Tag Archive for: friedrich-seitz

Seven from Murchison & Cumming Honored in Super Lawyers Business Edition

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Murchison & Cumming, LLP is pleased to announce seven attorneys from the firm have been recognized in the 2015 Super Lawyers Business Edition. Dan L. Longo, Friedrich W. Seitz, Jean M. Lawler, Guy R. Gruppie, and Philip H. Thompson are listed from the Los Angeles office and Melissa Wood Eisenberg and Heidi C. Quan are listed from the San Francisco office.

Distributed to more than 55,000 in-house counsel and executives, this annual publication includes exceptional attorneys from firms who have mastered their skills in the following business-related practice groups: Business & Transactions; Construction; Real Estate & Environmental; Intellectual Property; and Business Litigation.

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.

Southern California Super Lawyers Recognizes Seven Murchison & Cumming Attorneys

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LOS ANGELES – Murchison & Cumming, LLP is pleased to announce that seven of its attorneys have been recognized as 2015 Southern California Super Lawyers®. No more than 5% of the lawyers in California are honored with this distinction.

This year’s honorees include:

Dan L. Longo (Personal Injury Medical Malpractice)
Jean M. Lawler (Insurance)
Friedrich W. Seitz (Civil Litigation: Defense)
Michael B. Lawler (General Litigation)
Guy R. Gruppie (Civil Litigation: Defense)
William D. Naeve (Health Care)
Philip H. Thompson (Insurance)

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 Super Lawyers lists are published nationwide in Super Lawyers Magazines and in leading city and regional magazines and newspapers across the country. Super Lawyers Magazines also feature editorial profiles of attorneys who embody excellence in their practice of law.

Mr. Longo, Managing Partner of the firm was recognized for the fourth consecutive year. Ms. Lawler marks her tenth consecutive year, Mr. Seitz his eleventh consecutive year, Mr. Lawler his tenth consecutive year, Mr. Gruppie his seventh consecutive year, Mr. Naeve his first year, and Mr. Thompson for the third consecutive year.

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.

Robert M. Scherk Elected to American Board of Trial Advocates Membership

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SAN DIEGO – Associate Partner Robert M. Scherk has been elected to membership in the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) and the San Diego Chapter of ABOTA. Membership requirements include trial ability/experience, personal character, and reputation among the bench and bar.

ABOTA membership is one of that nation’s highest honors for trial lawyers, and Mr. Scherk joins Murchison & Cumming Senior Partners Guy R. Gruppie, Friedrich W. Seitz, Michael B. Lawler and Michael D. McEvoy as ABOTA members.

Mr. Scherk has tried more than 24 cases to verdict, and arbitrated or mediated hundreds more to successful conclusion. All of Mr. Scherk’s trials have been Superior Court jury trials, except for three bench trials, and one tried in US Bankruptcy Court. Mr. Scherk’s trial experience ranges from product and premises liability, to legal malpractice, wrongful death, conversion, motor vehicle, and interference with contractual relations. Mr. Scherk has sat as a Judge Pro Tem, Los Angeles Superior Court and has served on attorney settlement panels for both the Los Angeles and San Diego Superior Courts. He is a member of the Tort and Trial section of the American Bar Association, is AV-rated by Martindale Hubbell and was listed as a Top Lawyer in Professional Liability by San Diego Magazine.

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 Network. For additional information, please visit our website at www.murchisonlaw.com.

Five Murchison & Cumming Partners Recognized as 2014 Super Lawyers

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Murchison & Cumming, LLP is pleased to announce that five of its attorneys have earned the distinction of having been chosen by their peers as 2014 Southern California “Super Lawyers.” The annual listing, based on peer evaluations, was recently released by Thomson Reuters and will be published in the Southern California Super Lawyers magazines, in leading city and regional magazines across the country.

