The premises liability group is renowned for its expertise and unparalleled litigation experience. With a pedigree of innumerable trials and published opinions, we have not only furthered the interests of clients, but also the interests of the public by shaping the state of current premises liability law. Founding Partner Robert Phillips has received commendation from the United States Department of Justice for his contribution to the evolution of premises liability law in California. He has also obtained published decisions which are the legal standard by which premises liability cases are adjudicated. Representative clients of the group include hotels, some of the nation’s largest retailers and corporations, as well as individuals.
Collaborating with our clients’ in-house attorneys, we provide our clients with a timely legal and monetary evaluation of each complaint. We provide analysis regarding all avenues of resolution from settlement, mediation and arbitration. For those matters where alternative dispute resolution is unsuccessful or not recommended, we have substantial experience and expertise in both state and federal trials and appeals.
Premises Liability Results/News
- 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... - 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...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...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...16SepLas 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.... - 16Aug
Las 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...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... - 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...1AugLas 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... - 1Oct
Fortune 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.1SepSan 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... - 15Aug
Las 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...10AugLas Vegas Office Prevails on Motion for Summary Judgment Against Plaintiff’s Claims that Client Maintained Unsafe Conditions in Retail Store
Partner Brenda H. Entzminger successfully brought a motion for summary judgment before the United States District Court. Attorney Ms. Entzminger put forth affirmative evidence that the retail client maintained its premises in a reasonably safe condition... - 1Jun
San Francisco Office Prevails on Motion for Summary Judgment in Wrongful Death Suit
Attorneys Todd Angstadt and Elisa Marcaletti successfully obtained a dismissal of a wrongful death case against all three of their clients. The plaintiffs sought general, special and punitive damages in the seven figure range for...1AprSan Francisco Office Prevails on Motion for Summary Judgment in Serious Personal Injury Case Against Retail Store
Robert K. Phillips, Brenda H. Entzminger, and Lincoln Tran brought a Motion for Summary Judgment against Plaintiff who alleged serious personal injury when she was stuck by an electric shopping cart operated by a third... - 1Feb
Las Vegas Office Wins Full Defense Verdict After Four-Week Jury Trial in Wrongful Death Case
Partners Robert K. Phillips and Brenda H. Entzminger successfully defended a large retail store in a four-week civil jury trial in Las Vegas, Nevada arising out of an incident in which a customer was assaulted...1DecLas Vegas Office Prevails on Appeal of District Court’s Grant of Motion to Dismiss Plaintiff’s Complaint
The Nevada Supreme Court recently affirmed the District Court’s grant of a motion to dismiss due to lack of proper and timely service of the client. Plaintiff moved to enlarge the time for service over one year... - 1Sep
Las Vegas Office Prevails on Motion for Summary Judgment Against Plaintiff’s Claims that Client was Vicariously Liable for Alleged Assault and Battery Committed by Former Employee
Brenda H. Entzminger successfully brought a motion for summary judgment before the United States District Court. Ms. Entzminger put forth affirmative evidence that Plaintiff waived any right to tort action by consenting to engage in mutual...15AprLas Vegas Office Prevails on Motion for Summary Judgment on All Claims Against Shoplifter
A merchant’s asset protection officer, after observing Plaintiff via surveillance camera concealing merchandise on his person, detained Plaintiff and summoned law enforcement officer. Plaintiff was arrested, tried and convicted of petty larceny. Plaintiff asserted claims... - 30Mar
Butte County Jury Awards Less Than Settlement Amount Offered By Retail Store Before Trial
San Francisco attorney Candice Mullings Williams defended a large retail store in a jury trial held in California Superior Court, Butte County. Plaintiff claimed she was injured when she slipped and fell while shopping at...1JanPartner Todd A. Angstadt Inducted into the International Association of Defense Counsel
Congratulations to Todd A. Angstadt, who was recently inducted into the International Association of Defense Counsel, an invitation only, peer-reviewed legal organization limited to approximately 2,500 members world wide. - 15Mar
San Francisco Office Prevails on Motion for Summary Judgment in Asbestos Personal Injury Lawsuit
After partner Greg Spallas and associate Jessica Pliner filed a motion for summary judgment in March 2009 in this asbestos personal injury case pending in San Francisco Superior Court, plaintiff agreed to dismiss their dry cleaning...1MarSan Francisco Office Successfully Represents Property Owner and Settles Serious Personal Injury Case
Todd Angstadt and Elisa Marcaletti successfully represented a property owner in a case involving a plaintiff who was severely injured in a motorcycle accident when the client and others allegedly strung a rope across the...