Practice Areas

Personal Injury Litigation

The firm handles almost all types of personal injury, both plaintiff and defense, providing a greater depth of understanding of the critical issues and strategies.

Vehicle Accidents

There is a saying that all accidents are preventable. On the streets and highways, when a collision occurs, it is almost always due to someone's lack of caution. The result can be a common rear-ender or it can be catastrophic, requiring accident reconstruction and human factors experts, life care planners, etc. The firm has developed particular expertise in the following related subjects:

  • Trucking and allegations of violation of Department of Transportation regulations as contributing to a cause of a collision
  • Fog and dust storm cases
  • Punitive damages allegations

Product Liability

Claims arising from injury allegedly due to an unsafe product or labeling. These claims are highly technical and frequently involve significant injuries. Effective case management is necessary.

The firm has handled product liability defense for clients including Detroit Diesel, Freightliner, Tru-Temper, Veterinary Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and Frontier Industrial Technology. In the area of premises liability, it has represented Pep Boys, Denny's Restaurants, Yosemite Concession Services, Food 4 Less.

Premises Liability

Claims arising from injury allegedly due to the unsafe condition of property, whether it be the classic "slip and fall" or a dog bite, sport or the criminal activity of another person. The injured party must prove the property was unsafe and that the owner either crated the condition or failed to take the opportunity to warn or remedy the situation.

The firm routinely handles all these types of cases. Its clients have included Pep Boys, Denny's Restaurants, Yosemite Concession Services, Food 4 Less.

Civil Rights

Claims arising from the alleged use of excessive force by law enforcement or unlawful discrimination by a governmental entity. Primarily filed in federal court, these cases involve significant legal issue as well as highly contentious factual disputes.

Agricultural Environmental Claims

The world of agriculture has become a world of regulation, both federal and state, even local. With a myriad of agencies in place to enforce these regulations, our firm provides practically experienced attorneys to defend our clients' interests in the following areas:

  • Clean Water Act, water rights, wetland issues and permits, ground water protection and underground storage tanks
  • Civil environmental enforcement actions and criminal investigations under all statutes
  • Emergency planning and community right to know requirements, including hazard communications and other environmental disclosure requirements
  • Defense of OSHA enforcement and counseling on OSHA compliance

Business and Commercial Litigation

Our firm represents brokers, real estate agents, landlords, small and international corporations, sole proprietors and other small business owners in the following types of cases:

  • Fraud
  • Unfair Business Practices
  • Contractual disputes
  • Interference with Economic Advantage
  • Civil RICO
  • Partnership Dissolution
  • Business Loan Workouts

Employment Litigation

The firm represents employers and employees, private and public, in administrative tribunals and courts in the following types of claims:

  • Wrongful termination
  • Discrimination
  • Whistleblowing
  • Disability discrimination
  • Harassment
  • Retaliation
  • Wage and Hour

The firm also provides AB 1825 Training seminars relating to preventing, recognizing and investigating claims of discrimination and harassment.

Discrimination

In California, most employees are "at-will" meaning they can be fired for any reason or no reason, or no good reason, so long as the reason is not discriminatory. Discrimination refers to treating a person differently because of one of the following:

  • Age
  • Gender
  • Religion
  • Whistle-blowing activity
  • Disability
  • Race
  • Gender Preference
  • Genetic characteristic

Harassment

Harassment experienced because of one of the above categories (age, disability, etc.) is also unlawful and need not result in being fired to be the subject of a lawsuit. There are two basic types of harassment:

  • Hostile Work Environment

    A hostile work environment can be created by derogatory or offensive remarks or conduct about a person's age, disability, sexual preference, race, etc.

  • Quid Pro Quo

    This is a Latin term that in connection with harassment means an employee is expected to provide sexual favors in exchange for keeping his or her job or to obtain advancement.

Wage and Hour

Where an employer fails and/or refuses to pay an employee according to law, such as for overtime, or will not provide the employee with required meal and rest breaks, the employee can file a claim with the California Labor Commissioner to get paid.