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Firm Profile

Brothers in Law

Mendez & Sanchez

2026-01-07

MCLE

Court of Appeal restores sanity to workers' comp treatment authorizations

Dec. 19, 2025

A new Second District Court of Appeal decision dismantles...

By Brent Daub, Glenn Olsen

AI defamation suits test anti-SLAPP shields and speaker rights

Dec. 12, 2025

As AI-driven defamation suits emerge, courts must not onl...

By Lan P. Vu

SEC at the door? Mind your ethics - and your client

Dec. 10, 2025

When the SEC comes knocking, corporate counsel must call ...

By Alanna G. Clair, Shari L. Klevens


Today's News

Civil Litigation


Ford's amended civil RICO complaint alleging fabricated lemon law billing narrows defendants to three Knight Law Group attorneys.


Legal analysts warn the initiative could face challenges under U.S. and California Constitutions.


Judges and Judiciary


Judicial transitions in California in 2025

Dec. 31, 2025
By Laurinda Keys

Here is a list of state and federal judges, justices and commissioners in California who were appointed, retired, resigned or died during the past year.


Government attempts to break up large Silicon Valley tech giants Meta Platforms Inc. and Alphabet Inc.-owned Google LLC hit significant hurdles this year, as...


Antitrust & Trade Reg.


The dispute centers on whether states may probe alleged lobbying and corruption as part of a Tunney Act review of the $14 billion deal.


Intellectual Property


A steep drop in PTAB institutions under revised PTO procedures has raised questions about the future of inter partes review and revived practices common befo...


Columns

Letters

No trial backlog when everyone does their part

Jan. 7, 2026
By Lawrence P. Riff

Despite a sharp rise in civil filings, the Civil Division has eliminated trial backlogs in Department 1--thanks to judicial co...


Iran's lessons for US oil policy in post-Maduro Venezuela

Jan. 7, 2026
By Sanaz (Sunny) K. Soltani

Britain's control of Iran's oil industry in the 20th century was technically successful but politically catastrophic. The less...


Twenty years in California's criminal courts reveal a clear pattern: The system doesn't need radical overhaul--it needs practi...



Verdicts & Settlements

Dangerous Condition of Public Property Theodore Pitts, minor daugh... $24,245,911
Wrongful Termination DaRon Benson v. Service Cor... $13,655,263
Auto v. Motorcycle John Doe v. Roe Corporation... $4,725,000
Defamation Douglas J. Roger v. County ... $4,500,000
Unfair Business Practices People of the City and Coun... $3,000,000
Excessive Force Jane Doe v. City of Claremo... $3,000,000
Sexual Harassment Alexandria Smith v. County ... $1,906,016
Dangerous Condition of Public Property Patricia Hines, individuall... $1,850,000
Hostile Work Environment Andrea Marsh v. City of Los... $1,500,000
Dangerous Condition of Public Property Robert Diaz Garcia, a minor... $1,500,000

On the Move

Haight Brown & Bonesteel LLP

Jan. 2, 2026


Kristian Moriarty was promoted to partner of Haight Brown & Bonesteel LLP in Irvine. The promotion is effective Jan. 1, 2026.

Moriarty also serves as the leading partner in the Irvine office. He has been with the firm since 2013 and is a litigator in the firm's risk management & insurance law, transportation and product liability practice groups. In addition to his litigation practice, Moriarty will lead the development and implementation of a firmwide onboarding and training program aimed at enhancing attorney performance and long-term retention.


Jennifer Estrada was promoted to partner of Haight Brown & Bonesteel LLP in Los Angeles. The promotion is effective Jan. 1, 2026.

Estrada has been with the firm since March 2022 and is a member of the firm's transportation law, product liability and general liability practice groups. She focuses her practice on defending cases related to product liability, general liability and catastrophic personal injury matters. Since joining the firm, Jennifer has emerged as a highly sought after mentor and role model. She will play a key role in developing and implementing a more formalized mentoring and training program.


Thomas Brown was promoted to partner of Haight Brown & Bonesteel LLP in Irvine. The promotion is effective Jan. 1, 2026.

Brown has been with the firm since August 2016 and leads the workers' compensation practice group. He focuses his practice exclusively on workers' compensation defense, representing insurance companies, self-insured employers, third-party administrators, K-12 school districts and community college districts in all phases of litigation from discovery through appeal.


Jeffrey Schmid was promoted to partner of Haight Brown & Bonesteel LLP in San Diego.

Schmid has been with the firm since February 2021 and is a member of the firm's general liability, product liability, and transportation law practice groups. His practice focuses on defending clients in construction defect, premises liability, motor vehicle negligence, wrongful death and transportation and trucking matters.


Derek Lawson was promoted to partner of Haight Brown & Bonesteel LLP in Los Angeles. The promotion is effective Jan. 1, 2026.

Lawson has been with the firm since November 2021 and is a member of the firm's transportation law, fire litigation, general liability, and construction law practice groups. His practice centers on cases involving complex liability issues, representing clients ranging from Fortune 500 companies to small business and individuals.


Sean Paden was promoted to partner of Haight Brown & Bonesteel LLP in Irvine. The promotion is effective Jan. 1, 2026.

Paden has been with the firm since January 2022 and is a member of the firm's construction law and general liability practice groups. He focuses his practice on cases involving mechanics lien foreclosures, real property disputes for commercial and residential landlords and resolving subrogation claims.


Details

Haight Brown & Bonesteel LLP has 47 attorneys in 5 offices including Los Angeles, Walnut Creek, Sacramento, Irvine, San Diego . Among the law firm’s key practice areas are Transportation law, Construction law, Product Liability, Workers' Compensation, Fire Litigation . The firm’s website is https://www.hbblaw.com/

Featured Content


Community News

Los Angeles Superior Court launched Court Commons, a mobile exhibition offering legal education, resources for self-represente...



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Daily Appellate Report

Municipal Law, Government

American Medical Response of Inland Empire v. County of San Bernardino

Trial court erroneously enjoined County's award of emergency services contract, where the decision was quasi-legislative and discretionary, not ministerial.


Arbitration, Employment Law

Modification: Sierra Pacific Industries Wage and Hour Cases

Defendant-employer waived the right to compel arbitration after engaging in extensive discovery and refusing to identify employees who signed arbitration agreements, despite court order i...


ERISA

Nevada Resort Association-International Alliance v. JB Viva Vegas

Musical production company was not liable for withdrawal from multiemployer pension plan because the majority of its employees performed at least some entertainment work, meeting the ente...


Constitutional Law

Union Gospel Mission of Yakima, WA v. Brown

Christian organization seeking to enjoin enforcement of anti-discrimination law was likely to succeed on the merits because practice of hiring co-religionists for non-ministerial roles wa...


ERISA

Walker Specialty Construction, Inc. v. Board of Trustees

Liability for withdrawal from multiemployer pension plan did not apply to asbestos abatement company because it was part of the "building and construction industry" and was exempt from su...