CBS News

Eric Thayer/Bloomberg file

Residents embrace while attending a church service in Uvalde, Texas, May 25.

Gun makers face new legal threat

from families of mass shooting victims

BloomBerg

Families of children and teachers killed in last month’s Texas school massacre face a formidable legal battle if they decide to sue the gun maker whose AR-15 semiautomatic rifle was used in the attack.

That doesn’t mean they can’t win.

Their main challenge would be overcoming the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act, a 2005 federal law designed to defend gun makers from civil claims when their products are used to kill people. Until a few years ago, PLCAA was widely assumed to shield the industry from suits over mass shootings and other acts of violence.

In recent years, rulings in Connecticut, Indiana and Pennsylvania have shifted that assumption, and Texas could be next.

“There is now significant case law from around the country that PLCAA does not give gun companies sweeping immunity from lawsuits, and that gun manufacturers and dealers can be liable in numerous cases,” Jonathan Lowy, chief counsel at the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, said in an interview.

The families of victims of the mass shooting at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas – some of whom have asked for information from the gun maker, signaling litigation ahead – “potentially have a very strong claim,” Lowy said.

The political debate since the May 24 mass shooting in Uvalde and another one 10 days earlier at a supermarket in Buffalo, New York, has focused on modest bipartisan gun control measures in Congress, which culminated in a bill President Joe Biden signed into law on Saturday. But that advance for gun control advocates was overshadowed by a June 23 landmark Supreme Court ruling that may lead to more firearms on the streets of big cities.

The advocacy group Everytown for Gun Safety is backed by Michael Bloomberg, founder and majority owner of Bloomberg News parent company Bloomberg LP.

There is no viable effort underway to amend or scrap PLCAA, which is guarded by the National Rifle Association and the Republican Party. Even if lawmakers somehow managed to do away with it, many states have similar laws on the books. That leaves it to the courts, for now, to determine if the industry’s behavior is legal.

The central question is whether criminals who use guns are solely responsible for their acts or whether firearms makers share some blame as a result of their marketing and distribution practices.

Judges broadly interpreted PLCAA for years after it was signed into law, discouraging lawsuits, said Kristina Infante, a Miami lawyer. Her firm has a suit pending against Smith & Wesson Brands Inc. over the 2018 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, where 14 students and three staff members perished.

“All kinds of private companies commit acts of negligence and create defective products that harm people,” Infante said. “But legislatures have seen fit to offer these special protections only to gun manufacturers and set them apart from every other type of corporate defendant in the county.”

A lawyer for Smith & Wesson declined to comment, citing ongoing litigation.

The federal shield law is a crucial protection against an “unholy alliance” of gun control advocates and plaintiff’s attorneys out to bankrupt the industry, said Lawrence Keane, a senior vice president at the National Shooting Sports Foundation, a trade group that helped write the law and lobbied for its passage. “The Second Amendment becomes an illusion if there’s no industry to make firearms,” he said.

Keane said the statute was passed in response to politically motivated public nuisance lawsuits being filed against the industry in the late 1990s and early 2000s by big cities across the US.

PLCAA “simply codifies basic bedrock principles of American jurisprudence in tort law – that manufacturers of legal, nondefective, lawfully sold products are not liable for the subsequent criminal misuse of those products by remote third persons over whom the manufacturer and seller has no control,” he said. “Nobody would blame a knife manufacturer if somebody used a knife to stab somebody.”

The NSSF filed a brief in support of Remington Arms Co.’s Bushmaster after the 2012 mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut.

Remington’s lawyer in the Sandy Hook case didn’t respond to a request for comment on gun control and the shield law. The NRA had no immediate comment.

The key for plaintiff’s lawyers is to fit their claims within exceptions to PLCAA, which doesn’t protect gun makers from illegal conduct under state laws. What exactly constitutes illegal conduct is in contention.

“The court systems in these states are laboratories of justice,” Infante said. “In Connecticut there was some success. It needs to be seen what the Florida courts do with similar claims. And now the Texas courts will have an opportunity to weigh in as well.”

For Uvalde families, the best template may be the litigation over Sandy Hook, where an AR-15 was used to gun down 20 kids and six staff members. The families that sued Remington alleged PLCAA didn’t bar claims that it engaged in wrongful marketing under state law by creating combat-style ads encouraging civilians to carry out offensive missions against “perceived enemies.”

The gun industry suffered a stinging setback in the case in 2019 when the Connecticut Supreme Court found that PLCAA didn’t trump the state’s right to regulate advertising practices, a first-of-its-kind ruling that surprised legal experts and put the industry on notice that its marketing practices could expose it to massive civil liability.

“Forces of opposition bow down,” read one of the Remington ads that undermined the company’s PLCAA defense. “You are singlehandedly outnumbered.” Another, featuring a black AR-15 against a stark white background, declared: “Consider your man card reissued.”

The justices wrote that “the regulation of advertising that threatens the public’s health, safety and morals has long been considered a core exercise of the state’s police powers.” They added that the families didn’t need to have a business relationship with a company to sue.

“It was a significant ruling because it shattered a perception of invulnerability that the gun industry seemed to enjoy,” Josh Koskoff, the lawyer for the Sandy Hook families, said in an interview.

The ruling set the stage for an explosive trial in the lower court. Then Remington filed for bankruptcy protection, putting the case on hold. In February, the families secured a settlement from Remington’s insurers for $73 million, the maximum amount under the gun maker’s policies.

“The insurance companies took a look at the evidence and decided what Remington did was indefensible and that the damages would most likely be over a billion dollars” if the families won at trial, Koskoff said.

The result was a “a huge step forward because every state has a consumer protection law,” said Connecticut Attorney General William Tong, a gun control advocate who was a state representative when the Sandy Hook attack took place.

Another potential landmark case has been grinding away in Gary, Indiana, for more than two decades. The city sued the biggest firearms manufacturers in the U.S. in 1999, alleging they were liable for rampant gun violence in the community because they had knowingly flooded it with products designed to kill.

Gary claims the companies sell their guns through dealers who are often corrupt or irresponsible, violating Indiana’s public nuisance and federal firearms laws. The city also alleges negligent marketing, saying the companies fail to tell buyers that the weapons are likelier to be used against them than by them in their defense.

The manufacturers argued the suit was “an unlawful attempt to regulate firearms.” The state appeals court wasn’t swayed. The case is finally moving toward a trial. If Gary prevails, PLCAA could be weakened further by exposing gun companies to more types of claims under exceptions to the law.

“In some ways the case is bigger than the Connecticut case, because it’s against every gun manufacturer, while the Sandy Hook case was against just one that went bankrupt,” said Lowy, the Brady Campaign lawyer, who has worked on the case for years.

Yet another suit that could chip away at PLCAA is pending in Pennsylvania, where an intermediate appeals court in 2020 ruled outright that the law is unconstitutional. The 2016 suit was brought under the state’s product liability law by parents of a 13-year-old boy who was accidentally killed by another child. They allege Springfield Armory negligently failed to include a centuryold feature on the gun that would have prevented it from firing when the magazine was removed.

