(a) Except as provided in subdivision (b), in an appeal filed pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 1294 involving a claim under the Elder and Dependent Adult Civil Protection Act (Chapter 11 (commencing with Section 15600) of Part 3 of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code) in which a party has been granted a preference pursuant to Section 36 of this code, the court of appeal shall issue its decision no later than 100 days after the notice of appeal is filed.
§ 1294.4.Expedited Appeal Process For a Person Filing a Claim Arising Under the Elder and Dependent Adult Civil Protection Act
Title 9. Arbitration · Chapter 5. General Provisions Relating to Judicial Proceedings · Article 3. Appeals · Enacted 2016 · no amendments on record · Last verified July 29, 2026
In one sentenceSection 1294.4 requires the Court of Appeal to decide, within 100 days of the notice of appeal absent good cause for an extension, an appeal under Section 1294 involving an Elder and Dependent Adult Civil Protection Act claim for which the trial court granted a trial preference.
Full Text of § 1294.4
(b) The court of appeal may grant an extension of time in the appeal only if good cause is shown and the extension will promote the interests of justice.
(c) The Judicial Council shall, on or before July 1, 2017, adopt rules of court to do both of the following:
(1) Implement subdivisions (a) and (b).
(2) Establish a shortened notice of appeal period for the cases described in subdivision (a).
Plain-English Summary
Elder-abuse cases can involve claimants who may not survive the ordinary pace of litigation, which is why the trial preference statute already lets certain elder-abuse claimants jump the docket. This section extends that urgency to the appellate stage when an arbitration-related order or judgment in such a case gets appealed under Section 1294.
If the appeal involves a claim under the Elder and Dependent Adult Civil Protection Act and the trial court granted a preference under the general trial-preference statute, the Court of Appeal must issue its decision no later than 100 days after the notice of appeal is filed. The court can extend that deadline, but only on a showing of good cause and only if the extension will serve the interests of justice -- it isn't available just because the appeal is complex or the calendar is full.
The section also directed the Judicial Council to adopt court rules, by July 1, 2017, to implement this expedited timeline and to set a shortened period for filing the notice of appeal itself in these cases, so the accelerated schedule starts as soon as the trial court ruling is appealed, not only once briefing is complete.
Frequently Asked Questions
How fast must the Court of Appeal decide this kind of arbitration appeal?
No later than 100 days after the notice of appeal is filed, when the appeal involves an Elder and Dependent Adult Civil Protection Act claim with a granted trial preference.
Can the Court of Appeal take longer than 100 days?
Only if good cause is shown and the extension will promote the interests of justice; it isn't a routine option.
What did the Judicial Council have to do under this section?
Adopt court rules, by July 1, 2017, implementing the expedited decision timeline and establishing a shortened notice-of-appeal period for these cases.
Does this expedited timeline apply to every arbitration appeal?
No. It applies only to appeals under Section 1294 involving an Elder and Dependent Adult Civil Protection Act claim where the trial court granted a trial preference.
Amendment History
Added by Stats 2016 ch 628 (SB 1065),s 2, eff. 1/1/2017.
Source & verification. Section text is reproduced verbatim from
the Deering's California Codes Annotated / vLex. Enacted by the California Legislature.
Last verified July 29, 2026.
· Official source
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