Attorney Michael Kelly, Walkup, Melodia, Kelly, Wecht & Schoenberger, San Francisco, California

Michael A. Kelly
San Francisco, California

Partner/Vice-President, since 1978
phone	(888) 732-8897 (415) 981-7210
fax	(415) 391-6965
email	Email Me

Voted in 2009 by the readers of San Francisco's Recorder legal newspaper as the "Best Personal Injury Attorney" in San Francisco, and featured on the cover of the 2009 Northern California Super Lawyers magazine, Michael A. Kelly is one of California's top trial lawyers.

He has tried cases throughout California and has been involved in more than 150 cases where his client(s) recovered $1,000,000 or more by way of trial, arbitration, mediation or settlement. He is a three time "Trial Lawyer of the Year" nominee of the San Francisco Trial Lawyer's Association. In 2009 he was selected for the 15th consecutive year as one of the Best Lawyers In America; in 2007 he obtained the largest medical malpractice verdict in Sonoma County history; in 2006 he obtained the largest jury verdict for medical negligence in the history of El Dorado County. Also in 2006, he obtained a jury verdict which was, at that time, the largest ever reported for the wrongful death of a non-dependent adult child in San Francisco Superior Court.

His commitment to pro-bono work and the rights of the underserved and under represented have been acknowledged by multiple Bar organizations. In 2008 he was honored by Sonoma County Legal Aid for his commitment to the poor, and in 2007 the Bar Association of San Francisco presented him with a citation acknowledging his commitment to training lawyers for children. In 2010 he will serve as President of the San Francisco chapter of ABOTA. He is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and Secretary Treasurer of the International Society of Barristers. He serves on the National Board of the American Board of Trial Advocates. He is a summa cum laude graduate of St. Mary's College of California and obtained his law degree from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law in 1976. For the last 36 years he has specialized in the resolution of complex plaintiff's personal injury claims, including claims for wrongful death, and those arising from product liability, government negligence, obstetrical mismanagement, drug and device failure, vehicle defects and vehicle collisions.

At the appointment of the California Judicial Council he has served as a member of the task force empanelled to rewrite California's civil jury instructions in plain English, and he continues at present to serve as part of the CACI instruction committee.

Mr. Kelly has successfully prosecuted cases throughout California in both State and Federal Court. He has also litigated matters in Oregon, Hawaii, Colorado, Alaska, Minnesota, New Mexico and the Territory of Guam. He has obtained 8-figure jury verdicts and settlements in product liability, wrongful death and vehicle collision cases.

He holds an "AV" rating (highest rating) from Martindale-Hubbell and has been favorably profiled in legal periodicals. He is heavily involved in continuing legal education and teaches for NITA, the California Continuing Education of the Bar, ABOTA, CAOC, SFTLA and The Rutter Group. He is a member of the Board of Trustees of the National Institute of Trial Advocacy, and serves as Program Director of that organization's San Francisco, New York and Colorado Teacher Training Programs.

Motor Vehicle Accidents
Defective Products
Medical Malpractice
Toxic Household Products
Brain Injury
Brain Stem Injury
Birth Injuries
Labor & Delivery Negligence

Areas of Practice:: Litigation; Trial; Arbitration; Mediation of Civil Cases; Catastrophic Injury; Product Liability; Medical Malpractice; Premises Liability; Automobile Negligence; Wrongful Death; Obstetrical Injury; Traumatic Brain Injury Claims

Litigation Percentage:: 100% of Practice Devoted to Litigation

Bar Admissions:: California, 1976

Education:: University of California, Hastings College of the Law, San Francisco, California, 1976
J.D.; St. Mary's College of California, 1973
B.A.
Honors: Summa Cum Laude
Honors: Student Body President
Honors: De La Salle Medal (Academic Excellence)
Honors: Milliken Award (Student Affairs)

