Welcome Brittany Lyons as the Newest Associate in Las Vegas

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Murchison & Cumming, LLP is pleased to announce Brittany Lyons has joined the Las Vegas office as an Associate. She obtained her B.S.E. in Industrial Engineering at Arizona State University before earning her law degree from the William S. Boyd School of Law at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Brittany’s background in manufacturing has naturally led to a significant interest in products liability, combining her analytical engineering skills with her legal practice.

Brittany’s passion for law began during her high school AP Government class, where she developed a fascination with the complexities of the legal system. In law school, Brittany received a mediation certificate through a hands-on experiential class that deepened her practical skills. Her experience continued to grow through internships with the Honorable Judge Amy Mastin in family court and at a Las Vegas family law firm. Brittany then joined M&C as a Summer Associate and Post-Bar Law Clerk, while also serving as Senior Staff Editor for the Nevada Law Journal. She was awarded an academic scholarship throughout her legal education for her academic excellence.

Brittany cultivated strong analytical and problem-solving skills during her undergraduate capstone project with the Transportation Security Administration in Phoenix, Arizona, which has carried over well into her legal practice. Her dedication to research and writing, particularly in law and motion, aligns with her goal of delivering insightful legal solutions for her clients.

Guy Gruppie Featured in Law360 Article on Anticipated Matthew Perry Wrongful Death Lawsuit

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Murchison & Cumming, LLP Senior Partner Guy R. Gruppie was recently quoted in a Law360 article discussing the anticipated wrongful death litigation related to the ketamine overdose death of actor Matthew Perry. As a veteran of defending hundreds of wrongful death cases for over three decades at M&C, Gruppie shared his insights on how Perry’s estate and heirs could be expected to leverage the aggressive efforts of federal prosecutors in investigating the details of the acquisition of ketamine by the late “Friends” star from medical professionals and other sources. He emphasized that plaintiff lawyers could, and would, closely monitor the criminal cases, employing any plea bargain agreements or evidence that arise, and could potentially use the medical evidence, including key toxicology findings gathered by the Los Angeles County Coroner, in upcoming civil cases. Gruppie noted that the Medical Injury Compensation Reform Act (MICRA) likely would not restrict the scope of damages that plaintiffs might seek, despite some of the potential civil case defendants being medical professionals.

Gruppie’s commentary highlights Murchison & Cumming’s expertise and experience of the complexities involved in high-profile wrongful death cases and underscores the firm’s reputation as a defense leader within the legal community.

Click here to read the full article

Nine Murchison & Cumming Lawyers Recognized by 2025 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America

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Murchison & Cumming, LLP is pleased to announce that nine attorneys have been recognized in the prestigious The Best Lawyers in America® (2025 Edition). This honor is a testament to their unwavering commitment to excellence and providing exceptional service to clients. The recognition underscores a lawyer’s dedication to achieving the best outcomes for their clients, upholding the highest ethical standards, and contributing positively to the legal community.

Jean A. Dalmore, Senior Partner in the Los Angeles office, has been recognized in the area of Litigation – Construction. Ms. Dalmore focuses her practice on construction litigation, representing developers, general contractors, subcontractors, material suppliers and design professionals in breach of contract, construction defect, professional negligence, and construction site accident cases. Ms. Dalmore also practices in professional liability, defending design professionals in construction, as well as insurance agents, real estate agents, brokers, accountants, and other design professionals in malpractice actions.

Michael J. Nunez, Senior Partner in the Las Vegas office, has been recognized in the areas of Appellate Practice, Litigation – Insurance, and Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants. Mr. Nunez focuses his practice on wrongful death, severe injury, transportation, product liability, malpractice, wage and hour claims, and defends clients in lawsuits involving construction accidents, water rights, and premises liability. Mr. Nunez is a founding board member of the Las Vegas Defense Lawyers (a civil defense bar) and serves on the Board of Directors for the Clark County Bar Association.

