Source: http://mpbf.com/news/
Timestamp: 2019-04-21 02:26:01+00:00

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Technology is advancing all around us and the legal field is struggling to keep up. The tension between digital transformation and legal doctrine is further represented in the means by which people execute written agreements. "Wet signatures" are still being used on occasion, however, people frequently enter into agreements using electronic signatures by necessity or convenience. What is an "electronic signature," and is it enforceable in a court of law. Patrick J. Wingfield, Director, and Charles N. Bahlert, Associate, in Murphy, Pearson, Bradley & Feeney's San Francisco office examine California's e-signature law - the California Uniform Electronic Transaction Act (CUETA), in their article "E-Signatures and the Law", published in the Daily Journal on March 8, 2019.
Read the article here and submit your completed MCLE Self-Assessment Test to Sarah Tetlow (stetlow@mpbf.com), Marketing & Business Development Manager at MPB&F, by Wednesday, March 27, 2019 and MPB&F will process and pay for your MCLE certification.
To comply with the CCPA look-back provision, businesses should have begun record keeping as of January 1, 2019. This past summer the California legislature passed, and later amended, the California Consumer Privacy Act of 2018 (CCPA). The CCPA grants California consumers an array of new and unprecedented rights to their personal information (aka PI) and expands consumer privacy expectations. Although the CCPA does not go into effect until January 1, 2020, a key provision known as the "look back" requires California businesses covered by the CCPA to begin preparing now. Tarah Powell-Chen of Murphy, Pearson, Bradley & Feeney, P.C., provides a brief overview of the key provisions included in the CCPA, the "look back" provision, how to take action for compliance now, and the potential penalties for violating the CCPA in her article Look Out for the 'Look Back' - Begin CCPA Prep Now, which was published in The Recorder on February 1, 2019. Read the article here.
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act ("TCJA") was passed into law on December 22, 2017 (Pub. L. 115-97). "It was a sea change in the Internal Revenue Code," stated founding shareholder Arthur V. Pearson in his article, A Review of Potential Risks Associated with the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act ("TCJA"), published in @Camico's December 2018 newsletter Impact, Issue 113. The changes benefited many taxpayers and were a disadvantage to others. Arthur's article reviews the highlights of areas likely to generate errors and claims, including planning considerations and other key risk management points. Read the article online here.
Imagine for a second that you are a retailer of household wares and you sell a desk lamp to a customer. After several uses, the light bulb unexpectedly explodes causing the customer injuries. The cause of the explosion is unknown, but your customer files a product liability lawsuit naming the manufacturers of the lamp and lightbulb, various component distributors, and you, the retailer of the lamp as defendants. What happens next? Find out in Where Does the Buck Stop? A Navigation Guide for Products Liability Defendants, published in ALM The Recorder on December 27, 2018. This article was authored by Murphy, Pearson, Bradley & Feeney, P.C.'s attorneys Jeff Hsu, Director, and Patrick Gillespie, Associate, in the firm's Los Angeles office.
A few simple steps, taken early in the litigation, can make the difference between a favorable early settlement and a large fee award after trial. Read Defending Against Fee Claims in Copyright Cases: Get Ahead, published in the Daily Journal on December 24, 2018, by Keith G. Adams of Murphy Pearson Bradley & Feeney's Los Angeles Office.
On November 1, 2018, California will update and implement its new Rules of Professional Conduct. Rule 1.8.5, concerning the payment of personal or business expenses incurred by or for a client, is among those rules. Whitney Carlson, an Associate in the firm's San Francisco office, takes a deeper dive into Rule 1.8.5, specifically its newly added subsection (b)(4): Notwithstanding paragraph (a), a lawyer may: (4) pay the costs of prosecuting or defending a claim or action, or of otherwise protecting or promoting the interests of an indigent person in a matter in which the lawyer represents the client. This addition is one of the changes that brings California's Rules of Professional Conduct into greater alignment with the 50 other jurisdictions that have adopted some iteration of the American Bar Association's Model Rules of Professional Conduct. There is one key difference between Rule 1.8.5(b)(4) and the ABA Model Rules: "costs" in Rule 1.8.5(b)(4) may include "any reasonable expenses of litigation, including court costs, and reasonable expenses in preparing for litigation or providing other legal services to a client." So, what is reasonable?
Whitney explores this issue further in her article, Lawyer payments for clients under the new rules, published in the Daily Journal on October 12, 2018 as their MCLE Weekly Self-Assessment Test. Read the article here and submit your completed MCLE Self-Assessment Test to Sarah Tetlow (stetlow@mpbf.com), Marketing & Business Development Manager at MPB&F, by Monday, November 19, 2018 and MPB&F will process and pay for your MCLE certification.
