SPENCER PAHLKE (download vcard)
Spencer's practice focuses on catastrophic personal injury and wrongful death cases involving defective medical devices, vehicular collisions, dangerous conditions of public and private property, and medical malpractice.
Outside of his practice at Walkup, he also serves at the University of California-Berkeley Law School (Boalt Hall) as a lecturer in trial advocacy. In addition to his teaching, he directs Berkeley Law's external trial competition program, and coaches three trial advocacy teams. Spencer has also provided ongoing legal education, including developing and co-chairing programs produced in conjunction with Berkeley Law, with a special focus on providing training to young attorneys. He has also co-chaired a presentation on governmental liability and design immunity.
Before going to law school, Spencer received his B.A. from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 2004, graduating in the Honors Program and with Highest Distinction. He double-majored in Economics and Psychology, with a double-minor in English and Communications. While at the University of Nebraska, he also competed nationally in intercollegiate debate and mock trial.
Spencer then attended law school at Berkeley Law, receiving his J.D. in 2007. At Berkeley, Spencer was a member of the California Law Review as well as an associate editor for Ecology Law Quarterly. Academically, he won Prosser Awards in Legal Ethics and in Environmental Law.
Spencer's main interest in law school was trial advocacy, both in Berkeley Law's competitive trial advocacy program and its clinical programs. Clinically, he tried cases before Oakland's Citizen's Police Review Board. There, his responsibilities included representing people claiming violations of their constitutional rights at the hands of the Oakland Police Department. He successfully competed on several trial teams. He won the Bay Area trial competition held by the San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association. Additionally, in the National Trial Competition, his three-person team was a regional finalist, and he won two top advocate awards.
Spencer joined the Walkup firm as an associate in 2007, and practices all types of personal injury litigation in all courts within the State of California.
Verdicts & Settlements
Pedestrian v. City and County of San Francisco
Public Transit Negligence
$3,250,000 Settlement
Cable Car Passenger v. City and County of San Francisco
Negligent Operation of Cable Car
$2,026,000 Settlement
Chu v. Bay Area Community Services, Inc.
Premises Liability - Negligent Supervision
$996,000 Verdict
Insured v. Major Insurance Company
Insurance Bad Faith
$975,000 Settlement
Cyclist v. Driver's Employer
Vehicular Negligence
$750,000 Settlement
Pedestrian v. Driver
Vehicular Negligence - Underinsured Motorist
$555,000
Family v. HMO
Medical Negligence - Surgical Error - Wrongful Death
$475,000 Settlement
Grandparent v. Youth Camp
Premises Liability
$400,000 Settlement
Motorcyclist v. Driver
Vehicular Negligence
$350,000 Settlement
Passenger v. Driver
Vehicular Negligence - Read-End Collision
$325,000 Settlement
Passenger v. Cab Company
Vehicular Negligence - Common Carrier
$300,000
Pedestrian v. San Diego Mass Transit
Public Transit Negligence
$300,000
Cyclist v. SUV Driver
Vehicular Negligence
$300,000 Settlement
Pedestrian v. CCSF
Dangerous Condition of Public Property
$270,000
Driver v. Driver
Vehicular Negligence - Underinsured Motorist
$250,000
Bicyclist v. Driver
Vehicular Negligence
$250,000 Settlement
Passenger v. Airport Shuttle Company
Vehicular Negligence
$225,000 Settlement
Driver v. Driver
Vehicular Negligence
$210,000 Settlement
Pedestrian v. Landowner
Premise Liability
$185,000
Customer v. Store Owner
Premises Liability - Slip and Fall
$153,00 Settlement
