Judge Sunil R. Kulkarni: Comprehensive Profile - Analytics, Rulings, and Recent Cases

CA Bar #: 186723 (December 1996)

Appointed By: Gov. Edmund G. Brown, Jr.

Biography

The Hon. Sunil R. Kulkarni is a judge for the Superior Court of Santa Clara County in California. He was appointed to the bench by former governor Jerry Brown on August 29, 2013, filling a vacancy created by the retirement of the Hon. Marcel B. Poche.


Kulkarni earned a B.S. in mechanical engineering from the University of California, Berkeley in 1993. He then completed a J.D. from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law in 1996.


He began his legal career as a law clerk for the Hon. Oliver Wanger of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California in 1996. The following year, he joined Morrison & Foerster, first as an associate, then as a partner. While there, he specialized in complex civil litigation, handling patent, intellectual property, general commercial, and securities cases. During his secondment from Morrison & Foerster, he worked as patent litigation counsel for Apple, Inc., where he managed several of its patent infringement cases.


Then, in 2011, Kulkarni moved to the Office of the General Counsel of the University of California. He served as senior counsel there for two years, handling administrative hearings as well as copyright, patent, and labor issues. He held this position until his appointment to the bench in 2013.


Kulkarni served as Vice President of the South Asian Bar Association of Northern California. He has also sat on the Board of Directors of Community Legal Services of East Palo Alto.


Although he was born in Los Angeles, California, Kulkarni was raised in King City, California. He was the first South Asian American to be appointed to a state judgeship in Northern California. His wife is a psychiatrist at Stanford University, and he enjoys playing racquetball as well as attending sporting events and the theater.


Kulkarni is registered as a Democrat.

Recent Rulings by Hon. Sunil R. Kulkarni

  • Sep 09, 2021 Santa Clara County

    This putative class and Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) action is brought on behalf of employees of Defendant Point Digital Finance, Inc.2 Plaintiffs allege that Defendant failed to provide proper meal and rest breaks, failed to pay overtime and other premium pay at the correct rates, and required emp...

  • Sep 09, 2021 Santa Clara County

    This a Private Attorneys General Act (“PAGA”) action on behalf of employees of Defendant Silva Sausage Co., alleging wage statement violations. Before the Court is Plaintiff’s motion for approval of a settlement, which is unopposed. As discussed below, the Court GRANTS Plaintiff’s motion.

    I. BACKGR...

  • Sep 09, 2021 Santa Clara County

    This is a putative class and Private Attorneys General Act (“PAGA”) action on behalf of employees of defendant Seagate US LLC, alleging underpayment of sick pay and wage statement violations. The parties reached a settlement, which the Court preliminarily approved in an order filed on May 7, 2021. The fact...

  • Sep 09, 2021 Santa Clara County

    Insurance Company

    This action arises from an insurance dispute between Plaintiff Pacific Lodging Group LP d/b/a Bodega Coast Inn and its insurer, Defendant Sequoia Insurance Company. Before the Court is Sequoia’s demurrer to each cause of action in the Complaint, on the ground that Bodega Coast fai...

  • Sep 09, 2021 Santa Clara County

    This consolidated, putative class and Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) action is brought on behalf of employees of Defendant Watlow Electric Manufacturing Company. Plaintiffs allege that Defendant failed to provide proper meal and rest breaks, failed to pay wages in the proper form, and failed to provi...

  • Sep 02, 2021 Santa Clara County

    This is a class action alleging that the City of Palo Alto unlawfully imposed a Utility Users Tax (“UUT”) on customers of telephone service providers. The parties reached a settlement, which the Court (Judge Walsh) preliminarily approved in an order filed on November 6, 2020. The factual and procedural bac...

  • Aug 12, 2021 Santa Clara County

    This action filed by plaintiff Willie Menchaca (“Plaintiff”) against defendants Goodwill of Silicon Valley (“Goodwill”) and Mason Simmons (collectively, “Defendants”) arises from alleged employment discrimination, wage and hour, and safety violations.

    Before the Court is Plaintiff’s motion to compe...

  • Aug 12, 2021 Santa Clara County

    This is a putative class and Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) action on behalf of employees of Defendant Accenture Flex, LLC. Plaintiff alleges that Defendant failed to include shift differentials in employees’ regular rates of pay, including for purposes of cashing out sick leave. Before the Court is ...

  • Aug 12, 2021 Santa Clara County

    This is a putative class and Private Attorneys General Act (“PAGA”) action on behalf of employees of defendant DAL Global Services, LLC. Plaintiff alleges failure to reimburse business expenses, wage statement violations, and other wage and hour violations. The parties reached a settlement, which the Court...

