COMMUNITY news n Johnson Fistel is pleased to announce that Reed F. Baker joined its San Diego office. Reed will focus his practice on commercial and business litigation. Mr. Baker attended California Western School of Law, where he earned his Juris Doctor degree graduating cum laude and in the top 15% of his class. While in law school, Mr. Baker demonstrated REED F. BAKER excellent writing skills, was a published author, and served as the Associate Editor of California Western Law Review. He received the American Jurisprudence award in advanced legal writing, advanced legal research, and trial practice courses. Mr. Baker previously worked as an associate at one of San Diego’s largest and oldest civil defense firms, where he represented Fortune 500 companies and medical providers in various complex civil litigation matters in both federal and state courts. “I am thrilled to join such a reputable firm and look forward to assisting our clients obtain the best result possible,” said Reed. n Higgs Fletcher & Mack Partner Paul Pfingst has become a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, one of the premier legal associations in North America. Founded in 1950, the College is composed of the best of the trial bar from the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. Fellowship in the College is extended by invitation PAUL PFINGST only and only after careful investigation, to those experienced trial lawyers of diverse backgrounds, who have mastered the art of advocacy and whose professional careers have been marked by the highest standards of ethical conduct, professionalism, civility and collegiality. Lawyers must have a minimum of fifteen years trial experience before they can be considered for Fellowship. Membership in the College cannot exceed one percent of the total lawyer population of any state or province. n Talon J. Powers has been named a partner at the real estate and business law firm Hecht Solberg Robinson Goldberg & Bagley LLP (HechtSolberg). He joined the firm in 2014. Powers’ practice focuses on business litigation and risk management, with emphasis on construction, land use and environmental appeals, purchases TALON J. POWERS and sales, commercial leases, real estate brokerage, and insurance issues. He is a director on the board of Rebuilding Together San Diego, a local nonprofit focused on rehabilitating homes and facilities for San Diego residents in need, and was honored as one of the 2019 “San Diego Rising Stars” by Super Lawyers.
n Brown & Charbonneau, LLP is proud to announce that for the 23rd consecutive year, complex business litigator and jury trial veteran, Gregory G. Brown has again earned the prestigious AV-Preeminent® rating from Martindale Hubbell®. The AV Preeminent® rating is the highest possible rating given to a lawyer GREGORY G. BROWN and is established wholly on a peerreview basis. “I’m really proud to have maintained the AV-Preeminent rating and will continue to work hard each day to do what I can to raise the bar of professionalism and civility in the practice of law,” Brown said. Recent victories for Brown include a successful defense ruling after more than 4 weeks in trial in Orange County Superior Court, in which the plaintiff had sought more than $12,000,000 in recovery, in addition to potential punitive damages. Brown is the Founding Partner of Brown & Charbonneau, LLP, an award-winning business and corporate, litigation and family law firm based in Irvine, California. n Attorney Eric Traut won a $4.1M bench verdict on behalf of a plaintiff who suffered a mild traumatic brain injury in an automobile collision caused by an on-duty DEA agent, decided Feb. 28, 2020 by Hon. Phillip Gutierrez. [Rufo v. United States of America #CV 18-2138. With the court finding negligence, ERIC TRAUT breach and causation due to the DEA Special Agent looking at the center console at the time of collision on the 710 freeway, the accident caused permanent disability for the plaintiff, a former SoCal Edison Employee and Long Beach resident. The verdict in Los Angeles Federal District Court followed a three-day bench trial with 14 experts and numerous percipient witnesses. The pre-trial offer was $900,000. Traut has seen that many times the effects of a brain injury do not necessarily appear right away, an element that sometimes discourages or prevents individuals from seeking fair compensation following an accident because insurance companies and defendants tend to minimize or discount the injury. Says Traut of the award for his client, “It is my hope that this verdict brings some semblance of peace of mind for my clients and monetary relief for the family to compensate them for all that they have been through. Without question, Mr. Rufo would return the money in an instant if he could have his former life back again.
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Attorney Journals San Diego | Volume 200, 2020