In a legal landscape often dominated by billboards and bottom lines, The Injury Firm APC has built its reputation on something far more powerful: compassion, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to people over profits.

Founded by Hiva Bana, The Injury Firm APC stands as a modern personal injury practice rooted in service-first advocacy. Alongside Amir K. Nevis, Senior Litigation Attorney, the firm represents injured Californians with a rare blend of legal precision and genuine human care.

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A Mission Born From Advocacy

For Hiva Bana, the law has always been about more than courtrooms and case numbers. It has been about giving a voice to the voiceless.

A top graduate of Western State College of Law and recipient of multiple Witkin Awards, Bana founded The Injury Firm APC with a clear purpose: to challenge the traditional law firm model and replace it with one centered on advocacy, empathy, and meaningful change.

Her vision was simple but bold — build a firm that fights relentlessly for injury victims while creating a supportive, team-driven culture behind the scenes. That same philosophy extends beyond the courtroom, reflected in her long-term goal of establishing an animal sanctuary to support vulnerable lives beyond human advocacy.

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Resilience at the Core

That mission is powerfully reinforced by Amir K. Nevis, whose personal journey mirrors the firm’s values. A former refugee from Iran and the first in his family to graduate college, Nevis brings resilience, empathy, and strategic insight to every case.

With a background in psychology from UC Riverside and a Witkin Award in Evidence from law school, Nevis began his legal career in insurance defense — gaining firsthand knowledge of how insurers operate. Today, he uses that insight to hold insurance companies accountable, secure substantial recoveries for plaintiffs, and pursue justice with precision and integrity.

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Standing Up to Powerful Insurance Companies

Building trust in California’s crowded personal injury market is no small challenge — especially when going head-to-head with insurance companies that possess vast resources and aggressive defense tactics.

The Injury Firm APC has earned its reputation by refusing to back down.

Through meticulous preparation, trial readiness, and persistence, the firm has taken on complex cases and delivered meaningful results — including one of California’s highest personal injury settlements at $3.7 million.

But for the team, success isn’t measured by numbers alone.

“When someone is hurt, it’s not just about compensation,” the firm emphasizes.
“It’s about helping them rebuild their life, regain stability, and feel heard.”

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What Sets The Injury Firm APC Apart

While many firms focus solely on outcomes, The Injury Firm APC focuses on the entire client experience.

Their approach includes:

• treating every client like family
• maintaining constant communication
• prioritizing emotional well-being alongside legal strategy
• fostering a collaborative, compassionate internal culture
• preparing every case as if it will go to trial

This people-first mindset has become the firm’s defining trait — and the reason clients and referral partners continue to place their trust in the team.

Serving Injury Victims Across California

Based in Southern California, The Injury Firm APC serves clients throughout the state, providing representation in matters involving:

• car accidents
• serious personal injuries
• insurance bad faith
• catastrophic injury claims

For those searching for an Orange County personal injury attorney, a California car accident lawyer, or a trusted car accident attorney, the firm offers not just legal expertise — but advocacy grounded in humanity.

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Looking Ahead

As The Injury Firm APC continues to grow, its mission remains unchanged: expand impact without sacrificing values.

The firm envisions a future where it is known not only for winning cases, but for reshaping how personal injury law is practiced — with integrity, compassion, and courage at the forefront.

For Hiva Bana and Amir K. Nevis, success means leaving a legacy of justice, service, and lives genuinely improved.

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Final Word

In an industry where many firms talk about care, The Injury Firm APC lives it.

By combining trial-ready litigation, deep empathy, and unwavering advocacy, the firm has become a trusted ally for injured Californians — and a powerful reminder that the best legal representation begins with listening.

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About The Injury Firm APC

The Injury Firm APC is a Southern California–based personal injury law firm dedicated to service-first advocacy and compassionate representation for injury victims across California.

Address:
8141 E Kaiser Blvd #311
Anaheim Hills, CA 92808, United States

Website:
https://injuryfirmlaw.com/

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/the_injury_firm/

Mater Dei All-County girls basketball player Kaeli Wynn will undergo surgery this week for a dislocated knee cap and will miss the season, her coach and mother Jody Wynn confirmed Tuesday.

Wynn, a 6-foot-1 senior forward who signed with South Carolina last month, suffered the injury late last season in January and re-injured her knee in training in April.

Her playing status for this season has been unclear in recent weeks.

Jody Wynn said Tuesday that surgery was “unfortunately” her daughter’s “only option to return to playing again.”

“(She’ll) sadly be out for her senior season,” the coach said.

Last season, Wynn averaged 17 points, 7.1 rebounds and 2.7 assists to help the Monarchs reach the Open Division in the CIF-SS and SoCal regional playoffs.

She was selected first-team All-County as a sophomore and junior.

Mater Dei (5-0), ranked No. 1 in Orange County, plays host to West of Utah on Friday at 2 p.m.

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As Santa Margarita celebrated its CIF-SS Division 1 football championship, one scene beamed with the joy and tight-knit support that have become the Eagles’ trademarks under coach first-year Carson Palmer.

After Palmer hoisted the title plaque and took a knee to pray The Our Father with this team, several players excitedly huddled around injured cornerback Jayden Crowder to take photos with the senior.

Crowder, who blossomed into a USC commit with the Eagles, flashed a bright smile as he soaked in the affection from his teammates at the Rose Bowl.

“Right now, we’re turnt,” Crowder said after the Eagles’ stunningly lopsided 42-7 victory against Centennial on Friday. “I’m still with my guys.”

“I love this team,” he added. “This team is great. It’s so close.”

Crowder also expressed “mixed emotions” because he missed the game with a foot fracture.

He suffered the injury returning the opening kickoff 55 yards against Orange Lutheran in the semifinals.

On Friday, Crowder wore a walking boot and road a scooter to support his foot.

He said he will “probably” miss Santa Margarita’s CIF State Open Division championship game against De La Salle (12-0) on Dec. 13 at Saddleback College at 8 p.m.

Crowder plans to focus on physical therapy and graduating early from Santa Margarita to enroll at USC.

He is expected to sign with the Trojans’ recruiting class, ranked No. 1 by rivals, on Wednesday.

