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Civil Procedure

Sep. 16, 2026

Judge reconsiders reinstatement of plaintiffs over death certificate evidence

A Los Angeles judge reconsidered an initial decision to reinstate eight plaintiffs in coordinated litigation over the 2021 Dominguez Channel odor crisis, questioning whether certified death certificates submitted by the plaintiffs adequately supported their requests for relief.

Judge reconsiders reinstatement of plaintiffs over death certificate evidence
Superior Court Judge Lawrence P. Riff

Whether certified death certificates filed in court need additional authentication emerged as a key question Tuesday as dozens of plaintiffs sought to revive claims dismissed from coordinated cases arising from the 2021 Dominguez Channel odor crisis.

At a hearing, Superior Court Judge Lawrence P. Riff initially sided with the plaintiffs on the issue, saying he would reinstate eight of them based on certified death certificates submitted with their filings.

However, Riff r...

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