Education
Law School: University of San Diego Law School
College: Trinity College/Smith College
Major Cases
In the last year and a half, I have resolved more than $35 million of personal injury cases ranging from aviation, maritime, trucking, product liability and other complex cases. In one case, after seven years of work and a 10-day trial representing a severely injured motorcyclist, I prevailed against the U.S. government with a finding of 100 percent liability where we proved that a negligent Border Patrol officer left the scene of an accident. I represented Former Gov. Gray Davis in the tobacco litigation helping to recover $25 billion for the state of California, as well as represented Honda dealers who were defrauded in improper allocation of vehicles resulting in a recovery of more than $90 million for our clients. Our firm was one of the lead firms in the Exxon Valdez oil spill litigation.
Professional Background
I began my career as a city attorney prosecuting criminal cases and had the opportunity of trying 50 jury trials in my first two years. Our firm, one of the oldest in San Diego, was founded by my father in 1947. Today, we have a firm of 12 lawyers and a staff of 28 individuals dedicated to helping our clients. I serve as the statewide chair for Sen. Feinstein in overseeing the Federal Judicial Selection process in California for federal court judges, U.S. Attorneys and U.S. Marshalls. I previously chaired the San Diego Judicial Selection Committee for the San Diego Superior Court under Former Gov. Gray Davis.
Professional Affiliations
I serve on the board of governors of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers and have been inducted into the International Society of Barristers, as well as the American Board of Trial Advocates. I served as president of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America (now AAJ) in 2003. In that capacity, I played a key role in helping create the 9/11 Victims Compensation Fund, which aided the victims of the terrorist attack. This became the largest pro bono program in the history of American jurisprudence and it was concluded in 2004 when I finished my presidency of ATLA. I have also served as president of the Consumer Attorneys of California in 1997, as well as president of the Western Trial Lawyers Association and past president of the San Diego Trial Lawyers Association in 1983.
Over my career, I have been honored to receive more than 60 awards from organizations for my activities. In 1997, the Consumers Attorneys of San Diego was kind enough to recognize me with a Perpetual Award, named The David S. Casey, Jr. Consumer Protection Award, which is given out each year. In 2002, I was named Lawyer of the Year by the San Diego County Bar Association, and in 2004 I received the Broderick Award for Civility, Integrity and Professionalism. The American Bar Association, in 2009, awarded me its Pursuit of Justice Award and in 2005 the Association of Trial Lawyers of America recognized me withe Harry Philo Award for contributions to the American civil justice system. I was recognized by Super Lawyers on the cover of its initial publication in 2007 and have been recognized on an ongoing basis by Best Lawyers, Martindale-Hubbell, AV and Super Lawyers, as well as Lawdragon.
Personal Background
One of the biggest challenges of being a trial lawyer is to balance one’s personal life. My wife, Lisa, and I are celebrating 27 years of marriage and have raised two children. Our son, David, graduated from the University of Chicago and will be entering Hastings School of Law in the fall. Our daughter, Shannon, graduated from Claremont McKenna and is pursuing employment opportunities in Los Angeles. Over the years, I have had the opportunity to mentor many lawyers who have become outstanding lawyers in our community and I have enjoyed the opportunity to impact in a positive way the lives of the clients I have represented.
View our Top Attorneys Emeritus, attorneys who have been named finalists four years or more from 2009 through 2013.
Don't miss out on this wonderful opportunity to recognize your peers or congratulate attorneys from your firm. Highlight your firm's expertise by advertising or sponsoring Top Attorneys 2014. Call 619-232-4381, email contact@sddt.com, or see our flyer for more information today!
| Nominations Open | February 10 |
| Nominations Close | April 11 |
| Sponsorship/Advertising Close | July 19 |
| Publication Date | July 30 |
| Reception | August 13 |
Under the leadership of Top Attorney Courtney Miklusak, the Career and Professional Development Office at California Western School of Law draws upon its counselor attorneys’ collective 65 years of legal experience to match highly qualified candidates with law clerk and attorney opportunities both within and beyond the San Diego market.
Boutique plaintiff’s litigation firm Casey Gerry Schenk Francavilla Blatt & Penfield LLP relishes the tough cases. Senior partner David Casey, Jr. explains: “We are one of the few plaintiff’s firms with the resources to aggressively litigate high profile, complicated cases all the way from pre-filing discovery through appeals.”
The Damiani Law Group APC congratulates Associate Andrew Hillier for his recent selection by The Daily Transcript as one of San Diego’s top attorneys for 2014. In its July 30 edition, SDDT recognized Mr. Hillier for his outstanding work in the criminal defense field. Annually, the Transcript organizes a peer-voting process to determine the best lawyers in private, corporate, academic and government practice in San Diego County.
Fidelity National Title’s National Commercial Services Division provides a one-stop shop for national title and closing services. With more than 165 years of experience, our highly skilled underwriters and in-house counsel have the knowledge and capability to handle title and closing/settlement transactions across the nation.
Growing up in rural Kansas, the youngest of seven, Roger Denning enjoyed science and debate. One day, as a junior in high school, he decided he should become a patent trial lawyer.
Employers in San Diego and across the country are being flooded with interns this summer looking for work experience and that first “foot in the door” in competitive industries. For many interns and employers, payment tends to come in the form of academic credit or “life experience.” Few question this long-established practice. However, is it legal under federal or state wage and hour laws, or does the title of “intern” bestow upon it an exception?
If your marriage has hit a crossroads and you’re contemplating divorce, your first thought may be to try a separation from your spouse first.
Downtown San Diego law firm Kirby Noonan Lance & Hoge has stayed small yet strong on purpose, with skilled attorneys who are attentive and dedicated to clients of all sizes. The firm practices a variety of specialties, including real estate, intellectual property and professional liability litigation.
The first patent application or applications filed by a company can be the only opportunity to claim the most broad embodiments of a platform technology. To define the scope of what is invented, functional language often is employed in the claims, particularly where the invention is of pioneering nature, such that there is no prior art barring patentability. Such claiming strategy had been successfully employed for many years, but functional language no longer is accepted by patent offices in many jurisdictions. In the United States, such claims recently have been rejected or invalidated as not adequately described and/or not enabled. In other jurisdictions, claims are rejected as claiming by a result to be achieved.
Ronson Shamoun of RJS Law is not your typical attorney. With 15 years of tax experience, including 10 years in legal practice, he has helped thousands of clients find solutions to their civil and criminal tax matters with kindness and compassion at the center of his practice.
Sometimes the first year of law school takes students by surprise. They were successful in college and expected success in law school.
Shustak & Partners PC is an AV-rated law firm with offices in downtown San Diego, Irvine, San Francisco and New York. We are known for our extensive experience in securities and business litigation and arbitration. We represent broker-dealers, registered investment advisers, brokers, publicly traded companies, local businesses and high-net-worth individuals in a wide variety of securities and financial disputes, including securities and financial fraud claims, breach of contract claims and complex employment disputes.
On June 19, 2014, the Supreme Court of the United States issued its long-awaited decision in Alice Corporation Pty. Ltd. v. CLS Bank International, et al. The Court held that patent claims that are directed to an abstract idea are not patentable under 35 USC 101. Those in the software field will be relieved to know that software as a whole is still eligible for patent protection.
The legal profession can be challenging and demanding. Your time is limited and you need to make important financial decisions that affect you, your family, and the success of your practice.
Before taking on the ocean or opposing counsel, Thomas Frost arrives prepared.
Aug. 13, 2014 -- Reporter Doug Sherwin speaks with attorney Randy Kay, partner with Jones Day and a 2014 Top Attorney, about why there's a surge in trade secrets litigation.
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