Legal Question in Appeals and Writs in California

Re: Summary judgment appeals de novo?

Appellate courts review a summary judgment de novo. That is because all summary judgments are legal - not factual - decisions due to there being no disputed factual issues.

Questions of law are always reviewed de novo.

Re: Summary judgment appeals de novo?

Yes, but the trial court was also required to view the evidence in the light most favorable to the plaintiff. Theoretically the appellate court will look at the case exactly the way the trial court was supposed to.

"De novo" review means something different. It means that the appellate court will not presume the trial court was either right or wrong. Instead it will essentially decide the motion anew.

Summary judgments are reviewed de novo, as you say, but that is not the same thing as viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the plaintiff. Plenty of other types of orders and judgments are reviewed de novo without requiring such a favorable stance on the evidence.