3 Workplace Safety Tips to Prepare for a Natural Disaster in California. The third and final installment of Patrick Wingfield and Kavin Williams' three-part series for SHRM.org (Society for Human Resource Management) was published on October 16, 2018. This installment takes a deep look at three workplace safety tips that employers can implement to prepare for natural disasters in California. Planning for the unexpected may save a business valuable time, resources, and money in the aftermath of a natural disaster. Our employment law attorneys are knowledgeable regarding applicable Cal/OSHA standards, and are qualified to help your business prepare and implement an emergency action plan. For more information, contact Marketing Manager, Sarah Tetlow at stetlow@mpbf.com.
The attorneys and staff of Murphy, Pearson, Bradley & Feeney, P.C. would like to express their gratitude to the firefighters who are working around the clock to protect our families, dwellings, businesses, and wildlife. We appreciate your service.
The new California Rules of Professional Conduct will go into effect on November 1, 2018 (access the full new Rules on www.calbar.ca.gov or here). The new Rule 5.5 modifies the former Rule 1-300 "Unauthorized practice of law" and is now known as "Rule 5.5 Unauthorized Practice of Law; Multijurisdictional Practice of Law." The New Rule 5.5 encompasses the intent of the former Rule 1-300 and adds the multijurisdictional element and prohibits lawyers from practicing law in California unless otherwise entitled to practice in California by court rule or other law. Peter Weber, Director in the firm's San Francisco office, further explores the New Rule 5.5 in his article New rules modify unauthorized practice of law rules in California, which was published in the Daily Journal on Friday, October 5, 2018.
The Managing Director of the firm's Seattle office, Nicholas Larson, has been appointed co-chair of the Washington State Bar Association (WSBA) Pro Bono and Public Service Committee by the WSBA Board of Governors for the 2018-2019 term. The WSBA Pro Bono and Public Service Committee works to enhance a culture of legal service by promoting opportunities and best practices that encourage WSBA members to engage in pro bono and public service with a particular focus on services to people with low to moderate income. For more information about the committee, visit https://lnkd.in/gqYtxdp.
MPB&F attorneys Arthur Harris and Kavin Williams have been presenting at various bar associations in the Bay Area on the topic of Preparing a Proper Certificate of Independent Review (CIR). The Marin County Bar Association has also published their article of the same name. When confronted by an elderly transferor wishing to make a disposition of assets to a caregiver or new companion, every competent estate attorney must reflexively obtain a California certificate of independent review (CIR). Arthur and Kavin provide valuable insight into the important components of effectuating a CIR in Preparing a Proper Certificate of Independent Review. Their article was initially published on April 20, 2018 in the Daily Journal, and separately published on October 2, 2018 by the MCBA, which is available here. For more information on preparing a CIR and/or to request Arthur and Kavin present at your organization, please contact Sarah Tetlow, Marketing & Business Development Manager, at stetlow@mpbf.com.
Murphy, Pearson, Bradley & Feeney, P.C., would like to welcome Alston Lew to the San Francisco office! Born and raised in San Francisco, Alston continued his education locally, receiving his J.D. from Golden Gate University and his B.A. from the University of San Francisco. Immediately prior to joining MPBF, Alston was a civil litigation attorney in the East Bay. Alston's primary practice at MPBF will be business litigation and professional liability matters. Welcome to the firm, Alston!
Do attorneys have any ethical obligations to advise their clients about the potentially draconian effects of the mediation confidentiality statutes? How might a lawyer limit the 'practical' risks of engaging in mediation? How can one reduce the risk of a client with 'settler's remorse' filing a malpractice complaint after reaching a mediated solution? Shareholder and Managing Partner, Timothy J. Halloran, and Director, Jonathan M. Blute, explore these issues surrounding the mediation "black hole" in their article Navigating the Black Hole of California's Mediation Confidentiality Statutes, which was published in the Bar Association of San Francisco's publication San Francisco Attorney in Fall 2018.
The second installment of Patrick Wingfield and Kavin Williams' three-part series for SHRM.org (Society for Human Resource Management) was published on September 17, 2018. This installment explores Paying California Workers During A Natural Disaster, specifically covering how employers should navigate payment to exempt and nonexempt employees as well as other accommodations that may be made amidst disruptive events.
