Four from Murchison & Cumming Honored in Southern California Super Lawyers Edition

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Murchison & Cumming, LLP is pleased to announce four attorneys from the firm’s Los Angeles and Orange County offices have been recognized in the 2018 Southern California Super Lawyers Edition. The honorees include Managing Partner Dan L. Longo, Senior Partners Guy R. Gruppie, William D. Naeve, and Friedrich W. Seitz.

Mr. Longo was recognized for the seventh consecutive year. He primarily represents skilled nursing facilities, board and care facilities, and hospitals. He focuses his practice in the areas of medical malpractice, legal malpractice, insurance agent/broker E&O, general liability, HOA, and directors and officers liability in a variety of litigation matters.

Mr. Gruppie, one of California’s go-to defense trial attorneys, has been recognized as a Super Lawyer for the 10th consecutive year. He specializes in the defense of complex, high-stakes and high-profile litigation. His clients include national and major regional and local businesses, entertainment/media companies, celebrities, professional athletes and other high net-worth individuals. Mr. Gruppie is a sought-after speaker/lecturer on trial and tort trends.

Mr. Naeve, named for the fourth consecutive year, focuses his practice on medical liability, managed healthcare organizations, employment, wage and hour, D&O and breach of fiduciary duties claims in both State and Federal Courts. He serves as a regional insurance coverage counsel for two nationally based carriers and defends insurance bad faith and coverage actions in both California and Nevada and also as hospitality defense counsel for nationally recognized casual dining entities.

Mr. Seitz served as Managing Partner of the firm from 1986 to 2007 and has been selected for the 14th consecutive year. He focuses his practice on domestic and international product liability, aviation, catastrophic injuries and business litigation and is a specialist in defending wildland fire cases.

Super Lawyers, a Thomson Reuters business, is a rating service of outstanding lawyers who have been chosen by their peers and through independent research of Law & Politics. The Super Lawyers lists are published nationwide in Super Lawyers Magazines and in leading city and regional magazines and newspapers across the country. Only the top 5% of attorneys in each state or region are honored as Super Lawyers.

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 and Insuralex Networks.

Six from Murchison & Cumming Named Top Attorneys by Pasadena Magazine

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Murchison & Cumming, LLP is pleased to announce that Senior Partner Friedrich W. Seitz, Partners Gina Bazaz, Jean A. Dalmore, Gina E. Och, Mary C. Trinh, and Associate Kelsey L. Maxwell have been selected to the 2017 Top Attorneys by Pasadena Magazine. Attorneys and judges from the San Gabriel Valley and metropolitan Los Angeles area cast votes for the lawyers who, according to their peers, are among the best in their practice specialties.

Mr. Seitz served as Managing Partner of the firm from 1986 to 2007. He focuses his practice on domestic and international product liability, aviation, catastrophic injuries and business litigation and is a specialist in defending wildfire cases. Ms. Bazaz focuses her practice in the areas of complex litigation and high exposure matters, handling product liability, personal injury, premises liability, habitability and construction defect cases in all phases of litigation. Ms. Dalmore focuses her practice in the area of construction defect and construction site accident, representing developers, general contractors, sub-contractors and material suppliers in all fields of construction, architects and engineers, and in the area of professional liability representing insurance brokers in malpractice actions. Ms. Och focuses her practice in the areas of class actions, international law, public utilities, unfair business practices and consumer rights, intellectual property, entertainment/media companies, business litigation, and commercial litigation. Ms. Trinh focuses her practice on a wide range of clients, including manufacturers, distributors, retailers, property owners and entertainment/media companies and healthcare providers in medical malpractice/elder abuse cases. Ms. Maxwell focuses her practice on the areas of general liability, and specialty tort including habitability and discrimination claims.

The list is published in Pasadena Magazine’s December issue. Attorneys named in this year’s poll will be honored at a reception hosted by the magazine and attended by members of the Pasadena-area judiciary.

Murchison & Cumming Welcomes Two New Attorneys

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Murchison & Cumming, LLP is pleased to announce that Cher L. Shaine has joined the Las Vegas office as a Senior Associate and Richard Dongell has joined the Los Angeles as Of Counsel.

