News

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 claim it alleged arose out of the defendant client’s work when a valve failed allowing oil to spray onto adjoining property injuring a crew member of a passing railroad locomotive. Stephen argued successfully on behalf of defendant that the defect was not part of defendant’s work, which had been substantially altered between completion of the construction project and occurrence of the underlying bodily injury claim. After eleven trial days, the jury returned a defense verdict. Congratulations, Stephen!

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 Syndrome (“CRPS”).

Acker & Whipple was assigned the case on the eve of trial, with prior counsel retaining neither liability or damages experts.  A rebuttal witness was used to demonstrate the flaws in plaintiff’s doctors’ opinions and destroy the credibility of the damages claims. Jurors also found no negligence on the part of the defendant.

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.

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 for his opinions. The court sustained all objections to plaintiffs’ expert’s declaration and granted summary judgment on all causes of action.  Plaintiffs appealed. Acker & Whipple continued to represent the candle manufacturer.  The appellate court affirmed, agreeing that there was no triable issue of material fact regarding liability.  See the Successes page for more details.

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 supply chain.

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 Obispo jury in July 2013 and defended the case in the appeal that soon followed.  To read more about this case and learn more about these outstanding litigators, please see the SUCCESSES and ATTORNEYS pages of our website.

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 & Whipple expects the review process to be completed and certification granted by autumn. An interesting article, Responding to the Diversity Challenge, regarding increasing diversity in the legal community can be found  HERE.

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 a common interest in the representation by firms of companies, and to promote and further the highest standards of litigation management in pursuit of client defense.  Selected attorneys and law firms are extended membership by invitation only based on nominations from CLM Fellows.

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.

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.