The Thompson Law Office

Previous Law Firm Name

• Thompson & Bileci, LLP

Law Firm Overview

The Thompson Law Office is a progressive law firm in the historic Miller Adobe (circa 1874), Monterey, California. After serving with the Monterey County District Attorney's Office, Ralph W. Thompson III co-founded Thomas, Panetta & Thompson in 1971. Partner Donald A. Thomas Judge was appointed Judge in 1972, and partner Leon E. Panetta was elected to Congress in 1976 [Mr. Panetta has served as Director of the Central Intelligence Agency and U.S. Defense Secretary]. Attorney Richard G. Glenn joined the firm in January 2012.

The firm represents clients in civil and commercial litigation; business and real estate litigation; trust and estate litigation; eminent domain and environmental law; real estate, construction, zoning, planning and land use; probate, wills and trust; professional negligence and insurance litigation; serious injury and wrongful death claims throughout California. The attorneys also serve as co-counsel and local counsel for other firms, including out-of-state firms.

The firms' attorneys are committed to professional excellence, the highest ethical standards, civility in their business and professional relationships, and service to the community. The Monterey County Bar Association awarded Mr. Thompson The Chief Justice Phil S. Gibson Award for Outstanding Community Service (2003).

Areas of Practice

• Civil Litigation
• Business and Real Estate Litigation
• Construction Law
• Estate Litigation
• Insurance Bad Faith and Coverage Issues
• Land Use and Zoning
• Municipal Law
• Professional Negligence
• Real Estate Transactions
• Serious Injury and Wrongful Death Claims
• Wills, Trusts and Probate

Honors and Awards

• Recipient, Chief Justice Gibson Award for Outstanding Community Service, 2003
• Loma Linda University, Alumnus of the Year Award, 1985

Classes and Seminars

• Instructor in Law, Criminal Law and Criminal Evidence, Monterey Peninsula College, 1969 - 1977
• Adjunct Professor, Administration of Justice, Constitutional Law, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, and Political Science, undergraduate and graduate levels, Golden Gate University, 1971 - 1986
• Legal and Public Policy Programs, Civil Litigation, Civil Procedure, and Tort and Personal Injury Practice, University of California, Santa Cruz, 1997 - 2001
• Speaker/Panelist, National Convention Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation, 1987
• Speaker/Panelist, California Trial Lawyers Association Advocacy College, 1989
• Speaker/Panelist, California Trial Lawyers Association Annual Convention, 1990
• Speaker/Panelist, Mediation and Arbitration, California Judges Association 10th Annual Retired Judges Conference, 1998
• [State of California Standard Teaching Credential (Life), 1969

Representative Cases

• Geertz v. Ausonio, 4 Cal. App. 4th 1363 (Court of Appeal, 6th District 1992)

Ancillary Businesses

• The Thompson Mediation & Arbitration Center

West Practice Categories

Administrative, Alternative Dispute Resolution, Bad Faith Insurance, Business & Commercial, Business Organizations, Construction, Contracts, Elder Law, Eminent Domain, Environmental, Estate Planning, Foreclosure & Alternatives, Government Agencies & Programs, Government Contracts, Insurance, Land Use & Zoning, Litigation & Appeals, Personal Injury, Probate & Estate Administration, Products Liability, Professional Malpractice, Real Estate, State, Local & Municipal Law, Toxic Torts, Trusts, Wills, Wrongful Death