Cher L. Shaine is a Senior Associate in the Las Vegas office of Murchison & Cumming, LLP focusing her practice on premises and product liability, commercial transportation, complex corporate transactions, federal, state and local taxation issues, corporate compliance with state and federal agencies, administrative law, cyber security risks and data protection, and corporate retention policies.

Richard Dongell is Of Counsel in the Los Angeles and Irvine offices of Murchison & Cumming, LLP. He has devoted the last thirty years to pursuing and achieving client objectives in litigation and within the regulatory enforcement framework. Through a combination of hard work, determination, and regularly developing bold, creative strategies unique to each case, Mr. Dongell has been able to consistently produce favorable client results. Mr. Dongell has developed the expertise necessary to regularly defend clients in all types of environmental, toxic tort, construction, commercial dispute, real estate development, and entertainment/music industry litigation. He has compiled a substantial track record of litigation victories in these areas.

Murchison & Cumming Adds Cannabis Law Practice Group

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Murchison & Cumming, LLP is pleased to announce the addition of the Cannabis Law Practice Group co-chaired by Michael J. Nunez and Heidi C. Quan.

Our attorneys have the experience to handle a myriad of legal issues impacting businesses within the legalized cannabis industry and its rapidly changing regulatory environment. We are involved in the ongoing policy developments and changes to provide guidance and strategic advice and prepare our clients to be compliant with state and local legislation and regulations.

The team provides comprehensive and strategic advice and counseling to cannabis businesses in all aspects from business formation to continuing operation.

We assist with:

  • Corporate formation and governance;
  • commercial transactions;
  • labor and employment;
  • licensing and regulatory issues; and
  • litigation and insurance coverage analysis.

In addition to assisting clients within the cannabis industry, our team also advises and counsels clients who are affected by cannabis legalization.

Our attorneys handle:

  • Landlord/tenant representation;
  • labor and employment issues;
  • risk management issues;
  • product liability; and
  • professional liability issues.

Our commitment to understanding our clients’ objectives and goals surrounding their situations allows us to excel at advising them from the moment we begin our representation. As the cannabis legal landscape is ever changing, it is wise to seek legal counsel to help your business stay current and compliant.

Disclaimer: The possession, distribution and manufacturing of marijuana are illegal under federal law. State law, which may in some jurisdictions decriminalize such activity under certain circumstances, is superseded by federal law. Violation of federal drug laws carries serious penalties, with the federal government reserving the right to seize and seek civil forfeiture of real or personal property facilitating the sale of marijuana and money or proceeds accruing from such transactions. Although the U.S. Department of Justice has noted that an effective state regulatory system and a marijuana operation’s compliance therein should be considered in the exercise of investigative and prosecutorial discretion, its authority to prosecute violations of federal law is not diminished by the passage of state laws that may decriminalize such activity. Law or policy covering this industry may change at any time. The legal counsel and documents we provide are related solely to assist in compliance with the laws of the state of California and Nevada.

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 and Insuralex Networks.

Murchison & Cumming Attorney Kasey Townsend Named to ADTA Executive Council

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Murchison & Cumming is pleased to announce that San Francisco Partner-in-Charge Kasey C. Townsend has been named to the Executive Council of the Association of Defense Trial Lawyers (ADTA) and will serve a three year term. “The ADTA has two main objectives: to provide an opportunity for the proven successful defense trial attorneys to associate with similarly qualified trial attorneys for professional, social and business purposes, and to identify the successful defense trial attorney for those persons in search of such an attorney.”

Ms. Townsend handles general litigation including construction defect and injury, employment law, premises liability, and representing HOA Board of Directors for the Sacramento and San Francisco Bay areas. She has extensive experience in all phases of litigation including Mediation, Arbitration and Trial. Ms. Townsend is AV-rated Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell.

Murchison & Cumming’s James O. Eiler Receives Anthony G. Marshall Hospitality Law Award

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Murchison & Cumming is pleased to announce that James O. Eiler has been chosen by his peers to receive the Anthony G. Marshall Hospitality Law Award for 2017. The award is presented each year at the Hospitality Law Conference and is given to someone who has made pioneering and lasting contributions to the field of hospitality law. In presenting the Award, the selection board seeks to recognize someone who exemplifies Mr. Marshall’s commitment to hospitality law.

