Introduction
Hon. Russell L. Hom, Ret. joined Judicate West after spending 20 years on the Sacramento County Superior Court. Prior to his retirement, Judge Hom served as the Presiding Judge of the Court during the COVID-19 pandemic and oversaw the closing and reopening of the Court. This required the development and implementation of novel operations to ensure access to the civil justice system, including the widespread use of remote technology. During his tenure as a judge, Judge Hom presided over the civil trial assignment calendar, expedited civil trial program, civil and criminal jury and court trials, civil settlement conferences, approval of minor’s civil compromises, short cause civil trial calendar, law and motion, and complex civil matters. He has also managed coordinated civil cases falling under the Judicial Counsel Coordination Proceedings program.
During his career, Judge Hom has handled a wide range of cases including real property, premise liability, employment discrimination, workplace harassment, wrongful termination, personal injury, elder abuse, PAGA, wage and hour, contract disputes, and medical/dental malpractice. By appointment of the Chief Justice, Judge Hom has also served as a Special Master hearing disciplinary matters for the California Commission on Judicial Performance. He has been acknowledged for his ability and skill as a trial judge and a settlement judge and his tenacity in settling difficult cases.
An attorney who has been in his courtroom many times stated, “Judge Hom is an overall great judge. He is meticulous, smart, and always prepared.”
Judge Hom has also been actively involved in judicial and legal education. He has presented on a wide range of topics including judicial demeanor, evidence, civil/criminal procedure, and diversity issues. He has served on the faculty of the B.E. Witkin Judicial College, Supervising Judge’s Institute, Criminal Law Institute, Advance Judicial Institute, and Cow County Institute.
Prior to his appointment to the bench, Judge Hom served as the Chair of the Human Rights/Fair Housing Commission for the City and County of Sacramento and was in private practice specializing in both civil and criminal litigation.
Judge Hom’s philosophy as a neutral is “to approach each case as a problem solver with an eye towards facilitating dispute resolution by understanding the motivations of the litigants and their unique needs. It is essential that the process is respectful to the parties and their counsel.”
Practice Areas
- All types of Employment Disputes
- Business/Contractual
- Elder Abuse
- Medical Negligence
- Personal Injury including Premises Liability
- Real Estate
Experience Summary
Throughout an impressive career on the bench spanning over two decades, Judge Hom has been involved in a wide variety of cases.
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Hobbies & Interests
Judge Hom has been dedicated to promoting diversity and inclusivity in the legal profession and the judiciary throughout his legal career. He is committed to mentoring both law students and young legal professionals and developed the Sacramento Superior Court’s Judicial Extern Program and the Court’s New Judge Orientation Bootcamp. He enjoys teaching and has served as an instructor or panelist for numerous legal, education, and judicial entities. In his spare time, he enjoys travel and woodworking.
Testimonials
"Judge Hom is an extraordinary settlement conference judge; extraordinarily persuasive without being pushy; very effective; able to bring together polarized parties; highly recommended."
- Founding and Managing Partner of a Trial and Litigation Law Firm
"Judge Hom has one of the keenest legal minds I have ever encountered. His ability to recall facts and law is second to none. He knows how to quickly get to the heart of any legal issue without wasting time. More importantly, however, Judge Hom exhibited consistent fairness, ethics, and integrity during his time on the bench. He is one of the finest judges I have ever come across in my years practicing law."
- Northern California Super Lawyers’ Top-Rated Business and Corporate Attorney
"Judge Hom worked tirelessly with a very difficult opposing party in an effort to resolve the matter. Even though it did not resolve, he laid the groundwork and got the parties much closer than they were before the session. His approach was excellent. "
- Partner at a Firm Specializing in Real Estate Law
Links and Articles
Experience Summary
BREACH OF CONTRACT/BUSINESS
• Property/Loan Dispute involving the application of the Home Owner’s Bill of Rights (HBOR)
• Commercial landlord tenant disputes
• Breach of Contract involving business partnership dispute
• Breach of Contract case involving performance of services, violations of the Prompt Payment Act, UCL and interference with contract performance
• Property Dispute involving allegations of conversion
• Breach of Contract involving defective home
• Breach of Contract dispute involving performance of subcontractor under government contract
• Attorney Fee Dispute
EMPLOYMENT
• Wrongful Termination involving an alleged violation of the Peace Officer’s Bill of Rights (POBRA)
• Wrongful Termination involving government entity, failure to accommodate, and the application of the California Family Rights Act
• Wrongful Termination involving racial discrimination, retaliation, and failure to prevent.
• Wrongful Termination involving California Whistleblower Protection Act
• Misclassification of employment status involving whether franchise owners were employees or independent contractors
• Wage and hour case involving coordination of multiple jurisdictions and preemption.
• Wage and hour case involving pre-certification discovery.
INSURANCE
• Declaratory Relief action involving coverage under automobile insurance policy
• Insurance bad faith action involving allegations of failure to cooperate
• Worker’s Compensation Subrogation Claim
PERSONAL INJURY
• Premises Liability of a landlord for intentional acts of third parties
• Auto Accident involving joint tortfeasors and Mary Carter Agreement
• Common Carrier liability involving personal injury on public transportation
PRODUCTS LIABILITY
• Lemon law action involving both the applicability of the Song Beverly Consumer Warranty Act and the California Legal Remedies Act
• Lemon law action including allegations of fraudulent misrepresentation by manufacturer in the original marketing of the vehicle
PROFESSIONAL MALPRACTICE
• Dental Malpractice involving allegations of unfair competition and professional negligence
• Medical Malpractice involving professional negligence, client abandonment and notice/statute of limitation issues
