PRINDLE LAW - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Member of the Law Firm of PGBR LLP
Andy J. Goetz graduated from the University of California, Berkeley in 1983. In 1986, he received his J.D. degree from Loyola Law School in Los Angeles and began his legal career with the law firm of Shield & Smith, wherein his practice areas were primarily in the fields of premises liability, automobile accident litigation, toxic tort and asbestos litigation
By 1988, Mr. Goetz's practice centered around toxic tort, chemical exposure and asbestos litigation. Mr. Goetz currently acts as regional counsel and national counsel for a number of chemical companies, asbestos manufacturers, industrial contractors and premises owners.
Mr. Goetz has been a member of the law firm of PGBR LLP since its inception on March 1, 1990. He became a partner on March 1, 1992. He is a member of the American, California and Los Angeles County Bar Associations, as well as the Southern California Defense Counsel and the Defense Research Institute.
Arpi Galfayan is an associate in our Long Beach office. Ms. Galfayan graduated form California State University, Los Angeles in 1999 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice and a minor in Pre-Law Philosophy. She received her Juris Doctorate degree from Southwestern University School of Law in 2003 and was admitted to the California State Bar that same year. She is also admitted to practice before the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.
Ms. Galfayan joined PGBR LLP in 2007 with two years of experience in a wide variety of complex litigation matters. She has focused her practice on defending corporate clients in asbestos, silica and benzene litigation. Ms. Galfayan's current practice also includes the defense of products liability and toxic tort litigation matters, as well as complex law and motion matters. She is a member of the Armenian Bar Association and the American Bar Association.
Brigitte Mayo came to our firm after having spent almost 30 years both defending individuals and businesses in complex civil litigation matters in California, federal, and appellate courts, as well as representing these clients as plaintiffs. As such, she brings a unique perspective to her practice having represented clients on both sides. Her areas of focus have included premises, auto, construction, and products liability. Her work included developing litigation strategies and advising her clients and corporate counsel on legal implications of proposed actions and policies in these areas of practice.
In 1990, Ms. Mayo obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California Los Angeles in the areas of Political Science and Economics. She attended University of the Pacific's law school, McGeorge School of Law, where she obtained her Juris Doctorate in 1994.
Ms. Mayo brings this background in her dedication to providing the highest quality representation to our clients.
Carla Lynn Crochet is a partner in our Long Beach office, focusing her practice on the defense of claims for hazardous substance exposure, premises liability, products liability and environmental contamination. She received her Juris Doctorate degree from U.C. Davis Law School in 1994, where she was a member of Law Review. She was admitted to the Hawaii Bar in 1995, the California Bar in 1996 and the Washington State Bar in 1997. She is licensed to practice in all three states and their respective federal courts.
Ms. Crochet began her legal career in 1995 and has handled a wide variety of toxic tort, business and patent litigation as both defense and plaintiffs' counsel. In 2004, Ms. Crochet joined PGBR LLP. She continues her practice in all aspects of casualty defense claims, specializing in asbestos litigation. In addition to handling cases for her own clients, Ms. Crochet handles and oversees all of the trial preparation and trials for the complex litigation of the toxic tort department. Ms. Crochet also handles the complex law and motion and appellate matters. Ms. Crochet has worked with the Courts in Los Angeles County and Orange County to create and modify General Orders, which regulate all asbestos litigation in both counties.
Cathy Muller Diehl is an associate whose practice focuses on civil litigation defense including premises liability, products liability and subrogation. Ms. Diehl represents a diverse group of clients, including health and fitness facilities, amusement parks, retail establishments, water parks and product manufacturers.
She is a member of the State Bar of California and is admitted to practice in the U.S. District Courts of California, Northern, Central and Southern Districts.
Ms. Diehl graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from Arizona State University in 1990. She obtained her Juris Doctorate degree in 1995 from Valparaiso University School of Law, where she competed on the moot court team. Ms. Diehl was on the winning team of the 1995 Judge Luther M. Swygert Moot Court Competition and she won the Best Oral Advocate Award.
Celeste Scott is a litigation attorney with over 30 years of experience in defending toxic tort claims, specializing in the defense of both product and premise defendants in multiple jurisdictions throughout the United States. She has extensive experience in all aspects of discovery and trial work with an emphasis in depositions. She joined Prindle, Goetz, Barnes & Reinholtz as "of counsel" in 1996.
