In 2009, Walkup lawyers continued to lead the way representing those injured by corporate negligence, product defects and medical malpractice. Whether in trial, arbitration or mediation, our lawyers’ work was exemplary.
In the courtroom, Rich Schoenberger and Spencer Pahlke obtained a $1 million jury verdict on behalf of a disabled care-facility resident. Matthew Davis and Doug Saeltzer prevailed before a San Francisco jury on behalf of a surgeon who lost the ability to perform cutting-edge surgery. Mike Kelly and Khaldoun Baghdadi tried the first OB Tape case in the country. In arbitration, Doug Saeltzer prevailed in a Kaiser arbitration on behalf of a student whose orthopedist misdiagnosed a serious sports injury. Paul Melodia obtained one of the largest awards in the history of the Kaiser Arbitration system ($2 million).
In mediation, Doris Cheng obtained $1 million for residential tenants who suffered brain damage as a result of chronic exposure to carbon monoxide. Matthew Davis negotiated a seven-figure settlement against a south of Market Street dance club for paralyzing injuries to a 22-year-old student. Khaldoun Baghdadi and Matthew Davis recovered $1.9 million on behalf of a long-haul truck driver against the U.S. Forest Service and its contractors after a service road collapsed. Mike Kelly and Doris Cheng concluded a $5.4 million settlement against a national HMO. Rich Schoenberger and Matthew Davis settled a wrongful death claim for the parents of an East Bay middle school drowning victim for $2.25 million.
In the legal community, our lawyers supported the San Francisco Bar Association’s Volunteer Legal Services Program, Sonoma County Legal Aid and the BASF Bar Foundation. Mike Kelly traveled to Osaka, Japan to teach advocacy skills to Japanese lawyers. Doris Cheng traveled to Kosovo to teach oral advocacy skills to lawyers in a developing democracy. Doug Saeltzer taught at Hastings. Khaldoun Baghdadi and Spencer Pahlke taught at Boalt Hall. Rich Schoenberger taught at Emory University’s prestigious Kessler-Eidson Trial Techniques Program.
All of our lawyers listed in Super Lawyers® are AV-rated by Martindale-Hubbell® and members of prestigious honorary societies including ABOTA, the American Inns of Court, the International Society of Barristers and the American College of Trial Lawyers.