The Anthony G. Marshall Hospitality Law Award was first presented to Mr. Anthony G. Marshall himself at the 2005 Hospitality Law Conference. Mr. Marshall was a renowned educator, author, speaker and columnist for Hotel & Motel Management Magazine. His writing brought hospitality law to the masses, so that operators, not just lawyers, could understand what the law expected of them. In the words of Mr. Marshall, the goal of his Hotel & Motel Magazine column is “to take legalese and put it into a style that the industry will read, understand, enjoy, and, in the process, learn something.” It is in that spirit that we recognize each year’s recipient.

James O. Eiler is a Partner in Murchison & Cumming, LLP’s Los Angeles office and serves as a Co-Chair of the Hospitality Law practice group. Through the span of nearly 30 years, Mr. Eiler has become one of California’s most recognized hospitality law attorneys. Having represented and counseled a variety of hospitality clients on claims including operations, general negligence and premises liability, food borne illness and foreign objects, Legionella and other toxic torts, civil rights, ADA, franchise litigation and many more. Mr. Eiler understands the full spectrum of the hospitality space. A sought after author and speaker, Mr. Eiler brings his years of experience as a thought leader and industry expert to the Hospitality Law community. 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. In furtherance of Anthony Marshall’s goal of educating future hospitality leaders of tomorrow, Mr. Eiler is currently an Adjunct faculty member at California State University, Long Beach teaching hospitality law in the Hospitality Management program. He previously taught hospitality law at University of Nevada, Las Vegas and San Diego State University.

Six from Murchison & Cumming Honored by San Diego Magazine

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San Diego Magazine

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Murchison & Cumming, LLP is pleased to announce that six of its attorneys have been recognized as 2017 Top Lawyers in San Diego by San Diego Magazine. Senior Partner Kenneth H. Moreno and Of Counsel Joseph Fox are listed in the field of Business & Real Estate Transactions, Partner Jefferson S. Smith in the field of Business Litigation, Associate Partner Robert M. Scherk in the field of Professional Liability, and Partner Matthew H. Printz and Associate Partner J. Lynn Feldner in the field of Construction.

Mr. Moreno handles a variety of specialty cases including employment litigation, professional liability, bad faith, general liability, construction defect, HOA, breaches of fiduciary duties, health law and medical malpractice. Mr. Fox focuses his practice business formations, purchases and sales of businesses, litigation of business disputes, real property purchase and sale dissolution, disassociation and breach of contract, residential and commercial real property purchase and sale transactions.

Mr. Smith focuses his practice in the areas of commercial litigation, product litigation, hospitality, medical malpractice litigation and general litigation. He has experience representing self-insured entertainment, landowner, hotel, restaurant, and commercial venues, entities, and individuals. Mr. Scherk focuses his practice in areas of professional and legal malpractice, general and product liability, premises liability, and business and commercial law. Mr. Printz emphasizes his practice in the areas of construction and general liability law and serves as Co-Chair of the firm’s Construction Law practice group. He has represented numerous developers and subcontractors in construction defect litigation, mechanic’s lien actions, and public works projects. Ms. Feldner focuses her practice in areas of general liability, medical malpractice, construction defect and product liability, and her practice includes substantial experience in complex litigation matters.

For its annual Top Lawyers issue, San Diego Magazine invited Martindale-Hubbell® to share its list of local lawyers that have reached the highest levels of professional excellence.

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 and Insuralex Networks.

About Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Ratings™
The Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Ratings™ are an objective indicator of a lawyer’s high ethical standards and professional ability, generated from evaluations of lawyers by other members of the bar and the judiciary in the United States. Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Ratings™ reflect a combination of achieving a Very High General Ethical Standards rating and a Legal Ability numerical rating in five key areas, legal knowledge, analytical capabilities, judgment, communication ability, and legal experience.

Murchison & Cumming Partners Claim Two Trial Victories in One Week

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Murchison & Cumming partners Mary C. Trinh and Lisa D. Angelo capped a winning week for their clients and the firm by obtaining dismissals in two fiercely contested Los Angeles Superior Court cases, on the first day of trial!