Celeste received her Juris Doctorate from the University of San Francisco School of Law and her undergraduate degree in English from Cal State University East Bay.
I graduated from University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) (B.A., 1992), where I was a varsity member of the UCLA Men's Golf Team. I graduated from University of Southern California School of Law (USC) (J.D., 1996) and a member of the State Bar of California with admission to practice in all state and federal courts in California, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and the Supreme Court of the United States.
Since 2007, I have been a partner of Prindle, Goetz, Barnes & Reinholtz, LLP servicing all courts in California with offices in Long Beach, Walnut Creek and San Diego.
Over the course of 25 years of litigation practice, I have been retained by several national-based professional liability insurance carriers including Admiral Insurance Groups (a Berkley Company); Ironshore (a Liberty Mutual Company); Hudson Insurance Group; and The Dental Insurance Company (TDIC) representing clients in all aspects of complex litigation, including trial and appeals, with emphasis on professional healthcare liability matters involving physicians, dentists, chiropractors, nurses, hospitals, accredited surgery centers, medical spas, residential care and skilled nursing care facilities. I have extensive experience in representing licensed healthcare providers in licensing board disciplinary matters including administrative law trials. I have also represented manufacturing and distributor clients in medical and dental product liability claims. Additionally, I have extensive experience in estate planning, probate, trust administration, insurance coverage matters, real estate and commercial matters, judgment enforcement and business litigation. I have written a number of appellate briefs and argued cases before the California Court of Appeals and California Supreme Court with reported decisions. As first chair lead trial counsel, I have prevailed in multiple jury and court trials and binding arbitrations.
I understand the critical importance of managing case files, developing cost-effective discovery plans and litigation approaches, working with professional insureds and opposing counsel and complying with carrier reporting guidelines. As a litigator and counsel, I have earned the respect and trust of clients, judges and opposing counsel.
I am married to my wife, an elementary school teacher; and proud father to three kind adult children, am a three time finisher of the New York City Marathon and active Golf Digest Panelist evaluating and ranking golf courses nationally.
Job Titles:
- Associate
- PGBR in 2020 As an Associate
Glenn Morimoto graduated from California State University at Long Beach with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration. He received his Juris Doctorate degree from Western State University College of Law.
Mr. Morimoto was admitted to the California State Bar in 1982. He has legal experience practicing in civil litigation dealing with cases in personal injury, construction defects, and workers' compensation.
Mr. Morimoto recently joined PGBR in 2020 as an associate attorney. His practice involves all aspects of workers' compensation litigation.
Gopal S. Patel graduated from California Polytechnic University at Pomona with a bachelor's degree in Political Science. He received his Juris Doctorate degree from Whittier Law School in 2005 where he was a Lead Articles Editor for the Whittier Law Review. u
Mr. Patel joined PGBR LLP in 2005. His practice primarily consists of personal injury defense, including products liability, premises liability and medical malpractice. He is admitted to practice in all the courts in California as well as the United States District courts in the Central, Eastern, Northern and Southern districts of California.
Grace C. Mori is a partner in the Long Beach office of PGBR
Ms. Mori graduated from the University of California at Riverside in 1989 with a bachelor of science degree in business administration. She received her Juris Doctorate degree from Southwestern University School of Law in 1993, and was admitted to the California State Bar that same year. She is also admitted to practice in the Northern, Central, and Southern Districts of the U.S. District Court for the State of California.
In 1993, Ms. Mori began her practice with Ammirato, Palumbo, Milam & Baronian, another AV rated defense firm with offices in Long Beach and Pasadena. While there, she handled a wide variety of casualty defense litigation matters, and became head of the firm's appellate/law and motion department in 1997.
Ms. Mori's current practice includes the defense of products liability, premises liability, toxic tort, and general business litigation matters. She also continues to handle and oversee complex law and motion and appellate matters. She is a member of the Association of Southern California Defense Counsel.
Jack R. Reinholtz attended Santa Clara University School of Law and graduated in the top 20% of his class in 1990.
