Phillips, Spallas & Angstadt LLP is an AV rated, civil litigation firm with an unparalleled record of successful results for our clients, emphasizing prompt, economic resolution. We possess the knowledge to navigate all state and federal venues in California and Nevada for our clients, who include numerous Fortune 500 companies. We obtain the best possible solutions for our clients, efficiently and effectively meeting our clients’ objectives. Our 95% success rate in trial speaks for itself.
Phillips, Spallas & Angstadt LLP is an AV rated, civil litigation firm with an unparalleled record of successful results for our clients, emphasizing prompt, economic resolution. We possess the knowledge to navigate all state and federal venues in California and Nevada for our clients, who include numerous Fortune 500 companies. We obtain the best possible solutions for our clients, efficiently and effectively meeting our clients' objectives. Our 95% success rate in trial speaks for itself.
Although highly successful at trial, we recognize that early resolution often meets our clients' objectives, and we pride ourselves on our early and accurate evaluation of all matters.
A key ingredient of our firm's success is the diversity of our attorneys. We are committed to diversity both within the firm and the profession of law at large. We are registered by the U.S. Department of Commerce Minority Business Development Agency as a minority-owned business, and we are a member of the California Minority Counsel Program. We are also proud to support several fellowships for minority students.
Featured Attorneys
Michael R. Halvorsen
Partner
Michael R. Halvorsen is the managing partner of the Los Angeles office. He consistently obtains excellent results for clients across a variety of practice areas, including commercial litigation and landlord-tenant law. Mr. Halvorsen was a founding member of the firm's Los Angeles office in 2007 after working in our San Francisco office. He graduated with a degree in English from the University of California in Santa Barbara followed by the University of San Francisco School of Law. Apart from being an attorney, he greatly enjoys spending time with his wife and three young children.
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Priya Navaratnasingham
Partner
Priya Navaratnasingham specializes in civil litigation defense, with a focus on high exposure personal injury and wrongful death cases. She consistently obtains favorable results on behalf of her Fortune 500 clients. Priya graduated magna cum laude from Northern Arizona University and earned her J.D. degree from Whittier Law School in 2007. Prior to joining the firm, Priya defended clients in disputes arising out breach of partnership agreements, commercial leases, and misappropriation of trade secrets in Newport Beach.
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Timothy D. Kuhls
Associate
Timothy D. Kuhls manages our Las Vegas office. His civil litigation practice focuses primarily on the defense of products liability, premises liability, and related claims. He received both his J.D. and LL.M. degrees from the University of New Hampshire School of Law and his B.A. from Cornell University. Mr. Kuhls is an active supporter of Las Vegas’ pro bono initiative as a Child Advocacy Project volunteer. He is admitted to practice in Nevada, New York, and New Jersey.
Recent Results/News
- 27Jan
Las Vegas Obtains Defense Verdict at Arbitration in Premises Liability Lawsuit
Congratulations to our Las Vegas office for obtaining a defense verdict in a premises liability lawsuit brought against a Fortune 500 retailer. The plaintiff alleged negligence after a pallet being pulled by a store associate...16JanLas Vegas Office Obtains Defense Verdict in Property Damage Lawsuit
Associate Daniel Joslyn obtained a defense verdict in a property damage case in the Henderson Justice Court in Clark County, Nevada. After a bench trial, the Court ruled that the defendant, an international retailer, was... - 12Jul
San Francisco Office Obtains Summary Judgment in Catastrophic Auto-Pedestrian Accident
Partner Robert Phillips and associate Mana Ettafagh prevailed on a motion for summary judgment in an auto-pedestrian accident resulting in catastrophic injuries. Plaintiffs alleged negligent design and construction of a Fortune 500 retailer’s parking lot....24JanNevada Office Obtains Summary Judgment in Premises Liability Case
Las Vegas associate Ryan Kerbow obtained summary judgment in a premises liability slip and fall matter. Plaintiff slipped and fell on orange soda in a store. Approximately twenty seconds prior, a female customer pushing a... - 31Oct
Phillips, Spallas & Angstadt LLP receives the Diversity Gold Seal from Vault and the Minority Corporate Counsel Association