In an alleged escalator accident matter, Ms. Trinh’s client obtained a Non-Suit, ending a personal injury case that had been litigated for more than four years. The defense successfully argued that the plaintiff had no evidence, from experts or otherwise, that any duty was breached. The court is expected to eventually award substantial costs in favor of the defendant, separate from significant unpaid medical bills incurred by plaintiff. The case result was the latest in a long line of Murchison & Cumming’s defense verdicts/awards in elevator and escalator personal injury cases handled on behalf of property owners, manufacturers and product service companies over the last two decades.

In a complex 10-count complaint arising out of the sale of a high-end vehicle, with allegations ranging from malicious prosecution and defamation to fraud and conversion of the vehicle, Ms. Angelo’s client obtained dismissal by simply demanding the case proceed to trial even in the absence of the plaintiff–who after litigating her complaint for more than three years–failed to appear for trial. While the plaintiff claimed she had been in an auto-accident the day before and needed a last minute trial continuance, Ms. Angelo argued that unlike criminal cases, a plaintiff need not be present for trial, except for the day she testifies. If the plaintiff’s counsel was not “ready” for trial, the defense was entitled to a dismissal. And, if the plaintiff’s counsel was “ready” for trial, the defense was entitled to proceed with the jury trial as scheduled without the plaintiff’s presence. The court agreed and called to have the jury empaneled. As the jury walked in the door, the plaintiff’s counsel asked to withdraw as trial counsel. When his request was denied, the plaintiff’s counsel moved to dismiss the case. The court immediately dismissed the case and the plaintiff, who had sought substantial compensatory and punitive damages, is now expected to face a substantial defense cost bill.

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 and Insuralex Networks.

Murchison & Cumming’s Jean M. Lawler Retires as Senior Partner of the Firm

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Dan L. Longo, Managing Partner of Murchison & Cumming, LLP has announced that, after more than 31 years at Murchison & Cumming, former Managing Partner Jean M. Lawler has retired as a Senior Partner of the firm and transitioned to Senior Counsel status. As she moves into the next phase of her legal career, Ms. Lawler, who became a trained mediator in 2007, will be focusing on building a mediation/ADR practice.

Ms. Lawler, who has been a lawyer for more than 37 years, started at the firm in 1985 as a part-time Senior Associate with four children under the age of seven, and progressed through the ranks, becoming a Senior Partner in January 1997, the first woman to sit at that table. Ms. Lawler was instrumental in implementing many changes at the firm over the years, encouraging and mentoring lawyers and building practice groups. A founder of the firm’s Insurance Law practice group, Ms. Lawler developed an international practice and reputation, representing insurers from the U.S., London, Bermuda, European and Asian insurance markets and their insureds in a myriad of litigated and non-litigated matters. She has also served as a Chair of the firm’s Cyber & Privacy Law, International Law and Business & Real Estate Transactions practice groups. From 2008-2013 Ms. Lawler served as firm-wide Managing Partner, growing the firm and leading it through the challenges of the Great Recession.

A leader of the defense bar on a local, national and international basis, Ms. Lawler presently serves as President of Insuralex, a global insurance lawyers group with members around the world. In 2011 she was honored to assist in founding the American College of Coverage & Extra-Contractual Counsel and thereafter serving for several years as a Regent of the College.

Ms. Lawler was the first woman to become President of the Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel (FDCC), an international professional association of defense counsel, corporate counsel and insurance executives founded in 1936, serving as its President for the 2004-2005 term. Her service included participating in the American Civil Trial Bar Roundtable in Washington, DC, whose focus that year included speaking out against violence against the judiciary and the need for increased safety in our country’s courthouses; speaking on American law in Australia and Spain; and implementing and overseeing several FDCC initiatives.

Those initiatives included the 2004 inaugural FDCC Corporate Counsel Symposium and co-founding the April 2005 inaugural “National Summit on the Right to Trial by Jury,” (also known as the 7th Amendment Summit), jointly developed by FDCC and ABOTA with the support and sponsorship of many other legal associations. Convened to consider the issue, “The American Jury Trial — Do We Allow Its Death or Lead Its Rebirth”, the Summit resulted in a call to action on the part of the bar and judiciary. Resolution #41 on the ABOTA website, the 7th Amendment Summit Resolution adopted on August 13, 2005, and its ensuing outgrowth is one action that resulted from that Summit.