In 1984, Mr. Reinholtz was a team captain on California State University, Fullerton's Division I National Championship baseball team where he was also named to the All Conference and Honorable Mention All American teams. He was then drafted by the Seattle Mariners' organization, playing two years in their Minor League system. A back injury forced Mr. Reinholtz' early retirement from baseball. He then completed his undergraduate studies at Loyola Marymount University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in 1987.
Mr. Reinholtz joined the firm in 1992 as an associate attorney after working for one year at another large Los Angeles-based insurance defense firm.
He is a member of the State Bar of California, and admitted to practice in the United States Central and Southern District Courts. He is also a member of the California Trial Lawyers Association and the Association of Southern California Defense Counsel. His practice primarily includes the defense of multi-party construction defect litigation, products liability, medical malpractice, security guard defense, premises liability and general business litigation.
Mr. Reinholtz resides in Manhattan Beach, California with his wife, Nikki, and daughter, Chloe.
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Partner at PGBR LLP
James G. Murray is a partner at PGBR LLP. His statewide practice includes trial experience in cases involving personal injury and wrongful death based on toxic tort, premises liability and product liability.
Mr. Murray received his B.A. degree in Political Science from the University of California, Irvine, in 1982. He received his J.D. degree from Loyola Law School, Los Angeles, in 1985. He was admitted to the State Bar of California in 1985.
Mr. Murray began his legal career in 1985 with a large insurance defense firm in Los Angeles. At that firm, Mr. Murray handled a wide variety of casualty defense litigation, including claims arising out of asbestos exposure, assault and battery, construction site accidents, electric shock, food poisoning, motor vehicle accidents, and premises liability.
In 1993, Mr. Murray joined PGBR LLP, where he has continued practicing general casualty defense litigation, with an emphasis on toxic tort cases. Mr. Murray represents numerous manufacturers and distributors of chemical products that are used in all types of industries. These cases involve complex issues of medical causation of cancer, respiratory disease, immune dysfunction and brain damage.
In addition to the State Bar of California, Mr. Murray is admitted to practice in the U.S. District Courts in California and Hawaii. He is also a member of the Association of Southern California Defense Counsel.
Mr. Tarter has extensive litigation experience in representing both plaintiff's and defendants in litigation involving lemon law, personal injury, breach of contract, habitability cases, and professional liability. Mr. Tarter is admitted to practice before all Courts of the State of California, the United States District Courts for the Central and Southern Districts of California, and all State Courts of the District of Columbia.
Mr. Tarter received his Juris Doctorate from Loyola University College of Law, and obtained his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science and History from Xavier University in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Currently, Mr. Tarter's practice consists of defending corporate defendants in personal injury cases.
Jeremy D. Milbrodt is a partner located in the Long Beach office of PGBR. Jeremy's practice is focused on the defense of toxic tort claims, primarily cases involving asbestos exposure. He joined PGBR in 1999, becoming a partner in 2004. Jeremy began his practice with Freeburg, Judy & Nettels in Pasadena. He was admitted to the California State Bar in 1997. He is also admitted to practice in the Northern, Eastern, Southern and Central Districts of the United States District Court for the State of California.
Mr. Milbrodt graduated from the University of California at San Diego in 1993 with bachelors degrees in Political Science and History. He received his juris doctor degree from the University of California at Davis, School of Law, in 1997. He is a member of the Defense Research Institute. Jeremy was selected as a Southern California Super Lawyer in 2020.
John K. Karimi graduated from Occidental College in Los Angeles, California with a major in political science and a minor in philosophy. Thereafter, Mr. Karimi attended Chapman University's Dale E. Fowler School of Law. While attending law school, Mr. Karimi earned a CALI Excellence for the Future Award, participated in trial practice, and was the Vice President of the Iranian Law Society. Mr. Karimi clerked for personal injury and civil litigation firms before receiving his Juris Doctorate in 2019.
Mr. Karimi has experience and has practiced in the fields of employment law, personal injury, and other forms of litigation including but not limited to contract and partnership disputes. Mr. Karimi joined PGBR LLP in early 2023. As an associate, Mr. Karimi practices across a range of practice areas including the defense of: Medical Malpractice claims, premises liability claims, and other matters.