The Murchison & Cumming Partners selected for the 2014 list are:

Dan L. Longo, Managing Partner of the firm, Co-Chair of the Health Law and Professional Liability practice groups. He is a member of the Association of Southern California Defense Counsel and the Defense Research Institute, and serves as Vice Chair of USLAW Network’s Professional Liability practice group. This marks Mr. Longo’s third consecutive Super Lawyers mention. Mr. Longo is a frequent lecturer and panelist for such organizations as the Liability Insurance Research Bureau, California State Bar, PESI, the American Association of Legal Nurse Consultants and the USLAW Network.

Jean M. Lawler, the firm’s former Managing Partner and Past Chair of the Insurance Law practice group and Co-Chair of the International Law practice group. This is her ninth consecutive year on the list. A specialist in insurance law, she is listed in Martindale-Hubbell’s Bar Register of Preeminent Women Lawyers and the “Who’s Who” directories of American Women and American Law. Ms. Lawler is a Past President of the Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel (FDCC), an international legal organization. She has also served as a Director of DRI, Lawyers for Civil Justice and the Association of Southern California Defense Counsel.

Friedrich W. Seitz, Chair of the firm’s Wild Land Fire Litigation practice group, and Co-Chair of its Business Litigation, Product Liability/Utilities and International Law practice groups. This is his tenth consecutive Super Lawyer mention. A respected trial lawyer and member of the Los Angeles Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates, Diplomat rank, Mr. Seitz is also a member of the IADC and FDCC and is a former Chair of the FDCC Product Liability Substantive Law Section.

Michael B. Lawler, co-chair of the firm’s Health Law and Employment Law Practice Groups. A Past President of the Association of Southern California Defense Counsel, this marks the ninth consecutive year that he has been named to the list. Mr. Lawler, a seasoned trial lawyer, has been recognized as one of the Best Lawyers in America. He has served on the National Board of the American Board of Trial Advocates, is a member of its Los Angeles chapter and is a member of the FDCC.

Guy R. Gruppie, Chair of the firm’s Vertical Transportation practice group, Co-Chair of the Emerging Risks & Specialty Tort Litigation practice group and immediate Past Chair of the General Liability & Casualty practice group. Mr. Gruppie specializes in the defense of complex and high-stakes litigation. This is his sixth consecutive year as a Southern California Super Lawyer. He is a member of the Los Angeles Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates and the FDCC, having served as Co-Chair of the FDCC Trial Tactics Substantive Law Section from 2004-2008.

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 Network. For additional information, please visit our website at www.murchisonlaw.com.

Six Murchison & Cumming Attorneys Recognized as 2013 Super Lawyers

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LOS ANGELES–Murchison & Cumming, LLP is pleased to announce that six of its attorneys have earned the distinction of having been chosen by their peers as 2013 Southern California Super Lawyers®. The annual listing, based on peer evaluations, was recently released by Thomson Reuters and will be published in Super Lawyers magazines and in leading city and regional magazines across the country.

The Murchison & Cumming attorneys selected for the 2013 list are:

Jean M. Lawler, Managing Partner of the firm, Past Chair of the Insurance Law practice group and Co-Chair of the International Law practice group. This marks Ms. Lawler’s eighth consecutive year on the list. A specialist in insurance law, she is listed in Martindale-Hubbell’s Bar Register of Preeminent Women Lawyers. Ms. Lawler is a Past President of the Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel (FDCC) and has served as a Director on the Boards of the Defense Research Institute, Lawyers for Civil Justice and the Association of Southern California Defense Counsel (ASCDC). She presently serves as Secretary-Treasurer of the FDCC Foundation; she is a member of the College of Coverage & Extra Contractual Coverage Counsel.

Friedrich W. Seitz, the firm’s former Managing Partner, Chair of the firm’s Wildland Fire Litigation practice group, and Co-Chair of its Business Litigation, Product Liability/Utilities and International Law practice groups. This is his tenth consecutive Super Lawyer mention. A respected trial lawyer and member of the Los Angeles Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates, Diplomat rank, Mr. Seitz is also a member of the IADC and FDCC and is a former Chair of the FDCC Product Liability Substantive Law Section.