California Wildfires are affecting residents, firefighters, and businesses throughout California. During such an event, it is imperative businesses diligently comply with California leave laws. MPBF attorneys Patrick Wingfield and Kavin Williams help employers identify and apply those laws in their three-part series entitled California Employers Must Comply with Leave Laws During Wildfires, published on SHRM.org (Society for Human Resource Management) on September 5, 2018. In addition to covering the issues a business must address to protect itself and its employees in California, the series also addresses what an employer can charitably do to help ensure their employees' needs are addressed. Parts 2 and 3 will be published in the coming weeks and will be posted at that time.
The Hartford Insurance Company has been a sponsor of athletes with disabilities since 1994. They became a Founding Partner of U.S. Paralympics, a division of the U.S. Olympic Committee, in 2003. It takes tremendous training, dedication and financial backing to become a world-class athlete. Team Hartford 2018 includes Keith Gabel (Snowboarding), Andrew Kurka (Alpine Skiing), Oksana Masters (Nordic Skiing), Mike Shea (Snowboarding), and Evan Strong (Snowboarding).
This Fall, The Hartford will host the Fifth Annual Celebration of Heroes Auction and Raffle Fundraising Event in three of their office locations, including in Hartford, CT. The Hartford had a great success rate in 2017 of raised funds for the U.S. Paralympics. Please visit for more information on the event and/or donating to the U.S. Paralympic team. Murphy Pearson Bradley & Feeney is a proud sponsor of this event.
"What appears to be 'textbook' attorney negligence has escalated into new precedent with the Court of Appeal abandoning the substantial factor causation analysis traditionally applied to a claim against an attorney for breach of fiduciary duty." The article titled The Calif. Court of Appeal Decision That Expands Negligence Exposure for Lawyers was authored by Janet Everson, Shareholder, and Alina Pavlova, Associate, of Murphy, Pearson, Bradley, & Feeney, P.C., and it explores the recent decision of Knutson v. Foster (2018 DJDAR 7891). Read about The Calif. Court of Appeal Decision That Expands Negligence Exposure for Lawyers which was published in ALM The Recorder on August 29, 2018.
Shareholder Jason E. Fellner was invited and will participate once again this year as a faculty teacher at Stanford Law School's Trial Advocacy Workshop for the Fall 2018 Quarter. Having the opportunity to teach law students trial advocacy is personally and professionally gratifying for Mr. Fellner, who comes from a long line of teachers in his family. Teaching future lawyers how to be successful trial lawyers is an extension of Murphy, Pearson, Bradley & Feeney, P.C.'s forty-year history of developing and training trial lawyers as champions of their client's interests. For more information about Mr. Fellner, visit his bio or visit the Stanford Law School's Advocacy Workshop.
Learn How to Properly Prepare a Certificate of Independent Review.
When confronted by an elderly transferor wishing to make a disposition of assets to a caregiver or new companion, every competent estate attorney must reflexively obtain a California Certificate of Independent Review (CIR). Arthur Harris and Kavin Williams of Murphy, Pearson, Bradley & Feeney, P.C. provide valuable insight into the important components of effectuating a CIR during their presentation at the Alameda County Bar Association on Thursday, September 27, 2018. For more information or to register, visit ACBA website. They first addressed the topic in their article which was published in the Daily Journal on April 20, 2018 and available here.
Welcome LaKeysia R. Benne! The Sacramento office is exited to announce arrival of our newest associate. LaKeysia received her J.D. from Lincoln Law School. Her primary focus is in defense of businesses, individuals and healthcare providers in matters involving professional liability, construction defect, employment, personal injury and complex litigation matters. Welcome to the firm LaKeysia!
Congratulations to Shareholder Jason E. Fellner, in our San Francisco office, who was recently admitted to practice law the state of Washington! Jason is an experienced trial lawyer with a primary focus in professional liability defense, insurance, and civil litigation. He has successfully represented clients in all phases of dispute resolution from pre-litigation mediation and arbitration all the way through trial. He is excited to expand into the Seattle area and looks forward to meeting new contacts in Washington. Jason can be reached at (415) 962-2829 or jfellner@mpbf.com.
Timothy Halloran will be one of the panelist speaking at the Attorney Malpractice and Insurance Panel which has been put together by the Asian American Bar Association of the Greater Bay Area. The Panel will take place August 8, 2018 from 6:00-8:00PM at the HISCOX Insurance Building located at 101 California Street, Suite 1950, San Francisco, CA. To register or for more information, feel free to visit the event website.
In this year's Super Lawyers Magazine, there were twenty-five attorneys voted on as the best in Northern California in the field of Professional Liability Defense. We are pleased to announce that Murphy Pearson Bradley & Feeney has eleven of those twenty-five attorneys: James Murphy, Michael Bradley, Arthur Pearson, John Feeney, Timothy Halloran, Harlan Watkins, Janet Everson, William Muñoz, Jason Fellner, John Girarde, and Peter Weber.
