Christine Forsline
Top rated Insurance Coverage attorney in Mission Viejo, California
Berger Kahn, A Law Corporation
Practice areas: Insurance Coverage, General Litigation, Business Litigation
Licensed in California since: 2021
Education: Chapman University School of Law
Languages spoken: English, French
Selected to Rising Stars: 2023, 2025 - 2026 Berger Kahn, A Law Corporation
25910 AceroSuite 242
Mission Viejo, CA 92691 Phone: 949-474-1880 Email: Christine Forsline Visit website
As Managing Attorney – Wildfire, Christi helps oversee litigation against utilities that cause fires resulting in property damage. Christi has been instrumental in resolving cases with public utilities such as the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, and with privately owned public utilities such as Southern California Edison, Pacific Gas & Electric, and Pacific Power.
Christi has worked on some of the largest wildfire cases in California, Oregon and Washington. Christi has worked many years for the firm, beginning her work in claim file production even before attending law school. Christi is viewed as a leader among those subrogation lawyers who focus and specialize in power line caused fires, and currently has a leadership role in major pending cases. Her work includes planning overall trial strategy and taking lead on depositions of fire personnel, witnesses, utility employees and designated Persons Most Qualified.
Prior to joining Berger Kahn, Christi was an English teacher in Bordeaux, France, and graduated from Hofstra University Summa Cum Laude with a double major in Communications and French and a minor in Music. She is a graduate of Fowler School of Law at Chapman University.
First Admitted: 2021, California
Professional Webpage: http://bergerkahn.com/our-people/christi-forsline/
Pro bono / Community Service
- Christi spends her free time working with not-for-profit pet rescues to find animals homes.
Educational Background
- Hofstra University (BA Communications and French) umma Cum Laude Phi Beta Kappa Phi Delta Phi, 2014
Scholarly Lectures / Writings
- Attorney Christi Forsline was quoted by Law360 regarding the return of the Creek Fire subrogation suits to state court, a positive development for Berger Kahn and the insurers they represent. U.S. District Judge Michael W. Fitzgerald ruled against Southern California Edison, stating that the utility had not met the standard of federal interest sufficiently for the suit to remain in the federal courts. Says Law360, “Christine Forsline, an attorney with Berger Kahn representing several of the insurers, said they are pleased with the return of their case to state court. ‘We really appreciate Judge Fitzgerald’s very careful consideration of the issues on federal enclave and federal officer,’ she told Law360. ‘We believe that Edison’s reliance on enclave and officer was misplaced, and this ruling supports our position.'” Law 360 went on to describe the matter and the new developments in more detail: “A California federal judge remanded 11 lawsuits against Southern California Edison over the 2017 Creek Fire, finding that the state law claims in the suits don’t raise a substantial federal interest. U.S. District Judge Michael W. Fitzgerald also said in his order Monday that while the fires happened in the Angeles National Forest, California had concurrent jurisdiction. ‘Utility line maintenance in an area that is already subject to state regulation does not implicate a systemwide federal issue,’ the judge wrote. The power company is facing several suits over the 2017 fire, which Judge Fitzgerald said started after an electric ground fault at a Southern California Edison power line caused a distribution line to arc. More than 200 homes were destroyed or damaged in the fire, according to the judge’s ruling, and the plaintiffs, many of which are insurance companies, accuse Southern California Edison of failing to conduct inspections and take other reasonable safety measures. The suits were originally filed in California state court, but moved to federal court by the power company, which argued that the national forest is a federal enclave and that it was subject to a federal officer’s directions, according to the ruling.”, Attorney, Law360 Article Features Berger Kahn Attorney Christine Forsline on Creek Fire Subrogation Returning to State Court, Law360, 2021
Industry Groups
- Financial
- Insurance
Office location for Christine Forsline
25910 Acero
Suite 242
Mission Viejo, CA 92691
Selections
- Rising Stars: 2023, 2025 - 2026