“Staying home,” Crowder said of the Trojans, who also have commitments from Santa Margarita’s Trent Mosley and Simote Katoanga.

Signing Day will continue to mark Crowder’s rise since he transferred to Santa Margarita from Mater Dei following his sophomore season.

He entered the final with two interceptions, seven passes defensed and two blocked field goals.

He credits his improvement to working with Santa Margarita defensive back coach Aire Justin this season and Corey Overton in 2024.

“I definitely developed a lot (at Santa Margarita),” Crowder said.

THE PALMER EFFECT

Jim Hartigan, Santa Margarita’s vice president of athletics, offers a unique perspective on Palmer’s coaching rise.

Hartigan coached Palmer in high school at Santa Margarita, long before the quarterback’s Heisman Trophy and Pro Bowl selections in the NFL.

Hartigan said Palmer was the “right guy” to guide a strong team and coaching staff. Palmer also helped the offense improve and connected well with players, Hartigan added.

“They respect him because of who he is and what he’s done as a player but (also) as a person (with) his relationships with these kids, his leadership style on what the expectations are,” Hartigan said.

“He really has a great, calm demeanor on the sideline and even getting ready for the game,” Hartigan added. “There never seems to be a panic or a feeling that he hasn’t been in that position before. He has. He does a great job showing that to his kids.”

SHORT ROUTES 

First-year starting quarterback Colin Creason completed 16 of 21 passes for 195 yards and one TD to help rally Los Alamitos past San Clemente 33-20 in the Division 2 final. In July, Griffins coach Ray Fenton called the senior “the best-kept secret in Southern California.” …

On Friday, Los Alamitos (12-2) plays host to Cathedral Catholic (10-2) in the CIF SoCal Regional Division 1-AA Bowl at Veterans Stadium. …

La Habra linebacker Barrett Blied recorded 10 tackles in a 27-13 victory against San Jacinto in the Division 4 final. “The guy who really improved this year was Blied,” Highlanders coach Frank Mazzotta said of 6-foot-2, 205 pound junior. …

San Jacinto coach Aric Galliano said he was nervous facing Mazzotta, who claimed an Orange County-recording tying eighth section title. “He’s been a mentor,” Galliano said of Mazzotta. …

Mazzotta said two of his former players now in the NFL — Kyle Peko (Chargers) and Greg Gaines (Tampa Bay) — helped pay for La Habra’s rooter buses to Oaks Christian and San Jacinto in the playoffs. La Habra (11-3) plays at Bakersfield Christian (12-0) on Friday in Division 2-AA Bowl. …

Beckman cornerback Xavier Musselman-Cano nabbed his ninth interception in a 30-24 win in overtime against Brea Olinda in the Division 8 final. Patriots coach Marcello Giuliano attributes the interceptions to the sophomore’s practice and film study. “And a big part of it is God-given abilities to track the ball,” the coach said Musselman-Cano (5-9, 155). “Multiple of these INTs were when he was wearing a cast and they’re one-handed grabs.”

Beckman (11-3) plays host to Hillcrest (9-5) in the Division 4-A Bowl on Saturday at Tustin High. The Patriots’ 10-game winning streak is the longest active in the county. …

Woodbridge freshman QB Waylon Stone completed 10 of 14 passes for 153 yards and also rushed for 137 yards and two scores in a 24-23 win against Montebello in the Division 13 final. “He’s the reason why we’re (in the finals),” senior offensive lineman Ben Jenkins-Amara said of Stone before the game. “He’s a great leader on the field. By the time he’s a senior, I think he’s going to be someone really special.”

Woodbridge (6-8) plays host to San Fernando (11-3) at University High in the Division 7AA Bowl on Friday.

In the aftermath of the Rams’ delirious win over the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, a heavy dose of reality was delivered on Monday as the team awaits the MRI results on safety Quentin Lake’s elbow.

Speaking with reporters on Monday, head coach Sean McVay said the Rams have yet to make a determination on a timeline for Lake’s recovery as they wait for the imaging results. The plan is to consult with VP of sports medicine Reggie Scott and the team’s head physician and surgeon Dr. Neal ElAttrache at that time.

McVay mentioned injured reserve and surgery as possibilities for Lake, and did not rule out that this could be a season-ending injury.

“I think it might be a little bit of time for him,” McVay said grimly. “It looked like his elbow was caught in a weird spot. Get an MRI and see what that says, but I think because of how tough he is, it might be some time and not great for our captain and leader, and bummed out for him.”

Lake appeared to suffer the injury while absorbing a run block in the second quarter. He fell to the turf gripping at his left elbow before he even hit the ground.

The fourth-year safety has been a pivotal member of the Rams defense this season, alternating between playing deep and being the team’s primary nickel corner. Prior to his injury, he had been on the field for all but two of the Rams’ defensive snaps this season, serving as green-dot communicator when linebacker Nate Landman has left the field.

McVay said the Rams will work in aggregate to replace Lake. Sunday’s second half was a preview of what that could look like, with second-year safety Kamren Kinchens playing an expanded role, corner Cobie Durant switching between outside and nickel and second-year corner Josh Wallace playing some snaps at nickel as well. McVay credited defensive backs coaches Aubrey Pleasant and Chris Beake for figuring out the new rotation on the fly against the Seahawks.

“We’ll discuss that,” McVay said. “But I did think Josh Wallace deserves a ton of credit for stepping up, doing an excellent job. Kinchens ended up playing more snaps than he typically would have and did a phenomenal job. Even Cobie Durant slid inside at the end and did a great job at the nickel position. So there’s a lot of different things. … We’ll see what that looks like.”

Beyond the production on the field, replacing Lake’s leadership will be a bigger challenge. There’s the on-field communication, but also the behind-the-scenes work he has done the last two seasons as captain.

Lake and Kobie Turner sat down with McVay in 2024 after a dreadful defensive performance against the Eagles to ask the head coach to help provide more accountability on their side of the ball.

“You don’t replace a Quentin Lake. He’s so valuable for so many reasons with what he can do, with who he is as a human, with the way that he elevates and leads. He is a glue guy for us,” McVay said. “I think it would be insincere to think that you’re going to ask somebody to do the things that he’s capable of. It’s what makes him so special. But I do have a lot of confidence in the other guys.”