Mr. Karimi believes in proficiency through preparation and knowledge of both the relevant facts and law. As an associate attorney, Mr. Karimi strives to confer all of PGBR's clients with the best defense possible. In his private life, Mr. Karimi enjoys the simple things: good food, hikes, and time with his family.
Job Titles:
- of Counsel
- Associate in Prindle
- Member of the San Diego County Bar Association
Kayla R. Sealey is an associate in Prindle, Goetz, Barnes & Reinholtz's San Diego office, where she focuses her practice on personal injury actions, product liability, medical malpractice, and other professional liability matters.
Ms. Sealey earned her Juris Doctor from California Western School of Law in 2021. She was an admissions scholarship recipient and was also awarded merit and diversity scholarships. While in law school, Ms. Sealey was a member of the Women's Law Caucus and the Business Law Society. In addition to her studies, Ms. Sealey worked as a law clerk for several local law firms handling a variety of litigation issues including business, real estate, personal injury matters, landlord/tenant disputes, and estate planning. She also externed at the United States Attorney's Office for the Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force.
Prior to law school, Ms. Sealey received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science, with a concentration in Legal Studies from California State University, Chico.
Ms. Sealey is a member of the San Diego County Bar Association. In her free time, she enjoys outdoor activities, spending time with friends and family, traveling, reading, and music.
Kenneth B. Prindle attended the University of California at Santa Barbara, from which he graduated in 1975. Thereafter, he attended Southwestern University School of Law and received his J. D. degree in 1978. He was admitted to the California State Bar in 1978, and the Colorado Bar in 1990. He has appeared in all of the U.S. District Courts in California, Hawaii, and the Territory of Guam. Mr. Prindle joined a Los Angeles based firm, Schell & Delamer, as an associate in 1978, and became a partner in 1984. Initially, Mr. Prindle's practice involved a broad range of casualty defense litigation, including product and premises liability, legal and medical malpractice, and insurance coverage.
In the early 1980's, the emphasis of Mr. Prindle's practice shifted toward asbestos and other toxic tort litigation. He became, first, Regional and then, National Counsel for several defendants in the asbestos litigation. Mr. Prindle has resolved over 10,000 asbestos exposure claims throughout the Western United States, Hawaii, and Guam. He is currently California or Western Regional Counsel for over ten different insurance companies concerning asbestos and other toxic tort claims.
Mr. Prindle is one of the three founding partners of PGBR LLP. In 1994, he established the firm's thriving San Francisco office, to which he still commutes on a weekly basis.
In addition to membership in the American, California and Los Angeles County Bar Associations, Mr. Prindle has served as lecturer for the Defense Research Institute on toxic tort litigation. He is also a member of the Association of Southern California Defense Counsel and the International Association of Defense Counsel.
Job Titles:
- Counsel
- Partner
- Member of the Defense Research Institute
Maya Fawcett is Of Counsel with the firm and assisted with opening the firm's San Diego office. Ms. Fawcett obtained her J.D. from UCLA in 2012. She graduated summa cum laude from The George Washington University in 2008 with a B.A. in Philosophy and Political Science and is a member of Phi Beta Kappa.
Ms. Fawcett is a member of the Defense Research Institute and the Claims and Litigation Management Alliance. She enjoys gardening, cooking, cycling, hiking, traveling, and spending time at the beach with her husband and golden retriever rescue dog.
Michael H. Schuck is a partner in our Long Beach office. In 2000, he graduated magna cum laude from the University of Southern California.
Mr. Schuck continued his education at Southwestern University School of Law, where he was honored with the CALI "Excellence for the Future Award" for Legal Writing. While attending law school, he clerked with the Los Angeles City Attorney's Office in Van Nuys, California. As a member of the Moot Court Honors Program at Southwestern University, he received distinguished honors at the 2002 Wagner Labor & Employment Moot Court Competition in New York City, as well as the Nationals Moot Court Competition in 2003.
Mr. Schuck earned his J.D. degree in the summer of 2003, and was admitted to the California State Bar that same year. He is also licensed to practice in the United States District Court for the Central District of California. He has extensive experience in the defense of products liability, premises liability, and toxic tort cases, and handles complex law and motion matters.
Mr. Schuck was recently honored as one of Southern California's "Super Lawyers and Rising Stars" for 2009.