Friedrich W. Seitz, Senior Partner in the Los Angeles office, has been recognized in the area of Product Liability Litigation – Defendants. Mr. Seitz served as Managing Partner of the firm from 1986 to 2007. He focuses his practice on defending Electrical Utility companies in wildland fire cases, domestic and international product liability, aviation, catastrophic injuries and business litigation.

Matthew H. Printz, Partner in the San Diego office, has been recognized in the area of Litigation – Construction. Mr. Printz focuses his practice on construction and general liability law, representing developers and subcontractors in construction defect litigation, mechanic’s lien actions, and public works projects, while also handling products liability, personal injury, and professional liability cases.

William J. Snyder, Partner in the San Diego office, has been recognized in the area of Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants. Mr. Snyder focuses his practice on litigation in the areas of product liability, catastrophic injury, transportation, general and professional liability, employment, foodborne illness and environmental law/toxic torts.

Bryan J. Ure, Partner in the Las Vegas office, has been recognized in the area of Litigation – Construction. Mr. Ure also practices in the areas of healthcare, product liability, commercial litigation, and personal injury defense.

David A. Winkle, Partner in the Irvine office, has been recognized in the area of Litigation – Health Care. Mr. Winkle focuses his practice in the areas of health law and related litigation, including staff privileges and disputes, professional liability defense, and employment law. He regularly defends hospitals, doctors and other medical providers and professionals in medical malpractice actions.

Gregory A. Sargenti, Associate Partner in the Irvine office, has been recognized in the area of Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants. Mr. Sargenti focuses his practice in the areas of IP litigation, patent and trade mark prosecution, product liability defense, general liability, hospital and professional liability defense, hospitality, and general business litigation, insurance coverage and bad faith litigation.

Tyler N. Ure, Associate Partner in the Las Vegas office, has been recognized in the area of Commercial Litigation. Mr. Ure focuses his practice on insurance coverage and general liability. He also has experience in all areas of commercial litigation as well as creditor’s rights.

The Best Lawyers in America® is one of the most respected peer-review publications in the legal profession. Being included is a reflection of a lawyer’s impact on their field and the trust they have earned from both clients and fellow legal professionals.

Nine New Lawyers Featured in the “On the Move” section of the Daily Journal

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Murchison & Cumming is proud to announce that nine of its new lawyers have been featured in the “On the Move” section of the Daily Journal. This recognition highlights the firm’s commitment to growth and dedication to fostering an inclusive and dynamic legal team. These lawyers bring a wealth of experiences and fresh perspectives to drive the firm’s continued success in the legal field.

Congratulations and welcome aboard Jerri L. Johnson, Bradley P. Childers, Richard Nusbaum, Chaviante Bell, Kristen Blanton, Chimezie O. Ebiriekwe, Arlen F. Printz, Graham A. Simmons, and Kayla F. Wheeler.

Murchison & Cumming, LLP is a premier “Go-To” civil litigation firm with multiple offices throughout California and Nevada. Our attorneys serve a diverse client base including Fortune 500 companies, international entities, small businesses, high net-worth individuals, and policyholders of major global casualty insurers. Murchison & Cumming, LLP is a member of the USLAW NETWORK and other prestigious bench and bar organizations, including the Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel (FDCC) and the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA).

View on Daily Journal Website

Celebrating the 2024 USLAW NETWORK Foundation Diversity Scholarship Recipients

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The USLAW NETWORK Foundation has awarded the 2024 Law School Diversity Scholarships to 12 outstanding law students from ABA-accredited schools nationwide. Recipients receive funds toward tuition and an invitation to the Fall 2024 USLAW NETWORK Client Conference in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The conference provides an opportunity for students to learn about trending topics in the legal industry and network.

M&C has partnered with USLAW NETWORK to reflect our commitment to fostering diversity within the legal profession. The firm is proud to support Jasmine Nicole Williams from the University of California, San Francisco College of the Law.