Phillips, Spallas & Angstadt LLP is the proud recipient of the Diversity Gold Seal from Vault and the Minority Corporate Counsel Association (MCCA TM) for its efforts to foster and enhance diversity in the legal...3JulPooja Kumar Receives 10 Best Attorney Award for Client Satisfaction from the American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys
Congratulations to Las Vegas associate Pooja Kumar, who recently received the American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys’ 10 Best Attorney Award for Client Satisfaction in Nevada. The criteria considered included the attainment of the highest... - 6Jun
Mendocino County Bar Association Commends James Ghidella for Settlement Expertise
Brian Momsen,Esq., President of the Mendocino County Bar Association, has commended Senior Counsel James Ghidella on behalf of the Association for his many years of service as pro tem Settlement Officer of the Court and...13FebSan Francisco Partner Sworn in as Court Appointed Special Advocate
Partner Candice Mullings Williams was sworn in as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) for abused and neglected children. Ms. Williams provides one-on-one support, companionship, mentoring, and advocacy for foster children in Court and beyond. - 25Jan
Nevada Office Obtains Summary Judgment in Tort Case
Associate Alyce Foshee obtained summary judgment in a tort dispute, with the Eighth District Judicial Court (Clark County, Nevada) dismissing plaintiffs’ complaint which alleged causes of action for (1) malicious prosecution, (2) negligent hiring/training/supervision, (3)...16JanSan Francisco Office Successfully Moves to Strike Employment Lawsuit Against Fortune 100 Employer
San Francisco attorneys Greg Spallas and Anna Gehriger prevailed on behalf of a large employer client on a special motion to strike (pursuant to the Anti-SLAPP statute, California Code of Civil Procedure section 425.16) resulting... - 11Oct
San Francisco Office Successfully Obtains Dismissal of Action in Federal Court
San Francisco attorneys Robert K. Phillips and Priya Navaratnasingham successfully obtained a dismissal with prejudice of plaintiff’s entire action before the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California. Plaintiff alleged breach of...14JunSan Francisco Office Successfully Defends Favorable Contractual Liability Judgment in Court of Appeals
Robert K. Phillips recovered a large six-figure sum for Gap, Inc. from a vendor after successfully litigating the contractual indemnity provisions and prosecuting a jury trial to determine fault for the underlying accident. Mr. Phillips... - 17Feb
Nevada Office Obtains Summary Judgment in Premises Liability Case
Las Vegas associate Ryan Kerbow obtained summary judgment in favor of retailer Sam’s Club in a premises liability case. Plaintiff claimed special damages in excess of $1.4 million as a result of a slip and...3JanSan Francisco Office Successfully Compels Arbitration in a Case that Received National Media Attention
Partner Elisa R. Marcaletti successfully moved to compel arbitration in a nationally-recognized case on behalf of the firm’s client, a wedding photography/videography company based in Chicago, Illinois, that does business in over twenty states. Plaintiff,... - 26Oct
San Francisco Office Successfully Defends Multi-Million Dollar Auto Claim
San Francisco attorneys Robert K. Phillips and Kaa Bao Yang successfully defended an auto dealer in a two-week motor vehicle jury trial in Monterey County Superior Court involving catastrophic injuries and claims of permanent disability....16OctSan Francisco Paralegal is Elected to the San Francisco Paralegal Association’s Board
San Francisco paralegal Albert Chen is elected to the San Francisco Paralegal Association’s 2017 Board of Directors. The association is a nonprofit organization created to represent the paralegal profession. - 29Sep
Las Vegas Office Obtains Dismissal Sanctions in Premises Liability Action
Brenda Entzminger and Betsy Jefferis obtained a dismissal with prejudice in a personal injury case against the retailer, Wal-Mart. Plaintiff sought general and special damages in the seven-figure range for a slip and fall matter. The...29SepNevada Court Grants Defendant’s Motion for Judgement as a Matter of Law in Premises Liability Action
Robert Phillips and Brenda Entzminger obtained a defense judgment in favor of Wal-Mart, following a jury trial in September 2015. Although the jury had originally awarded over $718,000 in favor of the plaintiff, the United States... - 27Sep
San Francisco Office Successfully Defends Premises Liability Jury Trial