Published Works:: California Uninsured Motorist Practice (Co-Author), Continuing Education of the Bar, 2d Ed., August, 2005; Consultant, California Trial Objections (with Edwin A. Heafey, Jr.), Continuing Education of the Bar, Berkeley, California, 3d Ed., 1995; Contributor, Continuing Education of the Bar Civil Litigation Reporter, 1995; Consultant, Torts, California Civil Practice, Bancroft-Whitney, 1992; Co-Author, "The Auto Collision Case: What You Need to Know"; The Compleat Lawyer, A.B.A. Publications, Vol. 9 No. 3, Summer, 1992

Representative Cases:: Goodloe v. Bell Sports, Inc.; Rachel K. v. Truck Line Operator; Family of H. v. UpRight, Inc.; Twins v. Fertility Center; Dahl v. Stone M.D.; Perry v. Budget Rent-A-Car; Henry V. v. PG&E; Child v. Pediatric Neurosurgeon; Johnston v. American Honda Motor Co.; Diana C. v. Devicemaker; Student v. Valley Unified School District; Michael O. v. County of Kern; Richard T. v. HMO; Machinist v. Industrial Machine Design; Infant v. HMO; Jastrab v. Kelada; Ethier v. Poindexter; Student v. Daimler-Chrysler; Michael N. v. U.S. Automaker; Baby Y. v. Sutter Health; Kozusko v. Parke-Davis; Govil v. Golden Gate Bridge; Magana v. Sunshine; Dani S. v. Maritime Industries; Arnold v. City and County of San Francisco