Mark Perelman, Aaron McClellan, James Lassart, and Adrian Driscoll are also on the 2018 Northern California Super Lawyers list in their fields.
Additionally, five of our attorneys have been recognized as "Northern California Rising Stars 2018": Jonathan M. Blute, Dina Zagari, Kimberly Shields, Patrick Wingfield, and Heather Barnes.
Congratulations to the twenty attorneys at MPB&F who made the 2018 Northern California Super Lawyer and Rising Star lists!
The Bar Association of San Francisco Barrister's Club will host its' 34th Annual Barristers Club Judges Reception on Thursday, July 26, 2018 from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. The event will be held at the Judicial Council of California, 455 Golden Gate Avenue, San Francisco. MPB&F is a proud sponsor of this event. For more information on the event, please visit the event page.
Aaron McClellan of Murphy Pearson Bradley & Feeney was quoted as an expert in an article on Outside Magazine on June 11, 2018: In September 2017, Make Him Smile, a foundation reportedly run by Kevin Farley, Chris Farley's brother, filed a $10 million lawsuit against Trek in a Los Angeles court wherein he alleged that Trek was profiting on the late comedian's name with the Farley Fat Bike. Lawsuits like this one aren't uncommon where misappropriation of celebrity names are alleged; but Aaron pointed that just because there are components of bikes similar to those of cartoon character or celebrities, "[is it] right to claim the name is somehow playing off their rights?" Read the full article.
We are thrilled to announce the newest addition to MPB&F, R. Mick Rubio! Mick Rubio is a litigation associate in our San Francisco office where he will be focusing largely on legal malpractice, employment law, construction law, and products liability. Mick graduated from McGeorge School of Law with distinctions and prides himself on his prior experience as a student attorney in the Elder Law Clinic wherein he provided aggressive pro bono counsel to low-income elderly clients in the Sacramento Region. Mick continues to carry that passion in his practice today. "Success is not an accident, success is actually a choice." Welcome Mick!
Managing Shareholder of MPB&F, Timothy Halloran, will be speaking alongside Susan Kilano at the Trust & Estates and Solo & Small Firms Section's program entitled, "The Business of a Trust & Estates Practice - A Practical Guide for Sole Practitioners and Small Firms" to be held on Friday, June 29, 2018, at the Office of the State Bar of California. For more information on the event, including registration fees as they vary, please visit California Lawyers Association website. Sign up now as space is limited and filling up quickly. Note: The event will also be live streamed and offers 1 hour participatory MCLE credit.
The California Supreme Court approved 27 amended Rules of Professional Conduct on May 10th. The justices modified and authorized an additional 42 rules. Two of our attorneys took an in-depth look at those changes for a segment in the Daily Journal. Read about Rule 1.13, Organization as a Client, by John Stellini in the Daily Journal on Wednesday May 30, 2018, and Rule 1.3, Diligence, by Tarah Powell-Chen in the Daily Journal on Thursday May 31, 2018.
Murphy Pearson Bradley & Feeney is proud to announce the elevation of Kimberly A. Shields to Shareholder. Kim joined MPB&F in 2007 as an Associate and has worked hard to excel in her career with the firm. She has extensive litigation experience, specifically in employment , professional liability, and real estate / homeowners association defense. "We are very pleased to promote Kim to Shareholder. Kim is an excellent model of a partner with the firm who continues to prove the tradition of excellent litigators and a focus on client service," said Timothy J. Halloran, Managing Partner of the Firm.
It is not unusual for CPAs to be served with a third-party Deposition Subpoenas for the Production of Business Records in a lawsuit. The language in the subpoena may seem clear enough that the CPA firm believes they can respond without seeking counsel's advice. Ben Koodrich, Senior Tax Counsel in MPB&F's San Francisco office, published an article explaining some of the reasons CPAs should call their attorney before responding to a deposition subpoena for production of business records. His article, Need a CPA to produce records? Here's their rules, was published on May 11, 2018 in the Daily Journal.
MPB&F having some fun! Shareholder Jason Fellner hosted a team BBQ at his home. From left to right: Associate Charles Bahlert with his wife and son; Jason with his wife and sons (daughter not pictured); Associate Caitlin DiMaggio with her husband and daughter (son not pictured); Associate Tarah Powell-Chen with her boyfriend; and Associate John Stellini with his girlfriend.
Welcome Laura R. Grealish! We are excited to announce the newest addition to MPB&F's employment law and professional liability practice groups, Laura R. Grealish. Laura returns to her native San Francisco after spending the last 10 years on the east coast. She will largely be working with Tim Halloran and Mark Perelman and their team. Welcome Laura!
