Tag Archive for: gregory-sargenti

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

/in ,

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.

Jury Returns Defense Verdict and Court Grants Dismissal for Defendants in Personal Injury Case

/in

Gregory A. Sargenti successfully represented defendants Hands Together and the National Pediatric Support Services in an Orange County Superior Court personal injury case.

Plaintiff Rocio Marquez sued the two defendants following an August 12, 2008 accident that occurred at a preschool on property operated by National Pediatric Support Services under its contract with Hands Together. The plaintiff claimed to have sustained significant orthopedic injuries to her lower back and left knee as a result of a negligently cleaned spill of water. The plaintiff submitted to over a year of treatment and claimed a future surgery was required to repair her injured left knee. The defendants claimed Rocio Marquez was, or should have been, aware of the open and obvious condition and are therefore not legally liable for her claimed injuries.

On the first day of trial, the court granted an Order of Dismissal filed by the defense on behalf of Hands Together. After three days in trial, the jury retired to deliberate for under three hours before returning a defense verdict finding that National Pediatric Support Services’ conduct was not a substantial factor in causing the plaintiff’s claimed injuries.

Jury Returns Defense Verdict after 50-Minute Deliberation

/in

Guy R. Gruppie and Gregory A. Sargenti won a defense verdict after a 50-minute jury deliberation in a personal injury case where the plaintiff sought more than $2 million in damages.

Plaintiff Timothy Julian sued two defendants following a December 10, 2007 accident that occurred at the Long Beach Towne Center on property leased by defendant Sam’s East, Inc. and managed by defendant Vestar Property Management. Mr. Julian claimed to have sustained significant orthopedic injuries to his left shoulder, low back, left knee and left ankle as a result of a negligently maintained storm grate which he claimed shifted under his feet while he was loading over 50 pounds of soda he had purchased from Sam’s into his vehicle.

The plaintiff submitted to four separate surgeries: the surgical repair of damage to his left ankle, low back fusion, left shoulder and left knee. Following the Supreme Court’s recent decision in Howell, the surgeries resulted in recoverable damages of $108,017.19. The defendants denied liability, offering evidence that Vestar’s on-site property manager personally walked the property, that the property management company retained continuous security and janitorial services, that Sam’s employees were frequently present to assist customers with loading their vehicles and to make cart runs, and that Sam’s Tire Service Center employees engaged in heavy use of the area.

After nine days in trial, the jury retired to deliberate before returning a defense verdict less than an hour later, finding that neither Sam’s East, Inc. nor Vestar Property Management negligently maintained the grate.

Defense Arbitration Award Confirmed after Superior Court Appeal in Legal Malpractice Case

/in

B. Casey Yim obtained a defense arbitration award in favor of his attorney client, the respondent in a legal malpractice case. The arbitrator also entered a monetary award in favor of the attorney for costs, in accordance with the arbitration agreement, in the amount of $10,000. The award was appealed by the plaintiff to the Superior Court of Orange County. Mr. Yim, with assistance by Gregory A. Sargenti and Scott R. Jackman, secured a judgment affirming and confirming the favorable defense award by the superior court.

The case involved the plaintiff’s failure to heed attorney advice and accept a defense settlement offer. The plaintiff claimed that the attorney did not advise her, and denied that he sent emails and called to communicate the settlement offer. The defense produced evidence showing emails sent to the plaintiff, communicating the settlement offer and deadline, along with the plaintiff’s email responses. The defense also produced evidence of a one-hour telephone conversation between the attorney and the plaintiff on the settlement deadline date. The arbitration award was then reached in favor of the defendant.

The plaintiff appealed the decision, claiming fraud and alleging additional emails were never sent. The defense again impeached her testimony by producing evidence of emails with attachments signed by the plaintiff. The superior court entered judgment confirming the arbitration award, and awarding pre-judgment interest on the arbitration cost award.

Murchison & Cumming Welcomes Eight Attorneys From Cotkin & Collins’ Santa Ana Office

/in ,

Los Angeles, CA – Murchison & Cumming, LLP is pleased to announce that eight attorneys formerly with the Orange County office of Cotkin & Collins have joined Murchison & Cumming, as partners and associates in the firm’s Orange County office.

Joining the firm are former Cotkin & Collins founding partner and Harvard Law alum James Phil Collins, along with shareholders William D. Naeve and David A. Winkle and member Ellen M. Tipping, each of whom has joined the firm as a Partner. Former Cotkin & Collins associates Terry L. Kesinger and Gregory A. Sargenti have joined the firm as Associate Partners, along with Cooper W. Collins and Kristie M. Mackey, who have joined the firm as Senior Associates. All are members of the California Bar, with Mr. Naeve and Ms. Tipping also being members of the Nevada Bar.

“We are excited and privileged to be joining Murchison & Cumming. We know from first hand experience that the firm has a strong litigation, trial, and appellate practice, with talented and resourceful lawyers,” Phil Collins said. “We are particularly happy it has such a vibrant Las Vegas office. Our practice areas blend perfectly with theirs. We expect a seamless transition.”

Collectively, the new Murchison & Cumming attorneys bring with them years of experience in defending general business and tort litigation in California and Nevada, with a particular emphasis in the healthcare, professional liability, employment, product liability, and life & disability fields. “It is exciting to have such a strong and dedicated group of lawyers join the firm. They bring a wealth of trial and problem solving experience with them,” said Dan Longo, Partner In Charge of the firm’s Orange County office.

Murchison & Cumming attorneys have a long history of participation and leadership in national and international legal organizations as do the former Cotkin & Collins attorneys, including the Association of Southern California Defense Counsel, of which Claude Cumming was a founding member and of which Phil Collins and Michael Lawler are past presidents; the Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel, of which Jean Lawler is a past president; the Federal Bar Association, of which Mr. Collins is a past president of the Orange County Chapter; and ABOTA, DRI and Lawyers for Civil Justice, for which organizations attorneys in the firm have served on the Board of Directors.

“We are very pleased to have our Orange County neighbors of more than 20 years join the firm. We have the utmost respect for their legal abilities and know them to be individuals of character, with whom we share similar values, backgrounds, legal experience and a culture of client service,” said Ms. Lawler, Murchison & Cumming’s Managing Partner. “This acquisition is consistent with the firm’s business plan that calls for steady, focused growth, seizing opportunities to expand and add depth to the firm’s existing areas of practice, which we believe will allow the firm to better serve the needs of our clients.”

 

About Murchison & Cumming, LLP

With a firm history dating to 1930, Murchison & Cumming, LLP is a premier 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. For additional information, please visit our website at www.murchisonlaw.com.