A decision by a larger panel of the appeals court is pending. If the 2020 ruling is ultimately upheld by the state’s highest court, gun companies would be barred from using PLCAA to defend themselves against suits in Pennsylvania.

Koskoff, the lawyer behind the Sandy Hook case, was hired by multiple Uvalde families to investigate a possible claim against the gun maker. He sent a letter to Daniel Defense on June 3 asking it to preserve its communications with the Uvalde shooter as well as all information about its marketing of the weapon to teenagers. The company hasn’t responded, Koskoff said.

Daniel Defense didn’t respond to messages from Bloomberg seeking comment.

New York, whose restrictions on concealed carry permits were struck down in last week’s Supreme Court decision, recently overcame a challenge to a 2021 law the state passed authorizing it to sue manufacturers over some gun violence and establishing liability for the improper sale or marketing of firearms. New York Attorney General Letitia James argued that PLCAA represented an effort to “usurp” state power.

Glock Inc., Smith & Wesson and other gun makers, along with trade groups, sued New York, alleging the law violated PLCAA. In May, a federal judge in Albany dismissed the case, ruling that the law properly restricts gun makers’ marketing – placing it squarely within an exception to the federal shield.

0103 LOST AND FOUND 0107 SPECIAL NOTICES

Disclaimer: LOST AND FOUND ads are published for 7 days - FREE. Call Daily Republic's Classified Advertising Dept. for details. (707) 427-6936

Mon.- Fri., 8am5pm

CONTACT US FIRST

Solano County Animal Shelter

2510 Claybank Rd., Fairfield (707) 784-1356 solano-shelter. petfinder.com

V i s i t PetHarbor.com Uniting Pets & People Disclaimer:

Please Check Your

Ad The First Day

It Is Published and notify us immediately if there is an error. The Daily Republic is not responsible for errors or omissions after the first day of publication. The Daily Republic accepts no liability greater than the cost of the ad on the day there was an error or omission. Classified line ads that appear online hold no monetary value; therefore, they are not eligible for credit or a refund should they not appear online.

0201 REAL ESTATE SERVICE/LOANS

Disclaimer: Fair Housing is the Law! The mission of the Department of Fair Employment and Housing is to protect the people of California from unlawful discrimination in employment, housing and public accommodations. The Daily Republic will not knowingly accept any ad which is in violation of the Federal Fair Housing Act and the California Fair Employment and Housing Act which ban discrimination based on race, color, national origin, sex, religion, sexual orientation, age, disability, familial status, and marital status. Describe the Property Not the Tenant

0303 APARTMENTS FOR RENT

NAPA CREEK MANOR 1300 Jefferson St. Napa, CA, 707-257-1878 Is now accepting applications for our waitlist for residency in our 84-unit Low-income housing community for seniors 62 and older.

0343 ROOMS FOR RENT

HTS Transitional Housing. Beds now avail. 3 meals a day, All utils. paid. 707-430-6517

0501 HELP WANTED

Personal asst. Shopping, light Hskpng., comp. skills. M. prefd. $15. hr., 20 hrs/wk. Flexible hrs. Health bkgd. a plus. 707-759-8285

0509 MISCELLANEOUS SERVICES

DENTALINSURANCEfromPhysiciansMutualInsura nce Company . Coveragefor350 plus procedures. Realdentalinsurance-NOTjusta discountplan.Do notwait!Callnow! Get your FREE DentalInformation Kitwithallthedetails! 1 -855-993-0413 www.dental50plus.c om/republic#6258

Offer your home improvement expertise & services in Solano County's largest circulated newspaper. Achieve great results by advertising in

Service Source Call M-F, 9am-5pm (707) 427-6922

0509 MISCELLANEOUS SERVICES

Up to $15,000.00 of GUARANTEED Life Insurance! No medical exam or health questions. Cash to help pay funeral and other final expenses.Call Physicians Life Insurance Company- 866-6040 688 or visi t www.Life55plus.info/d ailyrep

0629 FIREWOOD

Informational: A cord of wood shall measure 4x4x8 and be accompanied by a receipt. Please report any discrepancies to: The Department of Agricultural / Weights and Measures at (707) 784-1310

AT&TMobility,LLCisproposingtomodifyanexistingwirelesstelecommunicationsfacilityonanexistingbuildinglocatedat1350HolidayLane,Fairfield,SolanoCounty,CA 94534.Themodificationswillconsistoftheinstallationofnewantennasatvarying heightsnottoexceedatopheightofapprox.43ft11inabovegroundlevelonthe37ft tallbuilding(measuredtotheparapet,overallheight44ftmeasuredtotheradome).Any interestedpartywishingtosubmitcommentsregardingthepotentialeffectstheproposedfacilitymayhaveonanyhistoricpropertymaydosobysendingsuchcomments to:Project6122003455–WM,EBIConsulting,6876SusquehannaTrailSouth,York,PA 17403,orat(985)630-2375. DR#00056398 Published:July11,2022