Job Titles:
- Associate in the Long Beach Office of PGBR
Michael J. Olds is an associate in the Long Beach office of PGBR. Mr. Olds' practice focuses on defending corporate clients in toxic tort claims, particularly those involving allegations of asbestos exposure.
Mr. Olds graduated from Claremont McKenna College with a dual major in Economics and History. He received his Juris Doctorate from the University of California Hastings College of the Law.
Job Titles:
- Associate in the San Francisco Office of PGBR LLP
Michelle C. Golden is an associate in the San Francisco office of PGBR LLP. Ms. Golden joined the firm in 2007 after working in other San Francisco law offices which practiced environmental law and insurance defense litigation; both practices focusing on claims for environmental contamination and related premises liability and clean up. Ms. Goldens practice includes product and premises liability and toxic tort claims, primarily those involving asbestos exposure.
Ms. Golden earned her bachelor's degree in Environmental Science and Geology from the University of Virginia in Charlottesville. She earned her Juris Doctor degree from the University of Oregon School of Law in Eugene where she was a staff editor for the Journal of Environmental Law and Litigation and where she also earned certificates of concentration in the areas of Environmental and Natural Resources Law, Ocean and Coastal Law, and International Law.
Pete Koenig is a fifth generation Californian raised in the San Francisco Bay Area. He has been a trial lawyer for over thirty years and his practice includes catastrophic personal injury, commercial, and employment related matters. He has extensive litigation experience in arbitrations, mediations, jury and non-jury trials, and appeals. Pete is the 2018 recipient of the San Francisco Trial Lawyer of the Year. He is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA), one of the most prestigious trial lawyer organizations in the country, and he has held the highest legal rating (AV) for over two decades. He has also served as chair of the International Practice Section of the American Association for Justice.
Pete has overseen mass disaster lawsuits, multi-million dollar insurance and commercial litigation, employment wage and hour class actions, and complex pharmaceutical litigation (MDL and JCCP proceedings). Representative cases include those involving consumer goods (appliances, cleansers and pesticides, pharmaceuticals, vehicles and sports products), motor coaches and transit buses, pool filtration systems, industrial machinery and accessories, matters involving contractual interpretation and unfair business practices (California's Business & Professions Code 17200), claims against general and sub-contractors and retail operators, and claims against recreational operators.
After attending the University of Colorado for two years, Pete received his B.A. degree from the University of California at Berkeley in 1983, and obtained his J.D. degree from the University of San Francisco School of Law in 1987. He served as an extern to the Honorable Eugene Lynch, United States District Judge for the Northern District of California. Pete is admitted to practice in the state and federal courts of California. He has published articles on products liability issues, and spoken at seminars on topics including discovery during litigation, trial advocacy, assumption of risk, and negligent infliction of emotional distress.
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Member of the California State Bar
R. Derek Classen, who graduated Magna Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa from UCLA, is a partner at PGBR. He graduated from UCLA in 1989 with a degree in History and a Business Emphasis. Afterward, he attended Law School at the University of San Diego, graduating Cum Laude in the top 6% of his class. While in law school, he was a member of Law Review and received the American Jurisprudence Award in Insurance Law.
In 1992, Mr. Classen began his practice at Knapp, Petersen & Clarke, a large Los Angeles defense firm. While there, he co-authored an article entitled "Rollback Regulations Under Prop. 103: Will the California Supreme Court Uphold Them?", Federation of Regulatory Counsel Quarterly Journal, Winter Quarter, December 3, 1993.
Mr. Classen is a member of the California State Bar, the Los Angeles County Bar Association and the Association of Southern California Defense Counsel. He is admitted to practice in all of the State Courts of California and the U.S. District Court - Central District. His practice primarily includes the defense of premises liability, products liability, multi-party construction defect litigation, security guard defense, toxic torts, insurance coverage and general business litigation.
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Member of the Orange County Bar Association
Ramie C. Niederkorn graduated from the University of California at Berkeley in 2000 with a bachelors degree in Legal Studies with an emphasis in Economics. She received her Juris Doctorate degree from the University of San Diego, School of Law in 2004. While in law school, she was a member of the International Law Review and interned at the San Diego Domestic Violence Clinic.
