Education

University of Illinois College of Law, Champaign, Illinois,
J.D., 1981

Carleton College, Northfield, Minnesota,
B.A., 1978

Published Works

Does Anyone Read These Things? Boilerplate Hospital Admission Forms with Philip Michels, OC Lawyer, December 2012

Bolanos v. Superior Court: At Last, Rationality and Proportionality in Resolving Medi-Cal Liens, Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles – Advocate, February 2009

Recent Cases on Expert Evidence and Objections in Summary Judgment Practice, Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles – Advocate, December 2008

Ahlborn v. Arkansas Dept. of Health Services Update: 2008, Presented at Consumer Attorneys of California 2008 Annual Convention and Seminar, November 2008

Understanding the Statute of Limitations for a Medical Malpractice Birth Trauma Case with Shirley Watkins, Plaintiff Magazine, December 2007

Ahlborn, One Year Later, Presented at Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles Annual Convention and Seminar, September 2007

“Trust Me, I’m an Expert”: Expert Declarations and Summary Judgment, Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles – Advocate, December 2006

Giving Medi-Cal What It Deserves – No Less and No More, Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles – Advocate, September 2006

Thinking, and Over-Thinking, About Summary Judgment, Consumer Attorneys of California Forum, December 2005

Advocacy v. Frivolity: Sanctions on Appeal, Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles – Advocate, September 2004

The Limits of Civil Code section 3333.1, Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles – Advocate, June (Part 1) and July (Part 2), 2003

The Limitations of the Intentional Acts Exclusion, Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles – Advocate, February 2002

A Glimpse Inside the Holy Text: Discovering the Insurance Carrier’s Claims Manual, Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles – Advocate, September 2001

Conflicts of Interest in the Tripartite Relationship, Los Angeles Daily Journal, September 2001

Conflicts of Interest in the Insurer-Insured-Defense Counsel Relationship, Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles – Advocate, November 2000

Recognizing Bad Faith Conduct, Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles – Advocate, October 1999

ERISA, MICRA and the Common Fund Doctrine, Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles – Advocate, September1999

Liability of the Sport Utility Vehicle Manufacturer with Arnold Schwartz, Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles – Advocate, May 1999

Respondent Superior Liability of a Hospital for Acts of Physicians Practicing Within It, Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles –Advocate, March 1998

Individual Liability Under the Fair Employment and Housing Act with Joseph Posner, Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles – Advocate, November 1994

Two Year Statute of Limitations for Public Policy Termination Claims with Joseph Posner, Los Angeles Trial Lawyers Association – Advocate, June1994

Opposing Defendant's Motion for Discretionary Relief from Default with Shirley K. Watkins, L.A.T.L.A. – Advocate, January1993

Respondent Superior Liability: Unchanged Even After Proposition 51, Los Angeles Lawyer, December 1992

Code of Civil Procedure Section 351: Its Use in Discovery and Defense in Court, C.T.L.A. Forum, November 1992

When the Doctor Says "Yes" But the Client Says "No": Health Care Provider Liens, L.A.T.L.A. – Advocate, July/August 1992

Discovery of Sexual Conduct of Plaintiff in Civil Sexual Harassment or Sexual Assault Case with Shirley K. Watkins, L.A.T.L.A. – Advocate, June 1992

Limited Partner Liability and the General Partner: Corporations Code Section 15507 Revisited with B. Weiner, Beverly Hills Bar Journal, Summer 1990

Professional Liability for Psychotherapist-Patient Sexual Relations, 19 C.T.L.A. Forum Nos. 8 and 9, 1989

Comment, Central National Ins. Co. of Omaha v. Prudential Reinsurance Co. with S. Gage, Bad Faith Law Update, Vol. 2, No. 7, 1988

Comment, Isaacson v. California Ins. Guarantee Association with S. Gage, Bad Faith Law Update Vol. 2, No. 10, 1988

Protecting the Verdict's Value: Recovery of Costs, Pre-Judgment Interest and Statutory Settlement Offers with S. Gage, 18 C.T.L.A. Forum 207, 1988

Motions for Summary Judgment: Differences Between State and Federal Approaches 14, L.A. Trial Lawyers Association – Advocate, November 1987

Petitions for Removal to Federal Court After "Pilot Life" 17, California Trial Lawyers Association Forum 369, 1987

Associations & Memberships

• American Board of Professional Liability Attorneys, Certified in Medical Malpractice
• State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization, Certified Specialist in Appellate Law
• Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles, Board of Governors
• Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles, Editor-in-Chief, Advocate, 1995 - 2002
• Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles, Associate Editor, 1993 - 1995
• Consumer Attorneys of California, Amicus Curiae Committee
• American Association for Justice, Amicus Curiae Committee
• American Constitution Society
• Los Angeles County Bar Association
• Cowboy Lawyers Association
• Society of Professional Journalists

Honors & Awards

• Appellate Lawyer of the Year, Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles
• President’s Award, Los Angeles Trial Lawyers Association
• President’s Award, Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles
• Southern California Super Lawyer in Appellate Practice, Los Angeles magazine

Bar Admissions:

Illinois, 1981
California, 1982
U.S. Court of Appeals 9th Circuit, 1983
U.S. Supreme Court, 1985
Appellate Specialist
Medical Professional Liability Specialist

Classes/Seminars Taught

Frequent Speaker and Moderator of MCLE Seminars, CAALA