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Owner and Principal Attorney, 1994-Present
Professional legal representation with extensive experience in transactional and litigation matters in a wide variety of
public and private sector industries. Providing a full range of business law and employment law services. Currently
serving as general counsel and on the board of directors for various San Diego companies. Excellent communication
skills in legal and corporate environments. Experienced supervisor of legal teams.
Transactional Practice
• Negotiated and drafted business contracts, licensing agreements, and sales commission agreements for
international technology, retail, and energy ventures.
• Advised startup companies on corporate forms, acquisitions of assets, trademarks, and intellectual property, and
shareholder agreements.
• Negotiated, drafted, and defended dozens of settlement agreements between businesses and litigants.
• Counseled employees and employers on employment contracts, separation agreements, handbooks, and statutory
compliance.
• Retained by judges and private mediators as personal counsel on their own pre-litigation and transactional matters.
Litigation Practice
• Developed a civil litigation and trial practice with an emphasis on labor and employment law. Extensive experience
representing both employers and employees in wrongful termination, discrimination, sexual harassment, whistleblower,
unfair competition, trade secret, and breach of contract cases.
• Practiced before state and federal courts, state agencies, Labor Commission, State Personnel Board, and private
arbitrators and mediators.
• As lead counsel on dozens of litigation cases, supervised teams of attorneys, paralegals, and clerical staff.
• Highly experienced defense attorney. Obtained several six and seven-figure trial verdicts and settlements as a
plaintiff attorney.
• Litigation briefs have been cited by judges for circulation to other members of judiciary.
Educator/Lecturer
• Founder of the Gaslamp Quarter Employer Roundtable
• 10/2000 Continuing Education of the Bar (CEB) : Advanced Course of Education in Employment Litigation
• 06/2001 California Alliance of Paralegal Associations - Fundamentals of Employment Litigation
OTHER EXPERIENCE
Musick, Peeler & Garrett, Los Angeles, California ,1992
U.S. Attorney’s Office, San Diego, California, 1990
San Diego City Attorney’s Office, 1989
EDUCATION
University of Southern California, J.D., 1993
Honor's Program - Hale Moot Court - Oral and Written Advocacy
University of California at San Diego, B.A., 1990
TRIAL EXPERIENCE
Quiroz v. San Diego Unified Port District, San Diego Superior Court
Represented the San Diego Unified Port District, a governmental entity created by joint agreement of the five cities
adjacent to San Diego Bay, on multi-million dollar claims of discrimination, retaliation, harassment, and constitutional
violations against Hispanic police officers. Obtained trial verdicts in favor of the Port District on all counts.
Hansel v. Maxim Crane Works, Inc., Orange County Superior Court
Represented the largest construction crane company in the world, based in Pennsylvania, against claims of wrongful
termination and breach of contract by one of its operators. Obtained a complete defense verdict at trial.
Walker v. Bechard Long & Associates, Inc., San Diego Superior Court
Represented an engineering firm defending against claims by two employees of same sex harassment, retaliation,
wrongful termination and other claims. Obtained a defense verdict on all claims and cost judgment against plaintiffs.
Weaver v. Chopra, San Diego Superior Court
Chopra v. Weaver, San Diego Superior Court
In a heavily publicized and internationally litigated set of cases, represented an employee of a celebrity defendant on
claims of harassment, wrongful termination and retaliation. Successfully defended the employee at trial against
opponent’s claims of blackmail, theft, invasion of privacy, abuse of process, interference with business relations and
conspiracy, obtaining a directed verdict on some claims and a unanimous jury verdict on the remainder.
Sergojan v. County of San Diego, U.S. District Court, Southern District Of California
Represented a senior deputy district attorney on claims of pregnancy discrimination, retaliation for protected complaints,
termination in violation of due process under 42 U.S.C. §1983, and civil rights violations by the San Diego County District
Attorney’s Office. Obtained a jury verdict of $1.5 million.
Stanfill v. SAIC, San Diego Superior Court
Represented a female executive on claims of gender discrimination and breach of the implied covenant of good faith
and fair dealing resulting from her termination. Obtained a jury verdict of $1.25 million.
Rattray v. City of National City, U.S. District Court, Southern District Of California
Represented a police officer on claims of invasion of privacy and defamation after he was surreptitiously recorded on
orders of his supervisors and subsequently terminated on false charges of dishonesty. Obtained a jury verdict of
$600,000.
Cariveau v. Sagres Corporation, San Diego Superior Court
Represented a whistleblower collections agent on claims that her employer violated state and federal laws and
terminated her in retaliation for her complaints. Obtained a favorable jury verdict and subsequent confidential settlement.
OTHER REPRESENTATIVE LITIGATION CASES
Whistleblower: represented quality control manager on claims that he was terminated in retaliation for protesting and
opposing unsafe manufacturing processes of his employer.
Whistleblower: represented a public agency employee on claims she was demoted after she opposed and protested
agency practices that violated environmental laws.
Whistleblower: represented two management employees of a major U.S. corporation on claims that they were
terminated for reporting extensive embezzlement of client funds.
Whistleblower: represented a University Director of Veterinary Medicine who was terminated after threatening to expose
violations of animal welfare laws by researchers.
Gender/National Origin Discrimination: represented a female Mexican-American maquiladora manager against a major
U.S. corporation on claims that she was harassed retaliated against, and ultimately replaced, by less-qualified male,
American managers.
Gender Discrimination: represented a female police officer on claims of gender discrimination and retaliatory termination.
Sexual Harassment: represented an office administrator against the manager of a national corporation on claims that
she was harassed and abused based on her gender.
Sexual Harassment: represented various employers defending claims of sexual harassment/hostile working
environment, retaliation, and negligent supervision.
Unfair Competition: represented national corporation to enforce contractual covenants of confidentiality and non-
competition against key agent defecting to competitor.
Unfair Competition/Interference With Contract: represented national corporation against competitor that misappropriated
confidential information learned in purchase negotiations and subsequently raided corporation’s employees.
Defamation/Breach of Contract: represented executive of entertainment start-up company on breach of contract claims for
unpaid stock and bonuses, and on defamation claims.
Breach of Contract: represented animal shelter manager terminated without good cause.
Breach of Contract/Fraud: represented a medical practice group defending contract and Labor Code §970 claims that it
had fraudulently induced a doctor to relocate and enter practice with medical group.
Breach of Contract/Fraud: represented a medical practice group defending claims of accounting fraud and breach of
contract.
