Law Firm Overview

The firm engages in general civil and criminal trials and appeals in state and federal courts, including commercial, constitutional, employment, civil rights, real property, administrative, family, environmental and water law.  Sole/lead counsel in approximately 30 reported appellate decisions in Supreme Courts of the United States, California and Nevada and mid level appellate courts in California and Washington.

Areas of Practice

• General Civil & Business Litigation 65%
• Criminal  5%
• Family Law 30%

Classes and Seminars

• Public Interest Practice, Bay Area Lawyers Network, 1999 - 2000
• Lawyers and Contempt, Bay Area Lawyers Network, 1999 - 2000
• Radio and Television Interviews on Civil Rights, School Desegregation, Farm Labor, Federal Reclamation Law
• Guest Speaker: National Convention-National Farmers Union, Classes at U.C. Berkeley and U.C. Hastings School of Law

Pro Bono Activities

• Volunteer Attorney, American Civil Liberties Union, Northern California Branch, 1963 - Present
• San Francisco Chapter, NAACP, 1971 - 1974
• Asian Immigrant Woman Advocates
• Farm Worker Press, Inc.
• The Bay Institute of San Francisco, Board of Directors, 1990 - Present
• The Bay Institute of San Francisco, Board of Directors, First Vice-President, 1996 - Present
• Employee Representative, State of California Wage Board 13 (Agricultural Occupations), 1965

Representative Cases

• Bryant v. Yellen, 447 U.S. 352 (U.S. Supreme Court 1980)
• In re Marriage of Cornejo, 13 Cal.4th 381 (Cal. Supreme Court 1996)
• McCoy v. Hearst Corp., 42 Cal.3d 835 (Cal. Supreme Court 1986)
• In re Demillo, 14 Cal.3d 598 (Cal. Supreme Court 1975)
• Tusher v. Gabrielsen, 68 Cal.App 4th 131 (Cal. Court of Appeal 1998)
• McLaughlin v. Superior Court, 140 Cal.App.3d 473 (Cal. Court of Appeal 1993)
• Lynn v. Binderman, 536 F.2d 820 (Cal. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit 1976)
• Johnson v. San Francisco Unified School District, 500 F.2d 349 (Cal. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit 1974)
• Kraus v. Fogliani, 82 Nev. 459 (Nevada Supreme Court 1966)
• Williams v. Pacific Maritime Ass'n, 421 F.2d 1287 (Cal. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit 1970)

West Practice Categories

, Administrative Hearings & Adjudication, Business & Commercial Law, Contracts, Debtor/Creditor, Civil Rights, Age Discrimination, Disability & Illness Discrimination, Race Discrimination, Religious Discrimination, Sex Discrimination, Sexual Harassment, Constitutional Law, Discrimination, Freedom of Press, Freedom of Religion, Freedom of Speech, Search & Seizure Protections, Construction Law, Construction Contracts, Construction Liens, Housing & Construction Defects, Criminal Law, DUI/DWI, Misdemeanor, Sex Offenses, Traffic Violations, Employment Law -- Employee, Americans with Disabilities Act -- Employee, Employee Rights -- Employee, Employment Contracts -- Employee, Employment Discrimination -- Employee, Whistleblower/Qui Tam, Wrongful Termination -- Employee, Employment Law -- Employer, Americans with Disabilities Act -- Employer, Employment Discrimination -- Employer, Sexual Harassment -- Employer, Whistleblower -- Employer, Wrongful Termination -- Employer, Family Law, Alimony & Spousal Support, Child Support, Custody & Visitation, Divorce, Paternity, Prenuptial Agreements, Insurance Law, Bad Faith Insurance, Litigation & Appeals, Complex Litigation, Federal Appellate Practice, State Appellate Practice, State Trial Practice, Natural Resources Law, Water & Riparian Rights, Professional Malpractice Law, Legal Malpractice, Other Professionals Malpractice, Real Estate Law, Landlord/Tenant, Residential Real Estate