California Supreme Court Watch

#25-350 Montrose Chemical Corp. of California v. Superior Court, S293914. (B335073; 114 Cal.App.5th 889; Los Angeles County Superior Court; BC005158.) Petition for review after the Court of Appeal denied a petition for writ of mandate. The court limited review to the following issues: (1) May a court conclude that contract language is not reasonably susceptible of a construction advanced by a party without first giving preliminary consideration to the extrinsic evidence proffered by the party? (2) Under what circumstances, if any, does prior judicial construction of contract language render that language not reasonably susceptible to a construction advanced by a party and preclude preliminary consideration of extrinsic evidence proffered by that party to support that construction?

Petition for review granted; issues limited: 12/30/2025

Opening brief on the merits filed: 1/29/2026

See the Court of Appeal Opinion.

In the news: Extrinsic Evidence Properly Barred in Ex-DDT-Maker’s Suit, Metropolitan News-Enterprise (Oct. 1, 2025).