Injury report

Tight end Tyler Higbee suffered an ankle sprain on a third-and-15 screen pass to Puka Nacua in Sunday’s win. McVay said he is not sure of the severity of the injury for the veteran as of Monday morning.

“We’ll see how he’s feeling,” McVay said. “Sometimes those ankle injuries can either be better or they can end up being worse after the adrenaline wears off.”

Vista Murrieta junior linebacker Kainoa Ching is back home and recovering following surgery for a spinal cord injury he suffered during last week’s Big West Conference-North Division football opener against Chaparral.

Ching was injured when he collided with a teammate while making a tackle during the first quarter of the game. He was motionless as athletic trainers and emergency medical responders attended to him on the field. Ching was loaded into an ambulance and taken to a local hospital.

The Vista Murrieta football program’s social media accounts have provided updates on Ching over the past few days. He was listed in stable condition following the “successful surgery” Saturday. Ching was able to leave the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) on Tuesday and was released from the hospital Wednesday.

A GoFundMe has been organized to help the family with medical costs, including upcoming physical therapy. More than $36,000 in donations have been contributed as of Wednesday evening.

“Our program and The Ching Family are absolutely overwhelmed by the incredible outpouring of love and support for Kainoa,” a post Tuesday evening on the Vista Murrieta Football’s Instagram account (@vmhsfootball) read. “The family, the football team, and the booster community are in awe of the kindness and generosity that has been shown.

“Words cannot fully describe the gratitude we feel for every prayer lifted, every encouraging message sent, and every single donation — no matter the size. Each one will make a difference during this difficult time and has reminded us all of the strength of our community.”

Ching helped Murrieta Mesa’s football team capture the CIF Southern Section’s Division 6 championship last season. He was second on the team with 74 tackles and also had three sacks in the nine games he played.

Ching transferred to Vista Murrieta for his junior season. Because he did not change his address, Ching had to sit out the first five games of the season, in accordance with CIF Southern Section rules. Last week’s game against Chaparral was the first game Ching was eligible to play this season.

LOS ANGELES — The injury status of USC receiver Ja’Kobi Lane, who did not play in Saturday’s 45-31 victory over Michigan State, remains uncertain as of Tuesday afternoon.

Head coach Lincoln Riley did not give an update during a post-practice media availability, but did say that Lane’s status would be released on the Big Ten Conference availability report that is released prior to games.

Jaden Richardson started the game in Lane’s place and had two catches for 23 yards. The 21st-ranked Trojans (4-0 overall, 2-0 Big Ten) finished with 234 passing yards.

“J. Rich came in and played well,” Riley said. “He can play any of the receiver positions in our offense. Just does a lot of things well – things that still show up in the box score. The way he blocks, the way he communicates, he’s a really good route runner. Strong, tough kid.”

Quarterback Jayden Maiava has remained a humble, accurate passer throughout it all and hasn’t had a completion percentage lower than 60% in any game this season. He’s thrown for 1,223 yards in four games without an interception.

Part of that is due to the preparation of the entire offense – especially the offensive line and its ability to protect Maiava from pressure.

The quarterback has also worked on his footwork, which has led to increased confidence.

“His footwork has radically improved,” Riley said. “That’s been the biggest physical difference, which I think is a product of just him being more comfortable with what we’re doing and knowing exactly where his feet are supposed to be on every play.”

RILEY’S CONFIDENCE AT AN ALL-TIME HIGH

USC’s four-game win streak and three games with more than 500 yards of total offense has Riley feeling good, even in comparison to his first season with the program, in which the Trojans reached the Pac-12 championship game and the Cotton Bowl.

“Some of the player-led leadership and vibe around this team kind of gives me a little bit of those first-year feels a little bit,” Riley told reporters, “but this is a more talented, more capable football team right now by a pretty significant margin.”

His confidence is affecting players and is coming at a good time, since the Trojans will be taking on their first Top 25 opponent this Saturday in a road game at No. 23 Illinois (3-1, 0-1).

“It means a lot,” Maiava said. “Once you see that, it kind of fires everybody up. We all feed off of him. We bring that energy. We really have each other’s backs, and this team is real close. So that’s what I really enjoy. We just keep firing away, no matter what happens.”

LEMON EARNS NATIONAL RECOGNITION

Receiver Makai Lemon is this week’s Paul Hornung National Player Of the Week, an award that highlights the most versatile player in college football.

The Los Alamitos product recorded 225 all-purpose yards against Michigan State and scored both through the air and on the ground in addition to being the primary punt returner.

He hauled in eight passes for 127 yards and one touchdown while carrying the ball two times for 11 yards and a touchdown – the first rushing touchdown of his career.

Lemon’s 88.4 is the highest Pro Football Focus receiving grade in the Big Ten and fourth-highest in the Power Four.

LOS ANGELES — The injury status of USC receiver Ja’Kobi Lane, who did not play in Saturday’s 45-31 victory over Michigan State, remains uncertain as of Tuesday afternoon.

Head coach Lincoln Riley did not give an update during a post-practice media availability, but did say that Lane’s status would be released on the Big Ten Conference availability report that is released prior to games.

Jaden Richardson started the game in Lane’s place and had two catches for 23 yards. The 21st-ranked Trojans (4-0 overall, 2-0 Big Ten) finished with 234 passing yards.

“J. Rich came in and played well,” Riley said. “He can play any of the receiver positions in our offense. Just does a lot of things well – things that still show up in the box score. The way he blocks, the way he communicates, he’s a really good route runner. Strong, tough kid.”

Quarterback Jayden Maiava has remained a humble, accurate passer throughout it all and hasn’t had a completion percentage lower than 60% in any game this season. He’s thrown for 1,223 yards in four games without an interception.

Part of that is due to the preparation of the entire offense – especially the offensive line and its ability to protect Maiava from pressure.

The quarterback has also worked on his footwork, which has led to increased confidence.

“His footwork has radically improved,” Riley said. “That’s been the biggest physical difference, which I think is a product of just him being more comfortable with what we’re doing and knowing exactly where his feet are supposed to be on every play.”