In 2005, Ms. Niederkorn joined PGBR LLP. Her practice is focused on employment law, primarily handling workers' compensation cases and subrogation matters for a wide variety of self-insured clients, corporations and insurance companies throughout California.
Ms. Niederkorn is a member of the Orange County Bar Association. She participates in a number of outdoor and recreational sports such as skiing, volleyball, beach football and softball. She is a member of the Orange County Sports and Social Club.
Bob graduated from California State University Northridge, Cum Laude in 1975 with a BA in Psychology. He obtained his JD from Whittier College School of Law in 1978 graduating in the top 20% of his class. Bob was also a member of the Whittier Law Review. He was admitted to the California State Bar in 1978 and joined Hall, Lindeman, Small, Burns & Palumbo in 1979. He became a named partner in the successor firm, Burns, Palumbo, Milam & Baronian in 1985. During his tenure at the firm, he became a skilled negotiator and successful trial lawyer handling serious personal injury cases with an emphasis in asbestos/toxic tort litigation. In 1999, Bob formed the Baronian Law Firm where he specialized in asbestos and toxic tort litigation. Bob became "of counsel" to PGBR LLP, in 2007.
Job Titles:
- of Counsel
- Member of the Welsh Inns of Court
Robert K. Shawhan II was born and raised in Nevada, splitting time between Las Vegas and Minden (Lake Tahoe area). He received his Bachelor of Arts in Communication, cum laude, from the University of Southern California and he received his Juris Doctor degree from the University of California Hastings College of Law. While attending Hastings College of the Law he externed for Judge A. James Robertson II in the Complex Civil Litigation Department of the San Francisco Superior Court. Mr. Shawhan also participated and excelled in the UC Hastings Mediation Clinic, which is a clinic within UC Hasting's Dispute Resolution program ranked top ten nationwide by U.S. News and World Report. Further, Mr. Shawhan served as a student body representative for two years, the Vice President of Development for the Hastings Business Law Journal, and President of the Hastings Food and Wine Law Society.
Mr. Shawhan is licensed to practice law in the states of California and Nevada. Prior to his employment at Prindle Law he worked for Nevada Legal Services, a non-profit in Nevada providing free legal services to veterans, seniors, and the indigent. Upon his return to California, he worked for Ryan Carvalho LLP, a boutique San Diego law firm specializing in business, catastrophic loss, construction defect, real estate, wrongful death and transportation claims. At Prindle Law, Mr. Shawhan's practice areas include personal injury defense, medical malpractice and professional liability, products liability, and construction defect.
Mr. Shawhan is a former United States Professional Tennis teaching professional and was a nationally ranked competitive junior. In his free time, he likes to be outside staying active, whether it be playing competitive tennis, beach volleyball, or practicing yoga. Mr. Shawhan is most proud of his close relationship with his family and his extensive travel.
Mr. Shawhan is currently a member of the Welsh Inns of Court, the San Diego Defense Lawyers, and the San Diego County Bar Association.
Ryan Malloy joined Prindle, Goetz, Barnes & Reinholtz as an associate in 2023. He has extensive litigation experience, representing corporate defendants in litigation involving personal injury, breach of contract and habitability cases. Mr. Malloy is admitted to practice before all Courts of the State of California.
Mr. Malloy obtained his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science from the University of California, Santa Barbara.
Currently, Mr. Malloy's practice consists of defending corporate defendants in personal injury cases.
Sean Smith graduated from the University of California, Santa Barbara with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and in Law & Society. Mr. Smith earned his Juris Doctorate degree in 2011 from Thomas Jefferson School of Law, where he graduated magna cum laude. While Mr. Smith served as Senior Editor on the Thomas Jefferson Law Review, he published an article that received a national award for excellence in legal writing. He attended an awards ceremony in Washington D.C. where he received recognition from United States Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor for his legal achievement.
Following law school, Mr. Smith served as a Judicial Law Clerk for Presiding Judge Robert C. Naraja in the Superior Court of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. At the end of his two-year term, Mr. Smith returned to California to focus his law practice on personal injury, professional liability, elder abuse and habitability cases. Since being admitted to the California State Bar in 2013, Mr. Smith has been representing clients in San Diego, and in the broader Southern California, with great success. Mr. Smith joined PGBR in 2021 and assisted in opening the San Diego office.
