Welcome Kristen Blanton as the newest Associate in Los Angeles

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Murchison & Cumming, LLP is pleased to announce Kristen Blanton has joined the Los Angeles office as an Associate. Her background includes clerking at a law firm handling employment matters, where she focused on class action wage and hour settlements, wrongful termination claims, and discrimination lawsuits. She drafted a variety of legal documents, including complaints, motions, and long-form settlement agreements. Kristen transitioned into overseeing legal business affairs at a production studio that focuses on film and television development and production, leveraging her interest in employment law.

During law school, Kristen interned with the Los Angeles District Attorney’s office in their domestic violence unit. She was one of two students selected for a yearlong internship with the Children’s Law Center of California, where she had the pleasure of representing children who have been abused, neglected, or abandoned who fall under the protection of the Dependency Court Systems.

She earned a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice Administration from California State University, Dominguez Hills, before obtaining her J.D. from Southwestern Law School with a concentration in Trial Advocacy.

Welcome Graham Simmons as the Newest Associate in San Diego

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Murchison & Cumming, LLP is pleased to announce Graham A. Simmons has joined the San Diego office as an Associate. He is distinguished by his passion for writing, commitment to community engagement, and dedication to his legal practice.

Influenced by his father’s fervent passion for screenwriting, Graham acquired his bachelor’s degree in English with an emphasis on writing from Boise State University, becoming a first-generation college graduate in his family. His innate love for storytelling and communication, nurtured from a young age, serves as a driving force behind his legal work.

During his undergraduate years, Graham cultivated a strong foundation in research, writing, and critical analysis that seamlessly transitioned into his legal studies. He pursued his law degree from the San Diego School of Law, where his academic achievements earned him the Law School Honor Scholarship.

Murchison & Cumming Names Two New Associate Partners

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Murchison & Cumming, LLP is pleased to announce that Julie Esposito and Tyler Ure have been elevated to Associate Partner.

Julie A. Esposito is based in the Los Angeles office, focusing her practice on general liability, products liability, and professional liability. Her experience includes handling matters in the arena of SIU (fraud) claims as well as assisting in the investigation of suspicious motor vehicle accidents and various property theft claims for several major insurance carriers.

Ms. Esposito served as a Judge pro tem for Los Angeles County and worked pro bono for the California Innocence Project and in the arena of constitutional law.

Julie received her B.A. in Political Science at California State University Northridge, awarded cum laude. She earned her J.D. at Loyola Law School, attending school at night while she worked as a law clerk during the day.

Tyler N. Ure is based in the Las Vegas office focusing his practice on insurance coverage, commercial litigation, and general liability. His experience includes representing clients ranging from national financial institutions to small business in the area of creditor’s rights.

Tyler received his Bachelor of Music with an emphasis in jazz studies from University of Nevada, Las Vegas, awarded cum laude. He continued onto William S. Boyd School of Law (J.D.) graduating magna cum laude. While in law school, he was an Editor of the Nevada Law Journal.

About Murchison & Cumming

Murchison & Cumming, LLP is a premier “Go-To” civil litigation firm with six offices throughout California and Nevada. Our attorneys specialize in the defense of domestic and international businesses, insurers, and high net-worth individuals, at trial and on appeal. Additionally, the firm’s attorneys handle employment matters and business transactions. 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 American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA).

Four Murchison & Cumming Attorneys Named 2024 Southern California Super Lawyers

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Senior Partners Guy R. Gruppie and Friedrich W. Seitz, and Partners James O. Eiler and Gina E. Och have been recognized as 2024 Southern California Super Lawyer honorees in the annual vote of peers and area judiciary conducted by Thomson Reuters.

Mr. Gruppie is one of California’s leading defense attorneys, focusing on complex, major injury and high-profile litigation. He is being recognized as a Super Lawyer for the 16th consecutive year. With extensive civil trial experience, Mr. Gruppie has developed a diverse portfolio of clients which includes large and small international, national and local businesses, entertainment/media companies, celebrities, athletes and other high net-worth individuals involved in high-profile matters. He is a popular author and sought-after speaker on torts, business litigation and jury trial matters.