San Francisco attorney Sara Khan Tackett successfully defended a two-week premises liability jury trial in Santa Clara County Superior Court involving claims of serious injuries and permanent disability. Plaintiff asked the jury to award over...8FebCandice Mullings Williams has been promoted to Partner
Congratulations to Candice Mullings Williams, who has been promoted to Partner at the firm. Ms. Williams joined the firm in 2007. She specializes in civil litigation defense, with a focus on high exposure personal injury... - 15Jan
Associate Anna Gehriger has been selected as an “Outstanding Volunteer” for 2015
Congratulations to Anna C. Gehriger who has been selected as an “Outstanding Volunteer” for 2015 by the San Francisco Bar Association’s Justice and Diversity Center, and will be honored at a Volunteer Appreciation Celebration on March...10OctEmployment Attorneys Prevail Before the United States Supreme Court
In October 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court denied plaintiff’s Petition for a Writ of Certiorari of a successful motion for summary judgment which San Francisco partner Gregory Spallas and associate Anna Gehriger had won in... - 16Sep
Las Vegas Office Obtains Exclusion of Damages in Premises Liability Action
Las Vegas partner Brenda Entzminger obtained an order from the United States District Court, District of Nevada, excluding future damages claim and excluding over $100,000 in past medical expenses in premises liability action. Montilla v....16AugLas Vegas Office Obtains Exclusion of Damages in Premises Liability Action
Las Vegas attorney Ryan Kerbow obtained an order from the United States District Court, District of Nevada, excluding $263,793 in past medical expenses and $472,538.00 in future damages in a premises liability action. The exclusion... - 30Aug
San Francisco Office Obtains Dismissal in Personal Injury/Construction Accident Case Against Clients Based on Privette/Hooker Doctrine and Avoids Plaintiff’s Seven-Figure Damage Allegations
Robert K. Phillips and Ryan Gille successfully obtained a dismissal of a personal injury/construction accident case against PSA’s clients. The plaintiff sought general and special damages in the seven figure range for work-related injuries received...15AugStaffer Simon Ho Testifies at State Capitol
Congratulations to staffer Simon Ho, who testifies at State Capitol before the California Senate’s Informational Hearing by the Select Committee on Autism and Related Disorders, chaired by Senator Darrell Steinberg, on August 5, 2014 about... - 1Aug
Bar Association of San Francisco Barristers Club’s 6th Annual Diversity Awards Reception
We are proud to sponsor – for the third consecutive year – the Bar Association of San Francisco Barristers Club’s 6th annual Diversity Awards Reception. This event is free of charge and honors two legal community...14JunCLE – True Grit and Growth Mindset: Secrets of Success for Women
San Francisco associate Anna Gehriger facilitated working group sessions of practical scenarios faced by young female attorneys as part of the ABA Commission on Women in the Profession’s ‘True Grit Project’ and BASF’s ‘No Glass Ceiling... - 1Jun
San Francisco Office Obtains Defense Verdict in Six Figure Personal Injury Suit
Jessica Stuart Pliner along with national counsel for a home appliance manufacturer obtained a defense verdict in a products liability case in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California. The jury...28FebLas Vegas Office Wins Full Defense Verdict in a Personal Injury Lawsuit
Brenda H. Entzminger and Marjan Hajimirzaee successfully defended a large retail store in a civil jury trial in Las Vegas, Nevada. Plaintiff claimed he was injured when he slipped and fell while the retailer was... - 15Feb
San Francisco Office Successfully Defends Six-Week Premises Liability Jury Trial where Plaintiff Requested $2.8 Million in Damages Resulted in Only $7,800 Award
Attorneys Robert Phillips and Sara Khan successfully defended a six week premises liability jury trial in the Fresno County Superior Court. Plaintiff sustained injuries to her back when she was struck by merchandise being hauled...1FebSan Francisco Attorneys Prevail on Motion for Summary Judgment in Negligent Security Case
Attorneys Robert K. Phillips and Jessica Stuart Pliner successfully obtained a dismissal of a negligent security case against their clients. The plaintiff sought general and special damages in the seven figure range for his injuries... - 1Jan
San Francisco Associate Anna Gehriger Recognized in Law School Dean Blog
http://www.law.unlv.edu/newsletters/email_BoydBriefs_2014_01_09.html13SepLas Vegas Associate Co-Chairs Creation of First Bi-Lingual Special Edition Nevada Lawyer in Honor of Hispanic Heritage Month and Co-Authors Feature Article
