systems and field protocols to comply with these high-tech requirements. Our service of process protocol will meet these new evidentiary standards, minimizing the risk of vacated judgments and ensuring that every serve is audit-ready and legally sound.
Los Angeles County
Superior Court of Los Angeles County Re-Opens Superior Court Departments at the Spring Street Courthouse Effective Friday, February 6
The Superior Court of Los Angeles County has resumed all Superior Court operations at the Spring Street Courthouse, effective Friday, February 6. Working closely with the U.S. General Services Administration and the Judicial Council of California, the Court has been advised that the Spring Street Courthouse is safe for occupancy.
Source: Los Angeles County Superior Court
Orange County
Superior Court Judge Pleads Guilty in Workers’ Comp Fraud Scheme
Orange County Superior Court Judge Israel Claustro has agreed to plead guilty to federal charges stemming from a scheme involving the Subsequent Injuries Benefits Trust Fund (SIBTF), where Claustro — prior to his judgeship — allegedly funneled medical reports from a suspended doctor to secure payouts. This case is expected to trigger heightened scrutiny on medical reporting and SIBTF claims throughout the county.
Source: Orange County Superior Court
Riverside County
Disability Rates Hike
As of January 1, 2026, the maximum Temporary Total Disability (TTD) rate for injured workers has increased to $1,764.11 per week (up from approx. $1,680), a crucial update for calculating indemnity for Riverside's workforce.
Source: Riverside County Superior Court
Court Furloughs and Service Reductions
Citing state budget cuts, the Riverside Superior Court has implemented a service reduction plan for 2026. The court is now closing most departments one Friday per month (furlough days). Attorneys must adjust their filing and hearing calendars immediately to avoid deadlines falling on these closure dates.
Source: Riverside County Superior Court
San Diego County
Public Safety Officers Gain Settlement Protections (SB 487)
Effective January 1, 2026, SB 487 has reshaped the landscape for injured peace officers. The law significantly limits a public employer's ability to subrogate (claim reimbursement) from an officer's third-party personal injury settlement. This ensures that first responders keep a much larger portion of their civil recovery, distinct from their workers' compensation benefits.
Source: San Diego County Superior Court
Sacramento County
Better Paper Trail for PI Attorneys; Online Traffic Ticket Contesting Launches
Sacramento Superior Court has launched a fully digital adjudication tool for traffic infractions. For Personal Injury attorneys, this digital record creates a faster, more accessible paper trail for underlying traffic infractions in auto accident cases, allowing for speedier settlement negotiations.
Gemini Legal
For more than 20 years, Gemini Legal has been helping law firms win cases and improve the efficiency of their case management processes with innovative software, industry-leading services, and useful publications. We streamline time-intensive litigation tasks, particularly in the areas of workers’ compensation, personal injury, employment, and family law.
