BORENSTEIN v. GOLDSHTEYN — JOURNALIST SOURCE GUIDE
Prepared October 20, 2026 by the Law Office of J.R. Howell, counsel for Sofiya Goldshteyn.

START HERE
Story and case summary: https://lojrh.com/sofiya
Journalist resources and downloads: https://lojrh.com/b355195-media
Court documents: https://lojrh.com/b355195-documents
Cited authorities: https://lojrh.com/b355195-authorities
Amicus support: https://lojrh.com/amicus-support

media-fact-sheet.pdf — one-page overview of the case, issues, and requested relief.
media-quotation-sheet.pdf — selected words from the testimony and court rulings, with context and pinpoint links.
Matching .md files provide editable text.
appellants-opening-brief.pdf — the full clerk-stamped opening brief filed October 19, 2026.
may-19-stay-minute-order.pdf — the complete one-page May 19 order discussing the stay request.

THE CASE
California Court of Appeal, Second Appellate District, Division Five, No. B355195.
Trial court: Los Angeles Superior Court, No. 22STFL08826, Judge Scott J. Nord.
The Law Office of J.R. Howell represents appellant Sofiya Goldshteyn. Max Borenstein is the respondent on appeal. Sofiya was the respondent in the trial court, which explains the title on her trial brief.

PRIMARY DOCUMENTS AND PINPOINTS
May 19 minute order:
https://framerusercontent.com/assets/1G10JHGdapX1wC1MGfuAGXjWXXw.pdf

Filed opening brief:
https://www.theamericancounsel.com/content/files/2026/10/appellants-opening-brief.pdf
Cover: filing stamp. Pages 19–23: factual and procedural account. Pages 25–49: constitutional arguments. Pages 50–56: contractual and related arguments. Pages 59–60: primary and alternative relief. Page 63: proof of service identifying opposing counsel.

April 23 decision and May 12 ruling, with related minute orders:
https://www.theamericancounsel.com/content/files/2026/08/Combined-Tentative-and-Final-Judgment.pdf
PDF pages 8–9: embryo-disposition directions.
PDF pages 9–10: remaining genetic opportunity and reproductive-rights reasoning.
PDF page 17: conditional treatment of possible earlier embryos.
The temporary-stay language on PDF pages 12 and 27 must be read together with the later May 19 minute order included in this kit. These documents do not verify current physical preservation or later orders.

Official trial transcript:
https://lojrh.com/b355195/record/b355195_cv_goldshteyn_rt.pdf
RT 53–54: Sofiya’s account of diagnosis-day fertility preservation.
RT 41–42 and 47: Max’s account of his objection, including his statement that potential child support is not his only objection.
RT 68: Sofiya’s explanation of her connection to the existing embryos, including donor-egg embryos.
RT 74–79 and 81: acknowledgments and qualifications concerning clinic directives.
Printed RT pages match the one-based PDF page numbers. Read the questions, answers, and surrounding exchanges together.

Sofiya’s trial brief, filed February 13, 2026:
https://www.theamericancounsel.com/content/files/2026/08/Respondent-s-Trial-Brief.pdf
PDF pages 3–4 (printed pages 2–3) describe her education, work, and fertility history. This is counsel’s trial presentation, not an independent biography or a set of judicial findings.

Max Borenstein’s trial brief:
https://www.theamericancounsel.com/content/files/2026/08/26.02.13-P-s-Trial-Brief-service-copy.pdf

Max Borenstein’s closing trial brief:
https://www.theamericancounsel.com/content/files/2026/08/2026.0410-P-s-Closing-Trial-Brief.pdf

DATES IN THE RECORD
February 24, 2026: Trial on the disputed embryos.
April 23, 2026: Tentative decision and proposed statement of decision.
May 12, 2026: Ruling adopting the decision with modifications.
May 14, 2026: Notice of appeal, as reported in the filed opening brief.
May 19, 2026: Stay-extension request denied by reference to Code of Civil Procedure section 916(a).
October 19, 2026: Opening brief filed, as shown by the clerk’s stamp.

CURRENT STATUS
This kit documents the record reviewed as of October 20, 2026. It does not establish the current embryo-storage condition, later docket developments, or a future hearing date. For the current appellate docket, search B355195 at:
https://appellatecases.courtinfo.ca.gov/search.cfm?dist=2
Contact counsel for a current preservation update.

INTERVIEWS AND EDITORIAL ASSETS
Law Office of J.R. Howell
jr@lojrh.com
(323) 897-8656
Include the outlet, subject, deadline, and preferred format. Counsel can coordinate requests to speak with Sofiya. For photographs or recordings, identify the intended use so that availability, credits, and permissions can be confirmed. No photographs or recordings are included in this kit.

DISCLOSURE
This package is prepared by counsel for Sofiya Goldshteyn and presents her position in pending litigation. The source documents distinguish testimony, judicial findings, orders, and the parties’ arguments. No first-in-the-nation claim is made. Quoted transcript excerpts are identified as testimony; arguments seeking an appellate ruling are not existing appellate holdings.