USLAW NETWORK launched the Foundation in 2022 to help support law students from diverse backgrounds achieve their academic and professional aspirations. The recipients were selected from 170 applicants for their academic excellence and unwavering commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and social justice.

We extend our heartfelt congratulations to the 2024 recipients and look forward to their continued success in the legal field.

Kelsey Maxwell Recognized as Southern California Rising Star

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Murchison & Cumming, LLP is pleased to announce that Partner Kelsey Maxwell has been selected as a 2024 Southern California Rising Star. Those recognized represent no more than 2.5 percent of the lawyers in Southern California.

Kelsey L. Maxwell is a Partner in the Los Angeles office of Murchison & Cumming. She focuses her practice on the areas of general liability and product liability with an emphasis in vertical transportation matters. Kelsey is a graduate of The University of Arizona (B.A.) and Chapman University, Dale E. Fowler School of Law (J.D.). She started with the firm as a summer associate in 2012 the Orange County office continuing on as a post-bar clerk in Los Angeles beginning in 2014. Having started undergraduate school at 17 and graduating in three years, Kelsey passed the California Bar Exam at only 23 and became a practicing attorney at M&C that same year.

Super Lawyers, a prestigious Thomson Reuters service, spotlights outstanding attorneys across more than 70 practice areas. These legal stars are celebrated for their impressive peer recognition and notable professional achievements. Each year, the selection process involves a unique, patented multiphase system, encompassing a statewide survey of lawyers, independent research evaluations, and peer reviews by practice area. The outcome is a trusted, comprehensive, and diverse directory of outstanding legal professionals.

Welcome Esteemed Civil Litigation Defense Attorneys Jerri Johnson & Bradley Childers

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Murchison & Cumming, LLP, a prominent Los Angeles-based law firm, is delighted to announce the addition of two distinguished civil litigation defense trial attorneys, Jerri Johnson and Bradley Childers. This strategic move fortifies the firm’s capabilities and underlines its commitment to excellence in litigation services across California.

Jerri L. Johnson is celebrated as one of Southern California’s most respected defense trial lawyers. Her extensive experience is complemented by memberships in elite legal circles, including the Los Angeles Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA), Defense Research Institute (DRI), and the Claims and Litigation Management Alliance (CLM), among others. Johnson’s impressive career began at Morgan, Wenzel & McNicholas and continued to flourish at another prestigious Los Angeles defense firm. Her clientele spans transportation sectors, various businesses, and major casualty insurance companies. Johnson is a graduate of Pepperdine Law School.

Bradley P. Childers brings a wealth of expertise in transportation, premises liability, and general tort matters in both state and federal courts. His professional affiliations include the Los Angeles County Bar Association and its Litigation Committee. Childers, also a graduate of Pepperdine Law School, is recognized for his diligent advocacy and strategic legal insights.

Both Johnson and Childers will operate out of Murchison & Cumming’s downtown Los Angeles headquarters, managing cases throughout the state. Dan L. Longo, Managing Partner at Murchison & Cumming, expressed enthusiasm about their arrival: “The addition of Jerri and Bradley, two outstanding trial lawyers, significantly enhances our firm’s profile in a highly competitive market. Their expertise will greatly contribute to our firm’s success and client satisfaction.”

Celebrating its 94th year, Murchison & Cumming maintains a robust presence with five offices across California and Nevada, serving a diverse client base that includes Fortune 500 companies, international entities, small businesses, high net-worth individuals, and insureds of major global casualty insurers.

Welcome Sean Twomey as the Newest Senior Associate in Irvine

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Murchison & Cumming, LLP is pleased to announce Sean S. Twomey has joined the Irvine office as a Senior Associate focusing his practice on professional liability. Sean has a proven track record of representing global Fortune 100 and 500 companies, including in the healthcare, defense, and retail industries, and serving as outside counsel for an international sports retail company with expertise advising clients on high-profile athlete endorsement contract negotiations.