  • Aug 12, 2021 Santa Clara County

    This is an action for trade secret misappropriation and related claims. The Court entered judgment in favor of Defendants Acer America Corporation and Acer Inc. (collectively, “Acer”) after granting their motion for summary judgment. Acer filed a memorandum of costs on May 25, 2021, claiming a total of $16...

  • Aug 12, 2021 Santa Clara County

    This derivative action arises from the alleged gross mismanagement of nominal defendant Flora Bioscience, Inc. (the “Company”) by its former CEO, chairman, and majority shareholder, Defendant John P. Alderete. Plaintiff Terry Gross also brings claims against former Flora board members Robert Robbins and Ma...

  • Aug 12, 2021 Santa Clara County

    Plaintiff Anita Nariani Schulze brings employment discrimination and related claims against Apple, Inc. in her individual capacity. She also brings putative class and representative claims for violation of the Equal Pay Act (“EPA”) and related causes of action, on behalf of other female software engineers ...

  • Aug 12, 2021 Santa Clara County

    This is an action under the Unfair Competition Law (UCL), Consumers Legal Remedies Act (CLRA), and False Advertising Law (FAL), arising from alleged defects in Defendant Google LLC’s Pixel 3 smartphones. Before the Court is Google’s motion to compel arbitration and stay the action, which Plaintiff opposes....

  • Aug 05, 2021 Santa Clara County

    This is a putative class action on behalf of tenants of apartment buildings owned by Defendant SCK Ilara Investors, LLC, alleging that Defendant illegally withheld portions of tenants’ security deposits.

    Before the Court is Defendant’s demurrer to each cause of action in the operative Class Action ...

  • Aug 05, 2021 Santa Clara County

    Plaintiff Jason Forrester brings this action derivatively on behalf of nominal defendant SnapRoute, Inc. and in his individual capacity. He alleges that Defendants Lightspeed Venture Partners, Norwest Venture Partners, Joe Sexton, John Vrionis, and Rama Sehkar engaged in a fraudulent scheme to remove him a...

  • Aug 05, 2021 Santa Clara County

    This is a putative class and Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) action on behalf of employees of Defendant Loomis Armored US, LLC. The parties reached a settlement, which the Court preliminarily approved in an order filed on February 26, 2021. The factual and procedural background of the action and the C...

  • Aug 05, 2021 Santa Clara County

    This action arises from a scam that uses images and videos of plaintiff Steve Wozniak and other famous tech entrepreneurs to fraudulently induce individuals to transfer their cryptocurrency to the scammers. Mr. Wozniak and the other plaintiffs (collectively “Plaintiffs”), who are victims of the scam, alleg...

  • Jul 15, 2021 Santa Clara County

    These consolidated actions arise from negotiations between Defendant Cisco Systems, Inc. and ConnectBeam, Inc., a startup founded in 2005 by Puneet Gupta to develop social enterprise software. Mr. Gupta later formed Plaintiff Leadfactors, LLC, which brings this action to enforce ConnectBeam’s asserted trad...

  • Jul 15, 2021 Santa Clara County

    This is an action for trade secret misappropriation and related claims. The Court entered judgment in favor of Defendants Acer America Corporation and Acer Inc. (collectively, “Acer”) after granting their motion for summary judgment. Now, Plaintiff Intellisoft, Ltd. moves for a new trial. Defendants oppose...

  • Jul 15, 2021 Santa Clara County

    This is a putative class and Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) action on behalf of employees of Defendant Abacus Business Corporation Group, Inc. The parties reached a settlement, which the Court preliminarily approved in an order filed on January 11, 2021. The factual and procedural background of the a...

  • Jul 15, 2021 Santa Clara County

    These cross-actions arise from Plaintiff Silvaco, Inc.’s acquisition of Nangate, Inc. (Nangate) pursuant to a Stock Purchase Agreement (SPA). The SPA provides for ongoing earn-out payments to the defendants, and dispute have arisen about those payments and associated issues. Silvaco seeks declaratory relie...

  • Jul 08, 2021 Santa Clara County

    Before the Court is Flagship’s motion to deem Plaintiff an inadequate class representative, on the ground that her claims are barred by settlements in two related class actions. Plaintiff opposes Flagship’s motion on the basis that she did not receive notice of one of the two settlements. As discussed belo...

  • Jul 08, 2021 Santa Clara County

    This is a putative class and Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) action on behalf of employees of defendant McGee Air Services, Inc., alleging a number of wage and hour violations. Before the Court are Plaintiffs’ motions (1) for preliminary approval of a settlement and (2) for leave to file a Fifth Amend...