In his free time, Mr. Smith enjoys spending time with his family at Balboa Park and SeaWorld, swimming at the beach, hiking and cycling.
Sherrie S. Diveglia is a partner in our Long Beach office. In 1996, Ms. Diveglia graduated from Bucknell University. At Bucknell, she was awarded the National Science Foundation Scholarship. Prior to entering into law school, from 1997 to 1999, she worked as an associate with Travelers Insurance Group, in the Special Liability Unit, evaluating environmental losses, interpreting general liability policies, and acting as a liaison between attorneys and policyholders.
Ms. Diveglia received her Juris Doctorate degree from Loyola Law School in 2002. She is currently admitted to the California State Bar, including the Central District of the U.S. District Court for the State of California. At Loyola, she served as an articles editor for Loyola Law Schools Entertainment Law Review, and was a member of the Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity.
From 2003 to 2005, she began her practice with a small plaintiff's firm, located in Beverly Hills, California, where she handled complex business, securities, and medical malpractice litigation. From 2005 to 2007, she handled toxic tort and business litigation with a large defense firm. Ms. Diveglia second-chaired several toxic tort trials to verdict with favorable results for her clients.
Ms. Diveglia's current practice includes the defense of product liability and toxic tort litigation, specializing in complex law and motion. She is a member of the American Bar Association, Korean American Bar Association, Asian Pacific Bar Association, International Korean American Lawyers Association, and National Asian Pacific American Bar Association.
Steven Maslauski's legal practice concentrates on civil defense litigation with an emphasis on property/casualty cases involving claims of serious personal injury and emotional distress. He has served as lead trial counsel in 28 out of 30 cases tied to Superior Court verdicts, all of which were defense verdicts or verdicts less than the final settlement offer. He has successfully negotiated settlements in over 100 cases and handled over 30 arbitrations.
His clients include Fortune 500 companies, insurance companies and individuals including entertainment industry members, entrepreneurs, high net worth individuals and members of the medical and dental professions. His specialties include major personal injury defense, professional liability, libel and slander actions, employment litigation and representation of dentists and doctors in administrative actions.
He is a former senior partner, partner and associate at the defense firm Kirtland & Packard. Prior to that, he was an attorney at Girardi Keese and Crane, where he was responsible for over 100 plaintiff cases involving asbestos exposure.
He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Northwestern University and a Juris Doctorate degree from Pepperdine University School of Law. He has been a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) since 2003.
Tahereh K. Barnes graduated from the University of California at San Diego with a double major in economics and political science in 1988. Thereafter, she went on to attend Southwestern University School of Law. While attending law school, Ms. Barnes clerked for a Los Angeles litigation firm. She received her Juris Doctorate degree in the fall of 1990, a semester ahead of her class.
Ms. Barnes joined PGBR LLP in early 1991, a year after the firm's inception. She rapidly developed her litigation skills, co-chairing her first trial three months later. As an associate, Ms. Barnes handled Workers' Compensation cases for a wide variety of self-insured clients as well as adjusting and insurance companies. Additionally, Ms.Barnes has handled a wide range of casualty defense litigation matters, including product and premises liability, environmental and toxic tort and employment related matters, including the defense of wrongful termination, harassment and discrimination cases.
Ms. Barnes became a partner on January 1, 1998. As a partner, she continues to handle a broad range of litigation matters and is also responsible for heading the Workers' Compensation and employment law departments.
Job Titles:
- of Counsel
- Counsel in the San Francisco Office of PGBR
Thomas A. Steig is an Of Counsel in the San Francisco office of PGBR. Mr. Steig's practice is focused on the defense of toxic tort claims, primarily cases involving asbestos exposure. Mr. Steig joined Prindle, Decker & Amaro in 1994 after collaborating with Kenneth Prindle and Andy Goetz on the defense of numerous asbestos personal injury claims venued in Northern California. In addition to asbestos litigation, Mr. Steig has handled other toxic tort claims involving latex gloves as well as general tort liability defense cases.
Mr. Steig graduated from the University of California at Berkeley in 1981 with a bachelors degree in Political Science. He received his juris doctor degree from the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law, in 1985. He is a member of the Defense Research Institute.