Brian J. Donovan appeared in the case "in pro per" (short for "in propria persona," meaning without the assistance of counsel; literally, from the Latin, meaning "in one's own person").  "Pro se" is an alternative expression meaning the same thing.  Mr. Donovan is a named member in Jones and Donovan, a law firm in Newport Beach, California.  The Martindale-Hubbell Lawyer Locator, a valuable resource for identifying lawyers nationwide, provides further biographical information about Mr. Donovan and describes the practice areas of the law firm as government contracts, contracts, commercial litigation, and business litigation.   Perhaps this background suggests why he was willing and able to take a case involving only $10,000 in damages to the California Supreme Court.