  • Jul 08, 2021 Santa Clara County

    This is a putative class and Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) action on behalf of employees of defendant North American On-Site LLC, alleging a number of wage and hour violations. Before the Court is Plaintiff’s motion for preliminary approval of a settlement, which is unopposed. As discussed below, th...

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Recent Cases by Hon. Sunil R. Kulkarni

On April 4, 2023 a collections rule 3.740 limited (09) - under 10,000 case was filed in the jurisdiction of Santa Clara County. Judge Sunil R. Kulkarni presiding.

20 Files
Filed

Apr 04, 2023

Status

Settlement

Judge

Hon. Sunil R. Kulkarni Trellis Spinner 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for Sunil R. Kulkarni

Court

Superior

County

Santa Clara County, CA

Court Category

Collections Rule 3.740 Limited (09) - under 10,000

Practice Area

Creditor

Matter Type

Collections

Case Last Refreshed

May 05, 2025

On December 22, 2022 an other employment unlimited (15) case was filed in the jurisdiction of Santa Clara County. Judge Sunil R. Kulkarni presiding.

30 Files
Filed

Dec 22, 2022

Status

Settlement

Judge

Hon. Sunil R. Kulkarni Trellis Spinner 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for Sunil R. Kulkarni

Court

Superior

County

Santa Clara County, CA

Court Category

Other Employment Unlimited (15)

Practice Area

Labor and Employment

Matter Type

General Employment

Case Last Refreshed

Jun 12, 2025

On November 2, 2022 an other employment unlimited (15) case was filed in the jurisdiction of Santa Clara County. Judge Sunil R. Kulkarni presiding.

40 Files
Filed

Nov 02, 2022

Status

Active

Judge

Hon. Sunil R. Kulkarni Trellis Spinner 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for Sunil R. Kulkarni

Court

Superior

County

Santa Clara County, CA

Court Category

Other Employment Unlimited (15)

Practice Area

Labor and Employment

Matter Type

General Employment

Case Last Refreshed

Jun 14, 2025

On October 31, 2022 an other employment unlimited (15) case was filed in the jurisdiction of Santa Clara County. Judge Sunil R. Kulkarni presiding.

72 Files
Filed

Oct 31, 2022

Status

Other

Judge

Hon. Sunil R. Kulkarni Trellis Spinner 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for Sunil R. Kulkarni

Court

Superior

County

Santa Clara County, CA

Court Category

Other Employment Unlimited (15)

Practice Area

Labor and Employment

Matter Type

General Employment

Case Last Refreshed

Jun 14, 2025

On October 27, 2022 an other employment unlimited (15) case was filed in the jurisdiction of Santa Clara County. Judge Sunil R. Kulkarni presiding.

16 Files
Filed

Oct 27, 2022

Status

Active

Judge

Hon. Sunil R. Kulkarni Trellis Spinner 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for Sunil R. Kulkarni

Court

Superior

County

Santa Clara County, CA

Court Category

Other Employment Unlimited (15)

Practice Area

Labor and Employment

Matter Type

General Employment

Case Last Refreshed

Nov 27, 2024

On October 21, 2022 a collections rule 3.740 limited (09) - under 10,000 case was filed in the jurisdiction of Santa Clara County. Judge Sunil R. Kulkarni presiding.

18 Files
Filed

Oct 21, 2022

Status

Non-Jury Verdict

Judge

Hon. Sunil R. Kulkarni Trellis Spinner 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for Sunil R. Kulkarni

Court

Superior

County

Santa Clara County, CA

Court Category

Collections Rule 3.740 Limited (09) - under 10,000

Practice Area

Creditor

Matter Type

Collections

Case Last Refreshed

Jun 14, 2025

On October 17, 2022 a dissolution w/ minor case was filed in the jurisdiction of Santa Clara County. Judge Sunil R. Kulkarni presiding.

Filed

Oct 17, 2022

Status

Non-Jury Verdict

Judge

Hon. Sunil R. Kulkarni Trellis Spinner 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for Sunil R. Kulkarni

Court

Superior

County

Santa Clara County, CA

Court Category

Dissolution w/ Minor

Practice Area

Family

Matter Type

Divorce,Separation

Case Last Refreshed

Jun 14, 2025

On September 1, 2022 a fraud unlimited (16) case was filed in the jurisdiction of Santa Clara County. Judge Sunil R. Kulkarni presiding.