Sean has a wide spectrum of experience including complex commercial cases, appellate law, sports law, and healthcare compliance and enforcement matters. His background includes managing internal investigations, compliance audits, False Claims Act qui tam litigation, and civil and criminal investigations related to defense export controls, and promotional, kickback, and safety issues involving FDA-regulated drug and devices. Early in his career, Sean won a high-stakes summary judgment on behalf of a well-recognized sports brand. The case involved a breach of contract and business tort lawsuit in which a sunglasses company sought over $100 million in damages after a professional athlete signed an endorsement agreement with his client.

Sean earned his law degree from the University of Virginia School of Law, where he was honored with the Order of the Coif and received the Paul A. Simon Memorial Scholarship and the Pro Bono Service Award for his academic achievements and pro bono work. He graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from the University of California, Los Angeles.

For Sean, the most gratifying aspect of legal work has been his pro bono efforts on behalf of veterans seeking service-related medical benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), particularly in federal court appeals. He developed and taught a litigation clinic for several years at University of California, Irvine School of Law, guiding students in handling these cases. Sean also took on numerous pro bono cases referred through The Veterans Consortium, a national pro bono veterans organization, while at his prior firm. These cases are special to Sean because his grandfather was a Marine Corps pilot who served in WWII and Korea, and received VA benefits. His dedication earned him the VIP Pro Bono award from the Veterans Consortium in 2018 and a Congressional Certificate of Special Recognition for his service to veterans in 2019.

Welcome Annaliese Schiersch as the Newest Associate in Los Angeles

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Murchison & Cumming, LLP is pleased to announce Annaliese Schiersch has joined the Los Angeles office as an Associate. She obtained her bachelor’s degree from the University of Washington in History, with a minor in Law, Society, and Justice, before earning her law degree from Seattle University School of Law, magna cum laude.

Prior to attending law school, Annaliese achieved notable success as a songwriter and music producer, working with both independent and major label artists, and writing and composing original music for film and television. Inspired by a desire to help local artists gain access to affordable legal services, Annaliese interned with California Lawyers for the Arts as a Mediation and Arbitration Outreach intern, inspiring her to begin a career in law.

During law school, Annaliese was a finalist in the James E. Bond ABA Moot Court Competition and went on to compete in the ABA National Appellate Advocacy Competition, which fostered her interest in oral argument and appellate advocacy. She received an outstanding service award for her extensive pro bono work with the Innocence Project, and earned multiple scholarships for her meritorious academic achievement. In addition, Annaliese served as an intern for the Pierce County Department of Assigned Counsel, the Seattle Symphony, and Washington Lawyers for the Arts. Annaliese also thoroughly enjoyed working alongside her law school professors as a Teaching Assistant for both Criminal Law and Evidence, and was a member of the Women’s Law Caucus and the Environmental Law Group.

Welcome Richard Nusbaum as the newest Associate Partner in Los Angeles

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Murchison & Cumming, LLP is pleased to announce Richard Nusbaum has joined the Los Angeles office as an Associate Partner focusing his practice on habitability matters. His professional experience in civil litigation ranges from construction defects, toxic exposure, personal injury, appellate work, and insurance coverage.

Earlier in his career, Richard played a critical role in overturning a jury verdict involving a large power company. He conducted the factual and legal investigation and wrote a persuasive brief on a case of first impression regarding utility markings, which ultimately led to a $700,000 judgment being reversed and remanded with instructions to the trial court to enter judgment in his client’s favor.

Richard holds a bachelor’s degree in engineering from the University of California, Los Angeles, and a Juris Doctor from the University of West Los Angeles School of Law. Before pursuing a career in law, Richard had a successful career as an engineer, where he concentrated on designing developing central vacuum systems and pneumatic tube systems applications. Richard’s engineering background, paired with over three decades in legal practice, uniquely qualifies him to handle complex litigation involving intricate technical systems. His technical expertise now translates into a greater understanding of the structural and mechanical aspects of the construction cases he handles.