Judge: Schwarzenegger Lawsuits Should Be Combined
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) -- A judge has issued a tentative ruling to combine two lawsuits seeking to reinstate the full manslaughter sentence for the son of former state Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez.
The suits say former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger violated state law when he failed to notify the victim's parents that he was reducing Esteban Nunez's sentence from 16 years to seven, hours before he left office.
San Diego County District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis wants to keep her lawsuit separate from a lawsuit by the family of Luis Santos, who was attacked by Esteban Nunez and three friends in San Diego.
Sacramento County Superior Court Judge Shelleyanne Chang issued her tentative ruling Wednesday, before a hearing on the consolidation Thursday. She says the cases are based on similar arguments and should be considered together.
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