PAGA and Paid Sick Leave Notice Requirements - Why California Employers Should Still Be Nervous was published on Bloomberg Law on April 17, 2018. This article, authored by Nathan T. Jackson, a litigation associate in MPB&F's Sacramento office, takes a deep look into whether the California Legislature enacted one of the most significant workplace protections without any means of private enforcement. He leaves the readers with three key takeaways related to PAGA litigation.
Conflict Waivers - Why Do We Need Them? William Muñoz, Managing Partner of the firm's Sacramento Office, and a State Bar of California Certified Legal Malpractice Specialist, provides some key insights into potential ethical issues that arise in lawyer's daily practice. The article further provides ways to avoid malpractice claims. Read the article in The Lawyer's Lawyer section of the Association of Defense Counsel of Northern California & Nevada's periodical: Defense Comment, Vol 33, No. 1, Spring 2018 edition.
Whether managing a law firm or managing a girls' basketball team, Coach Timothy Halloran knows how to master the court. Tim Halloran, Managing Partner at MPBF, also coaches the Mission High girls' basketball team -- and does so while maintaining his calm and "surfer-like" demeanor. Read Mission High coach Tim Halloran '75 helps his teams succeed on the court, in college and in life.
Welcome Kavin Williams! We are excited to announce the newest addition to MPB&F's litigation, business law, transactions, and professional liability team, Kavin A. Williams. Kavin played varsity football while attending the University of Puget Sound. He also was a representative on the NCAA's National Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. As if that wasn't enough, he also played as an imported player in Helsinki, Finland and Basel, Switzerland and won a national championship. We are excited to have Kavin at MPB&F where he is a litigation associate in our San Francisco office and focusing largely on corporation transactional and professional liability work. Welcome Kavin!
State Bar of California v. Attorney. Peter L. Weber, Director at Murphy Pearson Bradley & Feeney ("MPBF"), and Whitney Carlson, Associate at MPBF, represented the defendant Attorney in charges brought by the State Bar of California. The State Bar of California filed a Notice of Disciplinary Charges consisting of two counts against the Attorney. After a three-day trial, both charges were dismissed and the defendant Attorney was awarded her costs.
Jim Murphy of Murphy Pearson Bradley & Feeney is quoted in an article on the front page of the Daily Journal today: SF Judges' Backing of Colleagues Raises Ethical Concern by Winston Cho. In early March, a complaint was filed with the CJP against two Presiding Judges of the San Francisco Superior Court stating that they violated the California Code of Judicial Ethics by using court resources to issue a statement backing the incumbent judges. Jim Murphy believes it is "a ridiculous argument." He further states that he "thinks limited use of court resources to advance a judicial candidacy wouldn't be a violation of canon. As a matter of public importance, it's a matter of maintaining the integrity of the judiciary and the use of court resources were at an insignificant level as to not be a violation." To read the full article, visit https://www.dailyjournal.com/articles/346709 and access with your subscription.
Shareholder Jason E. Fellner was quoted in the March 8, 2018 Law360.com article titled Build The Wall: 4 Ethical Screen Rulings Attys Should Know. This article explores four recent decisions to know about ethic screens (aka "Chinese walls").
Undoubtedly, experts must rely on education, training, and experience to explain complex evidence to the jury. The courts have granted experts the ability the rely on a limited amount of hearsay when forming their opinions and present that hearsay to the trier of fact. Geoff Macbride explores how this limited use of hearsay has been abused to present otherwise inadmissible evidence to the jury in his article Preventing Experts from Presenting Hearsay to the Jury. His article was published on February 16, 2018 in the Daily Journal and is also available for MCLE Self-Assessment Test. Read the article here and submit your completed MCLE Self-Assessment Test to Sarah Tetlow, Marketing & Business Development Coordinator at MPB&F, by Friday 3/9/18 for processing and MCLE credit.
Welcome Patrick Gillespie! We are excited to announce the newest addition to MPB&F's litigation and professional liability team, Patrick Gillespie. Patrick is a litigation associate in the firm's Los Angeles office and will be working primarily with Michael Bradley.
The American Bar Association National Legal Malpractice Conference is April 25-27 in Washington D.C. Early Bird registration closes on Wednesday 2/28/18. On Thursday, 4/26/18, Arthur J. Harris of MPB&F will be on panel for in the 11:30 a.m. Breakout 1: Greatest Case Law Update Ever! We hope to see you there! For more information, visit ABA National Legal Malpractice Conference.
