Criminal Law

• Wrongful Death
  Todd Angstadt and Micah Yospe recently obtained a dismissal of their client in a wrongful death action.  The decedent’s parents alleged their son was wrongfully shot and killed by his friend.  They
• Sex Crimes
  Congratulations to Partner Todd Angstadt and Associate Micah Yospe for prevailing in a Motion for Summary Judgment.  A minor plaintiff alleged sexual assault by a family friend.  She alleged that our client, the father of...
• Assault

Employment Law

• Workers Compensation
  Attorneys Sandra Block and Christina Newell recently secured a summary judgment for our client in a case brought in Orange County Superior Court. Plaintiff slipped in client’s home while working as a housekeeper and sustained injuries as a result of her fall. Plaintiff alleged excess pet waste in the property was a dangerous condition due to the client’s failure to properly maintain it. The Court agreed with the defense that the client owed no duty of care to the plaintiff and that plaintiff’s sole remedy was via the Workers Compensation system, as the fall occurred while the plaintiff was working at the property as an independent contractor housekeeper. Congratulations to Ms. Block and Ms. Newell!
• Wrongful Termination
  San Francisco attorneys Greg Spallas and Anna Gehriger prevailed on behalf of a large employer client on a special motion to strike (pursuant to the Anti-SLAPP statute, California Code of Civil Procedure section 425.16) resulting in an early dismissal of plaintiff’s employment lawsuit alleging ten causes of action, including defamation, discrimination, retaliation, and wrongful termination in Northern California.

Property Law

• Premises Liability
  Attorneys Robert K. Phillips and Megan E. Wessel recently secured a summary judgment for our client in a premises liability case brought in United States District Court, District of Nevada.  Plaintiff slipped on a clear liquid substance on our client’s property and sustained knee and back injuries.  Plaintiff was unable to prove that our client had any notice of a dangerous condition.  The Court agreed with the defense that plaintiff could not demonstrate a genuine dispute of material fact as to notice and granted our motion for summary judgment in favor of our client.
• Landlord-Tenant Disputes
  Partner Elisa Marcaletti and associate Connor Gaballa prevailed on two consecutive demurrers in a landlord-tenant case venued in San Mateo County. This case involved an unauthorized individual residing at the clients’ property allegedly pursuant to an oral sublease with the property’s master tenant, which the firm’s clients were not aware of. Thus, we successfully challenged the legality of the claimed tenancy.
• Property Damage
  Associate Daniel Joslyn obtained a defense verdict in a property damage case in the Henderson Justice Court in Clark County, Nevada. After a bench trial, the Court ruled that the defendant, an international retailer, was not responsible for $10,000 in damages claimed to plaintiff’s car following an oil change, accepting Mr. Joslyn’s arguments that intervening events, including plaintiff’s own actions, were more than likely the cause of the damages.

Health Law

• Personal Injury
  Pooja Kumar Receives 10 Best Attorney Award for Client Satisfaction from the American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys
• Dog Bites
  We are proud to continue our Senior Associates Presents Series.  We want to thank George M. Morris for his recent presentation, giving an overview of Dog Bite Law in California. In our latest offering in our Senior Associate Presents Series, George provided insight into the history of the law surrounding dog bites and owner liability under homeowners insurance, potential immunities and traps for the unwary, and the application of strict liability theories and negligence in multiple, engaging fact patterns.  He also discussed the potential experts to consider in raising an effective defense, common factors to consider in evaluating damages in dog-related injuries, and potential defenses.  George provided a plethora of relevant case law, with practical guidance on where to obtain records and research local ordinances, which our attorneys found helpful in handling currently active cases at our firm.