NOTICEOFTRUSTEE'SSALETSNo.CA-22-900171-ABOrderNo.:02-22001466 YOUAREINDEFAULTUNDERADEEDOFTRUSTDATED11/10/2005.UNLESS YOUTAKEACTIONTOPROTECTYOURPROPERTY,ITMAYBESOLDATAPUBLICSALE.IFYOUNEEDANEXPLANATIONOFTHENATUREOFTHEPROCEEDINGAGAINSTYOU,YOUSHOULDCONTACTALAWYER.Apublicauctionsaletothe highestbidderforcash,cashier'scheckdrawnonastateornationalbank,checkdrawn bystateorfederalcreditunion,oracheckdrawnbya stateorfederalsavingsandloan association,orsavingsassociation,orsavingsbankspecifiedinSection5102totheFinancialCodeandauthorizedtodobusinessinthisstate,willbeheldbydulyappointed trustee.Thesalewillbemade,butwithoutcovenantorwarranty,expressedorimplied, regardingtitle,possession,orencumbrances,topaytheremainingprincipalsumofthe note(s)securedbytheDeedofTrust,withinterestandlatechargesthereon,asprovided inthenote(s),advances,underthetermsoftheDeedofTrust,interestthereon,fees, chargesandexpensesoftheTrusteeforthetotalamount(atthetimeoftheinitialpublicationoftheNoticeofSale)reasonablyestimatedtobesetforthbelow.Theamountmay begreateronthedayofsale.BENEFICIARYMAYELECTTOBIDLESSTHANTHE TOTALAMOUNTDUE.Trustor(s):BENITAJONES,ANUNMARRIEDWOMANRecorded:11/10/2005asInstrumentNo.200500175311ofOfficialRecordsintheofficeofthe RecorderofSOLANOCounty,California;DateofSale:7/27/2022at9:00AMPlaceof Sale:AttheSantaClaraSt.EntranceoftheVallejoCityHall,locatedat555SantaClara Street,Vallejo,CA94590Amountofunpaidbalanceandothercharges:$1,190,449.13 Thepurportedpropertyaddressis:2007DAYBREAKCT,FAIRFIELD,CA94534-6758 Assessor'sParcelNo.:0181-552-140NOTICETOPOTENTIALBIDDERS:Ifyouare consideringbiddingonthispropertylien,youshouldunderstandthattherearerisksinvolvedinbiddingatatrusteeauction.Youwillbebiddingonalien,notonthepropertyitself.Placingthehighestbidatatrusteeauctiondoesnotautomaticallyentitleyoutofree andclearownershipoftheproperty.Youshouldalsobeawarethatthelienbeingauctionedoffmaybeajuniorlien.Ifyouarethehighestbidderattheauction,youareor mayberesponsibleforpayingoffallliensseniortothelienbeingauctionedoff,before youcanreceivecleartitletotheproperty.Youareencouragedtoinvestigatetheexistence,priority,andsizeofoutstandingliensthatmayexistonthispropertybycontacting thecountyrecorder'sofficeoratitleinsurancecompany,eitherofwhichmaychargeyou afeeforthisinformation.Ifyouconsulteitheroftheseresources,youshouldbeaware thatthesamelendermayholdmorethanonemortgageordeedoftrustontheproperty. NOTICETOPROPERTYOWNER:Thesaledateshownonthisnoticeofsalemaybe postponedoneormoretimesbythemortgagee,beneficiary,trustee,oracourt,pursuanttoSection2924goftheCaliforniaCivilCode.Thelawrequiresthatinformationabout trusteesalepostponementsbemadeavailabletoyouandtothepublic,asacourtesyto thosenotpresentatthesale.Ifyouwishtolearnwhetheryoursaledatehasbeenpostponed,and,ifapplicable,therescheduledtimeanddateforthesaleofthisproperty,you maycall800-280-2832forinformationregardingthetrustee'ssaleorvisitthisinternet websitehttp://www.qualityloan.com,usingthefilenumberassignedtothisforeclosureby theTrustee:CA-22-900171-AB.Informationaboutpostponementsthatareveryshortin durationorthatoccurcloseintimetothescheduledsalemaynotimmediatelybereflectedinthetelephoneinformationorontheinternetwebsite.Thebestwaytoverifypostponementinformationistoattendthescheduledsale.NOTICETOTENANT:Youmay havearighttopurchasethispropertyafterthetrusteeauctionpursuanttoSection 2924moftheCaliforniaCivilCode.Ifyouarean"eligibletenantbuyer,"youcanpurchasethepropertyifyoumatchthelastandhighestbidplacedatthetrusteeauction.If youarean"eligiblebidder,"youmaybeabletopurchasethepropertyifyouexceedthe lastandhighestbidplacedatthetrusteeauction.Therearethree stepstoexercisingthis rightofpurchase.First,48hoursafterthedateofthetrusteesale,youcancall800-2802832,orvisitthisinternetwebsitehttp://www.qualityloan.com,usingthefilenumberassignedtothisforeclosurebytheTrustee:CA-22-900171-ABtofindthedateonwhichthe trustee'ssalewasheld,theamountofthelastandhighestbid,andtheaddressofthe trustee.Second,youmustsendawrittennoticeofintenttoplaceabidsothatthetrusteereceivesitnomorethan15daysafterthetrustee'ssale.Third,youmustsubmitabid sothatthetrusteereceivesitnomorethan45daysafterthetrustee'ssale.Ifyouthink youmayqualifyasan"eligibletenantbuyer"or"eligiblebidder,"youshouldconsider contactinganattorneyorappropriaterealestateprofessionalimmediatelyforadviceregardingthispotentialrighttopurchase.TheundersignedTrusteedisclaimsanyliability foranyincorrectnessofthepropertyaddressorothercommondesignation,ifany, shownherein.Ifnostreetaddressorothercommondesignationisshown,directionsto thelocationofthepropertymaybeobtainedbysendingawrittenrequesttothebeneficiarywithin10daysofthedateoffirstpublicationofthisNoticeofSale.Ifthesaleisset asideforanyreason,includingiftheTrusteeisunabletoconveytitle,thePurchaserat thesaleshallbeentitledonlytoareturnofthemoniespaidtotheTrustee.Thisshallbe thePurchaser'ssoleandexclusiveremedy.ThepurchasershallhavenofurtherrecourseagainsttheTrustor,theTrustee,theBeneficiary,theBeneficiary'sAgent,orthe Beneficiary'sAttorney.Ifyouhavepreviouslybeendischargedthroughbankruptcy,you mayhavebeenreleasedofpersonalliabilityforthisloaninwhichcasethisletterisintendedtoexercisethenoteholdersright'sagainsttherealpropertyonly.Date:QualityLoan ServiceCorporation2763CaminoDelRioSSanDiego,CA92108619-645-7711For NON SALE information only Sale Line: 800-280-2832 Or Login to: http://www.qualityloan.comReinstatementLine:(866)645-7711Ext5318QualityLoan ServiceCorp.TSNo.:CA-22-900171-ABIDSPub#01793007/4/20227/11/2022 7/18/2022 DR#00056109 Published:July4,11,18,2022

Nelson'sTowing LIENSALE:16-HOND License:7VSB210/CA Vin:2HGFC2F53GH576494 tobesoldat10:00amon7/26/2022 @173CouchVallejo,CA DR#00056370 Published:July11,2022

NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF: REX E. WALDRON Case Number: P051528

Toallheirs,beneficiaries,creditors,contingentcreditors,andpersonswhomay otherwisebeinterestedinthewillorestate,orboth,of:

Rex E. Waldron

A Petition for Probate hasbeenfiledby:

Jose Luis Ulloa

intheSuperiorCourtofCalifornia,County of: Solano ThePetitionforProbaterequeststhat:

Jose Luis Ulloa

beappointedaspersonalrepresentative toadministertheestateofthedecedent. ThepetitionrequestsauthoritytoadministertheestateundertheIndependentAdministrationofEstatesAct.(Thisauthority willallowthepersonalrepresentativeto takemanyactionswithoutobtainingcourt approval.Beforetakingcertainveryimportantactions,however,thepersonal representativewillberequiredtogivenoticetointerestedpersonsunlessthey havewaivednoticeorconsentedtothe proposedaction.)The independentadministrationauthoritywillbegrantedunless aninterestedpersonfilesanobjectionto thepetitionandshowsgoodcausewhy thecourtshouldnotgranttheauthority.