Murphy Pearson Bradley & Feeney is thrilled to announce that we are celebrating our 40th Anniversary. We would like to welcome the firm's clients, friends, and family to join us for a toast next Thursday, February 22, 2018 from 4:00 - 6:00 p.m at our offices in San Francisco. Please RSVP to Cheryll Paguia at cpaguia@mpbf.com or (415) 788-1900.
Interested in the 2017 California court holdings that impacted legal malpractice laws? Important Legal Malpractice Cases in 2017 by John Stellini, associate in MPB&F's San Francisco office, breaks down and briefly summarizes the impactful cases specifically in the areas of fee agreements, disqualification, Anti-SLAPP and litigation privilege, attorney-client privilege and work product, mediation privilege and cases affecting prosecution of legal malpractice claims.
Welcome John Stellini! We are excited to announce the newest addition to MPB&F's litigation and professional liability practice groups, John T. Stellini. John will primarily be working with Shareholder Jason Fellner and his team. Welcome John!
On January 10, 2018, the Daily Journal published in the New California Laws 2018 Supplement SB 813: Expanded Voluntary Disclosure Program by Edward Beeby. Senate Bill 813, sponsored by the California Franchise Tax Board, took effect on January 1, 2018. SB 813 expands California's Voluntary Disclosure Program and is predicted to lower tax revenue by $100,000 annually. Read the article here.
James Lassart obtained a complete defense verdict in favor of his attorney and law firm client: Randy Montesano. Haney accused Montesano of legal malpractice, professional negligence, breach of contract, and infliction of emotional distress. Haney claimed that Montesano should have challenged the jury selection process but did not do so. Montesano demurred arguing that Haney filed two identical complaints and did not state the facts sufficient to constitute a cause of action for attorney malpractice. Haney's complaint also exceeded the relevant statute of limitations period and Montesano argued that Haney could not prove actual innocence or exoneration. Elements that must be met in order to prove legal malpractice occurred. Haney represented himself in the current action and the Honorable Harold E. Kahn of San Francisco Superior Court granted Montesano's demurrer and dismissed the entire action.
Murphy, Pearson, Bradley & Feeney would like to wish Founding Shareholder John H. Feeney a wonderful retirement. We will miss John at the firm and are excited for his many adventures that retirement will bring him.
"After thirty-nine wonderful years with the firm I have decided to retire at the conclusion of 2017. It will be bittersweet as I launch into a new phase of life after so many rewarding and heartwarming experiences at the place where my entire career has been spent. It was my extreme good fortune to have arrived at the firm shortly after having passed the bar, and it is my proudest professional achievement to have been part of the growth of Murphy, Pearson, Bradley & Feeney.
Elder Abuse Avoidance: Counseling Professionals, authored by Jeff Hsu and Angela Rho, was featured on page 11 of the Fall 2017 edition of the Professional Liability Defense Quarterly, Volume 9, Issue 4. Professional Liability Defense Quarterly is published by the Professional Liability Defense Federation (PLDF). Read the article here.
Murphy Pearson Bradley & Feeney welcomes Tarah Powell-Chen as an Associate to the San Francisco office. Tarah recently passed the California bar exam and we are proud to welcome her to our family! Tarah's practice will focus primarily on professional liability, business litigation, employment law, and real estate. Congratulations and welcome Tarah!
Kendra L. Basner (Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP) will moderate a panel consisting of Alison P. Buchanan (Hoge, Fenton, Jones & Appel), Peter M. Roldan (Emergent, LLP) and Jason Fellner (Murphy Pearson Bradley & Feeney). Visit BASF for more information or to register for the event.
MPB&F would like to welcome Caitlin E. Ward to the firm's San Francisco office. Caitlin will work with Shareholders Aaron McClellan and Thomas "Tip" Mazzucco in their general litigation practice and with an emphasis on White Collar & Regulatory Defense. Welcome Caitlin!
Karen Stromeyer attended the American Bar Association (ABA)'s National Legal Malpractice Conference in September. During that conference, Karen attended the panel discussion on "ransomware can happen to you". That course was summarized in an article authored by Karen, Ransomware Make You Wanna Cry? Protecting the Confidential Information of Your Practice and Your Clients from Cybercriminals. Read the article published by Bloomberg ABA/BNA here.
Peter Weber attended the American Bar Association (ABA)'s National Legal Malpractice Conference this past fall. During that conference, Peter attended the panel discussion Master Class in Attorney Mal Mediations: Select Topics. That course was summarized in an article authored by Peter, Mediating Legal Malpractice? Come Armed with Information, Panel Says. Read the article published by Bloomberg ABA/BNA here.
