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Attorneys


Stephen Acker

Shareholder

Contact Stephen

213.347.0240 ext.137
213.623.1957
Email

Practice Areas

  • Product Liability
  • Securities Broker Dealer Law
  • Construction Workplace Accident
  • Breach of Contract Claims

About Stephen

Stephen Acker was born on September 1, 1951, in Pasadena, California. He attended Pasadena City Schools and received a B.A. degree with high honors from the University of California at Santa Barbara in 1972 and a J.D. degree from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law, in 1975. He was admitted to the Bar in California in 1975 and in Maryland and the District of Columbia in 1985. Stephen has performed distinguished service to organizations of the legal profession and the community as a member of the City Council of Pasadena, California, from 1979-1983, the Pasadena Housing Advisory & Appeals Board, 1978-1979, the Burbank, Glendale, Pasadena Airport Authority, of which he was a Commissioner from 1981-1983 and the Pasadena Transportation Advisory Commission, of which he is currently a member.  From 1985 to 1988 Stephen was a member of the Foreign Service of the United States, and was assigned from 1986 to 1988 as a Vice Consul and Second Secretary of the United States Embassy in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Stephen has held a variety of leadership positions in DRI, a national defense bar organization.  He is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) in which membership is by invitation only to experienced trial attorneys “of high personal character and honorable reputation.”  And he has received an AV® Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 peer review rating through Martindale-Hubbell.  Stephen has now tried over 50 cases to verdict and continues a very active law practice.  

Publications

Community Involvement

Stephen currently serves as a trustee of the Pasadena History Museum, the mission of which is to promote an appreciation of history, culture, arts, and sciences relevant to Pasadena and adjoining communities. The Museum maintains extensive collections of newspapers, photographs, city directories, books, maps, architectural records and other documents, now exceeding one million items stored in the History Center building on Museum grounds next to the historic Fenyes Mansion, also a Museum facility, in Pasadena.

 

 

Anthony H. Whipple

Retired

Contact Tony

213.347.0240
213.623.1957
Email

 
About Tony

A native to Los Angeles, Tony was admitted to the California State and Federal District Court Bars in 1979. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from UCLA and a J.D. degree from Whittier College. He tried more than 100 jury trials to verdict. Tony was a delegate to the 1990 State Bar Convention and a member of the 1992 and 1994 delegations to the Inns of Court of the United Kingdom. He served as an arbitrator for the Superior Court, and held memberships in the Litigation and Environmental Law Sections of the State Bar and the of the Los Angeles County Bar Association, the Italian American Lawyers Association, Association of Southern California Defense Counsel and Defense Research Institute. While a Deputy District Attorney, Tony prosecuted major felonies and environmental crimes. As a Deputy City Attorney and Special Counsel to the City of Hawthorne, he defended the City and other municipalities in matters ranging from alleged police misconduct to toxic waste remediation liability. His practice focused on the defense of insureds in environmental, toxic tort, products, construction, and professional errors and omissions related matters. A firm believer in the wisdom of the jury system, he credits simplification and dogged persistence for his success at trial. He has taught trial advocacy, comparative common law legal systems and law enforcement procedures.

Tony is now enjoying retirement. 

Jerri Lynn Johnson

Managing Shareholder

Contact Jerri

213.347.0240 ext.136
213.623.1957
Email

Practice Areas

  • Trucking Liability
  • Serious Bodily Injury
  • Product Liability

About Jerri

Jerri joined Acker, Kowalick & Whipple in 1995 and accepted a shareholder position in 2000. In 2004, Jerri took on the responsibilities of managing partner for the firm. She continues, however, to maintain a full case load of larger exposure litigated matters as well as responsibility for the supervision and training of associate attorneys. Jerri’s impressive legal experience includes 25+ years of defending clients through litigation, including commercial trucking litigation, products liability, construction workplace injuries and general tort claims such as complex automobile accidents and premises liability. Jerri has acted as lead or sole trial counsel on multiple jury and bench trials,  and she is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA). She has successfully briefed and argued appellate issues before the California Courts of Appeal and the California Supreme Court.