RILEY’S CONFIDENCE AT AN ALL-TIME HIGH

USC’s four-game win streak and three games with more than 500 yards of total offense has Riley feeling good, even in comparison to his first season with the program, in which the Trojans reached the Pac-12 championship game and the Cotton Bowl.

“Some of the player-led leadership and vibe around this team kind of gives me a little bit of those first-year feels a little bit,” Riley told reporters, “but this is a more talented, more capable football team right now by a pretty significant margin.”

His confidence is affecting players and is coming at a good time, since the Trojans will be taking on their first Top 25 opponent this Saturday in a road game at No. 23 Illinois (3-1, 0-1).

“It means a lot,” Maiava said. “Once you see that, it kind of fires everybody up. We all feed off of him. We bring that energy. We really have each other’s backs, and this team is real close. So that’s what I really enjoy. We just keep firing away, no matter what happens.”

LEMON EARNS NATIONAL RECOGNITION

Receiver Makai Lemon is this week’s Paul Hornung National Player Of the Week, an award that highlights the most versatile player in college football.

The Los Alamitos product recorded 225 all-purpose yards against Michigan State and scored both through the air and on the ground in addition to being the primary punt returner.

He hauled in eight passes for 127 yards and one touchdown while carrying the ball two times for 11 yards and a touchdown – the first rushing touchdown of his career.

Lemon’s 88.4 is the highest Pro Football Focus receiving grade in the Big Ten and fourth-highest in the Power Four.

The Kings’ Corey Perry era has gotten off on the wrong foot, as Perry underwent knee surgery and will miss six to eight weeks, the team announced Saturday.

Perry sustained the injury Friday while skating at the Kings’ practice facility in El Segundo. John Hoven was the first to report the injury and indicated that Perry required a wheelchair when departing the Toyota Sports Performance Center.

The timeline provided by the team would push Perry’s Kings debut back to early to mid-November.

Earlier in the week, Perry threw the ceremonial first pitch at a Dodgers game, an early effort to ingratiate himself with a fanbase that loathed him across three decades.

At age 40, Perry had been a reviled foe of the Kings in various stops in his career, most notably with the Ducks from 2005-19. Perry won the Stanley Cup and the Hart Trophy as the NHL’s most valuable player as a Duck. More recently, he has participated in five of the past six Stanley Cup Final series, losing all five. That included consecutive runs with the Edmonton Oilers, the Kings’ preeminent rival of this era that has bounced them from the first round four times in a row.

Perry, who potted 19 goals last season and another 10 in the playoffs for Edmonton, was brought in on a bonus-laden deal to bolster a seldom-used fourth line while being able to play higher in the lineup, contribute on the power play and reach the most disputed areas of the ice.

Now, the Kings will begin the campaign without Perry. That should open the door for both second-year center Samuel Helenius and 2019 lottery pick turned renovation project Alex Turcotte to start the season in the lineup alongside Joel Armia, another Kings’ free-agent signing. It could also crack a window for prospect Liam Greentree, scrappy Andre Lee or newly acquired Logan Brown.

Perry, Armia and new backup goalie Anton Forsberg were part of a busy July 1 for new Kings general manager Ken Holland. Holland had guided the Oilers from 2019-24, signing Perry there, as well as defenseman Cody Ceci. Ceci and former Duck Brian Dumoulin were added to the Kings’ blue line after they soured on Jordan Spence and fumbled once-promising negotiations with Vladislav Gavrikov.

Holland’s group will take the ice for the first time in the season opener against the Colorado Avalanche at home on Oct. 7.

LOS ANGELES — If the Dodgers are going to recover first place in the National League West, they’re going to have to do it without Max Muncy for at least the next few weeks.

Muncy was scratched from Wednesday’s starting lineup against the Angels with pain in his right side. He underwent an MRI on Thursday and was diagnosed with a Grade 1 oblique strain.

Muncy missed three months with a rib injury last season but Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said this appears to be “a little bit more on the mild side.”

Muncy was placed on the injured list on Friday and the Dodgers added utility infielder Buddy Kennedy. Kennedy was designated for assignment by the Toronto Blue Jays earlier this week after playing two games for them. He also played four games for the Philadelphia Phillies this season.

“You kind of take it week to week and see when he can start baseball activities again to get him back,” Roberts said of Muncy. “I don’t think anyone expects it to be season-ending, but hopefully it’s sooner than later.”

Muncy played just eight games after returning from a knee injury before injuring himself while hitting in the batting cage on Wednesday. During his 25-game absence due to the bone bruise in his left knee, the Dodgers’ offense took a tumble. They averaged just 3.5 runs per game while batting .217 as a team and going 10-15.

“It’s certainly a tough loss,” Roberts said. “I think guys just have to continue to perform to their abilities. It’s hard to kind of backfill for Max, what he brings as far as the plate discipline, the slug, the on-base, all that stuff. I feel good about our lineup, the guys that we have. They just have to go out there and take good at-bats. That’s kind of all we can do right now.”

Roberts said Kennedy and Alex Freeland will get most of the playing time at third base in Muncy’s absence. Kennedy has hit .193 in 60 major-league games spread over parts of four seasons with the Arizona Diamondbacks, Detroit Tigers, Phillies and Blue Jays. The switch-hitting Freeland hit .176 in his first 12 games since being promoted from Triple-A while playing third and second.

RELIEVER ROUNDUP

Left-hander Tanner Scott faced hitters for the first time Friday since going on the IL with a forearm strain. He threw 22 pitches to Alex Call, Dalton Rushing and Justin Dean and said everything felt “good.”

“Everything felt good,” Scott said. “That’s probably the biggest thing. Everything has felt good coming out. My mechanics have felt good. I just want to keep rolling with it.”

Scott said he has been pain-free since shortly after receiving a cortisone injection following his July 21 appearance when he felt a “stinging” sensation in his forearm.

Right-hander Kirby Yates could be the first of the Dodgers’ three injured relievers to return. He is scheduled to throw to hitters for the second time this week on Saturday and could go on a minor-league rehabilitation assignment soon after that.

Right-hander Michael Kopech started his rehab assignment with Triple-A Oklahoma City on Thursday and struggled with his command. He gave up two hits, two stolen bases, walked two and threw a wild pitch and was charged with three runs in two-thirds of an inning. He threw 24 pitches, only 10 strikes.

