Murchison & Cumming Forms Wildland Fire Litigation and White Collar Crime Practice Groups

December 23, 2011

LOS ANGELES - Murchison & Cumming, LLP is pleased to announce the formation of its Wildland Fire Litigation and White Collar Crime practice groups.

In response to the growing demand for the specialized representation needed by utilities and others to defend against lawsuits arising out of the ever-increasing number of wildfires in the United States, Murchison & Cumming has formed a dedicated Wildland Fire Litigation practice group. The attorneys in this group bring a depth of experience to the defense of these matters, the firm having a long history of defending utilities against such lawsuits arising out of fires in Southern California and elsewhere. Practice Group Chair Friedrich W. Seitz, who together with Partners Richard C. Moreno and Gina E. Och has handled innumerable suits arising out of Southern California wildfires, was recently appointed lead counsel in the Bastrop County Complex Fire litigation in Texas.

“Catastrophes caused by nature or man seem to have increased over the last few years,” Mr. Seitz said of the increased litigation in this area, noting that “With extreme winds, it is not uncommon for wind-felled trees to down electric power lines initiating fires that cause damage to the environment and structures with ensuing litigation by home owners for damage to homes and personal property, suits by insurance carriers to recoup payments made to their insureds and claims and suits by government agencies to recover fire suppression costs and resource damages to the environment. This type of litigation not only raises unique legal issues but requires background and knowledge of electric power distribution, fire science relating to cause and origin, meteorology, metallurgy and damage evaluation and appraisal.”

The White Collar Crime team, Co-chaired by Michael B. Lawler and Lisa D. Angelo, represents corporations and individuals in white collar criminal investigations and proceedings from pre-indictment investigations to trial, including matters involving allegations of mail and wire fraud, money laundering, asset forfeiture (civil and criminal), extortion, embezzlement and bribery. The attorneys are available for consultation at each stage of the criminal process and are experienced at negotiating a lesser charge or sentence, investigating government witnesses and preparing clients for interviews with the FBI, the Department of Justice or grand jury proceedings.

“An indictment does not mean one has been fairly charged. Until twelve people state otherwise, no one should be prematurely convicted either in the public eye or otherwise,” said Ms. Angelo, who recently successfully prevailed in having a twenty-count criminal indictment dismissed.

About Murchison & Cumming, LLP
With a firm history dating to 1930, Murchison & Cumming, LLP is a premier, AV-rated civil litigation firm with five offices in California and Las Vegas, whose attorneys specialize in the defense of domestic and international businesses, insurers and individuals, at trial and on appeal. The firm's attorneys also handle employment matters and business transactions. The firm is a member of the USLAW Network. For additional information, please visit our website at www.murchisonlaw.com.