How about every suit brought by the Prison Law Office (PLO) representing CDCR inmates, which eventually resulted in the prison health care receivership? At least a couple billion over the past 5 years. Also, the Williams suit which required the state to pay for schools that haven’t done basic maintenance for years? Not trying to argue, but I have been doing this for quite awhile and the state does not win, especially when represented by the state’s attorneys.
Note that the “furlough” win did not address the question of constitutional officers, like the AG, who normally represents the state in legal challenges. When the Governor’s office hires outside counsel at $400/hour, it wins. But most of the time, the state “hires” the AG, as required by law, and doesn’t win.