A hearing on the petition will be held in this court as follows: DATE: AUG. 4, 2022 TIME: 8:30 a.m.; DEPT.: 4 SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SOLANO 600 Union Avenue P.O. Box 5000 Fairfield, CA 94533 Hall of Justice

If you object tothegrantingofthepetition,youshouldappearatthehearingand stateyourobjectionsorfilewrittenobjectionswiththecourtbeforethehearing. Yourappearancemaybeinpersonorby yourattorney. If you are a creditor or a

contingent creditor of the decedent,

youmustfileyourclaimwiththecourtand mailacopytothepersonalrepresentative appointedbythecourtwithinthe later of either(1)four months fromthedateof firstissuanceofletterstoageneralpersonalrepresentative,asdefinedinsection58(b)oftheCaliforniaProbateCode, or(2) 60 days fromthedateofmailingor personaldeliverytoyouofanoticeunder section9052oftheCaliforniaProbate Code. Other California statutes and leg-

al authority may affect your rights as a creditor. You may want to consult with an attorney knowledgeable in California law. You may examine the file kept by the

court.Ifyouareapersoninterestedin the estate,youmayfilewiththecourtaRequestforSpecialNotice(formDE-154)of thefilingofaninventoryandappraisalof estateassetsorofanypetitionoraccount asprovidedinProbateCodesection 1250.ARequestforSpecialNoticeformis availablefromthecourtclerk. Petitioner: JoseLuisUlloa 2943CandleberryWay Fairfield,CA94533 707-655-6335 DR#00056290 Published:July8,11,15,2022

0631 FURN. & HSHLD. GOODS

GENERAC Standby Generators provide backup power during utility power outages, so your home and family stay safe and comfortable. Prepare now. Free 7-year extended warranty ($695 value!). Request a free quote today! Call for additional terms and conditions. 1-707-7160674

The Generac PWRcell, a solar plus battery storage system. SAVE money, reduce your reliance on the grid, prepare for power outages and power your home. Full installation services available. $0 Down financing Option. Request a FREE, no obligation, quote today. Call 1-844-9232348

0633 GIVEAWAYS

Disclaimer: GIVEAWAYS is FREE advertising for merchandise being given away by the advertiser (not for businesses, services or promotional use). Limited to 1 ad of like item(s) per customer in a 60 day period. 4 line max. for all ads. Ads are published for 3 consecutive days in the Daily Republic, 1 time in Friday's Tailwind.

FREE WOOD PALLETS

PICK UP AT BACK OF DAILY REPUBLIC 1250 TEXAS ST. TUESDAY - FRIDAY, 8AM -5PM. 1st COME, 1st SERVE

0639 LAWN & GARDEN

Eliminate gutter cleaning forever! LeafFilter, the most advanced debris-blocking gutter protection. Schedule a FREE LeafFilter estimate today. 15% off Entire Purchase. 10% Senior & Military Discounts. Call 1-888652-3798

0641 MISC. FOR SALE OR TRADE

SELL YOUR

STUFF

Daily Republic Classifieds

dailyrepublic.com

0645 MISC. WANTED

DONATE YOUR CAR OR TRUCK TO HERITAGE FOR THE BLIND. Free 3 Day Vacation, Tax Deductible, Free Towing, All Paperwork Taken Care of. CALL 1-855-656-0695

0647 MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS

UPRIGHT GRAND PIANO, NEEDS TUNING VERY GOOD CONDITION $400. 707-920-5136

0677 PETS & SUPPLIES

Purebred French Bulldogs.

•12 weeks old •AKC Registered •All shots. •5 Females •4 Males

707-344-5543 ask for Frank.

NoticeofSelfStorageSale PleasetakenoticeCentralSelfStorage-EastTravis837ETravisBlvdFairfieldCA 94533intendstoholdanauctionofthegoodsstoredinaself-servicestorageunitbythe following persons. The sale will occur as an online auction via www.storagetreasures.comon7/20/2022at12:00PM.Unlessstatedotherwisethedescriptionofthecontentsarehouseholdgoodsandfurnishings: ChristCordell NatalieEstrada MyrindaRGant MarguritePariani(2units) LeonardoGonzalez ChrishonnaGates LatoyaRichardson JanellMesa OliviaLiera EarnestBaker RoderickDBooker Allpropertyisbeingstoredattheaboveself-storagefacility.Thissalemaybewithdrawn atanytimewithoutnotice.Certaintermsandconditionsapply.Seemanagerfordetails. 7/4,7/11/22 CNS-3598908# THEDAILYREPUBLIC DR#00055990 Published:July4,11,2022

