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Providing high quality, full-service legal representation in civil tort litigation.

News


  • 24Mar
    2020

    Acker & Whipple Remains at Your Service During the COVID-19 Crisis.

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    Acker and Whipple has taken measures to ensure the health and well-being of our employees while continuing to provide our clients with uninterrupted service.  Our attorneys have long been able to work from any location, and prior to the issuance of the government sheltering orders, the firm prepared for the entire staff, also, to be...

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  • 13Jun
    2017

    Stephen Acker Discusses Expert Witness Impeachment

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    Congratulations to Stephen Acker whose article on impeaching expert witnesses was recently published by national defense bar organization DRI (Defense Research Institute).  You can read the article in DRI’s The Voice, here.

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  • 21Dec
    2016

    DRI Publishes Article by Stephen Acker

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    Congratulations to Stephen Acker whose article on extroversion in the legal profession was recently published by national defense bar organization DRI (Defense Research Institute). Click here to read the full newsletter or click here to read the article.

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  • 10Nov
    2016

    Congratulations to Jerri Johnson and Stephen Acker for Another Defense Verdict!

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    Plaintiff incurred a traumatic brain injury, multiple skull fractures, and other catastrophic injuries, when he drove his Jeep into the back end of defendants’ big rig stopped in the gore point on a freeway. Jurors, however, believed that the truck became disabled and the driver had stopped in the closest, safest spot out of travel...

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  • 30Mar
    2016

    Congratulations to Stephen Acker and Sonie Haneline for Their Recent Defense Verdict!

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    Plaintiff sought $50,000,000 following 23 days of trial in Los Angeles Superior Court relating to allegations of sexually assault of a three year old, special-needs child. However, jurors were more persuaded by the defense and returned a verdict in favor of Acker & Whipple’s client. Please refer to our Successes page for further information. You can...

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  • 03Mar
    2016

    Another Associate Joins Acker & Whipple

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    The firm is pleased to announce another addition to our litigation team. Vi Hohuynh brings a range of prior experience in litigating tort matters in Southern California. Please visit our Attorneys page to read more about her.

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  • 28Dec
    2015

    Acker & Whipple Is Growing!

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    The firm is proud to announce the addition of Bradley P. Childers to its team of attorneys.  Mr. Childers brings a solid history of success and more than two decades of experience in Southern California in a variety of tort defense work.  He will be defending clients in each of Acker & Whipple’s practice areas.  Check back soon to read...

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  • 29Oct
    2015

    Acker & Whipple Welcomes Its New Associates

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    The firm welcomes associates Tina Farazian, Drew Helms, Heidy Flores and Samantha Hart to our team. They will be working closely with all the firm’s partners and engaged in all practice areas.  To learn more about them, view their respective profiles on the Attorneys page.

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  • 04Aug
    2015

    Acker & Whipple Welcomes Two New Associates

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    The firm welcomes associates Melissa Ogunnubi and Genna DeLany to our team. They will be working closely with all the firm’s partners and engaged in all practice areas.  To learn more about them, view their respective profiles on the Attorneys page.

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  • 20May
    2015

    Congratulations to Jerri Johnson and Laurie Stayton for Another Trial Win!

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    Jerri and Laurie have obtained yet another defense verdict in Los Angeles, this time from a downtown jury in a trip and fall case.  Plaintiff ran through a planter, instead of the designated walkway, in a mall parking lot and fell.  He claimed a finger fracture and CRPS from his fall.  Acker & Whipple represented the janitorial...

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  • 01Apr
    2015

    Congratulations to Stephen Acker for Trying Over 50 Cases to Verdict

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    The firm is celebrating with Stephen Acker as he passes this career milestone. The trial of Stephen’s 50th verdict focused on an indemnity provision of a construction contract to install new pipes and equipment in plaintiff’s oil refinery. Plaintiff sought reimbursement of over $1.1 million for the costs of defending and settling a bodily injury...

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  • 01Apr
    2015

    Another Win for Defendants!

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    Attorneys Jerri Johnson and Laurie Stayton achieved a defense verdict from a downtown Los Angeles jury in favor of their client, a janitorial company. Plaintiff was rushing back inside a mall and took a shortcut through a planter in the parking lot when he tripped and fell.  He claimed a broken finger and Complex Regional Pain...

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  • 26Jan
    2015

    Congratulations to our very own Laurie Stayton!

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    Laurie was selected to the 2015 Southern California Rising Stars list of Super Lawyers Magazine, an honor reserved for those lawyers who exhibit excellence in practice.  It is a distinction well deserved, and Acker & Whipple is extremely proud. Please share our congratulations with attorney Laurie Stayton.

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  • 12Dec
    2014

    Summary Judgment Affirmed

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    Acker & Whipple obtained summary judgment in behalf of a candle manufacturer defendant.  Twins perished in a house fire, and the boys’ parents sued, alleging a candle was defectively designed and caused the fire. Plaintiffs’ expert opined that the candle cracked or the glass casing couldn’t resist high temperatures, but he provided no factual basis...