Siria L. Gutiérrez served on the Las Vegas Latino Bar Association committee which spearheaded the September 2013 Special Edition of the Nevada Lawyer in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month. She helped co-author the main feature... - 25Jul
San Francisco Office Prevails on a Motion to Strike Punitive Damages in Premises Liability Matter
Robert K. Phillips and Jacqueline K. Oh successfully brought a motion to strike punitive damages against Michigan plaintiffs in a premises liability matter venued in San Francisco Superior Court. Our attorneys effectively argued under California’s...20JulSan Francisco Office Prevails on a Motion for Summary Judgment in a Wrongful Death Suit
Attorneys Robert K. Phillips, Jessica Stuart Pliner and Jacqueline K. Oh represented a landowner of an apartment complex in a wrongful death and survival action in Fresno County Superior Court. The firm filed a motion... - 10Jul
Las Vegas Office Prevails on Motion for Exclusion Sanctions
The firm won a Motion for Exclusion Sanctions on behalf of its client, a major retailer. As a result, the Court issued an Order excluding plaintiff’s future medical expenses in excess of $200,000, excluding evidence...5JulAssociate Anna Gehriger Recognized in Law School Dean Blog
Associate Anna Gehriger chairs the Barristers’ Diversity Committee, which organized a diverse panel of law school administrators to educate attendees about career opportunities at law schools: http://www.law.ucdavis.edu/blogs/Deans/posts/basf-presents-exploring-careers-in-law-school-administration.html. - 1Apr
Legal Aid of Napa Valley Recognizes Partner Bradley Jameson for his Outstanding Pro Bono Legal Services in 2012
Partner Bradley Jameson was recognized by Legal Aid of Napa Valley for his Outstanding Pro Bono Legal Services in partnership with Legal Aid of Napa Valley in 2012.12DecSan Francisco Office Prevails on a Motion for Summary Judgment in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District
In December 2012, the San Francisco office prevailed on a Motion for Summary Judgment in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District against Plaintiff’s claims of age and disability based discrimination, harassment, retaliation and... - 12Nov
San Francisco Associate Anna Gehriger Joins Board of Directors of BASF Barristers Club for the 2013-2015 Term
The Barristers Club, BASF’s new attorney division, announced the officers for the 2013 Board of Directors. Read more at: http://www.sfbar.org/newsroom/2012/20121025.aspx and http://www.sfbar.org/barristers/board.aspx.1OctSan Francisco Associates and Staff Attend BASF’s School to College Day
Attorneys Ashley Standfield, Kendra McGee, and Holly Brauchli joined assistants Theresa Mongelluzzo and Nicholas Garcia at the Bar Association of San Francisco’s School to College Day on October 16, 2012. At this service event, the... - 1Aug
Las Vegas Office Prevails on Motion to Exclude Claims Totaling Over 1.2 Million Dollars in Personal Injury Suit
Attorney A. J. Sharp successfully brought a motion to exclude Plaintiff’s claims for future medical expenses and wage loss totaling more than $1.2 million in a personal injury matter venued in the United States District...1JulAssociates attend BASF’s Annual Judges Reception
Associates Ashley Standfield, Holly Brauchli and Anna Gehriger attended this year’s Judges Reception. Each year, the Barristers Club invites judges of San Francisco Superior Court, as well as federal judges and magistrates to the Judges... - 1Feb
San Francisco Attorney Anna Gehriger Co-Chairs the Diversity Committee of the Bar Association of San Francisco’s Barristers Club
Anna C. Gehriger was appointed Co-Chair of the Diversity Committee of the Bar Association of San Francisco’s Barristers Club. For more information, please visit http://www.sfbar.org/barristers/committees_diversity.aspx.1OctFortune 500 International Retailer Bestows Award of Excellence on Phillips, Spallas & Angstadt, LLP
In October 2011, a Fortune 500 international retailer bestowed its annual Award of Excellence on Phillips, Spallas and Angstadt, LLP, in recognition of our passionate representation of the company. - 1Sep
San Francisco Office Prevails on Motion for Summary Judgment in Multi-Million Dollar Wrongful Death Suit
Attorneys Robert K. Phillips and Jessica Stuart Pliner represented a local small business in a multi-million dollar wrongful death and survival action in Santa Clara Superior Court. Other Defendants in the case paid substantial sums...15AugLas Vegas Office Prevails on Motion to Exclude $400,000 in Untimely Disclosed Damages
Attorneys Brenda H. Entzminger and A.J. Sharp successfully brought a motion to exclude plaintiff’s future medical expenses in a personal injury matter venued in the United States District Court. Our attorneys effectively argued that plaintiff’s...