Mr. Seitz focuses his practice on domestic and international product liability, aviation, catastrophic injuries and business litigation and is a specialist in defending wildland fire cases representing public utility companies. He served as Managing Partner of the firm from 1986 to 2007 and is being recognized by Super Lawyers 20th consecutive year. Mr. Seitz has tried more than one hundred jury trials, most involving product liability matters. He is “AV” rated by Martindale Hubbell and has been recognized as a “Southern California Super Lawyer.”

Mr. Eiler has become one of California’s most recognized hospitality law attorneys focusing on a variety of hospitality matters including general negligence, premises liability, food borne illness and foreign objects, Legionella and other toxic torts, civil rights, ADA, franchise litigation and many more. He is being recognized as a Super Lawyer for the third consecutive time. As an active participant in several key trade industry associations, he also helps shape regulations and legislation affecting the hospitality industries on an ongoing basis. Ms. Och focuses her practice on law & motion and appeals, as well as public utilities, class action, unfair business practices and consumer rights, intellectual property, entertainment/media companies, and business litigation. She is being recognized as a Super Lawyer for the second consecutive time. She has achieved successful results for a wide range of clients, in both state and federal courts, including the defense of utility companies in wildland fire litigation, businesses in copyright and trademark litigation, and companies in unfair business consumer rights and class action litigation.

Welcome Sophie Wagener as the newest Associate in Los Angeles

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Murchison & Cumming, LLP is pleased to announce Sophie B. Wagener has joined the Los Angeles office as an Associate, having previously worked as a Summer Associate and Post-Bar Law Clerk. She obtained her bachelor’s degree in Biology at Bates College in Maine before earning her law degree from the University of San Diego School of Law. Sophie focused on health law and civil litigation in law school, including participating in the Appellate Clinic.

After college, Sophie worked as a development associate at a non-profit organization that supported underserved youth in Boston, Massachusetts. While in law school, she interned for the Honorable Allison H. Goddard, the San Diego City Attorney’s Office, and the Cancer Legal Resource Center. Sophie was an Articles Editor for the San Diego Law Review and President of the Health Law Society. She graduated magna cum laude and with the Order of the Coif, an honorary scholastic society that fosters excellence in legal education.

Murchison & Cumming’s Richard Moreno Named to USLAW NETWORK Board of Directors

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Murchison & Cumming is pleased to announce that Richard C. Moreno has been selected to sit on USLAW NETWORK’s Board of Directors. “As chair emeritus of USLAW, I am very excited to welcome Richard to the USLAW Board of Directors,” said Managing Partner Dan L. Longo. “His leadership, business development and mentoring skills will serve the Board well.”

Richard Moreno is a Senior Partner and the Partner-in-Charge of the Los Angeles office. He serves as Chair of the Transportation practice group, Co-Chair of the Product Liability practice group, and is a member of the Wildland Fire Litigation practice group. He specializes in the handling of catastrophic injury cases, including matters involving multiple wrongful deaths. Mr. Moreno is AV-rated by Martindale-Hubbell.

USLAW NETWORK is an association of experienced law firms and lawyers from approximately 100 independent, full-service firms, including more than 6,000 attorneys across the U.S., Canada, Latin America, and Asia, with affiliations in Europe through TELFA. Launched in 2001, USLAW includes highly rated law firms that are part of the NETWORK by invitation only. USLAW member firms provide legal representation to major corporations, insurance companies, and large and small businesses alike and specialize in commercial and business law, employment and labor law, litigation, and other business-related areas of law.

About Murchison & Cumming, LLP
With a firm history dating to 1930, Murchison & Cumming, LLP is a premier, AV-rated civil litigation firm with six offices in California and Las Vegas. The firm represents domestic and international businesses, insurers, professionals and individuals in litigated, non-litigated and transactional matters. The firm is a member of the USLAW NETWORK. For more information, visit murchisonlaw.com

Welcome Brian O’Hara as the newest Of Counsel in Los Angeles

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Murchison & Cumming, LLP is pleased to announce Brian C. O’Hara has joined the Los Angeles office as Of Counsel. He brings more than 30 years of experience in various matters, including SIU matters for different carriers on suspected fraudulent claims, transportation, and general liability cases. Brian is currently focusing on general liability defense.

Brian is from a family of attorneys and naturally gravitated toward a career in law. He received his bachelor’s degree in English, and before entering law school, he taught English and coached high school basketball and softball. Brian earned his law degree from Loyola Law School in Los Angeles.

