California State University, Sacramento
Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice and
Communication Studies, 1980
Golden Gate University, School of Law
San Francisco, California
Juris Doctorate, 1989
Organizations and Accomplishments:
Admitted to the State Bar of California in 1989
Association of Trial Lawyers of America; Consumer Attorneys of California; Alameda-Contra Costa Trial Lawyers Association; Special Electric Bankruptcy Committee Member; Law Review publication, Antitrust Laws and the Sports Relocation Rules, Golden Gate University School of Law, 1988; Extensive Trial Work.
Personal Statement:
My entire professional life has been devoted to representing men and women who have been diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease. It has been a bittersweet experience. The bitterness comes from working against companies that place profits over people, and money over morality. Many of the asbestos manufacturers knew as far back as the 1930's that exposure to asbestos could cause lung disease, and that this lung disease would bring misery and heartache into the lives of an untold number of workers and their families. Nonetheless, these companies marketed asbestos and asbestos-containing products for use by workers who had no knowledge whatsoever regarding the dangers of asbestos exposure. My own father was one such worker, as were his friends and coworkers. Bitterness only begins to describe the anger that I feel for the asbestos industry.
The sweetness of this bittersweet experience comes from the relationships that we develop with the men and women who come to us for help. It takes time and effort to develop a friendship that transcends the traditional attorney-client relationship. To truly care about someone you must know them. And to know them, you must spend time with them. We spend time with our clients. We are a small office by choice. We file only a few cases per year, not a few hundred. We specifically decided to remain a small office so that we can spend a lot of time and give a lot of individual attention to each man and woman we represent. We know that good lawyering involves a sound knowledge of the law, a commitment to the highest ethical standards, and a will to win. It involves these attributes and much more. Good lawyering requires a knowing heart that understands the fear that an asbestos-related diagnosis can bring. It involves a giving spirit, which is committed to easing those fears. And it involves a desire to seek justice, a desire that has produced life-long financial security for our clients. Providing financial security to the men and women that we represent is truly the most rewarding aspect of our work.
