Wins

GMSR has a stellar track record and reputation as writs and appeals attorneys. Below is a sample of recent wins for our clients.

Court of Appeal affirms judgment of nonsuit in favor of GMSR’s client

While riding his bicycle, plaintiff was hit by a car in a controlled intersection. Because of his injuries, plaintiff could not recall how the accident happened, including where he was and the direction he was traveling just before the collision. He sued GMSR’s client City

Court of Appeal affirms order denying in-house fees to attorneys

GMSR’s client sued his former attorneys for malpractice. The matter went to arbitration, and the arbitrator ruled in favor of the attorneys. They sought to recover attorney’s fees under their engagement letter with the client, but the arbitrator refused to allow them to recover fees

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,

Court of Appeal affirms damages and fee awards in favor of real estate developers and rejects neighboring homeowners association’s million-dollar counterclaim.

GMSR’s clients acquired four parcels of land and began developing residential homesites—a process that requires frequent pre-development visits by multiple contractors.  Because the land was not adjacent to public streets, the developers and their visitors accessed it by driving through a guarded gate and then

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

Court re-affirms denial of arbitration of malpractice claims

Several years ago, in Rice v. Downs (2016) 248 Cal. App. 4th 175, the Court of Appeal vacated an arbitration award against GMSR’s client, finding that his claims for legal malpractice against his lawyer/business partner were not covered by the parties’ arbitration agreement.  These included a

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

A firefighter was electrocuted when he touched the firetruck he was working on at the same time his crewmember rotated the truck’s aerial ladder into a 25-foot-high power line owned by GMSR’s client, Southern California Edison.  The firefighter sued, alleging that Edison negligently failed to

GMSR’s client faced loss of her home on account of an unauthorized home equity loan from which she received nothing. Judgment for the lender reversed.

The issue on appeal was whether evidence of the homeowner’s execution of a written agreement with a third party ratified the third party’s previously unauthorized execution of a trust deed on her home.  Since a trust deed must be in writing, under the “equal dignities

Court of Appeal holds that plaintiffs’ exclusive remedy for defendant’s intentional interference with inheritance expectancy was in probate court

Relying on Beckwith v. Dahl (2012) 205 Cal.App.4th 1039, plaintiffs sued their uncle, GMSR’s client, in civil court for intentionally interfering with their expectation of inheritance.  They claimed their uncle intentionally exerted undue influence over his parents and interfered with his mother’s desires to leave

Court of Appeal affirms $3.9 million judgment on commercial guaranty, holding that federal law bars guarantor’s assertion of “sham guaranty” defense

Court of Appeal affirms $3.9 million judgment on commercial guaranty, holding that federal law bars guarantor’s assertion of “sham guaranty” defense.

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.

Read More
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.

Read More
BUSINESSES

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

Read More
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.

Read More
INDIVIDUALS

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

Read More
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.

Read More