Michael B. Lawler, Co-Chair of the firm’s Employment Law practice group. A Past President of the Association of Southern California Defense Counsel, this marks the ninth consecutive year that he has been named to the list. Mr. Lawler, a respected trial lawyer, has been recognized as one of the “Best Lawyers in America” and a “Leading Employment Lawyer in California.” He has served on the national board of the American Board of Trial Advocates, is a member of its Los Angeles Chapter and a member of the FDCC and IADC.

Dan L. Longo, Partner-In-Charge of the firm’s Orange County office and Co-Chair of the Health Law and Professional Liability practice groups. A veteran trial lawyer, Mr. Longo was a contributing writer for Aspatore Books’ Inside the Minds series on “Elder Law Health Care Client Strategies.” This is his second consecutive Super Lawyers mention. Mr. Longo is a member of the IADC, the ASCDC, and the Defense Research Institute, and serves as Chair of USLAW Network’s Professional Liability practice group.

Guy R. Gruppie, Chair of the firm’s Vertical Transportation practice group, Co-Chair of the Emerging Risks & Specialty Tort Litigation practice group and immediate Past Chair of the General Liability & Casualty practice group. This is Mr. Gruppie’s fifth consecutive year as a Southern California Super Lawyer. He is a member of the Los Angeles Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates and the FDCC, having served as Co-Chair of the FDCC Trial Tactics Substantive Law Section from 2004-2008. Mr. Gruppie has served as an adjunct professor at Southwestern Law School, teaching California Civil Procedure.

James P. Collins, Jr., eight-time Super Lawyer and respected Orange County trial lawyer, handling professional liability defense, employment law, defense of first party insurance claims and business litigation. Mr. Collins is a Past President of the Association of Southern California Defense Counsel and was a Founding Partner of the former firm of Cotkin & Collins. He is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates and the FDCC.

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.

Friedrich Seitz Elected to USLAW Board of Directors

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LOS ANGELES–Murchison & Cumming, LLP is pleased to announce that Friedrich W. Seitz has been elected to the USLAW Network’s Board of Directors for 2012-2013. The announcement was made at the organization’s annual meeting in Washington, D.C. Mr. Seitz has served as a Chair of USLAW’s Product Liability practice group and has been a frequent speaker at the organization’s client conferences.

Mr. Seitz is the Chair of Murchison & Cumming’s Wildland Fire Litigation practice group and Co-Chair of its Product Liability, International Law and Business Litigation practice groups. He has held leadership positions with the Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel (FDCC) and the International Association of Defense Counsel (IADC), and he is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) holding the rank of “Advocate.”

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.

Court Finds in Favor of Manufacturer in Insurance Case

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The Orange County Superior Court found in favor of Murchison & Cumming’s client, an appliance manufacturer, in an insurance litigation case. Friedrich W. Seitz and Todd A. Chamberlain represented the defendant. The client was sued by an insurance company for declaratory relief and breach of contract.

In 2007, the insurance company and the manufacturer entered into a settlement and release agreement resolving a series of bad faith lawsuits against the insurer for its failure to defend the manufacturer in multiple toxic tort cases in Pennsylvania. The settlement agreement expressly applied to the manufacturer and all current subsidiaries and contained an indemnity provision in favor of the insurer. When a former subsidiary of the manufacturer was later sued in an Orange County toxic tort case, the insurer contended that the agreement had released that claim and that the manufacturer was obligated to indemnify the insurer for the costs it incurred in defending the former subsidiary under the indemnity provision. The defendant filed a cross-complaint against the insurer for declaratory relief and breach of contract.

The court found the plaintiff’s reading of the agreement tortured and convoluted and that the defendant’s interpretation of the agreement was supported by common sense, consistent with the mutual intent of the parties. The court also awarded the defendant $367,000 in damages and costs against the insurer.

