In case you missed it, trial judge NOV's fraud verdict against Simon

The trial court judge has overturned the jury verdict against Gubernatorial candidate Bill Simon's company.

Republican Bill Simon's beleaguered campaign for governor of California received a jolt of good news yesterday when a judge overturned a $78 million fraud verdict that a jury had levied this year against his family's investment firm.
Judge James C. Chalfant dismissed all of the damages against Simon's firm and ruled that it had been the victim, not a perpetrator, of business fraud. Simon, who is running for public office for the first time, had called the earlier jury verdict "silly and outrageous."

This is not an appellate decision. On motion within approximately 60 days, the trial court judge can set aside a jury verdict on the basis that jury's finding is not supported by any "substantial" evidence. This is actually an extremely high standard, and judge's are traditionally very reluctant to set aside a jury's verdict. The plaintiff will certainly appeal this ruling.