Classes/Seminars Taught:: Program Director, Saiban-in Jury Trial Skills Training, Osaka Bar Association, Osaka, Japan, 2010; Panelist, "Recent Developments in Torts", California Continuing Education of the Bar's 25th Annual Torts Practice, Sacramento, California, 2010; Panelist, The Rutter Group, The Rutter Group, San Francisco, Los Angeles, 2009; Program Director, West Coast Teacher Training, National Institute of Trial Advocacy, San Francisco, 2009; Presenter, "Cross-Examination, Basic Principles and Techniques", American Board of Trial Advocates, Sacramento Chapter, Masters in Cross-Examination, Sacramento, California, 2009; Scottish Solicitor Advocacy Training, National Institute of Trial Advocacy - U.K., Edinburgh, Scotland, 2009; Lecturer, "Cross-Examining the Accident Reconstruction Expert Witness", Consumer Attorneys of California, Vehicle Dynamics Seminar, Sonoma, California, 2009; Program Director, East Coast Teacher Training, National Institute of Trial Advocacy, New York, NY, 2009; Presenter, "Final Argument", American Board of Trial Advocates, San Francisco Chapter, Masters in Demonstrative Evidence, San Francisco, California, 2009; Program Director and Team Leader, Osaka Bar Association Litigation Advocacy Training, Osaka, Japan, 2009; Panelist, "Recent Developments in Torts", California Continuing Education of the Bar's 24th Annual Torts Practice, San Francisco, Sacramento, 2009; Panelist: Dealing With The Toxic Client, Bar Association of San Francisco, San Francisco, 2009; Program Director, West Coast Advocacy Teacher Training, National Institute of Trial Advocacy, University of San Francisco School of Law, San Francisco, 2008; Presenter, "Deposing the Defense Automobile Accident Reconstruction Engineer", Consumer Attorneys of California, Vehicle Dynamics and Handling Seminar, Sonoma, California, 2008; Lecturer, "Final Argument", University of San Francisco, Kendrick Hall School of Law, Intensive Advocacy Program, San Francisco, California, 2008; Program Director, "How to Cross-Examine and Impeach Lay and Expert Witnesses", American Board of Trial Advocates, San Francisco Chapter, Masters of Cross-Examination, San Francisco, California, 2008; Presenter, "Damages In Wrongful Death Actions", Low, Ball & Lynch Annual Update, San Francisco, California, 2008; Presenter, "Avoiding Medical Malpractice", California Medical Association, Eleventh Annual Health Care Leaders Academy, Anaheim, California, 2008; Director/Faculty Member, Scottish Prosecutor's Training, National Institute of Trial Advocacy - U.K., Edinburgh, Scotland, 2008; Program Director, Boston Teacher Training, National Institute of Trial Advocacy, Boston, Massachusetts, 2008; Advisor / Instructor, National Litigation Skills Training, Federation of Japanese Bar Associations (JFBA), Waseda University, Tokyo, Japan, 2008; Panelist, "Recent Developments in Torts", California Continuing Education of the Bar's 23rd Annual Torts Practice, Sacramento, 2008; Panelist, "Tactical Containment of Experts: Exorcising Economic Experts", San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association, CLE Program, San Francisco, 2007; Panelist, 2008 Torts Update, The Rutter Group, San Francisco, Los Angeles, 2007; Lecturer, "College of Hard Knocks", Association of Defense Counsel of Northern California and Nevada, San Francisco, 2007; Co-Director, Juvenile Trial Advocacy Clinic, Bar Association of San Francisco, San Francisco, 2007; Program Director, Western Teacher Training, University of San Francisco School of Law, Kendrick Hall School of Law, National Institute of Trial Advocacy, San Francisco, California, 2007; Faculty Member, Pacific Regional Trial Skills Program, National Institute of Trial Advocacy, San Diego, California, 2007; Invited Lecturer, "Risk Management and Professional Liability Issues", American Society of Anesthetics, 2007 Annual Meeting, San Francisco, 2007; Director, National Trial Skills Program, National Institute of Trial Advocacy, Boulder, Colorado, 2007; Program Director, Advocacy Teacher Training, National Institute of Trial Advocacy, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts, 2007; Panelist, 2007 Torts Update, The Rutter Group, San Francisco, Los Angeles, 2006; Program Director, Western Teacher Training, National Institute of Trial Advocacy, University of San Francisco School of Law, Kendrick Hall School of Law, San Francisco, California, 2006; Presenter, Opening Statement, American Board of Trial Advocates, Sacramento Chapter "Masters in Trial", 2006; Faculty Member, Pacific Regional Trial Skills Program, National Institute of Trial Advocacy, San Diego, California, 2006; Faculty Member, National Trial Skills Program, National Institute of Trial Advocacy, Boulder, Colorado, 2006; Lecturer, "Final Argument", University of San Francisco, Kendrick Hall School of Law, Intensive Advocacy Program, San Francisco, California, 2006; Program Moderator, "On Suing MUNI", San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association, San