Murphy Pearson Bradley & Feeney invites you to attend its' annual Mock Trial at USF School of Law on Saturday, November 4, 2017. The event will be followed by a hosted reception at Barrel Head Brewhouse. View the Invitation for more information or to RSVP.
A good read regarding filing tax returns and not missing the tax trap! Check out Mailing Late Tax Returns Or Payments A Tax Trap For The Unwary by Edward Beeby, Associate in MPB&F's San Francisco office with a LL.M in Taxation from New York University.
Avoiding Malpractice Claims - A Primer for Both New and Seasoned Attorneys.
One hour of MCLE Credit will be provided for attendance. Please login on the SMCBA website for more information on the event or to register. The cost is $45 for section members and $55 for non-section members.
Welcome Andy Y. Chen to MPB&F's San Francisco office. Andy will work with Shareholder Janet Everson in her litigation practice with emphasis on Business Litigation and Professional Liability. Welcome Andy!
Smart Utilization of Demonstrative Exhibits at Trial. Interested in learning more about use of demonstratives at trial? Jason Fellner, Shareholder, and Caitlin DiMaggio, Associate, in Murphy Pearson Bradley & Feeney's San Francisco office will be hosting a CLE luncheon diving into the topic. The event will take place on Thursday October 26, 2017 from 12:00 - 1:15 p.m. at MPBF, 88 Kearny Street in downtown San Francisco. To register for the event, please contact Sarah Tetlow through the General Inquiries tab on the Contact page.
Murphy Pearson Bradley & Feeney was voted the Best Legal Malpractice Specialty in The Recorder's 2017 Reader's Best Survey for a EIGHTH consecutive year - Thank You!
Proposed Rule 1.4.1 - Communication of Settlement Offers. On September 8, 2017, the Daily Journal published Communication of Settlement Offers by Shareholder Jason E. Fellner and Law Clerk Tarah Powell-Chen. The article explores Proposed Rule 1.4.1. which narrows the types of settlement offers that a lawyer is required to promptly communicate to clients in a criminal matter and maintains the mandatory communication of all written settlement offers to the client in civil matters.
The San Francisco office of Murphy Pearson Bradley & Feeney would like to welcome Suzie Tagliere and Eddie Beeby. Suzie and Eddie are both associates who will mostly work with Shareholder Janet Everson and her team. Their primary practice areas will be professional liability and tax. Welcome Eddie & Suzie!
Tolling Legal Malpractice Statute of Limitations - The Uncertainty of "Continuous Representation". The Bar Association of San Francisco will host a panel discussion on October 12, 2017 from 12:00 - 1:15 p.m. An hour of MCLE Credits in Legal Ethics and lunch will be provided. The Legal Malpractice statute of limitations, C.C.P. section 340.6 protects attorneys from stale claims. However, by its terms, it is tolled by an attorney's "continuous representation" of the client. What constitutes continuous representation is not clear cut. This program will discuss the ways attorneys can maintain positive client relations, yet protect themselves from claims of never-ending representation. Jennifer Becker of Long & Levit will moderate a panel consisting of Mark Abelson of Campagnoli, Abelson & Campagnoli and Jason Fellner of Murphy Pearson Bradley & Feeney. Click here for more information or to register for the event.
A Powerful Tool: Section 998 Offer to Compromise. Join Jonathan Blute of MPB&F, Conor Kelly, and Valerie McGinty with Mediator Sara Peters at the Bar Association of San Francisco on Thursday, September 21, 2017 from 12:00 - 1:15 p.m. Lunch will be provided as well as MCLE credit. The topic includes: How to use a § 998 offer to turn a loss into a win, and vice versa; Making effective offers in multi-party litigation; Effect of multiple offers; Evaluating the effect of "mixed results" at trial; and Building valid offers that hold up during post-trial motions. For more information and to register for the event, visit here.
Bill Muñoz, Managing Partner, and Heather Barnes, Associate, in MPB&F's Sacramento office were both named in Sacramento Magazine's 2017 Top Lawyers List. Bill was one of nine attorneys recognized under the Insurance category and Heather was one of six attorneys recognized under Professional Malpractice. Congratulations to Bill and Heather and all of the Top Lawyers recognized in Sacramento Magazine's August 2017 Top Lawyers List.