48 Files
Filed

Sep 01, 2022

Status

Dismissal

Judge

Hon. Sunil R. Kulkarni Trellis Spinner 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for Sunil R. Kulkarni

Court

Superior

County

Santa Clara County, CA

Court Category

Fraud Unlimited (16)

Practice Area

Torts

Matter Type

Economic Torts

Case Last Refreshed

Nov 27, 2024

On August 19, 2022 an other collections unlimited (09) case was filed in the jurisdiction of Santa Clara County. Judge Sunil R. Kulkarni presiding.

22 Files
Filed

Aug 19, 2022

Status

Settlement

Judge

Hon. Sunil R. Kulkarni Trellis Spinner 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for Sunil R. Kulkarni

Court

Superior

County

Santa Clara County, CA

Court Category

Other Collections Unlimited (09)

Practice Area

Creditor

Matter Type

Collections

Case Last Refreshed

Jun 14, 2025

On July 11, 2022 an other non-pi/pd/wd tort unlimited (35) case was filed in the jurisdiction of Santa Clara County. Judge Sunil R. Kulkarni presiding.

13 Files
Filed

Jul 11, 2022

Status

Dismissal

Judge

Hon. Sunil R. Kulkarni Trellis Spinner 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for Sunil R. Kulkarni

Court

Superior

County

Santa Clara County, CA

Court Category

Other non-PI/PD/WD Tort Unlimited (35)

Practice Area

Torts

Matter Type

General Torts

Case Last Refreshed

Nov 27, 2024

On June 29, 2022 an other employment unlimited (15) case was filed in the jurisdiction of Santa Clara County. Judge Sunil R. Kulkarni presiding.

52 Files
Filed

Jun 29, 2022

Status

Active

Judge

Hon. Sunil R. Kulkarni Trellis Spinner 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for Sunil R. Kulkarni

Court

Superior

County

Santa Clara County, CA

Court Category

Other Employment Unlimited (15)

Practice Area

Labor and Employment

Matter Type

General Employment

Case Last Refreshed

Jun 12, 2025

On June 20, 2022 an other pi/pd/wd unlimited (23) case was filed in the jurisdiction of Santa Clara County. Judge Sunil R. Kulkarni presiding.

59 Files
Filed

Jun 20, 2022

Status

Judgment on the Pleadings

Judge

Hon. Sunil R. Kulkarni Trellis Spinner 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for Sunil R. Kulkarni

Court

Superior

County

Santa Clara County, CA

Court Category

Other PI/PD/WD Unlimited (23)

Practice Area

Torts

Matter Type

General Torts

Case Last Refreshed

Jun 11, 2025

On June 20, 2022 an other pi/pd/wd unlimited (23) case was filed in the jurisdiction of Santa Clara County. Judge Sunil R. Kulkarni presiding.

33 Files
Filed

Jun 20, 2022

Status

Judgment on the Pleadings

Judge

Hon. Sunil R. Kulkarni Trellis Spinner 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for Sunil R. Kulkarni

Court

Superior

County

Santa Clara County, CA

Court Category

Other PI/PD/WD Unlimited (23)

Practice Area

Torts

Matter Type

General Torts

Case Last Refreshed

Nov 27, 2024

On June 6, 2022 a business tort/unfair bus prac unlimited (07) case was filed in the jurisdiction of Santa Clara County. Judge Sunil R. Kulkarni presiding.

9 Files
Filed

Jun 06, 2022

Status

Federal Court

Judge

Hon. Sunil R. Kulkarni Trellis Spinner 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for Sunil R. Kulkarni

Court

Superior

County

Santa Clara County, CA

Court Category

Business Tort/Unfair Bus Prac Unlimited (07)

Practice Area

Torts

Matter Type

Economic Torts

Case Last Refreshed

Nov 27, 2024

On May 31, 2022 an other employment unlimited (15) case was filed in the jurisdiction of Santa Clara County. Judge Sunil R. Kulkarni presiding.

3 Files
Filed

May 31, 2022

Status

Federal Court

Judge

Hon. Sunil R. Kulkarni Trellis Spinner 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for Sunil R. Kulkarni

Court

Superior

County

Santa Clara County, CA

Court Category

Other Employment Unlimited (15)

Practice Area

Labor and Employment

Matter Type

General Employment

Case Last Refreshed

Nov 27, 2024

On May 27, 2022 a business tort/unfair bus prac unlimited (07) case was filed in the jurisdiction of Santa Clara County. Judge Sunil R. Kulkarni presiding.