Francisco, California, 2006; Program Director, Advocacy Teacher Training, National Institute of Trial Advocacy, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts, 2006; Panelist, "Recent Developments in Torts", California Continuing Education of the Bar's 21st Annual Torts Practice, San Francisco, Sacramento, 2006; Panelist, Personal Injury Update, The Rutter Group, San Francisco, Newport Beach, 2005; Program Director, West Coast Advocacy Teacher Training, University of San Francisco School of Law, San Francisco, National Institute of Trial Advocacy, 2005; Faculty Member, Pacific Regional Trial Skills Program, National Institute of Trial Advocacy, San Diego, 2005; Team Leader, National Trial Skills Program, National Institute of Trial Advocacy, Boulder, Colorado, 2005; Speaker, "The Scientific, Artistic and Efficient Use of a Trial Lawyer's Most Basic Weapon, Cross-Examination", San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association Presentation, 2005; Lecturer, Direct and Cross-Examination, "Masters in Trial - Ultimate Trial Notebook", American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA), San Francisco, 2005; Faculty Member, Southwest Regional Trial Skills Program, National Institute of Trial Advocacy, University of New Mexico School of Law - Albuquerque, NM, 2005; Faculty Member, Microsoft Corporation Advocacy Academy, Seattle, WA, 2005; Presenter, "Medical Liability Reform - Is MICRA Fair?", University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine, San Francisco, 2005; Faculty Member, Public Interest Law Group Advocacy Trial, University of San Francisco Kendrick School of Law, San Francisco, 2005; Panelist, "Recent Developments in Torts", California Continuing Education of the Bar's 20th Annual Torts Practice, San Francisco, Sacramento, 2005; Panelist, Personal Injury Update, The Rutter Group, Newport Beach, 2004; Program Leader, ABA/CEELI Advocacy Training, Tbilisi, Republic of Georgia, 2004; Guest Speaker, "Medical Liability", 54th Annual Meeting, American Congress of Neurological Surgeons, 2004; Faculty Member, Pacific Regional Trial Skills Program, National Institute of Trial Advocacy, San Diego, 2004; Faculty Member, National Trial Skills Program, National Institute of Trial Advocacy, Boulder, Colorado, 2004; Panelist, "Evidence Based Medicine and Risk Management", University of California San Francisco School of Medicine, San Francisco, 2004; Team Leader, Emory University Kessler-Eidson Trial Techniques Program, Atlanta, Georgia, 2004; Lecturer, "Closing Argument", University of San Francisco, Kendrick Hall School of Law, Intensive Advocacy Program, San Francisco, 2004; Panelist, "Recent Developments in Torts", California Continuing Education of the Bar's 19th Annual Torts Practice, 2004; Speaker, "California's All New Plain-English Civil Jury Instructions", Association of Defense Counsel 44th Annual Meeting, San Francisco, 2003; Speaker, "From BAJI to CACI - Using the New Jury Instructions to Your Advantage", San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association Presentation, 2003; Program Director, National Institute of Trial Advocacy, West Coast Advocacy Teacher Training, University of San Francisco School of Law, 2003; Faculty Member, Solicitors Advanced Advocacy Training, Queens College, Belfast, Northern Ireland, Northern Ireland Advocacy Working Party and NITA, U.K., 2003; Lecturer, "Making a Convincing Closing Argument", University of San Francisco Intensive Advocacy Program, Kendrick Hall Law School, San Francisco, 2003; Faculty Member, Harvard University Teacher Training, National Institute of Trial Advocacy, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 2003; Speaker, "The Judicial Counsel's Jury Instructions - Are You Prepared?", Association of Defense Counsel, San Francisco, 2003; Faculty Member, Native American Tribal Court Skills Program, National Institute of Trial Advocacy, National Judicial College, Reno, Nevada, 2003; Panelist, "Recent Developments in Torts", California Continuing Education of the Bar's 18th Annual Torts Practice, San Francisco, Sacramento, 2003; "Masters in Trial, Direct Examination Demonstration", The American Board of Trial Advocates, in conjunction with ABOTA National Meeting, San Francisco, 2003; Director/Faculty Member, West Coast Teacher Training, National Institute of Trial Advocacy, San Francisco, 2002; Faculty Member, Pacific Regional Trial Skills Program, National Institute of Trial Advocacy, San Diego, 2002; Faculty Member, National Session Trial Skills Program, National Institute of Trial Advocacy, University of Colorado School of Law, Boulder, Colorado, 2002; Lecturer, "Final Argument", University of San Francisco Intensive Advocacy Program, San Francisco, 2002; Panelist, "Recent Developments in Torts", California Continuing Education of the Bar's 17th Annual Torts Practice, San Francisco, Sacramento, 2002; Director, West Coast Teacher Training