Brian understands that legal challenges may be the most difficult experience his clients could ever face. He is an aggressive advocate who works well with clients and carriers on litigated matters. In a recent matter, Brian succeeded in a motion for summary judgment for the defendant, a college fraternity member, being sued by his fraternity brother, who was injured while weightlifting. The plaintiff had several surgeries for his severe nasal fracture and shattered cheekbones and argued that the defendant negligently “spotted” him and knocked the heavily weighted barbell onto his face while he lay unprotected on the bench doing his dumbbell presses. The motion for summary judgment was granted based on the testimony of the parties and case law regarding the assumption of risk in recreational activities, saving multiple tens of thousands of dollars in defense costs for the carrier, and avoiding the risk of a nuclear verdict.

M&C Attorney Laura Loeck Named 2023 Northern California Rising Star

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Laura J. Loeck has been recognized as a 2023 Northern California Rising Star honoree in the annual vote of peers and area judiciary conducted by Thomson Reuters. She is a Partner in Northern California and has extensive experience in general liability matters, including wrongful death, premises liability, construction and design defect, fire loss, bodily injury, and landlord-tenant disputes. Laura has represented business entities, public entities, individuals, developers, contractors, homeowner associations, and property managers, among others. Laura attended Northwestern University where she received her B.A., before continuing onto John Marshall Law School, now known as the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law.

Super Lawyers, a Thomson Reuters business, is a rating service of outstanding lawyers who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. The annual selections are made using a patented multiphase process that includes a statewide survey of lawyers, an independent research evaluation of candidates and peer reviews by practice area. The result is a credible, comprehensive and diverse listing of exceptional attorneys.

Michael Nunez Appointed to Clark County Bar Association Executive Board

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Murchison & Cumming, LLP is pleased to announce that Michael J. Nunez has been appointed to the Clark County Bar Association Executive Board.

Mr. Nuñez is a Senior Partner and the Partner-in-Charge of M&C’s Las Vegas office and is both an experienced trial lawyer and appellate lawyer. Mr. Nuñez handles general and professional liability, hospitality, HOA, D&O, breaches of fiduciary duties, corporate litigation, contract disputes, and transactional, and employment related matters including wrongful termination claims and Title VII and state unlawful discrimination claims. Mr. Nuñez is a founding member and served on the Board of Directors of Las Vegas Defense Lawyers which is the “defense bar” for Southern Nevada.

“It is a great honor to be recognized by the members of the Clark County Bar Association,” said Nunez. “I look forward to playing a role in such a well-respected and important organization.”

The Clark County Bar Association encourages the practice of law as a profession, promotes the administration of justice, encourages a thorough and continuing legal education, maintains the honor and integrity of the legal profession, promotes high ethical standards of professional conduct, and cultivates social fellowship and camaraderie among its members.

Three from Murchison & Cumming Recognized as Southern California Rising Stars

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Murchison & Cumming, LLP is pleased to announce that Partners Kelsey Maxwell, Georgiana Nikias, and Joshua Praw have been selected to the 2023 Southern California Rising Stars list. This is an exclusive list, recognizing no more than 2.5 percent of the lawyers in Southern California.

Kelsey L. Maxwell 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.).

Georgiana A. Nikias focuses her practice in the areas of business litigation, employment law, products liability, general liability, intellectual property, art law, and commercial real estate litigation. Ms. Nikias is a graduate of the University of Southern California’s Gould School of Law (J.D. and B.A.) and Oxford University (M.St.).

Joshua W. Praw focuses his practice in the areas of entertainment law, products liability, toxic tort, and construction defect. Mr. Praw is a graduate of University of San Diego School of Law (J.D.) and University of Wisconsin – Madison (B.A.).

Georgiana, Joshua, and Kelsey co-chair the firm’s Summer Associate and Post-Bar Law Clerk Programs where they train, mentor, and oversee the firm’s summer associates and post-bar law clerks.

Super Lawyers, a Thomson Reuters business, is a rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. The annual selections are made using a patented multiphase process that includes a statewide survey of lawyers, an independent research evaluation of candidates and peer reviews by practice area. The result is a credible, comprehensive and diverse listing of exceptional attorneys.