NOTICEOFTRUSTEE'SSALETSNo.CA-22-910677-JBOrderNo.:FIN-22003200 YOUAREINDEFAULTUNDERADEEDOFTRUSTDATED5/1/1998.UNLESSYOU TAKEACTIONTOPROTECTYOURPROPERTY,ITMAYBESOLDATAPUBLIC SALE.IFYOUNEEDANEXPLANATIONOFTHENATUREOFTHEPROCEEDING AGAINSTYOU,YOUSHOULDCONTACTALAWYER.Apublicauctionsaletothe highestbidderforcash,cashier'scheckdrawnonastateornationalbank,checkdrawn bystateorfederalcreditunion,oracheckdrawnbyastateorfederalsavingsandloan association,orsavingsassociation,orsavingsbankspecifiedinSection5102totheFinancialCodeandauthorizedtodobusinessinthisstate,willbeheldbydulyappointed trustee.Thesalewillbemade,butwithoutcovenantorwarranty,expressedorimplied, regardingtitle,possession,orencumbrances,topaytheremainingprincipalsumofthe note(s)securedbytheDeedofTrust,withinterestandlatechargesthereon,asprovided in thenote(s),advances,underthetermsoftheDeedofTrust,interestthereon,fees, chargesandexpensesoftheTrusteeforthetotalamount(atthetimeoftheinitialpublicationoftheNoticeofSale)reasonablyestimatedtobesetforthbelow.Theamountmay begreateronthedayofsale.BENEFICIARYMAYELECTTOBIDLESSTHANTHE TOTALAMOUNTDUE.Trustor(s):EvaPadilla,anunmarriedwomanandNormaG.Padilla,anunmarriedwomanandGuadalupeG.Chavez,anunmarriedmanRecorded: 5/12/1998asInstrumentNo.1998-00035142ofOfficialRecordsintheofficeoftheRecorderofSOLANOCounty,California;DateofSale:7/27/2022at9:00AMPlaceofSale: AttheSantaClaraSt.EntranceoftheVallejoCityHall,locatedat555SantaClara Street,Vallejo,CA94590Amountofunpaidbalanceandothercharges:$88,250.07The purportedpropertyaddressis:2470BEAUFORTDR,FAIRFIELD,CA94533Assessor's ParcelNo.:0168-304-050NOTICETOPOTENTIALBIDDERS:Ifyouareconsidering biddingonthispropertylien,youshouldunderstandthattherearerisksinvolvedinbiddingatatrusteeauction.Youwillbebiddingonalien,notonthepropertyitself.Placing thehighestbidatatrusteeauctiondoesnotautomaticallyentitleyoutofreeandclear ownershipoftheproperty.Youshouldalsobeawarethatthelienbeingauctionedoff maybeajuniorlien.Ifyouarethehighestbidderattheauction,youareormayberesponsibleforpayingoffallliensseniortothelienbeingauctionedoff,beforeyoucanreceivecleartitletotheproperty.Youareencouragedtoinvestigatetheexistence,priority, andsizeofoutstandingliensthatmayexistonthispropertybycontactingthecountyrecorder'sofficeoratitleinsurancecompany,eitherofwhichmaychargeyouafeeforthis information.Ifyouconsulteitheroftheseresources,youshouldbeawarethatthesame lendermayholdmorethan onemortgageordeedoftrustontheproperty.NOTICETO PROPERTYOWNER:Thesaledateshownonthisnoticeofsalemaybepostponedone ormoretimesbythemortgagee,beneficiary,trustee,oracourt,pursuanttoSection 2924goftheCaliforniaCivilCode.Thelawrequiresthatinformationabouttrusteesale postponementsbemadeavailabletoyouandtothepublic,asacourtesytothosenot presentatthesale.Ifyouwishtolearnwhetheryoursaledatehasbeenpostponed,and, ifapplicable,therescheduledtimeanddateforthesaleofthisproperty,youmaycall 800-280-2832forinformationregardingthetrustee'ssaleorvisitthisinternetwebsitehttp://www.qualityloan.com,usingthefilenumberassignedtothisforeclosurebytheTrustee:CA-22-910677-JB.Informationaboutpostponementsthatareveryshortinduration orthatoccurcloseintimetothescheduledsalemaynotimmediatelybereflectedinthe telephoneinformationorontheinternetwebsite.Thebestwaytoverifypostponementinformationistoattendthescheduledsale.NOTICETOTENANT:Youmayhavearightto purchasethispropertyafterthetrusteeauctionpursuanttoSection2924moftheCaliforniaCivilCode.Ifyouarean"eligibletenantbuyer,"youcanpurchasethepropertyifyou matchthelastandhighestbidplacedatthetrusteeauction.Ifyouarean"eligible bidder,"youmaybeabletopurchasethepropertyifyouexceedthelastandhighestbid placedatthetrusteeauction.Therearethreestepstoexercisingthisrightofpurchase. First,48hoursafterthedateofthetrusteesale,youcancall800-280-2832,orvisitthis internetwebsitehttp://www.qualityloan.com,usingthefilenumberassignedtothisforeclosurebytheTrustee:CA-22-910677-JBtofindthedateonwhichthetrustee'ssale washeld,theamountofthelastandhighestbid,andtheaddressofthetrustee.Second, youmust sendawrittennoticeofintenttoplaceabidsothatthetrusteereceivesitno morethan15daysafterthetrustee'ssale.Third,youmustsubmitabidsothatthetrusteereceivesitnomorethan45daysafterthetrustee'ssale.Ifyouthinkyoumayqualify asan"eligibletenantbuyer"or"eligiblebidder,"youshouldconsidercontactinganattorneyorappropriaterealestateprofessionalimmediatelyforadviceregardingthispotentialrighttopurchase.TheundersignedTrusteedisclaimsanyliabilityforanyincorrectnessofthepropertyaddressorothercommondesignation,ifany,shownherein.Ifno streetaddressorothercommondesignationisshown,directionstothelocationofthe propertymaybeobtainedbysendingawrittenrequesttothebeneficiarywithin10days ofthedateoffirstpublicationofthisNoticeofSale.Ifthesaleissetasideforanyreason, includingiftheTrusteeisunabletoconveytitle,thePurchaseratthesaleshallbeentitledonlytoareturnofthemoniespaidtotheTrustee.ThisshallbethePurchaser's soleandexclusiveremedy.Thepurchasershallhavenofurtherrecourseagainstthe Trustor,theTrustee,theBeneficiary,theBeneficiary'sAgent,ortheBeneficiary'sAttorney.Ifyouhavepreviouslybeendischargedthroughbankruptcy,youmayhavebeenreleasedofpersonalliabilityforthisloaninwhichcasethisletterisintendedtoexercisethe noteholdersright'sagainsttherealpropertyonly.Date:QualityLoanServiceCorporation2763CaminoDelRioSSanDiego,CA92108619-645-7711ForNONSALEinformationonlySaleLine:800-280-2832OrLoginto:http://www.qualityloan.comReinstatementLine:(866)645-7711Ext5318QualityLoanServiceCorp.TSNo.:CA-22-910677JBIDSPub#01791476/27/20227/4/20227/11/2022 DR#00055926 Published:June27,July4,11,2022

Tribune ConTenT AgenCy

Classifieds: 707-427-6936 SAN DIEGO – Sometime before first pitch here Saturday afternoon, there was a commotion behind the batting cage. Giants players, coaches, everyone. Roars. They were into it. It was a rare sight to see any Giants players taking batting practice on the field, let alone almost the entire hitters’ group at once.

This was, in the words of champion Austin Slater, “the First Annual Evan Longoria Home Run Derby for the Cure.”

“It supports a great cause,” Slater said with a sly smile. “. . . being Giants morale.”

It’s no secret the the club has been flailing of late, losers of 12 of their past 15 entering Saturday. The vibes, in short, have not been immaculate.

Longoria has felt especially helpless since he landed on the injured list earlier this week. Normally he would fly home ahead of the team, but with family on this trip, Longoria stuck around. The free time allowed him to think of a creative way to contribute without being able to play the field. “The goal was just to do something light hearted and have a little bit of fun and have some smiles,” Longoria said. “There’s not a whole lot of guys who consistently hit BP on the field anyway, so it seemed like a good way to get everybody out on the field and just have some fun. . . . It seemed to have done everything that I hoped it would accomplish.” Three rounds. Eight participants. One champion: Slater. The others to take part were Austin Wynns, Brandon Crawford, Joey Bart, Mike Yastrzemski,David Villarand Yermín Mercedes. Crawford, who joked that he was “added against my will,” launched three moonshots to right field in the first round. Bart unleashed a tank off the top level of the Western Metal Supply Co. building in left field. Ruf and Slater also hit three apiece, while Wynns actually hit four – but Slater’s came when it counted. Each round was weighted: five swings and one point for each homer in the first round; three swings and two points apiece in the second round; and one, final round with one swing – worth five points for a home run.

Carlos Rodón, who went on to throw the Giants’ first complete game of the season to will them to a 3-1 win later that day, told Slater beforehand that he was picking him. The two locker next to each other here. Good choice.

“Dark horse,” Slater joked. “It was a good time. It kind of loosened guys up.”

Wynns came up a few feet short on his final swing, securing his spot as runner up. Crawford and Ruf tied for third.

“Hey, another Austin won,” Wynns said. “I was the underdog. … We’ll get him next time.”

Crawford joked that the competition was “rigged.” All of the coaches picked their winners, too. Quality assurance coach Nick Ortiz was Crawford’s batting practice pitcher, but he had Slater winning it.

“That’s just bad scouting by Craw,” Slater said.

It was fitting, then, that the Giants won – for only the second time in their past 10 games – on the strength of a home run. Of course, it came from Wilmer Flores, who didn’t participate.

“I saved it for the game,” Flores said.

All that to say, this team was badly in need of an infusion of positive energy. Their manager has preached about their ability to stay even, but you could hear a pin drop in the clubhouse on most days during this stretch – a far cry from the “Club Giants” that erupts after each win.

Other veterans have attempted to right the ship. Brandon Belt delivered an impassioned message at the hitters’ meeting before their first game against the D-backs. Mike Yastrzemski and Austin Slater have spoken up, too. But this was different.

“When we’re talking in the meetings and a group setting, it’s a little bit more stern,” Longoria said. “It’s more like, we’re a better team than this. You guys are better players than this. We’ve got to be better. Whereas the home run derby was just a way of getting away from the pressures of the game.

A’s

From Page B1

different than another at-bat, that’s how I was looking at it,” Lee said. “But it was something special as soon as I got on first.”

Kyle Tucker added a solo home run against Pruitt in the eighth inning, his 17th of the season.