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  • 01Dec
    2014

    Acker & Whipple Has Been Certified!

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    Acker & Whipple is now certified as a women’s business enterprise by the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC), the nation’s largest third-party certifier of the businesses owned and operated by women in the country.  We recognize the commitment to supplier diversity that is embraced by many corporations and government agencies today, and we can add diversity to your...

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  • 14Jul
    2014

    Defense Verdict Affirmed on Appeal

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    The Second District of California’s Court of Appeals recently affirmed in full the defense verdict for Acker and Whipple’s client in the matter of Torres-Medina v. San Luis Bay Inn Timeshare Association.  The appellate court also awarded full recovery of costs.  Attorneys Jerri Johnson and Laurie Stayton successfully tried the case to a San Luis...

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  • 23Jun
    2014

    Did You Know Acker & Whipple Is Female Majority-Owned?

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    Acker & Whipple is excited to be applying for certification by Women’s Business Enterprise National Council as a  business owned, managed and controlled by women. WBENC is the largest third-party certifier of such businesses  and is the nation’s leading advocate of women-owned businesses as suppliers to America’s corporations. With our application now submitted, Acker &...

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  • 10Apr
    2014

    Jerri Johnson Joins Claims & Litigation Management Alliance

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    Acker & Whipple is pleased to announce that Jerri Johnson has been invited to join the prestigious Claims and Litigation Management Alliance.  The CLM is a nonpartisan alliance comprised of thousands of insurance companies, corporations, Corporate Counsel, Litigation and Risk Managers, claims professionals and attorneys.  Through education and collaboration the organization’s goals are to create...

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  • 09Apr
    2014

    The Firm Welcomes Two Additional Attorneys

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    Michael Worth and Michael Goodman recently accepted attorney positions with Acker & Whipple. We are proud to have them on our team. They will be working in all the firm’s practice areas.  Please look to the website’s Attorneys page for more information.

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  • 10Dec
    2013

    Acker & Whipple Is Proud to Welcome its Newest Attorney

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    Stephanie Marshall recently accepted an associate attorney position with the firm. She will be working in all the firm’s practice areas.  Read more on the Attorneys page.

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  • 13Oct
    2013

    Congratulations to Jerri Johnson and Laurie Stayton

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    who recently obtained a defense verdict in favor of the firm’s client, a time-share resort in San Luis Obispo. Local jurors were not convinced that plaintiff’s slip and fall accident was caused by any negligence of the resort. This victory was highlighted in DRI’s The Voice. Click on the title of this news story, then...

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  • 13Oct
    2013

    Leader Spotlight

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    Acker & Whipple congratulates Colette Magnetta, featured in the Leader Spotlight of DRI’s The Voice. Click on the title of this news story, then Click here to read the article. Click here for the full newsletter.

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  • 13Oct
    2013

    The Defense Wins

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    The Defense Research Institute is featuring attorneys Jerri Johnson and Laurie Stayton and their prior jury trial win in this week’s The Voice. Click on the title of this news story, then Click Here to read the article. Click here for the full newsletter.

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  • 13Oct
    2013

    Acker Appointed Vice Chair of DRI Committee

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    Defense Research Institute (DRI) has appointed Stephen Acker as Vice Chair of its Law Practice Management Committee, effective October 21, 2013. The latest issue of DRI’s It’s Your Business features an article by Stephen Acker about the “business” of law practice. Click on the title of this news story; then Click here to read to the article. Click...

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  • 13Oct
    2013

    Two Recent Motions for Summary Judgment Granted

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    Colette Magnetta moved on behalf of an event promoter defendant. Plaintiff claimed insufficient crowd control at a concert-like event allowed an unexpected bump which caused him to fall on stairs and incur a brain injury. Defendant asserted that it did not owe a duty to plaintiff for the unforeseeable touching and causation was speculative. The...

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  • 13Oct
    2013

    Jerri Johnson Accepted into ABOTA

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    The firm’s managing attorney Jerri Johnson has been accepted as a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates. ABOTA prides itself on its exclusive membership, by invitation only, to trial lawyers “of high personal character and honorable reputation” who has also met qualifications of significant trial experience.

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Pursuing Excellence in Defense Litigation

Jerri Johnson

Managing Shareholder

The law firm of Acker & Whipple maintains a diverse litigation practice representing businesses, professional persons and governmental entities involved in most areas of civil litigation in California state and local federal courts, with an emphasis upon defense of product liability, construction workplace accident, property damage, premises liability, and transportation claims. The firm is rated AV, the highest rating for competence and integrity, by the Martindale-Hubbell Directory.  It is also certified by WBENC as a women-owned business enterprise and a member of NAMWOLF, National Association of Minority & Women Owned Law Firms.



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