Behind the Privacy Veil, What E-Discovery Are You Entitled To and Developing Useful Strategies When Faced With Propounding Discovery for Essential Electronic Communications

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By: Friedrich W. Seitz

IADC Committee Newsletter, Business Litigation

View Link

The authors report on the fundamentals of how to seek formal written discovery of various types of electronic communication in the ever changing forms of communicating on the web, and other internet-based and mobile communications. This is a useful summary and guide to discovery of electronic communications such as Facebook, Myspace, Google Chat and Twitter.

For the full article, please open the below PDF.

PDF FileView as PDF

Six Murchison & Cumming Attorneys Recognized as 2012 Super Lawyers

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LOS ANGELES – Murchison & Cumming, LLP is pleased to announce that six of its attorneys have earned the distinction of having been chosen by their peers as 2012 Southern California Super Lawyers®. The annual listing, based on peer evaluations, was recently released by Thomson Reuters and will be published in the February issues of Southern California Super Lawyers magazine, Los Angeles magazine and Orange Coast magazine.

The Murchison & Cumming attorneys selected for the 2012 list are:

Jean M. Lawler, Managing Partner of the firm, Past Chair of the Insurance Law practice group and Co-Chair of the International Law practice group. This marks Ms. Lawler’s seventh consecutive year on the list. A specialist in insurance law, she is listed in Martindale-Hubbell’s Bar Register of Preeminent Women Lawyers and the “Who’s Who” directories of American Women and American Law. Ms. Lawler is a Past President of the Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel (FDCC) and has served as a Director on the Boards of the Defense Research Institute, Lawyers for Civil Justice and the Association of Southern California Defense Counsel.

Friedrich W. Seitz, the firm’s former Managing Partner, Chair of the firm’s Wild Land Fire Litigation practice group, and Co-Chair of its Business Litigation, Product Liability/Utilities and International Law practice groups. This is his ninth consecutive Super Lawyer mention. A respected trial lawyer and member of the Los Angeles Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates, Diplomat rank, Mr. Seitz is also a member of the IADC and FDCC and is a former Chair of the FDCC Product Liability Substantive Law Section.

Michael B. Lawler, Co-Chair of the firm’s Employment Law practice group. A Past President of the Association of Southern California Defense Counsel, this marks the eighth consecutive year that he has been named to the list. Mr. Lawler, a respected trial lawyer, has been recognized as one of the “Best Lawyers in America” and a “Leading Employment Lawyer in California.” He has served on the national board of the American Board of Trial Advocates, is a member of its Los Angeles Chapter and a member of the FDCC and IADC.

Dan L. Longo, Partner-In-Charge of the firm’s Orange County office and Co-Chair of the Health Law and Professional Liability practice groups. A veteran trial lawyer, Mr. Longo was a contributing writer for Aspatore Books’ Inside the Minds series on “Elder Law Health Care Client Strategies.” He is a member of the Association of Southern California Defense Counsel and the Defense Research Institute, and serves as Vice Chair of USLAW Network’s Professional Liability practice group.

Guy R. Gruppie, Co-Chair of the firm’s Emerging Risks & Specialty Tort Litigation practice group and immediate Past Chair of the General Liability & Casualty practice group. This is Mr. Gruppie’s fourth consecutive year as a Southern California Super Lawyer. He is a member of the Los Angeles Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates and the FDCC, having served as Co-Chair of the FDCC Trial Tactics Substantive Law Section from 2004-2008. He has served as an adjunct professor at Southwestern Law School, teaching California Civil Procedure.

James P. Collins, Jr., seven-time Super Lawyer and respected Orange County trial lawyer. Mr. Collins is a Past President of the Association of Southern California Defense Counsel and was a Founding Partner of the former firm of Cotkin & Collins. He is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates and the FDCC.

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.

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

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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.