Civil Litigation
General Civil Litigation
Not every dispute fits a category. We take on civil matters across California where what the client needs is a trial lawyer rather than a specialist in one narrow statute.
Trial court practice
- Breach of contract and business disputes
- Partnership, ownership, and dissolution disputes
- Real property and landlord-tenant matters
- Fraud and misrepresentation claims
- Civil rights actions against public agencies and officials, including claims under 42 U.S.C. section 1983
- Asset forfeiture actions in state and federal court
- Complex multi-party litigation and cross-complaints
- Post-judgment enforcement and collection
How we staff a case
Partner Kevin W. Harris has spent most of his career associating as co-counsel with other litigators — among them Martin F. Jennings, Jr., Steven Mandel, and Leo Donahue — an approach that lets a matter be staffed for its actual complexity rather than for the size of a letterhead. We are glad to work that way with other firms, and we welcome referrals.
We are equally willing to take the litigation portion of a matter while another firm continues with the rest, which is how a good deal of our work arrives.
Appeals
We also handle the appeal if the case goes that way — in the California Courts of Appeal and Supreme Court, and in the Ninth Circuit. See our Appeals page.
Discuss your case
We litigate civil matters in superior courts and federal district courts throughout California.
Contact UsThis page describes how California and federal law generally work. It is not advice about your situation — we would need the facts for that, and the facts are what decide these cases. Reading this page does not make us your lawyers, so please hold back the confidential details until we have agreed to represent you. Once we have, tell us everything. Full Legal Notice.