Program, National Institute of Trial Advocacy, University of San Francisco Law School, San Francisco, 2001; Faculty Member, Pacific Regional Trial Skills Program, National Institute of Trial Advocacy, San Diego, 2001; Lecturer, "Dealing With Hospital and Health Plan Liens", San Francisco Trial Lawyers Continuing Legal Education Symposium, San Francisco, 2001; Faculty Member, National Session Advocacy Training, National Institute of Trial Advocacy, University of Colorado School of Law - Boulder, Colorado, 2001; Participant, "Mauet and the Masters", American Bar Association Section of Litigation Annual Meeting, The Phoenician - Scottsdale, Arizona, 2001; Moderator, "Maximizing Client Participation at Mediation", Bar Association of San Francisco Litigation Section M.C.L.E. Seminar, San Francisco, 2001; Presenter, "Direct & Cross Examination of Experts", San Francisco Trial Lawyers Continuing Education Program, San Francisco, 2001; Panelist, "Recent Developments in Torts", California Continuing Education of the Bar's 16th Annual Torts Practice, San Francisco, Sacramento, 2001; Faculty Member, Pacific Regional Trial Skills Program, National Institute of Trial Advocacy, San Diego, 2000; Faculty Member, National Session Trial Skills Program, National Institute of Trial Advocacy, University of Colorado, School of Law, Boulder, Colorado, 2000; Faculty Member, Kessler-Eidson Trial Techniques Program, Emory University School of Law, Atlanta, Georgia, 2000; Faculty Member, Pacific Regional Trial Skills Program, National Institute of Trial Advocacy, San Diego, 1999; Presenter, "Identifying and Evaluating the Automobile Product Liability Case", San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association, Continuing Legal Education Seminar, San Francisco, 1999; Faculty Member, Southwest Regional Trial Skills Program, National Institute of Trial Advocacy, University of New Mexico School of Law - Albuquerque, New Mexico, 1999; Lecturer, "Handling Personal Consumption Issues in Wrongful Death Cases", Consumer Attorneys of California, 33rd Annual Lake Tahoe Seminar, 1999; Panelist, "Recent Developments in Torts", California Continuing Education of the Bar's 14th Annual Torts Practice, San Francisco, Sacramento, 1999; Lecturer, "Standard of Care" Surgical Grand Rounds at U.C.S.F./Mt. Zion Hospital, U.C.S.F./Mt. Zion Risk Management, 1998; Faculty Member, Southwest Regional Program, National Institute of Trial Advocacy, University of New Mexico - Albuquerque, N.M, 1998; Faculty Member, Emory University Trial Techniques Program, Atlanta, GA, 1998; Moderator, "Creative Approaches to Economic Losses", Consumer Attorneys of California 33rd Annual Tahoe Seminar, 1998; Panelist, "Recent Developments in Torts", California Continuing Education of the Bar's 13th Annual Torts Practice, San Francisco, Sacramento, Yosemite, 1998; Panelist, "Trying the Wrongful Death Case in California", National Business Institute, Oakland, 1997; Faculty Member, Western Deposition Skills Program, National Institute of Trial Advocacy, Golden Gate University School of Law - San Francisco, 1997; Panelist, "Recent Developments in Torts", California Continuing Education of the Bar's 12th Annual Torts Practice, San Francisco, Sacramento, 1997; Featured Speaker, "Proposition 213, Constitutionality and Applicability", Consumer Attorneys of California, Continuing Legal Education Seminar, San Francisco, 1996; Faculty Member, "Deposition Skills Program", National Institute of Trial Advocacy, San Francisco, 1996; Faculty Member, Pacific Regional Skills Program, National Institute of Trial Advocacy, San Diego, 1996; Faculty Member, National Session , National Institute of Trial Advocacy, University of Colorado, School of Law - Boulder, Colorado, 1996; Panelist, "Managing Unexpected Patient Care Outcomes", Kaiser Permanente Risk Management Symposium, Medical Malpractice Risk From the Trial Lawyers Perspective, Emeryville, California, 1996; Panelist, "Recent Developments in Torts", California Continuing Education of the Bar’s 11th Annual Torts Practice, San Francisco, Sacramento, 1996; Teaching Video, "Civility in the Practice & Avoidance of Gender Bias", State Bar of California, Litigation Section, 1995; Presenter, "Discovery, Experts, Exhibits and Defenses in Occupant Restraint Cases", (with Daniel Dell'Osso), Attorneys Information Exchange Group, Auto Focus '95 Seminar, 1995; "Handling Biomechanical and Occupant Restraint Issues in Automobile Cases" , San Francisco Trial Lawyer Association's Auto Seminar, San Francisco, 1995; Faculty Member, Pacific Regional Session, National Institute of Trial Advocacy, San Diego, 1995; Faculty Member, National Session, National Institute of Trial Advocacy, University of Colorado Law School - Boulder, Colorado, 1995; Moderator, "Premises Liability: Preparing and Proving the Case", Consumer Attorneys of California, (30th Annual Lake Tahoe C.L.E. Seminar), 1995; Panelist: "Recent Developments in Torts", California Continuing Education