Kopech is on the 60-day IL and not eligible to come back until August 27.

Right-hander Roki Sasaki started his rehab assignment in that same game with OKC. The Dodgers hoped he would pitch three innings but he gave up back-to-back singles to start the third and was pulled from the game after 41 pitches. Sasaki faced 13 batters and gave up six hits (all singles), walked one and didn’t strike out anyone. Most troubling, his fastball velocity was back down to 93-94 after hitting 97 mph during his simulated game at Dodger Stadium last weekend.

“Once he gets back here in town, we’ll figure out when he pitches again,” Roberts said.

As for the diminished velocity from a pitcher who had been known to hit 100 mph, Roberts expressed some concern.

“I wouldn’t say worried, but the expectation is that he gets into the upper 90s,” Roberts said. “But it was his first one, and I want to talk to him personally to kind of get a little bit more background on that. But yeah, it was a little surprising.”

MORE INJURIES

Roberts offered little optimism about the Dodgers’ three injured position players – Tommy Edman, Kiké Hernandez and Hyeseong Kim – being ready to return soon.

Edman (ankle) has just started baseball activities. Kim (shoulder) hit against velocity in the batting cage but still has some discomfort in his shoulder and he “still has to go out on (a rehab) assignment.” Hernandez (elbow) has increased his activity in workouts but is not ready to return.

UP NEXT

Padres (RHP Dylan Cease 5-10, 4.52 ERA) at Dodgers (LHP Blake Snell, 2-1, 2.37 ERA), Saturday, 6:10 p.m., SportsNet LA, 570 AM

Craig J. Charron, who broke into his estranged girlfriend’s Huntington Beach apartment and fatally stabbed her on the day she changed the locks to keep him out, was sentenced Friday to 26 years to life in prison.

Laura Sardinha, 25, had been pursuing an online psychology degree with the hope of counseling women in abusive relationships. She had been trying to escape her relationship with Charron, who had perforated her eardrum in an earlier attack, and she had taken out a restraining order against him.

On Friday, three months after a jury convicted Charron of first-degree murder for her September 2020 death, Orange County Superior Court Judge Michael Cassidy called it a “senseless and brutal” crime and gave him the maximum sentence allowed by law.

“All Laura wanted was to be free of the abuse and the torment,” the victim’s mother, Marie Sardinha, told the judge. “This man should not be out in society. He should never be let out.”

The victim’s brother, Shawn Sardinha, said he had struggled to find reasons to live after his sister’s death.

“I now give updates of my life to a blue vase,” he said.

At trial, Charron, 39, described himself as an Air Force veteran and former combat medic with a 100% disability rating. He was receiving psychiatric treatment at the VA.

At the sentencing, Charron wore the green camouflage scrubs afforded to inmates who served in the military, and his lawyer said Charron had been participating in veterans programs at the county jail.

The victim’s father said he was a Vietnam veteran himself and hated any suggestion that Charron might get any leniency as a vet.

“It just makes me sick,” Manuel Sardinha told the judge. He recalled how she would play “The Twelve Days of Christmas” on the piano at the family home during the holidays. He said injuries from a 2019 motorcycle accident had derailed her ambition of culinary school, but she was planning to use the financial settlement to open a therapy practice.

Charron had been dating Sardinha just a few months. She had given him nearly $100,000 of the $750,000 she won in the accident settlement.

Two weeks before he killed her, she texted him to say that she could not hear because he had broken her eardrum. She complained that he kept hitting her. He told police her injuries were the result of “rough sex” and pressured her into dropping charges.

On the morning of her death, she recorded herself begging him to get out of her apartment, saying, “You terrify me, because you don’t leave.”

When he finally left, he bombarded her with calls and texts, which she ignored. Early that afternoon, at her request, a maintenance worker changed her locks, to keep him out.

Nevertheless, Charron somehow slipped back inside around 1:15 p.m. — it is not clear how — while she was on a three-way call with her mom and her best friend. They heard her cry, “Oh my God, he’s here.”

The friend hung up to call 911. Sardinha called her back and left a chilling 37-second voicemail, screaming, “He’s gonna kill me!”

His voice was eerily absent from the voicemail, which the prosecutor suggested was a function of his calculated, unhurried mindset in killing her.

She was dead when police arrived, with stab wounds to the chest and head. He had nearly sliced off her nose. Police found Charron with knife wounds to his chest and neck, which authorities suggested he inflicted on himself to create the fiction that she had attacked him.

Deputy District. Atty. Janine Madera said it did not matter whether he faked the wounds or she inflicted them on him in self-defense, since he was the clear aggressor, muscular and towering over her by 9 inches.

Three of Charron’s ex-girlfriends, who took out restraining orders against him, testified that he had assaulted them. One said he had choked her, a second that he slapped her, a third that he pinned her to a wall.

Charron claimed that his confrontation with Sardinha was “hazy” in his memory but that he acted in self-defense. Defense attorney Michael Guisti said his client’s violent history consisted of “non-murderous violence,” and that he may have acted in the heat of passion when he killed Sardinha.

Charron made no statement at Friday’s sentencing, and gave no apology.

Craig J. Charron, who broke into his estranged girlfriend’s Huntington Beach apartment and fatally stabbed her on the day she changed the locks to keep him out, was sentenced Friday to 26 years to life in prison.

Laura Sardinha, 25, had been pursuing an online psychology degree with the hope of counseling women in abusive relationships. She had been trying to escape her relationship with Charron, who had perforated her eardrum in an earlier attack, and she had taken out a restraining order against him.

On Friday, three months after a jury convicted Charron of first-degree murder for her September 2020 death, Orange County Superior Court Judge Michael Cassidy called it a “senseless and brutal” crime and gave him the maximum sentence allowed by law.

“All Laura wanted was to be free of the abuse and the torment,” the victim’s mother, Marie Sardinha, told the judge. “This man should not be out in society. He should never be let out.”

The victim’s brother, Shawn Sardinha, said he had struggled to find reasons to live after his sister’s death.

“I now give updates of my life to a blue vase,” he said.