Jerri is also recognized as one of the leading trial attorneys with expertise in Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS).  Having written papers and given presentations on the defense of CRPS claims, Jerri is frequently consulted and asked to assist defense attorneys and their clients in defending these claims at trial.

Jerri is a member of ABOTA, an organization that is by invitation and nomination only and reserved for prestigious trial lawyers who are of high personal character and honorable reputation, who have met the strict qualifications as prescribed in the ABOTA Constitution.  Jerri was also selected by Chartis (now AIG) Insurance as one of its “Top Ten Lawyers” for 2012 as one who exemplifies the “highest level of excellence and quality client service.” She is a member of and actively participates in several professional associations, including the Los Angeles County Bar Association, the Southern California Defense Counsel Association, and the Trucking Industry Defense Association (TIDA.) She is a member of the Defense Research Association (DRI,) where she takes part in the Law Practice Management and Trial Tactics committees.  She also joined the Claims and Litigation Management Alliance, in which membership is by invitation only based on nominations from CLM Fellows.

Jerri obtained a BS degree from Drake University in 1986 and a JD from Pepperdine University School of Law in 1989.

Colette Magnetta

Shareholder

Contact Colette

213.347.0240 ext.130
213.623.1957
Email

Practice Areas

  • Product Liability
  • Premises Liability
  • Construction Accident
  • General Tort Litigation

About Colette

Colette has been involved in management of the firm’s law practice in the years since she accepted a shareholder position at Acker & Whipple.  She is particularly committed to the training and mentoring of the firm’s newer associates.  Colette is primarily focused on her litigation practice, however, and her defense work is composed of premises liability, construction cases, product liability, and general tort litigation. Colette is an active member of the Defense Research Institute, the country’s leading organization of defense attorneys and in-house counsel.  Colette’s active involvement over the years in DRI’s Litigation Skills Committee, formerly known as the Trial Tactics Committee, included chairing the committee and chairing programs such as the Trial Tactics Seminar and the Complex Medicine Seminar. She is also involved in the Law Practice Management Committee.  Colette has been featured in the Leader Spotlight of DRI’s The Voice.  She also accepted a membership invitation to the Claims and Litigation Management Alliance, a nonpartisan alliance committed to furthering the highest standards of litigation management. Colette has been Peer Review Rated as AV Preeminent, the highest category, by Martindale-Hubbell.

Colette earned her J.D. from Tulane University School of Law in 2000, graduating cum laude, after receiving a B.S. in Business Administration from the University of the Pacific. She was admitted to the California State Bar and local United States District Courts in December of that same year. In the earlier part of her law career, Colette actively participated in pro bono activities. She co-developed a Street Law program for the California Youth Authority’s Tools For Success program, in which law students instruct young parolees during a transition period from prison into free society. Colette then worked with Volunteers in Parole to mentor a recently paroled youth. She has also volunteered with L.A. County Bar Association’s Domestic Violence Project. She currently serves on the board of spcaLA.  Her free time, however, is mostly occupied by her two energetic, young children.

Publications

    • Defense Research Institute Trials and Tribulations, March 14, 2017. Leadership Notes From the Chair.
    • Defense Research Institute For The Defense, March 2017. Honing Skills to Demonstrate Value.
    • Defense Research Institute, July 2017. The Trial Compendium Foreword

Community Involvement

Colette serves as a member and secretary of the board of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Los Angeles, a nonprofit animal welfare organization serving Southern California since 1877.  spcaLA programs and services include Cruelty investigations, Disaster Animal Response Team, Violence Prevention & Humane Education, Animal Safety Net (ASN)™ and a variety of shelter services.

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Bradley P. Childers

Nonequity Partner

Contact Bradley

213.347.0240 ext.149
213.623.1957
Email

Practice Areas

  • Product Liability
  • Premises Liability
  • Construction Workplace Accident
  • Transportation and Trucking Claims

About Bradley

 Bradley P. Childers brings a solid history of success with more than two decades of experience in a variety of tort defense work, including product liability, professional liability and general negligence matters throughout southern California. He has successfully defended insurance carriers in  bad faith cases at trial. Mr. Childers also has extensive experience representing insurers in first party property loss appraisals. His published decisions include Cheeks v California FAIR Plan Association (1989)  61 Cal App 4th 423,  and Mahnke v Superior Court (2009) 180 Cal App 4th 565.