Lee was promoted to the Houston roster on July 1 when another local player, veteran catcher Jason Castro of Stanford and Castro Valley High, went on the injured list. At Cal, Lee hit .337 with 15 homers and 57 RBIs before being drafted. Teammates included Andrew Vaughn, the No. 3 overall pick of the Chicago White Sox in the same draft, and Darren Baker, whose father Dusty is now Lee’s manager.

Houston got its first run against Irvin when the game was three batters old as Jose Altuve doubled and one

Scoreboard

BASEBALL

Thursday’s Games San Diego 2, SAN FRANCISCO 1

Houston 5, Kansas City 2 Pittsburgh 4, Cincinnati 2, 1st Game Cincinnati 5, Pittsburgh 1 2nd Game Philadelphia 5, Washington 3 Baltimore 4, L.A. Angels 1 N.Y. Mets 10, Miami 0 N.Y. Yankees 6, Boston 5 S.t Louis 3, Atlanta 2, 11 innings Detroit 2, Chicago White Sox 1 Colorado 4, Arizona 3 L.A. Dodgers 5, Chicago Cubs 3 Seattle 8, Toronto 3

Friday’s Games Houston 8, OAKLAND 3 San Diego 6, SAN FRANCISCO 3

Cincinnati 2, Tampa Bay 1 Baltimore 5, L.A. Angels 4 Miami 5, N.Y. Mets 2 N.Y. Yankees 12, Boston 5 Atlanta 12, Washington 2 Texas 6, Minnesota 5 Kansas City 4, Cleveland 3 Detroit 7, Chicago White Sox 5 Pittsburgh at Milwaukee, 5:10 p.m. Milwaukee 4, Pittsburgh 3 Colorado 6, Arizona 5 L.A. Dodgers 4, Chicago Cubs 3 Seattle 5, Toronto 2

Saturday’s Games OAKLAND 3, Houston 2 SAN FRANCISCO 3, San Diego 1

Chicago White Sox 8, Detroit 0 Philadelphia 1, St. Louis 0 Baltimore 1, L.A. Angels 0 Texas 9, Minnesota 7 Pittsburgh 4, Milwaukee 3 Cleveland 13, Kansas City 1 Atlanta 4, Washington 3 Cincinnati 5, Tampa Bay 4, 10 innings N.Y. Mets 5, Miami 4, 10 innings Arizona 9, Colorado 2 Boston 6, N.Y. Yankees 5, 10 innings L.A. Dodgers 4, Chicago Cubs 2 Seattle 2, Toronto 1

Sunday’s Games Houston 6, OAKLAND 1 SAN FRANCISCO 12, San Diego 0

Baltimore 9, L.A. Angels 5 Atlanta 4, Washington 3 Cincinnati 10, Tampa Bay 5 Miami 2, N.Y. Mets 0 Kansas City 5, Cleveland 1 Chicago White Sox 4, Detroit 2 Pittsburgh 8, Milwaukee 6 St. Louis 4, Philadelphia 3 Colorado 3, Arizona 2 L.A. Dodgers 11, Chicago Cubs 9 Seattle 6, Toronto 5 Minnesota 6, Texas 5 N.Y. Yankees at Boston (N)

Monday’s Games OAKLAND at Texas, 5:05 p.m. Arizona at SAN FRANCISCO, 6:45 p.m.

Detroit at Kansas City, 11:10 a.m., first game Detroit at Kansas City, 5:10 p.m., second game Pittsburgh at Miami, 3:40 p.m.

Boston at Tampa Bay, 4:10 p.m.

Chicago White Sox at Cleveland, 4:10 p.m.

Philadelphia at St. Louis, 4:15 p.m.

N.Y. Mets at Atlanta, 4:20 p.m.

San Diego at Colorado, 5:40 p.m.

Tuesday’s Games

OAKLAND at Texas, 5:05 p.m.

Arizona at SAN FRANCISCO, 6:45 p.m.

Chicago White Sox at Cleveland, 10:10 a.m., first game

Chicago White Sox at Cleveland, 4:10 p.m., second game

Pittsburgh at Miami, 3:40 p.m.

Seattle at Washington, 4:05 p.m.

Cincinnati at N.Y. Yankees, 4:05 p.m.

Philadelphia at Toronto, 4:07 p.m.

Boston at Tampa Bay, 4:10 p.m.

N.Y. Mets at Atlanta, 4:20 p.m.

Milwaukee at Minnesota, 4:40 p.m.

L.A. Dodgers at St. Louis, 4:45 p.m.

Baltimore at Chicago Cubs, 5:05 p.m.

Detroit at Kansas City, 5:10 p.m.

San Diego at Colorado, 5:40 p.m.

Houston at L.A. Angels, 6:38 p.m. plate came amid a stretch where it seemed they couldn’t do anything right.

It had been nearly a month since the Giants last strung together two straight wins, in the first two games of their series at Pittsburgh, June 17 and 18. Since then, they had lost 15 of their past 19 entering Sunday.

Multiple players, including shortstop Brandon Crawford, called for a need to “get back to basics.” First baseman Brandon Belt spoke up at a hitters’ meeting before the first game of this trip.

On Saturday, Evan Longoria injected some positive energy into the downtrodden team by organizing a pregame home run derby, which Longoria said, “seemed to have done everything that I hoped it would accomplish.”

What followed has been the Giants’ two best baseball games since well before the calendar turned to July.

Rodón, who was left off the initial National League All-Star team announced Sunday, was masterful while tossing the Giants’ first complete game of the season in a 3-1 win, backed up by Flores’ first of three home runs in the final two games of this series.

With 12 runs on 17 hits – to the Padres’ zero runs and five hits – every cog of the Giants’ machine was back in working condition Sunday after nearly a month out of order. out later was doubled in by Alex Bregman.

Irvin left after six innings, having recorded half of the 18 outs on his watch on fly balls. He gave up two earned runs and in two July starts has a 1.93 earned run average. Irvin pitched eight innings and gave up four hits in his previous start against Toronto.

“They like to put the ball in the air so I was trusting the outfielders today,” Irvin said. “Little bit more curveball usage than I’ve had all season. Made my fastball look a

Online: dailyrepublic.com/classifieds Daily Republic - Monday, July 11, 2022 B7 CALENDAR Monday’s TV Sports Baseball MLB • Oakland at Texas, NBCSCA, 5 p.m. • Arizona at San Francisco, NBCSBA, 6:30 p.m. little bit harder. Didn’t Basketball have good command of it NBA Summer League early but it got better. I • Houston vs. San Antonio, ESPN, 4 p.m. really wasn’t thinking too • Orlando vs. Oklahoma City, ESPN, 6 p.m. much out there. Vogter • New York vs. Portland, ESPN2, 8 p.m. (catcher Steven Vogt) was Soccer calling a great game.” UEFA Said A’s manager Mark Kotsay: “Cole has become • Women’s Euro2022, Northern Ireland vs. Austria, ESPN2, 8:30 a.m. a professional. He knows how to pitch. He did • Women’s Euro2022, Norway vs. England, ESPN2, 11:30 a.m. that well today, changing speeds, changing heights, throwing his fastball up. Tuesday’s TV Sports Kept that offense to Baseball two runs through six MLB innings and gave us a • L.A. Dodgers at St. Louis, TBS, 4:30 p.m. chance to win.” • Oakland at Texas, NBCSCA, 5 p.m. • Arizona at San Francisco, NBCSBA, 6:30 p.m. Basketball NBA Summer League • Memphis vs. Brooklyn, ESPN2, 3:30 p.m. • Boston vs. Golden State, ESPN, 5:30 p.m. • Phoenix vs. Dallas, ESPN, 7:30 p.m. Cycling • Tour de France, Stage 10, USA, 5 a.m. Soccer UEFA • Women’s Euro2022, Finland vs. Denmark, ESPN2, 8:30 a.m. • Women’s Euro2022, Spain vs. Germany, ESPN2, 11:30 a.m.

