SPINELLI DONALD AND NOTT - Key Persons
Domenic Spinelli has been practicing in the litigation field representing public entities for 32 years. Domenic's current practice emphasizes complex civil litigation in the areas of defending public entities, largely school districts, specifically involving civil rights, Title IX, employment discrimination, special education discrimination, sexual abuse and serious injury cases in both state and federal trial and appellate courts.
Domenic is very well versed in the Government Claims Act. Domenic's practice areas have resulted in many successful motions for summary judgment for his clients, trials and appellate victories over the years. Domenic also assists clients in avoidance of claims and litigation and has been a presenter on multiple topics at various risk management conferences over the years.
Erin Bodnar has worked in general civil litigation, with a focus on insurance and personal injury defense. During law school, Erin was a law clerk at a law firm in Indianapolis, Indiana, that defended tort claims against various state agencies. She was also a legal intern at the Office of the San Diego City Attorney in the civil litigation and advisory divisions. Currently, Erin primarily represents and defends public entities and businesses.
Scott Donald has been an attorney with Spinelli, Donald & Nott for over 27 years and a partner since 1999. He has successfully tried numerous matters before juries, judges, arbitrators and administrative bodies in venues throughout the entire state and he is AV Rated by Martindale-Hubbell, its highest rating.
Jeffrey Arnold has represented both plaintiffs and defendants in all aspects of litigation. Jeff began his career primarily representing plaintiffs in catastrophic injury claims as well as insurance coverage issues and insurance bad faith litigation. He now focuses his practice representing public entities and business in liability claims made against them. Jeff is experienced in all aspects of litigation including discovery, law and motion, and trial as well as appellate experience. He has tried numerous cases to verdict and has first chair experience at trial.
Matthew Becker has a broad range of experience from his variety of roles working with and for school districts over two decades as well as working at his own law practice.
Matthew's previous legal experience included working with clients on special education matters; student privacy; student affairs, conducting mediation through the California Office of Administrative Hearings; successfully negotiating settlement agreements for clients; and, intra and inter-district transfers while supporting his firm's employment and labor practices. He also supported a small insurance defense firm through the litigation process and trial preparation.
For the past decade Natasha Langenfeld has focused her practice on civil litigation including public entity liability defense, general liability defense, civil rights, and personal injury defense.
Natasha provides thoughtful client representation through all phases of a lawsuit, including pre-litigation consultation, all aspects of litigation and resolution, whether through settlement, dispositive motion or trial.
Prior to joining Spinelli, Donald and Nott, she was a Deputy Attorney General with the Department of Justice, and prior thereto worked at an AV-rated defense firm where her focus was on public entity law representing counties and government agencies, as well as individual teachers in school districts as conflict counsel.
Ross Nott has been an attorney with Spinelli, Donald, and Nott for more than 25 years. Ross handles civil matters, trials and appeals involving unique, novel and/or complex legal issues, and substantial damage claims.
Ross initially started practicing law with a venerable Los Angeles plaintiff personal injury firm handling complex litigation, trials, and appeals before coming to Sacramento in 1995.
Since then, he has remained at the firm becoming a shareholder in 2000. Over the course of his more than 25 years of litigation experience, Ross has often been called upon to take over cases prior to trial when the exposure of the suit has become too much for other counsel to effectively handle. Representing clients ethically and aggressively, he has been able to provide successful representation for his clients obtaining favorable settlements or trial outcomes.
When handling a case from the outset, Ross is able to obtain key summary judgment rulings disposing of cases, orchestrate favorable settlements due to the preparation of the matter demonstrating the strength of the defense, and is always prepared to present his clients' positions in trial, arbitration, and appeal when necessary to resolve the case.
Ross has 1st chair jury trial experience in sexual harassment, employment, insurance coverage and bad faith, spinal cord and brain injury, and products liability cases. In addition, Ross has substantial experience representing private and public schools in matters involving sexual abuse and assault cases (teacher on student and student on student) and Title IX litigation.