At trial, Charron, 39, described himself as an Air Force veteran and former combat medic with a 100% disability rating. He was receiving psychiatric treatment at the VA.

At the sentencing, Charron wore the green camouflage scrubs afforded to inmates who served in the military, and his lawyer said Charron had been participating in veterans programs at the county jail.

The victim’s father said he was a Vietnam veteran himself and hated any suggestion that Charron might get any leniency as a vet.

“It just makes me sick,” Manuel Sardinha told the judge. He recalled how she would play “The Twelve Days of Christmas” on the piano at the family home during the holidays. He said injuries from a 2019 motorcycle accident had derailed her ambition of culinary school, but she was planning to use the financial settlement to open a therapy practice.

Charron had been dating Sardinha just a few months. She had given him nearly $100,000 of the $750,000 she won in the accident settlement.

Two weeks before he killed her, she texted him to say that she could not hear because he had broken her eardrum. She complained that he kept hitting her. He told police her injuries were the result of “rough sex” and pressured her into dropping charges.

On the morning of her death, she recorded herself begging him to get out of her apartment, saying, “You terrify me, because you don’t leave.”

When he finally left, he bombarded her with calls and texts, which she ignored. Early that afternoon, at her request, a maintenance worker changed her locks, to keep him out.

Nevertheless, Charron somehow slipped back inside around 1:15 p.m. — it is not clear how — while she was on a three-way call with her mom and her best friend. They heard her cry, “Oh my God, he’s here.”

The friend hung up to call 911. Sardinha called her back and left a chilling 37-second voicemail, screaming, “He’s gonna kill me!”

His voice was eerily absent from the voicemail, which the prosecutor suggested was a function of his calculated, unhurried mindset in killing her.

She was dead when police arrived, with stab wounds to the chest and head. He had nearly sliced off her nose. Police found Charron with knife wounds to his chest and neck, which authorities suggested he inflicted on himself to create the fiction that she had attacked him.

Deputy District. Atty. Janine Madera said it did not matter whether he faked the wounds or she inflicted them on him in self-defense, since he was the clear aggressor, muscular and towering over her by 9 inches.

Three of Charron’s ex-girlfriends, who took out restraining orders against him, testified that he had assaulted them. One said he had choked her, a second that he slapped her, a third that he pinned her to a wall.

Charron claimed that his confrontation with Sardinha was “hazy” in his memory but that he acted in self-defense. Defense attorney Michael Guisti said his client’s violent history consisted of “non-murderous violence,” and that he may have acted in the heat of passion when he killed Sardinha.

Charron made no statement at Friday’s sentencing, and gave no apology.

SAN FRANCISCO — The right side of the Dodgers’ bullpen took another hit this week.

On the injured list with right knee inflammation, continued discomfort led to surgery for Michael Kopech. The procedure to repair a torn meniscus will sideline him until at least the end of August.

“It was a minor cleanup,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “Don’t know a timetable. But it was just something that was bothering him. I think with the knee, if there’s certain things that trigger it then it’s just not sustainable to manage it. We got to that point. From what I understand, the surgery went well and he’ll be back this season.”

After starting the season on the IL with shoulder and forearm issues, Kopech pitched just seven innings for the Dodgers before going back on the IL.

Right-hander Evan Phillips had a similar journey. He started the season on the IL, recovering from a torn ligament in his shoulder then went back on the IL after pitching 5⅔ innings and underwent season-ending Tommy John surgery.

Right-hander Blake Treinen pitched just eight innings before going on the IL with a forearm injury. He at least is expected back soon after the All-Star break. He pitched an inning for Triple-A Oklahoma City on Wednesday and will continue his minor-league injury-rehabilitation assignment on Saturday.

The absence of that trio has left the Dodgers’ bullpen leaning to the left with Tanner Scott, Jack Dreyer, Anthony Banda and Alex Vesia.

“Yeah, when you’re losing three of your top relievers at any given time, certainly at the same time it’s a hit,” Roberts said. “But it’s a good opportunity for other guys.”

Those “other guys” for now are Kirby Yates, Lou Trivino, Will Klein and Ben Casparius, who will be “shortened up” into a relief role after a brief run as a starter. Yates has the best resume of that group but has been vulnerable against left-handed batters this season – they have 11 extra-base hits (eight doubles and three home runs) and a .937 OPS against him this year.

“I think obviously Kirby is going to be better versus left. Hasn’t been great versus left so far this year,” Roberts said. “Trivino is a guy that we’re going to use. I think Klein is a neutral guy but using him in those spots too. Yeah, we’re certainly heavy on the left-handed relievers for sure.

“We don’t have that righty killer. We’re going to have to match guys up.”

SNELL REHAB

Out since April 2 with a shoulder injury, left-hander Blake Snell began his rehab assignment on Thursday night with Class-A Rancho Cucamonga by pitching two shutout innings. He allowed one hit, struck out four and threw 31 pitches, touching 97 mph with his fastball.

With the minor leagues taking a break next week, Snell will pitch at the Dodgers’ training complex in Arizona on Tuesday, stretching out to three innings. He will need at least one more rehab start after the All-Star break before he could rejoin the Dodgers’ rotation.

MUNCY STATUS

A week after suffering a bone bruise in his left knee, Roberts said third baseman Max Muncy is “trending really well” in his recovery.

“Brandon McDaniel, one of our coaches, was at home yesterday and he talked to him,” Roberts said. “(Muncy) is already on the bike, his spirits are up, he’s moving around. I don’t know the timeline but just encouraged he’s making some good progress.”

Muncy is expected to be out at least six to eight weeks with the injury.

WAIVER CLAIM

The Dodgers claimed right-hander Nick Nastrini off waivers from the Miami Marlins.

Nastrini was the Dodgers’ fourth-round draft pick out of UCLA in 2021 and was part of the trade package that brought Lance Lynn and Joe Kelly from the Chicago White Sox in July 2023. Nastrini made the majors with the White Sox last year and went 0-7 with a 7.07 ERA in nine appearances (eight starts). Waived by the White Sox on July 1, he was claimed by the Marlins.

Nastrini will join OKC.