Tribune ConTenT AgenCy

LOS ANGELES — Clothes blanket Jewell Loyd’s perfectly made king-sized hotel bed. Black pants, charcoal pants, striped shorts, a long white jacket that looks like a high-fashion lab coat next to a light gray zip-up. A white, short-sleeved button down top decorated with red poppy flowers screams in the center.

“What are we feeling?” stylist Sydney Bordonaro asks Loyd.

On any given day, WNBA players can offer a wide array of answers to the simple question. They’re feeling cozy. Sometimes swaggy. Other times sexy.

Always ready.

Loyd is feeling “mafia in the summer” as she looks at herself in the mirror dressed in black pinstripe pants, the red floral shirt she hesitantly grew to like and low-top Dior x Air Jordan 1 sneakers that retail for more than $8,000. She’s only worn them once, but this outfit is for a special occasion: the WNBA All-Star Game.

The Seattle guard walked the orange carpet in her prized sneakers on Friday as the WNBA gathered in Chicago for All-Star weekend. The league’s brightest stars showed off their best looks. All-Star team captain A’ja Wilson stunned in black leather shorts and thigh-high boots. Candace Parker, welcoming the midseason event to her hometown, rocked an olive green silk suit.

Gone are the days of the stuffy pant suit or simple blouse and pencil skirt. For a league that pushed a traditionally feminine and heteronormative image in its early years, the WNBA has grown to embrace androgynous fashion and streetwear alongside gowns, mini dresses and heels.

Simply put: “Fly is fly,” Bordonaro said.

The change that brought the WNBA to the top of fashion-savvy social media feeds is “like night and day,” Seattle point guard Sue Bird said.

The 21-year veteran who will retire at the end of the season remembered a “limiting” dress code that was lifted almost verbatim from the NBA when the top men’s league was trying to replace streetwear with suits on the sideline. Similar to the NBA’s strict guidelines, WNBA players were discouraged from wearing T-shirts and jeans. The league wanted collared or buttondown shirts, despite the women playing during the height of summer.

Despite the restrictive dress code, NBA players turned the tunnel walk into a high-fashion runway in recent years and the dress code relaxed. The phenomenon trickled down to the WNBA, where social media teams take photos of players arriving in everything from vibrant blazers and wide-leg pants to denim cutoffs and tall boots. The photos earn as much social media attention as game highlights.

The primary fashion rule for WNBA players now is no hats or bandanas on the sideline. Everything else is fair game.

“That’s how it should be,” said Loyd, a fourtime All-Star. “Everyone should be able to be comfortable in their own bodies, feel comfortable in what they wear and they shouldn’t have to explain themselves.”

Popular social media feeds like League Fits, Protrending or GQ Sports highlight WNBA players walking into games wearing ensembles that go between masculine and feminine or casual to dressy. On the same night that Connecticut Sun guard Dijonai Carrington walked into an arena wearing bright pink shorts and a matching crop jacket over a yellow bikini top with strappy sandals, teammate Courtney Williams followed in an oversized lime green leopard print shirt with matching sneakers and black pants. Players might also use the spotlight to advocate for social issues, like wearing “We Are BG” T-shirts to support Phoenix Mercury star Brittney Griner or flip the U.S. Senate with “Vote Warnock” shirts in 2020.

Celebrating the league’s diversity through fashion is “low-key part of being a role model,” Bird said. “[It’s] showcasing different parts of yourself so little kids can see that and maybe see themselves in somebody.”

Bird, who earned first-team All-Drip from Slam Magazine’s League Fits in 2019, stepped up her tunnel game this year by working with stylist Courtney Mays, the fashion mastermind behind NBA players Chris Paul, Kevin Love and DeAndre Jordan. The stylists of the WNBA are a blend of fashion gurus, personal shoppers and psychologists.

Before any clothes come into play, stylists study a client’s personality. Are they bold enough for bright colors? What about chopping the sleeves off a shirt? Kesha McLeod, whose client list includes Parker, Serena Williams, James Harden and P.J. Tucker, even went as far as to notice a former client who never looked at the top shelf of his closet, signaling to the stylist that he was a laser-focused dresser who wanted no-fuss outfits that wouldn’t take time away from focusing on his sport.

“You get into their minds and you understand them,” said McLeod, who styled Parker’s orange carpet look that included a unique cut-out in the back of the jacket. “I don’t take them out of their element because what they’re known for is playing. I just elevate that with fashion.”

Chanel Robinson-Hill immediately clicked with Dallas Wings guard Arike Ogunbowale after the reigning All-Star Game most valuable player messaged the part-time stylist and full-time bioprocessing engineer on Instagram. Robinson-Hill styled Ogunbowale for her high school jersey retirement ceremony last year. To capture the moment, Robinson-Hill chose a hoodie with the iconic 1991 photo of Michael Jordan clutching the Larry O’Brien Trophy after winning his first NBA championship, a nod to Ogunbowale winning her high school’s first Wisconsin Division I state title.

“When you wear this piece, I want everyone else to understand this is how you felt without saying a word,” said Robinson-Hill, who styled Ogunbowale in a lightweight two-piece suit for the orange carpet event Friday.

Robinson-Hill scours the internet to find unique pieces for Ogunbowale. With players traveling almost nonstop, working with a stylist makes life simpler for fashionsavvy, but time-crunched pro ballers.

Loyd doesn’t like shopping and would often buy online, but when something inevitably didn’t fit, she didn’t have time to return it. Bordonaro takes care of it all now.

The L.A.-based stylist who works with players from Seattle to New York searches for pieces online and in person, gets them sent to her clients’ homes, delivers them by hand when they blow through L.A. on a road trip or even overnights packages to different hotels while players are on the road. To finalize Las Vegas Aces guard Kelsey Plum’s All-Star outfit, Bordonaro drove to Las Vegas with a trunk full of clothes and spent the day with the former No. 1 overall pick who walked the orange carpet in a crisp white blazer, white bodysuit and beige pants.

Plum, a popular face on League Fits and GQ Sports this year, said she naturally lacks style, but wanted to “come with a little bit more oomph.” She enlisted Bordonaro, whom she met through mutual friends.

Plum’s “personality is just through the roof, but she never really dressed like it,” Bordonaro said. “So it’s like, all right, let’s just dress how you feel.”

