Top Rated Personal Injury Attorney in San Francisco, CA

Bar/Professional Activity:

• Member of the Bar Association of San Francisco
• Member of the Consumer Attorneys of California
• Member of the  San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association
• Member of the American Association for Justice

Pro bono/Community Service:

• Food from the Bar, 2013

Scholarly Lectures/Writings:

• Defense attorneys often misunderstand or intentionally misapply the firefighter’s rule. It is important to knowthat the exceptions to the legal principle in this instance have greater application than the rule itself. [Click the article link to view full article.], Co-Author, Protecting First Responders from Abuse of the Firefighter’s Rule, Plaintiff Magazine, 2015
• More than ever, personal injury clients are better educated with regard to evaluating the skills and experience of their potential attorney, even if they are new to the civil litigation system. The existence of more resources discussing the legal system and a proliferation of legal issues highlighted in popular culture has resulted in many clients who are able to research and assess potential attorneys in an educated manner. Due to this, an attorney should be prepared to answer pointed questions and undergo an in-depth interview when meeting with a potential new client. [Please click the link to view full article.], Co-Author, Establishing The Attorney-Client Relationship in Our Interconnected World, Plaintiff Magazine, 2020
• Beginning a career in the practice area of personal injury can feel like drinking from a fire hose; it can be overwhelming and intimidating; new attorneys do not know where to begin. A simple motor-vehicle accident will have numerous issues that must be addressed that are never taught in law school. Consistent focus on a mastery of the basics is often imperative to success. [Please click the article link to view full article.], Co-Author, Basics: Working Up a Motor-Vehicle Accident Case, Plaintiff Magazine, 2020
• After six young people died in a balcony collapse that occurred in Berkeley on June 16, 2015, Ms. Jackie Donohoe, the mother of one of the young women who passed away in the tragedy, set out on a mission to make balconies safer for all California residents and visitors.  The culmination of Ms. Donohoe’s efforts came to fruition yesterday evening when Governor Jerry Brown signed Senate Bill 1465 into law, which will end the practice of “secret settlements” by requiring contractors in California to inform the contractors’ licensing board whenever they settle lawsuits related to negligent construction work or defective conditions for 1 million dollars or more, regardless of whether there is a confidentiality or non-disclosure agreement.  This means the construction industry can no longer hide its negligent conduct in “secrete settlements” and limit the information from going to the contractors’ licensing board to prevent a state investigation. [Please click the link to view full release.], Attorney, Hard Fought Victory in Fight for Safety Inspections and Transparency After Balcony Collapse Tragedy, Rains Lucia Stern St. Phalle & Silver, PC, 2018
• In personal injury cases, it is common for your client’s employer (actually, the workers’ compensation carrier) to claim a lien against your client’s recovery. When the case concludes, the employer usually seeks compensation for moneys the employer’s carrier has paid on behalf of the injured worker, such as medical payments and disability benefit payments. This typically results in post-recovery lien negotiations with the workers’ compensation carrier. [Please click the article link to view full article.], Co-Author, How to Maximize Your Client’s Recovery in a Workers’ Compensation Credit Hearing, Plaintiff Magazine, 2018
• Don’t let “junk science” ruin your low-impact, rear-ender case, Plaintiff Magazine, 2009
• The COVID-19 pandemic not only brought fear to our society but delayed thousands of civil litigation trials for several months, and some for years. As plaintiffs’ attorneys, we are in a position where the simple act of filing a personal injury complaint and having a hearing date has become arduous and distant. More than ever, we are unable to pursue a rapid and efficient case resolution for our clients. This is where arbitration might be an efficient and effective method to resolve certain personal injury matters during these times where jury trials are rare or non-existent. [click article link to view full article], Author, COVID-19 Delayed Your Settlement Case, What Are You Going to Do About It?, Plaintiff Magazine, 2020
• Prying attorneys from their deceptive clients, Plaintiff Magazine, 2010
• When the defendant complains to the court that you have too many experts, Plaintiff Magazine, 2011
• When workers’ comp is not the exclusive remedy, Plaintiff Magazine, 2011
• Workers’ Comp subrogation: Don’t allow your client to be extorted, Plaintiff Magazine, 2012
• Annuity costs don't equal damages, Plaintiff Magazine, 2010

Verdicts/Settlements:

• Kaz v. Berkeley Concrete Pumping Co. and Dolan Concrete Construction, Inc. , 2006
• John Doe v. Grey Company and others, 2005
•  Page, George v. Daewoo Heavy Industries Ltd. et al, 2010
• Jane Doe v. Doe Parking Lot , 2005
• Doe Investors v. Doe Company
• Joe Doe v. Printing Press Manufacturer, 1999
• Plaintiff RN v. Defendant Landscaping Company , 2011
• James Doe v. Corp. Team Building , 1998
• Scott v. Richter & Ratner Contracting Corp. , 2006
• Jane Doe v John Driver and Red Trucking Company, 2006
•  Martinez-Aguilar v. 500 Club , 2006
• Jane Doe, M.D. v. Black Management Co., Red Manufacturing Co., Blue Leasing Co. , 2005
• Enrique Javier Duenas and Candida Duenas v. William Carer, Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District and Does 1-100, 2012
• James and Kathleen Newman v. DeSilva Gates and others, 2002
• Nicole Gottlieb v. Doe Fitness Club, 2011
• John and Jane Doe v. Red Pool Manufacturing and others, 1998
• Barger-Carey v. Shipley et al. , 2007
• John Doe v. SMG Moscone Center, McMaster-Carr Supply Co., and Manco Mfg. Co, 2006
•  Jose Luis Garcia-Maravilla and Herminia Garcia-Maravilla v. Jackrabbit and Does 1-100, 2012
• Jane and John Doe v. Black Ladder Company, 2005
•  Sean J. Verma v. Harpreet Chaudhary, Neha Chaudhary, Kulwant Sandhu, Kewal Singh, and Does 1-100, et al, 2011
• Bresee v. Midwestern Pipeline Services, Inc. , 2004
• Doe Motorcycle Rider v. Roe Transport Company, 2011
• John Doe v. Defendant Law Firm, 1999
• Cindy C. v. Lauren Hanford , 2010
• Brian C. v. Contra Costa Health Services, 2014. Per the Recorder this case is the largest malpractice verdict in California, 2014