In order to clear a 40-man roster spot for Nastrini, the Dodgers designated right-hander Noah Davis for assignment. Davis made five appearances for the Dodgers this season, allowing 14 runs in six innings (including 10 in one inning against the Houston Astros last week).

UP NEXT

Dodgers (RHP Shohei Ohtani, 0-0, 1.50 ERA) at Giants (RHP Landon Roupp, 6-5, 3.39 ERA), Saturday, 1:05 p.m., SportsNet LA, 570 AM

SAN FRANCISCO — The right side of the Dodgers’ bullpen took another hit this week.

On the injured list with right knee inflammation, continued discomfort led to surgery for Michael Kopech. The procedure to repair a torn meniscus will sideline him until at least the end of August.

“It was a minor cleanup,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “Don’t know a timetable. But it was just something that was bothering him. I think with the knee, if there’s certain things that trigger it then it’s just not sustainable to manage it. We got to that point. From what I understand, the surgery went well and he’ll be back this season.”

After starting the season on the IL with shoulder and forearm issues, Kopech pitched just seven innings for the Dodgers before going back on the IL.

Right-hander Evan Phillips had a similar journey. He started the season on the IL, recovering from a torn ligament in his shoulder then went back on the IL after pitching 5⅔ innings and underwent season-ending Tommy John surgery.

Right-hander Blake Treinen pitched just eight innings before going on the IL with a forearm injury. He at least is expected back soon after the All-Star break. He pitched an inning for Triple-A Oklahoma City on Wednesday and will continue his minor-league injury-rehabilitation assignment on Saturday.

The absence of that trio has left the Dodgers’ bullpen leaning to the left with Tanner Scott, Jack Dreyer, Anthony Banda and Alex Vesia.

“Yeah, when you’re losing three of your top relievers at any given time, certainly at the same time it’s a hit,” Roberts said. “But it’s a good opportunity for other guys.”

Those “other guys” for now are Kirby Yates, Lou Trivino, Will Klein and Ben Casparius, who will be “shortened up” into a relief role after a brief run as a starter. Yates has the best resume of that group but has been vulnerable against left-handed batters this season – they have 11 extra-base hits (eight doubles and three home runs) and a .937 OPS against him this year.

“I think obviously Kirby is going to be better versus left. Hasn’t been great versus left so far this year,” Roberts said. “Trivino is a guy that we’re going to use. I think Klein is a neutral guy but using him in those spots too. Yeah, we’re certainly heavy on the left-handed relievers for sure.

“We don’t have that righty killer. We’re going to have to match guys up.”

SNELL REHAB

Out since April 2 with a shoulder injury, left-hander Blake Snell began his rehab assignment on Thursday night with Class-A Rancho Cucamonga by pitching two shutout innings. He allowed one hit, struck out four and threw 31 pitches, touching 97 mph with his fastball.

With the minor leagues taking a break next week, Snell will pitch at the Dodgers’ training complex in Arizona on Tuesday, stretching out to three innings. He will need at least one more rehab start after the All-Star break before he could rejoin the Dodgers’ rotation.

MUNCY STATUS

A week after suffering a bone bruise in his left knee, Roberts said third baseman Max Muncy is “trending really well” in his recovery.

“Brandon McDaniel, one of our coaches, was at home yesterday and he talked to him,” Roberts said. “(Muncy) is already on the bike, his spirits are up, he’s moving around. I don’t know the timeline but just encouraged he’s making some good progress.”

Muncy is expected to be out at least six to eight weeks with the injury.

WAIVER CLAIM

The Dodgers claimed right-hander Nick Nastrini off waivers from the Miami Marlins.

Nastrini was the Dodgers’ fourth-round draft pick out of UCLA in 2021 and was part of the trade package that brought Lance Lynn and Joe Kelly from the Chicago White Sox in July 2023. Nastrini made the majors with the White Sox last year and went 0-7 with a 7.07 ERA in nine appearances (eight starts). Waived by the White Sox on July 1, he was claimed by the Marlins.

Nastrini will join OKC.

In order to clear a 40-man roster spot for Nastrini, the Dodgers designated right-hander Noah Davis for assignment. Davis made five appearances for the Dodgers this season, allowing 14 runs in six innings (including 10 in one inning against the Houston Astros last week).

UP NEXT

Dodgers (RHP Shohei Ohtani, 0-0, 1.50 ERA) at Giants (RHP Landon Roupp, 6-5, 3.39 ERA), Saturday, 1:05 p.m., SportsNet LA, 570 AM

A former Westminster police officer claimed over $600,000 in workers’ compensation for a head injury that allegedly prevented her from working, but meanwhile was hitting the slopes at Mammoth Mountain, visiting Disneyland and dancing at Stagecoach, prosecutors allege.

Nicole Brown, 39, of Riverside was charged with 15 felonies related to workers’ compensation insurance fraud, according to the Orange County district attorney’s office. If convicted of all charges, she faces up to 22 years in prison. She could also lose pension credits she accrued after the date the felony was committed if she’s convicted.

Prosecutors said Brown suffered a minor cut to her forehead while attempting to handcuff an uncooperative suspect in March 2022. An emergency room doctor released her to work without any restrictions the same day.

But Brown did not return to work for more than a year.

Several days after the injury, she was was diagnosed with severe concussion syndrome and placed on total temporary disability leave, prosecutors said.

“Ms. Brown is not guilty of this what the prosecution has alleged,” her attorney, Brian Gurwitz, told The Times. “She was seriously injured on duty and intends to fight these allegations.”

Brown is accused of fraudulently collecting more than $600,000 from the city while out on leave, which included her full salary — tax-free — and medical expenses.

Prosecutors allege her stepfather, 57-year-old Peter Gregory Schuman, worked with Brown to orchestrate the fraudulent workers’ compensation scheme. Schuman is a Buena Park-based attorney who practices workers’ compensation defense on behalf of insurance companies, prosecutors said.

He is in the process of obtaining legal representation, Gurwitz said. Schuman did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

During her time on disability, Brown said she was unable to work due to headaches, dizziness, sensitivity to light and noise, problems processing thoughts and words and an inability to work on a screen, prosecutors said.

However, authorities allege that in April 2023, she was seen dancing and drinking at the Stagecoach Music Festival — alongside more than 75,000 festival attendees, with loud music and bright lights and temperatures in excess of 100 degrees.

