Education

Law School/Year: Suffolk University Law School, J.D. 1984, cum laude; National Criminal Defense College, Mercer Law School, 1985

College Education: College of the Holy Cross, Economics/Spanish, 1978, cum laude

Bar Admissions

California, 1984; U.S. Supreme Court, 1992; U.S. District Court Southern, Central and Northern Districts of California; U.S. Court of Appeals Ninth and Fifth Circuits;

all California state courts

Practice Areas

Appellate, Criminal Law, Taxation

Major Cases

United States v. Pulaski was the biggest fraud case in California history to date. I represented the top salesman for Jerry Dominelli. Former mayor of Del Mar, Nancy Hoover Hunter, testified against Pulaski. Result: Hung Jury and dismissal.

United States v. Edmonds was noted in the media as the “Poway Shooting Case.” DEA and Customs agents shot an innocent homeowner in Poway based on bogus information from a confidential informant. I represented that informant. The prosecution blamed the shooting on him; I argued the federal agencies were to blame for relying on his clearly false information. Result: Hung Jury on all counts involving the shooting.

Professional Background

From 1983 to 1989 I worked as a trial attorney at Federal Defenders of San Diego. In 1988 I was promoted to senior trial attorney. The training and trial experience were rigorous, but worth it. I litigated a full spectrum of federal cases, including immigration, narcotics, drug kingpin, complex conspiracy and fraud, RICO and tax offenses.

I left in 1989 to open my private practice. I expanded my practice to include representing people charged in state court, and I tried numerous state felony cases.

From 1997 to 1998 I took a sabbatical from private practice to become the Assistant Public Defender of Mendocino County. I was responsible for supervising all felony attorneys. I also handled a full felony caseload. I left that office to return to private practice in San Diego, where I continue to specialize in federal and state criminal defense. My application to the state bar for Criminal Law Specialist is currently pending.

Professional Affiliations

San Diego County Bar Association; San Diego County Bar Association Private Conflicts Panel for Class 3 to 6 felonies; Lawyer Referral Service for Criminal Law; Criminal Justice Act Attorney; Adjunct Professor, Trial Skills Courses, University of San Diego School of Law and California Western School of Law; Workshop Leader, National Institute of Trial Advocacy, Trial Techniques Course, University of San Diego School of Law; Seminar Lecturer, University of New Mexico Law School; author, "Common Federal Offenses and Issues," Defending a Federal Criminal Case, Federal Defenders of San Diego

Personal Affiliations

For the past 10 years I have been actively involved in youth sports, primarily due to my son’s interest in sports. I have participated in the following programs: American Youth Soccer Association as coach and referee; Bonita Matrix Soccer Club as assistant coach; Chula Vista and Eastlake Youth Basketball as coach; and St. John of the Cross School Basketball as coach. I also speak and write Spanish fluently.