Plum is spunky, but structured. She wants everything neat and cleancut. Although they’ve grown close, Bordonaro and Plum sometimes disagree over outfits. The 25-year-old stylist who often wears her long blonde hair in buns on top of her head loves bright colors. Plum would live in all black if she could. She hates pink.

Yet after some lighthearted argument, Plum carried a fuzzy pink purse into an arena last month to complete an outfit of loose black pants, a gray John Geiger T-shirt and white sneakers. The internet loved it.

“I never thought I would say this,” Plum said, “but you feel good, you play good.”

Plum has done just that, earning her first All-Star appearance while averaging 19.9 points, 5.7 assists and 2.7 rebounds, all career highs.

Bordonaro, who started with Loyd, a longtime personal friend, and now works with players including New York Liberty teammates Michaela Onyenwere and DiDi Richards and Sparks rookie Rae Burrell, never intended to start a styling empire. The Pittsburgh native aimed to work in marketing and become a sports agent after earning her master’s degree in sports management from Long Beach State. Yet styling athletes has shown her it can be a one-stop resource for fashion, marketing and branding. She hopes opening Plum’s closet, along with the guard’s blossoming play, will help turn her into one of the most popular professional athletes in the world. Ryan when they were up 28-3 against the Patriots, and they didn’t have that with Jimmy Garoppolo, when he missed that last throw down to Emmanuel Sanders when he overthrew him.”

Indeed, the 49ers’ messaging since drafting Lance last spring has been mostly about improving the availability under center, after injuries cost Garoppolo productive seasons in 2018 (ACL tear) and 2020 (recurring high ankle sprains). Even in 2021, after San Francisco traded three first-round picks to draft Lance third overall, Garoppolo was hampered by thumb and shoulder injuries late in the season.

The shoulder ailment required surgery in the spring and has prevented San Francisco from trading him and officially making Lance the starter. Though Shanahan has insisted all offseason he expects Garoppolo to get dealt before the start of the upcoming regular season. Lance received all the work with the starters throughout the spring program, after serving as Garoppolo’s backup last year.

Quinn Harris/Getty Images/TNS Jewell Loyd of the Seattle Storm walks the orange carpet prior to the Welcome Reception at RPM Seafood restaurant during the WNBA All-Star Weekend, in Chicago, Friday.

Weather

5-day forecast for Fairfield-Suisun City

Today

Sunny 93

Tonight

Clear 59

Tuesday

Sunny/breezy 83|58

Thursday

Sunny 88|58

Friday

Sunny 88|59

Sun and Moon

Santa Rosa 87|54

Sunrise.............................5:54 a.m. Sunset..............................8:33 p.m. Moonrise.........................7:05 p.m. Moonset..........................3:07 a.m.

New First Qtr. Full Last Qtr.

Napa 89|56 Davis 102|61

Dixon 100|61 Vacaville 98|63

Vallejo 81|58 Benicia 87|59 Concord Rio Vista 97|61 Richmond 93|59 74|57 Walnut Creek 92|59 Oakland 77|58 San Francisco 72|57 Fairfield/Suisun City 93|59

Improving over Garoppolo

There was always an emphasis of trying to improve on the play of Garoppolo. Shanahan said when he was first hired in 2017, well before acquiring Garoppolo in the trade with the Patriots, that the best way to build a sustainable contender was to have an elite signal-caller.

“You’re always looking for one of those seven throwers on the planet, whatever that number is. I’m guessing there’s only around seven,” Shanahan said after his introductory news conference. “So you better not only be set on that, saying, ‘Hey, I need one of those seven guys.’ . . . I hope to get one of those seven guys, but if you don’t, you got to find other ways to win.”

That reasoning has played out. The 49ers lost the Super Bowl to Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs after the 2019 season and fell in the recent NFC title game to Rams star Matthew Stafford. Both those quarterbacks are among the most-talented throwers of their era and were able to make winning plays against San Francisco’s defense late in games.

Garoppolo, by contrast, has mostly been an efficient game manager with the 49ers, who contended in two of the last three seasons more because of their top-ranked defenses and running games than quarterback play. Having an elite quarterback can make up for deficiencies elsewhere and San Francisco hasn’t enjoyed that luxury since Garoppolo tore his ACL early in the 2018 campaign.

With Lance, there’s a belief his strong arm and athleticism could create more plays outside of the structure of the offense, which has become paramount in the modern NFL, and what the team lacked with Garoppolo.

“Jimmy, you knew for a fact, hey, he’s going to run the play (called by Shanahan),” Griffin, currently an analyst for ESPN, told The Bee. “And if it’s there, he’s going to make it work, and if it’s not there, coach, you need to coach better. With Trey Lance, it’s not going to be that way. That’s how it was with me at times. There’s going to be opportunities you have where your skills are going to take over. But that X factor is what’s going to help you win a Super Bowl and not just get to a Super Bowl.”

Building on Lance

The challenge for Shanahan heading into training camp July 26 is creating an offense that fits Lance’s skill set. Lance is a diametrically different quarterback than Garoppolo, who was best as a rhythm passer making short throws over the middle of the field.

Lance has a more deliberate release and is less accurate, but his legs can be incorporated into the running game and he’s far more dynamic pushing the ball downfield.

Which all means the 49ers offense is expected to look different with Lance under center than the last five seasons, when Shanahan played Garoppolo, Nick Mullens and C.J. Beathard, who are traditional pocket quarterbacks.

Based on his experience getting coached by Shanahan, Griffin is optimistic Shanahan can create an attack that fits Lance’s strengths.

“Kyle Shanahan and that group (of coaches) that I had my rookie year, my second year in the league, are probably some of the smartest X and O coaches I’ve ever been around,” Griffin said. “My experience was, they essentially took my college offense and morphed it into a prostyle system. So I pushed back on the (idea), ‘they created a system for me.’ They didn’t. They literally downloaded every single tape of my college career (from Baylor).”

Robert Griffin III’s NFL career

Griffin in 2012 earned the NFL’s Offensive Rookie of the Year award and helped Washington reach the playoffs for just the third time since the turn of the century. He completed 66% of his throws with 20 touchdown passes to just five interceptions. He added 815 yards and seven touchdowns as a runner predominately using the zone-read system former Baylor coach Art Briles instituted when Griffin won the Heisman Trophy in 2011.

But that Washington team did it without premier receivers. Pierre Garçon was the team’s leading receiver with 633 yards (while appearing in only 10 games). Washington that season had the league’s best running game behind Griffin and rookie running back Alfred Morris, who had 1,613 yards and 13 touchdowns. The passing game ranked 20th but led the league with the fewest interceptions.

Lance, meanwhile, is expected to have AllPros at tight end ( George Kittle) and receiver ( Deebo Samuel) along with 2020 first-round draft pick Brandon Aiyuk and breakout candidate Jauan Jennings, who emerged late last season and became Lance’s favorite target this spring. And with Elijah Mitchell returning after a strong rookie season, Shanahan’s typically stout running game should remain among the league’s best.

Yet the most important factor for the 49ers in 2022 will be who’s under center.

“I still think the ceiling is much higher with Trey Lance than it was with Jimmy Garoppolo,” Griffin said.