Judge Nicholas F. Daum

Judge Nicholas F. Daum was appointed to the Los Angeles County Superior Court by Governor Gavin Newsom on March 14, 2022, following a career as a Partner and Associate at Kendall Brill & Kelly LLP beginning in 2009. His pre-bench background at a litigation-focused firm informs his approach to motion practice and procedural conduct. A Daily Journal profile from July 2024 identifies Daum as bringing a love of writing and history to his judicial work, signaling a scholarly orientation toward legal analysis and written advocacy. The most concrete data point available on Judge Daum's judicial conduct is his September 2025 ruling in the Kanye West legal fees matter, where he ordered West to pay $76,000 in legal fees after characterizing a motion to dismiss as 'frivolous.' This ruling demonstrates a direct willingness to impose sanctions and fee awards when he determines that a party has engaged in bad-faith litigation tactics. The use of the word 'frivolous' in his ruling reflects a judge who is not reluctant to make pointed characterizations of litigation conduct on the record. Judge Daum has also been associated with the Derek Dixon v. Tyler Perry et al. matter as it moved toward a case management conference in August 2025, indicating active management of complex civil litigation on his docket. Given the limited volume of analyzed rulings, attorneys should treat the Kanye West fee ruling as the primary behavioral data point currently available and calibrate their conduct accordingly.

The single most actionable data point for attorneys appearing before Judge Daum is his demonstrated willingness to label motions 'frivolous' and impose fee awards. Attorneys should rigorously evaluate the merits of any dispositive motion before filing, and should avoid bringing motions designed primarily to delay or harass. A motion that lacks a solid legal foundation risks not only denial but a fee award against the filing party. Daum's background at Kendall Brill & Kelly LLP, a firm known for complex civil litigation, means he has direct experience with sophisticated motion practice and written advocacy. His noted love of writing and history, as reported by the Daily Journal, suggests that well-crafted, analytically rigorous briefs are likely to receive serious engagement. Attorneys should invest in the quality of their written submissions, ensuring that arguments are clearly structured, historically grounded where relevant, and free of rhetorical padding. Given the limited ruling data currently available, attorneys should not draw broad inferences about Daum's tendencies across all motion types. The prudent approach is to treat each appearance as an opportunity to demonstrate good faith, procedural compliance, and substantive preparation, while remaining alert to his demonstrated intolerance for bad-faith tactics.

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  Audit Every Motion for Frivolousness Before Filing

  Before filing any dispositive or procedural motion, conduct a rigorous internal review of its legal merit. Judge Daum has demonstrated he will characterize and sanction motions he deems frivolous, and has imposed a $76,000 fee award in at least one documented instance.

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  Invest in Brief Quality and Analytical Depth

  Daum's documented love of writing and history, per the Daily Journal, means written submissions should be polished, well-structured, and analytically substantive. Avoid boilerplate and ensure arguments are developed with precision.

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  Prepare Fee Award Arguments if Opposing Counsel Filed Frivolously

  If you represent a party who has been subjected to a motion Daum could characterize as frivolous, prepare a fee motion with supporting documentation. His track record shows he is willing to grant such relief.

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  Prepare Thoroughly for Case Management Conferences

  Daum's involvement in the Dixon v. Tyler Perry CMC reflects active docket management. Attorneys should arrive at CMCs with a clear litigation plan, proposed deadlines, and knowledge of the case status.

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  Research His Pre-Bench Litigation Background

  Daum spent over a decade at Kendall Brill & Kelly LLP. Understanding the types of complex civil matters that firm handles provides context for his familiarity with sophisticated litigation tactics and written advocacy standards.

• ›Do not file motions for strategic or dilatory purposes — Daum has demonstrated he will characterize such conduct as frivolous and impose fee awards.
• ›Treat written submissions as a primary vehicle for persuasion; Daum's documented love of writing signals that the quality of briefs matters to him.
• ›Arrive at case management conferences fully prepared with a concrete litigation plan, as Daum actively manages complex civil matters toward resolution.
• ›Maintain good faith in all representations to the court; his ruling in the West matter reflects a judge who takes litigation conduct seriously and responds to it on the record.