She has also served as a Director of DRI, Lawyers for Civil Justice (LCJ) and the Association of Southern California Defense Counsel (ASCDC).

“I am both delighted and saddened that Jean is retiring, as she has been a colleague, opposing counsel and friend for years,” said Mary Craig Calkins, a partner at Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton in Los Angeles. “Jean is a Founding Fellow of the American College of Coverage & Extracontractual Counsel, a national organization of preeminent coverage and bad faith counsel, and has a tremendous background in the insurance issues affecting both sides. With her competence, skill and demeanor, I know Jean will excel as she opens her ADR practice.”

A graduate of Loyola Law School, Los Angeles, and Loyola Marymount University, Ms. Lawler is rated AV Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell, listed in Who’s Who, rated as a Southern California Super Lawyer since 2006 and, since 2011, been included on Super Lawyers’ Annual List of Top Women Lawyers in Southern California. On the 2016 List, she was one of only 20 Southern California women recognized for Insurance Coverage.

“I have had the pleasure of working with Jean for more than 30 years,” said Managing Partner Dan L. Longo. “During that time she not only developed an international reputation as an excellent attorney, she also helped guide our firm through the troubled waters related to the 2008 financial meltdown. We wish Jean the best in her new role and are confident that she will bring the same expertise and hard work to her new career in ADR.”

A firm believer in the words “carpe diem”, Ms. Lawler looks forward with anticipation to the professional and personal experiences the future will bring and the people she will meet. She also very much looks forward to having time to use some of the frequent flyer miles she has accumulated and to being able to spend more time with family and her young grandchildren (other than working on science projects, that is).

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 and Insuralex Networks.

Five from Murchison & Cumming Honored in Southern California Super Lawyers Edition

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Murchison & Cumming, LLP is pleased to announce five attorneys from the firm’s Los Angeles and Orange County offices have been recognized in the 2017 Southern California Super Lawyers Edition. The honorees include Managing Partner Dan L. Longo, Senior Partners Guy R. Gruppie, William D. Naeve, and Friedrich W. Seitz, and Senior Counsel Jean M. Lawler.

Mr. Longo was recognized for the sixth consecutive year. He primarily represents skilled nursing facilities, board and care facilities, and hospitals. He focuses his practice in the areas of medical malpractice, legal malpractice, insurance agent/broker E&O, general liability, HOA, and directors and officers liability in a variety of litigation matters.

Mr. Gruppie, one of California’s go-to defense trial attorneys, has been recognized as a Super Lawyer for the ninth consecutive year. He specializes in the defense of complex, high-stakes and high-profile litigation. His clients include national and major regional and local businesses, entertainment/media companies, celebrities, professional athletes and other high net-worth individuals. He is a member of Murchison & Cumming’s Executive Committee. Mr. Gruppie is a sought-after speaker/lecturer on trial and tort trends.

Mr. Naeve, nominated for the third consecutive year, focuses his practice in the areas of hospitality, healthcare, employment, professional liability, general liability, insurance coverage, and first and third party bad faith, defense of business contracting, employment termination and discrimination, ERISA, wage & hour, and life & disability bad faith claims, breaches of fiduciary duties, D&O and litigation.

Mr. Seitz served as Managing Partner of the firm from 1986 to 2007 and has been selected for the 13th consecutive year. He focuses his practice on domestic and international product liability, aviation, catastrophic injuries and business litigation and is a specialist in defending wildland fire cases.

Ms. Lawler marks her 12th consecutive year on the list. She is the immediate past-Managing Partner of the firm (2008-2013) and, having recently retired as a Senior Partner, is Senior Counsel to the firm. Over the course of her 31 years with the firm she has served in many capacities, including as a Chair of the firm’s Insurance Law, Cyber & Privacy Law, International Law and Business & Real Estate Transactions practice groups.

Super Lawyers, a Thomson Reuters business, is a rating service of outstanding lawyers who have been chosen by their peers and through independent research of Law & Politics. The Super Lawyers lists are published nationwide in Super Lawyers Magazines and in leading city and regional magazines and newspapers across the country. Only the top 5% of attorneys in each state or region are honored as Super Lawyers.

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 and Insuralex Networks.