228 Files
Filed

May 27, 2022

Status

Settlement

Judge

Hon. Sunil R. Kulkarni Trellis Spinner 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for Sunil R. Kulkarni

Court

Superior

County

Santa Clara County, CA

Court Category

Business Tort/Unfair Bus Prac Unlimited (07)

Practice Area

Torts

Matter Type

Economic Torts

Case Last Refreshed

Nov 08, 2024

On May 24, 2022 an other employment unlimited (15) case was filed in the jurisdiction of Santa Clara County. Judge Sunil R. Kulkarni presiding.

21 Files
Filed

May 24, 2022

Status

Dismissal

Judge

Hon. Sunil R. Kulkarni Trellis Spinner 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for Sunil R. Kulkarni

Court

Superior

County

Santa Clara County, CA

Court Category

Other Employment Unlimited (15)

Practice Area

Labor and Employment

Matter Type

General Employment

Case Last Refreshed

Nov 27, 2024

On May 17, 2022 an other employment unlimited (15) case was filed in the jurisdiction of Santa Clara County. Judge Sunil R. Kulkarni presiding.

24 Files
Filed

May 17, 2022

Status

Dismissal

Judge

Hon. Sunil R. Kulkarni Trellis Spinner 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for Sunil R. Kulkarni

Court

Superior

County

Santa Clara County, CA

Court Category

Other Employment Unlimited (15)

Practice Area

Labor and Employment

Matter Type

General Employment

Case Last Refreshed

Nov 27, 2024

On May 9, 2022 an other employment unlimited (15) case was filed in the jurisdiction of Santa Clara County. Judge Sunil R. Kulkarni presiding.

27 Files
Filed

May 09, 2022

Status

Dismissal

Judge

Hon. Sunil R. Kulkarni Trellis Spinner 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for Sunil R. Kulkarni

Court

Superior

County

Santa Clara County, CA

Court Category

Other Employment Unlimited (15)

Practice Area

Labor and Employment

Matter Type

General Employment

Case Last Refreshed

Nov 27, 2024

On May 3, 2022 an other employment unlimited (15) case was filed in the jurisdiction of Santa Clara County. Judge Sunil R. Kulkarni presiding.

55 Files
Filed

May 03, 2022

Status

Active

Judge

Hon. Sunil R. Kulkarni Trellis Spinner 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for Sunil R. Kulkarni

Court

Superior

County

Santa Clara County, CA

Court Category

Other Employment Unlimited (15)

Practice Area

Labor and Employment

Matter Type

General Employment

Case Last Refreshed

Jun 12, 2025

On April 28, 2022 an other employment unlimited (15) case was filed in the jurisdiction of Santa Clara County. Judge Sunil R. Kulkarni presiding.

38 Files
Filed

Apr 28, 2022

Status

Dismissal

Judge

Hon. Sunil R. Kulkarni Trellis Spinner 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for Sunil R. Kulkarni

Court

Superior

County

Santa Clara County, CA

Court Category

Other Employment Unlimited (15)

Practice Area

Labor and Employment

Matter Type

General Employment

Case Last Refreshed

Jun 11, 2025

On April 28, 2022 an other employment unlimited (15) case was filed in the jurisdiction of Santa Clara County. Judge Sunil R. Kulkarni presiding.

24 Files
Filed

Apr 28, 2022

Status

Dismissal

Judge

Hon. Sunil R. Kulkarni Trellis Spinner 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for Sunil R. Kulkarni

Court

Superior

County

Santa Clara County, CA

Court Category

Other Employment Unlimited (15)

Practice Area

Labor and Employment

Matter Type

General Employment

Case Last Refreshed

Nov 27, 2024

On April 25, 2022 an other employment unlimited (15) case was filed in the jurisdiction of Santa Clara County. Judge Sunil R. Kulkarni presiding.

37 Files
Filed

Apr 25, 2022

Status

Settlement

Judge

Hon. Sunil R. Kulkarni Trellis Spinner 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for Sunil R. Kulkarni

Court

Superior

County

Santa Clara County, CA

Court Category

Other Employment Unlimited (15)

Practice Area

Labor and Employment

Matter Type

General Employment

Case Last Refreshed

Nov 27, 2024

On April 15, 2022 an other employment unlimited (15) case was filed in the jurisdiction of Santa Clara County. Judge Sunil R. Kulkarni presiding.

9 Files
Filed

Apr 15, 2022

Status

Federal Court

Judge

Hon. Sunil R. Kulkarni Trellis Spinner 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for Sunil R. Kulkarni

Court

Superior

County

Santa Clara County, CA

Court Category

Other Employment Unlimited (15)

Practice Area

Labor and Employment

Matter Type

General Employment

Case Last Refreshed

Nov 27, 2024