of the Bar’s 10th Annual Torts Practice, San Francisco, Sacramento, Yosemite, 1995; Faculty Member, Pacific Regional Session, National Institute of Trial Advocacy, San Diego , 1994; Program Director, "Handling Product Liability Cases", California Continuing Education of the Bar, (San Francisco, Sacramento, San Jose), 1994; Speaker, "Avoidance of Legal Malpractice in a Personal Injury Practice", Bar Association of San Francisco, San Francisco, 1994; Panelist, "Recent Developments in Torts", California Continuing Education of the Bar’s 9th Annual Torts Practice, San Francisco, Sacramento, Yosemite, 1994; Panelist, "Legal Ethics - Making Your Way Through the Maze of Every Day Practice" , San Francisco Trial Lawyer's Association, 1993; Faculty Member, Pacific Regional Session, National Institute of Trial Advocacy, San Diego, 1993; Participant/Lecturer, "Coping With Liens in Personal Injury Cases" , California Continuing Education of the Bar, San Francisco, May 8, 1993; Participant/Lecturer, "Coping With Liens in Personal Injury Cases" , California Continuing Education of the Bar, Sacramento, May 4, 1993 - May 6, 1993; Speaker, "Low Speed Collision Accident Reconstruction and Biomechanics" (with Lawrence Kern, Esq. and L. Elson, Ph.D.), Bancroft Whitney/San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association, 1993; Presenter, "Use and Abuse of the Media in Litigation", E.J. McFetridge American Inn of Court Legal Ethics, 1993; Panelist, "Recent Developments in Torts", California Continuing Education of the Bar’s 8th Annual Torts Practice, San Francisco, Sacramento, Yosemite, 1993; Speaker, "Arguing the Slip and Fall Case", California Trial Lawyers Association’s 31st Annual Convention, San Francisco, 1992; Presenter, "Evaluation of the Premises Liability Case; Should You Accept It?", Los Angeles Trial Lawyers 11th Annual Las Vegas Convention, 1992; Faculty Member, Pacific Regional Trial Advocacy Program, National Institute of Trial Advocacy, San Diego, 1992; Faculty Member, Western Regional Trial Advocacy Program, National Institute of Trial Advocacy, Boalt Hall, Berkeley, 1992; "Handling the Seat Belt, Biomechanical and Comparative Negligence Issues", Bancroft-Whitney/San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association/Continuing Education of the Bar Program, San Francisco, 1992; Participant, "Everything You Need to Know About Depositions" , State Bar of California Litigation Section Demonstration Program, San Francisco, 1992; Panelist, "Recent Developments in Torts", California Continuing Education of the Bar’s 7th Annual Torts Practice, San Francisco, Sacramento, Yosemite, 1992; Lecturer, "Evaluation and Settlement: Maximizing the Bottom Line", California Trial Lawyers Association Annual Convention, San Francisco, 1991; Panelist, "Evaluation and Settlement", Bancroft-Whitney/San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association/Continuing Education Program, San Francisco, 1991; Presenter, "Taking Depositions", Bancroft-Whitney/San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association Program, San Francisco, 1991; Panelist, "Taking and Defending Depositions", Bar Association of San Francisco, San Francisco, 1991; Lecturer, "Preparing for and Conducting Depositions of Medical Experts", California Trial Lawyers Association Annual Convention, LaJolla, California, 1990; Speaker, "Preparing the Experts, the Plaintiff and the Trial", 7th Annual C.T.L.A. Advocacy College, San Francisco, 1990; Faculty Member, Western Regional Advocacy Course, National Institute of Trial Advocacy, Boalt Hall, Berkeley, 1990; Panelist, "Understanding and Utilizing Government Involvement in Product Liability Claims", California Continuing Education of the Bar, Product Liability Trial Practice Institute, Los Angeles, San Francisco, 1990; Panelist, "Recent Developments in Torts", California Continuing Education of the Bar’s 5th Annual Torts Practice, San Francisco, Sacramento, Yosemite, 1990; Presenter, "Preparation and Trial of a Toxic Spill Case", Practicing Law Institute, Western Region Symposium, San Francisco, 1989; Panelist, "Recent Developments in Torts", California Continuing Education of the Bar’s 4th Annual Torts Practice, San Francisco, Sacramento, Yosemite, 1989; Lecturer, "Recognizing and Resolving Third Party Liens", California Trial Lawyers Association, Annual Convention, San Francisco, 1989; Panelist, "Recent Developments in Torts", California Continuing Education of the Bar’s 3rd Annual Torts Practice San Francisco, Sacramento, Yosemite, 1988; Lecturer, "Recent Developments in Products Liability Law", California Trial Lawyers Association Annual Convention, Newport Beach, California, 1987; Panelist, "Recent Developments in Torts", California Continuing Education of the Bar’s 2nd Annual Torts Practice, San Francisco, Sacramento, Yosemite, 1987; Panelist, "Use and Abuse of Interrogatories", California Continuing Education of the Bar, San Francisco, San Rafael, 1985

