Tort Litigation

GMSR’s appellate work has been on the leading edge of important tort issues, running the gamut from duty to breach to causation and damages.  GMSR’s substantive experience includes personal injury, property damage, fraud and misrepresentation, products liability, landowner liability, vicarious liability, defamation and invasion of privacy, and construction defects.

Picazzo v. C.W. Driver, Inc. (Feb. 28, 2020, B289070) 2020 WL 967087

GMSR obtains $2.8 million appellate victory for workers’ compensation carrier

GMSR obtains $2.8 million appellate victory for workers’ compensation carrier

GMSR’s client, a workers’ compensation carrier, paid benefits to an injured employee of its insured, a security company. The employee sued others for negligence, including the university where he had been assigned to work for a number of years. The jury found the university at

GMSR’s Ted Xanders and Nadia Sarkis discuss tactics for combating inflated non-economic tort damages in IMLA Municipal Lawyer

In a two-part series published in IMLA Municipal Lawyer, entitled “Reptiles, Picassos, and Stealth Bombers: Combating Inflated Non-economic Tort Damages,” Ted Xanders and Nadia Sarkis discuss various tips for combating tactics that plaintiffs’ lawyers are using in personal-injury actions to increase non-economic damages.  Part One,

McKindra v. Tharaldson Financial Group, Inc. (Nov. 11, 2019, E069896) 2019 WL 6125912

Court of Appeal reverses compensatory and punitive damages and private attorney general fees in bed bug case

Court of Appeal reverses compensatory and punitive damages and private attorney general fees in bed bug case

GMSR’s client, the defendant hotel, admitted negligence after plaintiffs were briefly exposed to bed bugs in their hotel room.  The jury returned a verdict awarding substantial compensatory damages and punitive damages on an intentional infliction of emotional distress claim for one plaintiff, and compensatory damages

Wood v. Sparks Enterprises LP (Oct. 2, 2019, G056181) 2019 WL 4854837

Court of Appeal affirms judgment for GMSR’s property owner client

Court of Appeal affirms judgment for GMSR’s property owner client

Plaintiff filed a negligence action against GMSR’s client, a shopping center owner, alleging that he was injured when he walked into a pole in a landscaped area separating a parking lot from the sidewalk.  A jury found in favor of the property owner.  Plaintiff appealed,

Patton v. Southern California Edison Company (Sept. 17, 2019, B282640) 2019 WL 4439661

Court of Appeal grants motion to dismiss appeal from summary judgment in favor of GMSR’s utility client

Court of Appeal grants motion to dismiss appeal from summary judgment in favor of GMSR’s utility client

Plaintiffs’ mother was struck by a car while crossing a street near a streetlight that was cycling on and off.  GMSR’s client, Southern California Edison, serviced the streetlight.  Plaintiffs sued, alleging that Edison negligently failed to keep the streetlight working properly.  On summary judgment, the

Daniels v. Southern California Edison Co. (July 8, 2019, E069183) 2019 WL 2912505

Court of Appeal affirms judgment for GMSR’s utility client, finding no basis for liability following firefighter’s accident

Who We Serve

PUBLIC ENTITIES

Whether on appeal, assisting trial counsel, or advising government officials contemplating legislative action, GMSR provides unique insight into the complex laws that impact public entities.

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INSURERS

Where coverage may exist, GMSR represents insureds on appeal effectively and efficiently. Where it does not, the firm protects insurers’ right to deny claims.

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BUSINESSES

GMSR offers corporate clients objective assessments on appeal, based on a deep understanding of the limitations and opportunities of appellate review.

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TRIAL COUNSEL

The firm’s lawyers are team players, collaborating with trial counsel at any level from legal strategy to writing or editing trial court motions and appellate briefs.

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INDIVIDUALS

GMSR vigorously advocates the rights of individual plaintiffs and defendants, in both state and federal appellate courts.

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COMMUNITY PRO BONO

As part of GMSR’s long-standing commitment to social justice and equality, GMSR provides pro bono appellate services to individuals and to community organizations on issues of concern.

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