Mr. Childers graduated from Pepperdine University School of Law with a J.D. in 1989 and was admitted to the State Bar of California the same year. He holds a B.A. from the University of California at Davis. He is admitted to practice before the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and the U.S. District Court of the Central, Eastern and Southern Districts of California. Mr. Childers is a member of the Los Angeles County Bar Association.

Alana Martinez

Associate

Contact Alana

213.347.0240 ext.139
213.623.1957
Email

Practice Areas

  • Trucking Accident
  • Construction Accident
  • General Negligence

About Alana

Alana Martinez obtained her B.A. in International Studies Economics from the University of California, San Diego.  In May 2015, she earned her Juris Doctor from Loyola Law School, Los Angeles.  While in law school, Alana was a Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles scholarship recipient, served as a judicial extern for the Honorable Richard L. Fruin of the Los Angeles Superior Court, and received a First Honors award for earning the top grade in her Ethical Lawyering class.  Alana also represented Loyola Law School in the 2015 Hispanic National Bar Association Moot Court Competition and gained litigation skills through externships at the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office and the County of Los Angeles Office of the County Counsel.  Prior to joining Acker & Whipple, she worked for an insurance defense firm in Pasadena.  Alana is admitted to practice law in the State of California and the United States District Court, Central District of California.

In her spare time, Alana enjoys playing volleyball, skiing, spending time at the beach, and traveling.

 

Nicholas J. Pappas

Associate

Contact Nick

213.347.0240 ext.150
213.623.1957
Email

Practice Areas

  • Transportation/Trucking Accident
  • Product Liability
  • Construction Workplace Accident
  • Medical Malpractice
  • General Negligence Claims

About Nick

Nick Pappas earned his J.D. from Southwestern Law School in 2015 and was admitted to the State Bar of California the same year, after graduating cum laude with a B.A. in History from the University of San Diego. While in law school, Mr. Pappas was awarded CALI and Witkin Awards for academic excellence and worked for the Southwestern Entertainment & the Arts Clinic.  Prior to joining Acker & Whipple, Mr. Pappas worked on the Health Care Liability Team in the Los Angeles office of a well-known defense firm specializing in the defense of claims of medical malpractice and elder abuse.  Mr. Pappas is a member of the State Bar of California and is admitted to the United States District Court, Central District of California.

Brendan Smith

Associate

Contact Brendan

213.347.0240 ext.129
213.623.1957
Email

Practice Areas

  • Trucking Accident
  • Construction Workplace Accident
  • General Negligence Claims

About Brendan

Brendan Smith graduated from the University of California, San Diego with a B.S. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and a minor in English Literature before earning his J.D. from Loyola Law School, Los Angeles in 2016. While in law school, Brendan earned the top grade in his Ethical Lawyering course and was awarded First Honors. He received a similar distinction for his work in Appellate Advocacy. Outside the classroom, Brendan volunteered in a non-profit legal services organization where he had the opportunity to serve clients with a variety of legal issues including public benefits eligibility and advance planning. Prior to joining Acker & Whipple, he worked in a private law firm in Century City that specialized in personal injury.

Brendan is admitted to practice law in the State of California and the United States District Court, Central District of California. Outside of work, he enjoys classic films, travelling and photography.

 

 

Neyilah Carter

Associate Attorney

Contact Neyilah

213.347.0240
213.623.1957
Email

Practice Areas

  • Premises Liability
  • Trucking Accident
  • Construction Defect
  • Construction Workplace Accident
  • General Negligence Claims

About Neyilah

Neyilah Carter graduated from the University of North Carolina, Wilmington with a B.S. in Political Science and International Studies before earning her J.D. from North Carolina Central University School of Law. While in law school, Neyilah served as Managing Editor for The North Carolina Central University Law Review and graduated with high honors. Neyilah gained litigation experience outside of the classroom as a certified intern at a non-profit family law clinic where she represented and advised clients in a wide variety of family law matters and with the Civil Division of the San Diego City Attorney’s Office. Neyilah is admitted to practice in the State of California.

In her spare time, Neyilah enjoys Pilates, baking, traveling, and exploring Los Angeles.


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