Voted by her peers in 2009 as one of the "Best Lawyers in America," Ms. Cheng's practice focuses on helping individuals and families who have suffered catastrophic injuries caused by vehicular negligence, defective products, governmental negligence, medical negligence, sexual abuse, and hazardous property conditions. She has obtained favorable jury verdicts and settlements throughout California in State and Federal courts throughout California. In 2008, she was nominated as a finalist for "Trial Lawyer of the Year" award given by the San Francisco Trial Lawyer Association.
A graduate of the University of California at Davis, Ms. Cheng attended the University of San Francisco School of Law, from which she graduated with distinction as a Public Interest Law Scholar. In 1997, she served as an extern law clerk to the Honorable Saundra Brown Armstrong, United States District Judge for the Northern District of California.
She has experience in jury trials, mediations and arbitrations. This past year, she obtained a million dollar settlement for a mother and son who suffered chronic carbon monoxide exposure resulting from a defective heater, and over a million dollars against the owner of a defective stairwell on real property. In 2006, a San Francisco jury awarded Ms. Cheng's clients $3,000,000 for the death of their 29-year-old son in a medical negligence action. In a wrongful death case against a rental car company, she successfully negotiated a $6,500,000 settlement on behalf of the decedent's family.
A respected and independent advocate for patient rights, in 2009 she was been appointed to the Oversight Committee of the Office of Independent Administrator, responsible for evaluating the Kaiser arbitration system. After completing a term as Chair of the San Francisco Bar Association's Judicial Screening Committee in 2008, Ms. Cheng was elected to serve the Bar Association of San Francisco Board of Directors in 2009. She also serves as a Board member, and Education Committee Chair, of the San Francisco Trial Lawyer's Association.
Ms. Cheng has been invited to speak on legal issues nationally and internationally. In 2009, she taught trial advocacy to prosecutors and defense attorneys in association with the United States Department of Justice in Pristina, Kosovo. She has also taught advocacy skills to Solicitor Advocates in Northern Ireland. She currently serves as the Co-Program Director of the National Institute for Trial Advocacy's Western Region Teacher Training Program. She is the Co-Program Director for the University of San Francisco Law School's Intensive Advocacy Program. In 2007, she was awarded the John Meehan Fellow award as a distinguished alumnus of the law school. She is also a faculty member of the Emory University's Kessler-Eidson Trial Techniques Program in Atlanta, Georgia.
Super Lawyers is a listing of fewer than 5% of the lawyers in any state who have been selected by their peers and third-party research for special recognition. Firm members acknowledged in 2009 as either Super Lawyers or Rising Stars include Paul V. Melodia, Daniel J.Kelly, Michael A. Kelly, Richard Schoenberger, Matthew Davis, Khaldoun Baghdadi and Melinda Derish.
