Education

Law School/Year: J.D., Washington & Lee University, magna cum laude, Order of the Coif, 1986

College/Year: B.S., Missouri State University, summa cum laude, 1983

Bar Admissions

California, Missouri, Illinois

Practice Areas

Business Litigation, Personal Injury & Property Damage, Product Liability, Real Estate

Major Cases

Jim Lance has been involved in many significant commercial and serious personal injury cases, including the prosecution of a nationwide class action against American Honda regarding transmission defects, which resulted in a transmission replacement program valued in excess of $180 million. Lance tried a case for a helicopter pilot against McDonnell Douglas regarding serious injuries suffered in an accident in the South Pacific. A jury awarded the client over $2.7 million. He also has been involved in several significant cases regarding real estate development issues and investment disputes. One of the most rewarding experiences of his career was acting as litigation counsel for injured parties in the September 11 Victims Compensation Program in New York City.

Professional Background

In 1990, Lance joined Kirby Noonan Lance & Hoge (fka Post, Kirby, Noonan & Sweat). He has focused his practice on commercial and serious personal injury litigation, including disputes involving real estate, products liability, securities and other complex business disputes. Lance has obtained several verdicts and settlements in excess of $1 million for his clients and has been recognized in Who's Who in American Law and selected by his peers as one of San Diego's "Super Lawyers" in 2007 and 2008.

Professional Affiliations

San Diego County Bar Association, American Bar Association, American Association for Justice, Consumer Attorneys of San Diego, Federal Bar Association

Personal Background

Lance lives in the Kensington area of San Diego. He enjoys spending time with his wife and three boys.

In law school he was awarded the Robert R. Kane scholarship, published articles for the Washington and Lee Law Review and was selected as executive editor of the Law Review.

He moved to San Diego and joined Kirby Noonan Lance & Hoge in January 1990.

Lance is involved in a variety of professional organizations. He has been a member of the Louis M. Welsh Chapter of the American Inns of Court and the William B. Enright Chapter. He is a continuing education speaker on various topics, and is the editor for the products liability section of the Trial Bar News.