Legal Ethics Expert Witness

Expert Witness No.3085

Legal Experience

2002 - Present Private Practice in California
1994 - 2002    Partner, Shawn Coulson (International Practice)
1990 ‑ 1994  Partner, Solomon, Ward, Seidenwurm & Smith
1980 ‑ 1989  Associate and Partner, Luce, Forward, Hamilton & Scripps
1979 ‑ 1980  Law Clerk, Honorable Howard Turrentine (So. Dist. Cal.)

Practice

Civil litigation.  Admitted to practice before all Courts in State of California, U.S. Supreme Court.

American Arbitration Association arbitrator since 1980s; selected by parties to be lead arbitrator on $250 Million legal malpractice/antitrust arbitration held in Pittsburgh in February 2009.

Appointed Special Master to Orange County Superior Court in murder prosecution, March 2009. 

Arbitrator for State Bar of California since 1980s; Arbitrator for San Diego County Bar Association since 1980s; Vice-Chair SD County Bar Fee Arbitration Panel; issued or approved over 200 awards in fee arbitrations. 

Education

Stanford Law School, Juris Doctor, 1979

Honors: Order of the Coif
Stanford Law Review
Class Rank: Top 3%

University of Georgia, B.A. in Journalism, 1976

Honors: Phi Beta Kappa
Summa Cum Laude Graduation
Blue Key

Expert Witness Trial Testimony

Available upon Request

Legal Education Courses Taught

Adjunct Professor, Thomas Jefferson Law School, Legal Ethics (Ethics Credit)
CNA Malpractice Insurance Carrier: The Minefields of Practice
Continuing Education:  Evidence for Business Lawyers
Continuing Education:  Evidence, Laying the Foundation
California:  Engagement, Disengagement, and Conflicts Waiver
Agreements-Practical and Ethical Considerations of Forming and Terminating (Ethics Credit)
California:  Getting In, Getting Out, Getting Paid (Ethics Credit)
California:  Getting the Work and Keeping It
California:  How Lawyers Screw Up (Ethics Credit)
San Diego:  Trial Advocacy
San Diego:  Workshop on Evidence
San Diego:  Ethics of Trial Advocacy (Ethics Credit)
American Arbitration Association:  Effective Advocacy
San Diego:  The CPA as an Expert Witness
San Diego:  Evidence and Advocacy
San Diego:  Effective Retention Agreements
San Diego:  How Experts Screw Up
San Diego:  Retention and Withdrawal (Ethics Credit)
San Diego:  Federal Practice
San Diego:  Doing the Job Right (Ethics Credit)
San Diego:  Getting In, Getting Out, Getting Paid (Ethics Credit)
San Diego:  Substance Abuse: A Clinical and Ethical Perspective

Law Related Activities and Honors

Available upon Request

Community Involvement

President, Mt. Helix Toastmasters
Humorous Speech Contest Winners, Toastmasters Area 4 & Area 41
St. Thomas More Society, Vice‑President
Eucharistic Minister, St. Martin of Tours Church
Director and Treasurer, Community Preparatory School

Author

Available upon Request