As I reviewed the San Francisco Probate Calendar for today and tomorrow, I noticed that there were very few hearings scheduled. As I took a closer look, I noticed that there were many cases that were "granted without hearing." The calendar for these two days is very different from the usual day to day probate calendar.
As I reviewed each online file, the reason for this difference became clear. Judge Wiss must be on vacation, and Commissioner Kaplan is on the bench!
When Judge Wiss is on the bench, Siracusa and Company have lots of appearance required hearings on any given day during the probate court week of Monday through Wednesday. In fact, just Mr. Siracusa's law firm, Witherspoon & Siracusa, normally has 5, 6, 7 and sometimes even more cases on any day. Add in Mr. Siracusa's friends and that group represents over 40% of any one day's business.
It is odd that Mr. Siracusa has no appearances in court scheduled for today and tomorrow and that almost all of his many cases during this two day period were "granted without hearing."
Don't know if I mentioned this in an earlier blog, but Commissioner Kaplan is also the "go to person" whenever Mr. Siracusa and Company wants to sneak in an exparte motion!
HMMMMMM!?