Her presence at the festival was reported to the Westminster Police Department, which referred the case to the district attorney’s office for investigation.

The D.A.’s office says it then discovered that, while on leave, Brown allegedly went snowboarding or skiing at Mammoth Mountain and Big Bear, ran two 5K races, went to three soccer conferences, visited Disneyland, played golf and took online courses with a local university.

Three days after prosecutors say she was at Stagecoach, Brown had a Zoom meeting to discuss what duties she could perform as a police officer.

During the meeting, Brown was sitting in a dark room and claimed she could not look at the screen, prosecutors said. Schuman did all of the talking and stated she was unable to do paperwork and may not be able to do phone calls. After the meeting, Brown was admitted to an in-patient center for traumatic brain injuries, prosecutors said.

She has been charged with nine counts of making a fraudulent statement to obtain compensation, six counts of making a fraudulent insurance benefit claim and one enhancement of committing an aggravated white collar crime over $100,000, all felonies. Her stepfather has been charged with one felony count of making a fraudulent insurance benefit claim and one felony count of assisting, abetting, conspiring with and soliciting a person in unlawful act, according to court records.

Brown attended the police academy at Rio Hondo College and was sworn in as a Westminster Police Officer in February 2019, according to reporting by Behind the Badge. During her time at the department, she worked as a homeless liaison officer helping connect people experiencing homelessness to resources, the outlet reported.

LOS ANGELES — The grimace we hadn’t seen before.

Like JuJu Watkins’ silky Euro steps and her 50-point banger and ridiculous scoring stats – 1,000 collegiate points faster than anyone in history – it was something new.

But a grimace like this, no, we hadn’t ever wanted to see. We won’t be able to unsee.

Watkins’ right knee crumpled beneath her as she drove with 4:43 to play in the first quarter of the top-seeded USC women’s basketball team’s 96-59 second-round blowout of No. 9 seed Mississippi State on Monday night at the Galen Center. Immediately, Watkins grabbed her right knee. And grimaced. It was awful. Sickening. Devastating.

“I would be lying if I told you I wasn’t rattled, seeing JuJu on the court and crying,” USC coach Lindsay Gottlieb said.

USC’s official in-game statement was that Watkins was being evaluated by USC Keck Medicine staff and would not return to competition Monday. But the news not long after the game confirmed that she had suffered a season-ending injury.

It happened while Watkins was fast-breaking, like a jet ski bobbing along at full speed, as she does. She was in the act of pivoting toward the hoop when her knee gave way.

What rotten fortune all around, the best college player in the country – and the coolest – being ousted not by an upset but by injury. So much more upsetting, the weight of potentially losing Watkins long term.

It wouldn’t only upset the balance of a tournament and hinder the top-seeded Trojans’ pursuit of a national championship, but it could disrupt their plans for seasons to come.

Also: A blow to the ongoing ascension of the sport whose transcendent stars – recently Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese and now UConn’s Paige Bueckers, Notre Dame’s Hannah Hidalgo, UCLA’s Lauren Betts and, of course Watkins – are making women’s hoops must-see TV, a ratings juggernaut and cultural touchstone.

Girls and boys show up to Galen Center in Watkins’ jersey, as do women and men. Some of them famous, some of them rocking a bun like Watkins does. And many, many of them wait after games for autographs, and she obliges, as she has been since she was a burgeoning star – and Gatorade National Player of the Year – at Sierra Canyon High School.

All the ads Watkins stars in that are airing during every commercial break during March Madness – for State Farm, Gatorade, Nike – will only remind us who we’re missing. And of that awful, sickening, devastating grimace.

The Trojans and their fans took out their distress on the Bulldogs, respectively bullying them on the court and booing them lustily from the stands – “they showed how ride or die they are,” forward Kiki Iriafen said of the Trojans’ very loud crowd.

Riding the emotional tidal wave, the Trojans earned a second consecutive trip to the Sweet 16, in Spokane, Washington this year, by overwhelming Mississippi State in every way – scoreboards, backboards, sonically, spiritually.

“You cannot tell me that the energy of that crowd and how angry they were with the other team, and how much fired up they were for our team, is so much about what JuJu has given to this arena, to this program, to this city,” Gottlieb said of her 19-year-old star. “And you want to give it all back.”

What else would they do but Fight On? Watkins is, of course, beloved in L.A. because she is L.A.

She’s a Watts native who had the whole country to select from and elected to stay home and work with Gottlieb to turn around a once-proud Trojans program. And she was doing it, filling the stands with new fans who believed she could bring USC a third national title in women’s basketball four decades after the great Cheryl Miller and crew delivered the first two.

Watkins isn’t only flashy and formidable, a fascinating and fantastic player, but she’s tough. She’s fearless, going all out and refusing to come out – like in USC’s 71-25 first-round victory over UNC Greensboro – because of jammed fingers or rolled ankles.

The 6-foot-2 guard didn’t dance and get giddy when the Trojans’ seeding was announced on Selection Sunday, but greeted the news stoically, all business, Mamba-like.

Without her on Monday, the Trojans’ graduate transfer Iriafan – 36 points on 16-for-22 shooting – performed like the player ESPN’s retired newsbreaker Adrian Wojnarowski billed last April as “the potential No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft” when he reported that the former Stanford star was joining Watkins at USC.

Freshman Avery Howell added 18 points, Kayleigh Heckel had 13, L.A. native Rayah Marshall added 12 points and four blocked shots and Watkins’ former high school rival, Etiwanda’s Kennedy Smith collected five steals and scored 10 points for a Trojans team that shot 52.2% from the floor.

“It was just rallying,” said Iriafen, a former Harvard-Westlake standout. “This is what we expect of ourselves. We expect to win.”

The show went on, and the Trojans kept dancing – great basketball in a great basketball environment proving the best salve to the devastating turn in the first quarter. “How proud I am of all of you,” Gottlieb told her team afterward. “We felt like a tidal wave tonight.”

It was an inspiring show of teamwork, but it couldn’t wash away the awful image of Watkins on the court in pain, grimacing.

Originally Published: March 24, 2025 at 10:30 PM PDT