Education
Law School: University of San Diego School of Law
College: Claremont McKenna College
Major Cases
San Diego Housing Commission v. Industrial Indemnity, 68 Cal. App. 4th 526 (1998); San Diego Housing Commission v. Industrial Indemnity, 95 Cal. App. 669,116 CR2d 103 (2002). Recently represented a public agency in obtaining a summary judgment in favor of that public agency interpreting the MMBA on a matter of first impression in San Diego Superior Court. It is currently on appeal.
The firm was recently involved in representing the San Diego Housing Commission in connection with its nationally recognized conversion from federally subsidized public housing; thereafter, the firm acted as borrower’s counsel for the San Diego Housing Commission in obtaining FNMA and FHA multifamily housing insured loans in excess of $95 million through national lenders Greystone and PNC; involved in assisting in the amendment of the inclusionary housing ordinance in the city of San Diego to deal with issues raised by the Palmer and Patterson cases; represented the San Diego Housing Commission in foreclosure litigation involving the SRO Churchill Hotel was successfully resolved in the San Diego Superior Court; and the Churchill Hotel is now being renovated and made ready for reoccupation.
Professional Background
After graduating from USD School of Law and passing the bar, went to work for the law firm of Biafora and Weiner in the San Fernando Valley in 1974, becoming a partner of the firm of Biafora, Weiner & Christensen in 1976. In 1978, moved back to San Diego and became vice president and general counsel of the civil engineering and surveying firm of Charles W. Christensen & Associates. In 1983, became a partner in the firm of Detisch & Christensen and remained with that firm until 2002, when the firm that is now called Christensen & Spath LLP was formed.
Practicing law in the state of California for almost 41 years. Attained the “AV-Preeminent” rating from Martindale-Hubbell and maintained that rating for over 20 years. Christensen & Spath LLP, a downtown San Diego law firm, is rated AV and is also listed in the prestigious Martindale-Hubbell National Bar Register of Preeminent Law Firms in the United States, in the areas of municipal law, civil trial practice and general practice.
Named one of the top public agency lawyers by The Daily Transcript in 2005, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013 and now in 2014. Have been named a Super Lawyer in the San Diego area in the municipal law arena from 2007 through 2013. In March of 2013 and 2014, named a Top Lawyer in San Diego by San Diego Magazine.
For the last 23 years a major portion of the practice has been devoted to representing public entities, including the San Diego Housing Commission in connection with all types of legal matters. The firm has represented cities and public agencies, including the city of San Diego and the city of National City in complex civil litigation matters, as special counsel. We have also represented the CDC of National City, the Redevelopment Agency of the city of San Marcos, SANDAG, the city of Poway and the city of Chula Vista as special counsel for various issues including real estate and affordable housing matters.
Litigation has included numerous bench trials and jury trials to judgment and verdict, representing both public and private clients in state and federal trial courts and in the Courts of Appeal, including appeals in the California Court of Appeal, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeal, the State Supreme Court and the United States Supreme Court. Our firm has represented the city of San Diego and the Housing Authority of the city of San Diego in civil litigation involving matters affecting affordable housing, including litigation involving SRO Hotels and inclusionary zoning matters. Have been chief trial counsel in civil litigation on behalf of the public entities where these entities have collected settlements and judgments valued in excess of $14 million over the last several years.
Professional Affiliations
Member of the San Diego County Bar Association and the American Bar Association. Past arbitrator for the American Arbitration Association and a past member of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America. Active member of the State Bar of California.
Personal Background
Resided in San Diego County since the age of 2, except for the four years while practicing law in Los Angeles County in the 1970s. Live in Point Loma with my wife of almost 44 years, Susan. Have four children and seven grandchildren. All of our children and all of our grandchildren live in California, with most of them residing in San Diego County.
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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