CaseyGerry managing partner receives Witkin Award for Excellence in the Practice of Law

David S. Casey Jr., managing partner for San Diego-based Casey Gerry Schenk Francavilla Blatt & Penfield LLP, received the Witkin Award for Excellence in the Practice of Law.

He received the award on Oct. 4 at the annual Bernard E. Witkin, Esq. Awards Ceremony held at Tom Ham's Lighthouse, hosted by the San Diego Law Library Foundation. The event is held to honor members of the San Diego legal community for civic leadership and excellence in the practice of law, adjudication of the law, legal education and the advancement of access to justice.

Casey has been recognized for his work on the national Volkswagon Multidistrict Litigation Plaintiffs' Steering Committee, overseeing litigation targeting the car company over its diesel emissions scandal. Volkswagen "Clean Diesel" Marketing, Sales Practices, and Products Liability Litigation, 15-md-02672 (N.D. Cal., filed Dec. 8, 2015).

In 2017, Casey was appointed as liaison counsel for the Wells Fargo multidistrict litigation national class action lawsuits, consolidated following reports the bank forced its car loan customers to purchase unnecessary auto policies. Wells Fargo Insurance Marketing and Sales Practices Litigation, 17-md-02797 (C.D. Cal., filed Oct. 18, 2017).

In addition, Casey has raised awareness about concussion safety and the growing controversy related to head injuries and potential brain damage while representing the family of deceased National Football League player Junior Seau. National Football League Players' Concussion Injury Litigation, 2:12-md-02323 (E.D. Penn., filed Jan. 31, 2012).

"I was very honored to have received this award that is presented each year in San Diego," Casey said. "Witkin was more than a great scholar of California law to me. I had the opportunity of spending time with Bernie Witkin in the 1970s, and my dad actually consulted with him in 1947 regarding preparing for the California Bar."

-- Matt Sanderson