Honors and Awards:: Martindale-Hubbell, "AV" Rating; Top Ten Northern California "SuperLawyer", 2007; Top Ten Northern California "SuperLawyer", 2008; Listed, "The Best Lawyers In America", 1997 - 2010; Nominee, San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association Trial Lawyer of the Year, 1999; Nominee, San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association Trial Lawyer of the Year, 2001; Nominee, San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association Trial Lawyer of the Year, 2008; Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers; Fellow, International Society of Barristers; San Francisco Focus Magazine, Northern California "SuperLawyer", 2004; San Francisco Focus Magazine, Northern California "SuperLawyer", 2005; San Francisco Focus Magazine, Northern California "SuperLawyer", 2006; San Francisco Focus Magazine, Northern California "SuperLawyer", 2007; San Francisco Focus Magazine, Northern California "SuperLawyer", 2008; San Francisco Focus Magazine, Northern California "SuperLawyer", 2009; San Francisco Focus Magazine, Northern California "SuperLawyer", 2010; Award of Merit, Bar Association of San Francisco, 2007; Nominated Finalist, Consumer Attorneys of California, Trial Lawyer of the Year, 2008

Professional Associations and Memberships:: International Society of Barristers, 2010; Secretary/Treasurer; International Society of Barristers, 2002 - 2009; Member, Board of Governors; American Board of Trial Advocates; Associate; American Board of Trial Advocates, 2010; Chapter President; American Board of Trial Advocates, 2004 - 2010; National Board Member; American Board of Trial Advocates, 2002 - 2003; National Board Member; N.I.T.A, 2002 - 2010; Member, Board of Trustees; San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association, 1996; President; San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association, 1990 - 1995; Executive Board Member; Judicial Council of California Jury Instruction Task Force, 2000 - 2003; Member; Judicial Council Advisory Committee on Civil Jury Instructions (C.A.C.I.), 2004 - 2010; Member; San Francisco Superior Court Judge Pro Tem; State Bar of California, Litigation Section; Member; Bar Association of San Francisco; Member, Judiciary Committee; Bar Association of San Francisco, Litigation Section, 2001 - 2006; Executive Committee; San Francisco Superior Court Judicial Arbitration, 1998 - 2008; Member, Arbitrator Selection Committee; Edward J. McFetridge San Francisco American Inn of Court, 1990 - 1993; American Association for Justice; Member; San Francisco Superior Court; Arbitrator; Association of Personal Injury Attorneys (United Kingdom); Trial Lawyers for Public Justice; Member

Pro Bono Activities:: Member, Board of Regents, Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory, 1987 - 2002; President, Board of Regents, Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory, 1989 - 1992; Member, National Board of Directors, St. Mary's College Alumni Association, 1983 - 1989; C.Y.O. Sports: Youth Basketball/Baseball Coach, 1985 - 2001

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