Keeping Pace With the Evolving California Case Law: How to Distinguish Between Breach of Fiduciary Duty Claims and Legal Malpractice Claims Against Attorneys. On August 23, 2017, ABA/BNA Lawyers' Manual on Professional Conduct published the above-named article by Associate Anjali Kulkarni and Shareholder Jason E. Fellner. The article explores key differences between breach of fiduciary duty claims and legal malpractice claims and further discusses how practitioners should learn from the Broadway Victoria case (Broadway Victoria, LLC v. Norminton, Wiita, & Fuster, 217 Cal. Rptr. 3d 414) when litigating malpractice claims. Read the article here.
The Hartford insurance company became a founding sponsor of the U.S. Paralympic Movement in 1994. It takes tremendous training, dedication and financial backing to become a world-class athlete. The Hartford will host its' Fourth Annual Celebration of Heroes Auction and Raffle event on September 26, 2017. For more information on the event and donating to the U.S. Paralympic team, please visit https://www.thehartford.com/about-us/paralympics. Murphy Pearson Bradley & Feeney is a proud sponsor of this event.
On August 10, 2017, the First District of the California Court of Appeal affirmed summary judgment in favor of MPBF client Silvestri, Silvestri & Mialocq in the matter of Lico v. Prioste, et al. Plaintiff and appellant Beth Ann Lico had filed a legal malpractice complaint in San Mateo County Superior Court alleging that her former divorce attorneys, the Silvestri firm and its predecessor, Tanya Prioste of Lakins & Spears, failed to advise Lico to sue her former estate planning attorneys for negligent preparation of a transmutation agreement within the applicable statute of limitations. Shareholder Timothy Halloran and Director Jonathan Blute successfully moved for summary judgment in the trial court on statute of limitations grounds, arguing Lico failed to file her instant complaint within one-year of suffering "actual injury" due to her former divorce attorneys' alleged omissions. Mr. Halloran and Mr. Blute also represented the Silvestri firm on appeal. The full opinion is available here.
On August 15, 2017, Law360 published Clear Termination of Attorney-Client Relationship is Key by Shareholder Jason E. Fellner and Associate Geoffrey Macbride. The article explores the ruling on Flake v. Neumiller & Berdslee (2017) 9 Cal.App.5th 223 and the importance of ensuring an attorney-client relationship is complete in order to commence the one-year statute of limitations for legal malpractice claims.
Heather Barnes, Associate in MPB&F's Sacramento office, has been accepted on the Membership Chair of DRI's Professional Liability Committee. The goal of the PL Committee is to build upon their traditional strengths and to significantly increase their programming efforts within DRI. For more information about the committee or DRI, visit here.
On June 27, 2017, Shareholder Jason E. Fellner was designated as a Board Certified Diplomate of the American Board of Professional Liability Attorneys. The Diplomate designation is about competence, character and commitment; three terms that define professionalism and exemplify the high standards the ABPLA sets for all of its Diplomates. It is the ABPLA's continuing mission to certify attorneys according to the highest standards of experience, ethics, education, examination and excellence. Through this rigorous process, the ABPLA offers consumers a clear standard of excellence for selecting medical and legal malpractice attorneys in whom they can have confidence.
Angela Rho will be speaking on Resolving Sexual Harassment Claims at the Association of Legal Administrator's local Human Resources Section meeting on Wednesday, August 16, 2017 at Hanson Bridgett. The prevention of sexual harassment claims is widely discussed by employment law professionals, but what do you do when a complaint is made or a claim is filed? Angela will discuss the steps to a proper investigation that protects your company and your employees, and how best to communicate the results of your investigation to all interested parties. For more information or to register (fee for non-members) visit here.
Following a two week jury trial, Shareholders James Murphy and Harlan Watkins, and Associate Geoffrey Macbride obtained a complete defense verdict in favor of their attorney and law firm clients. Despite plaintiff's alleged damages of over $30 million, the jury, which deliberated for only a day, determined that defendants representation always met the standard of care and were not liable for any wrongdoing. The case was previously tried in September 2013 and the court granted a non-suit after excluding unauthenticated hearsay evidence. The non-suit was reversed on appeal. During the pendency of the second trial, the Supreme Court issued its decision in People v. Sanchez setting forth limitations on what experts could rely on in formulating opinions.
Practicing in both California and Washington states? Managing Partner of our Seattle office, Nicholas Larson, authored an article for the King County Bar Association Bulletin which compares important aspects of professional liability standards between both states. Read Malpractice Damages - CA v. WA: Comparing Important Aspects of Professional Liability Standards here.
Nineteen of MPB&F's Attorneys Were Recognized as a Northern California Rising Star or Super Lawyer. We are pleased to announce that fifteen of our attorneys were recognized as "Northern California Super Lawyers 2017."
Additionally, Founding Shareholder John H. Feeney made the Top 100: 2017 Northern California Super Lawyer List.

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