Law Offices Of Gerald A. Spala

Gerald A. Spala, Esq.

Background

Born, 1954 Warren, Ohio;
Education: Bachelor of Arts, UCLA, Economics/Russian Studies 1976;
Juris Doctor, Southwestern University, 1979;
Lifetime Teaching Credential, California Community Colleges;
Admitted, California State Bar, 1980; Central and Southern United States District Courts, United States Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, United States Supreme Court, United States Tax Court;
Previous Special Master, California State Bar

Member, Riverside County and Federal Bar Associations
Member, Toastmasters International (CTM)

Member, Computer Law Association

Legal and other experience:

• Private Practice:  Law Offices of Gerald A. Spala, 1990 to present.

  Bankruptcy Consumer / Business · Personal Injury · Administrative law and litigation · Business and Employment transactions/litigation · Financial and Commercial transactions/litigation · Tort litigation, all areas

   

• Past experience includes Federal, State and administrative courts; litigation and appellate matters; insurance, employment, contract, consumer law, all areas of personal injury litigation including vehicle accidents, products and professional liability; and unfair business practices and competition; bankruptcy, business or consumer-including litigated matters in Federal court;  business disputes and law; copyright, trade/service mark; trade secrets, disclosure and anti-competitive covenants disputes; employment/consulting,  licensing/development agreements; infringement/dilution litigation and applicable insurance related issues; experienced with investment industry disputes and arbitrations, civil service dispute resolution procedures and commercial binding arbitration matters including cross-border disputes.

• Fluent in Spanish, literate in HTML, XML; familiar with latest office technology issues and standards including communications, networking, and all software productivity packages. 

• Past Employment:  1980-1990, tort litigation defense, Orange County, California.

Recent cases:

• Obtained dismissal via California SLAPP statute in defamation lawsuit involving national insurance companies, against multiple California clients. RIC323388

• Successfully represented defendant in invasion of privacy matter involving vehicle tracking devices.  The matter was featured on an MSNBC news segment and interview.  OCSC774976

• Represented prevailing party in civil service wrongful termination claim.  (EEOC Charge #34097110)

• Obtained nominal settlement in federal court bankruptcy litigation with interim trustee involving challenges to large IRA assets in one matter, and trust benefits in another matter.

• Represented programmer employee in employment agreement dispute with national restaurant chain.  Following a buy-out and termination, the anti-competitive and nondisclosure agreement was deemed unenforceable.

• Constructed web developer contract for independent consultant to major commercial website.

• Constructed various business sales agreements:  healthcare professional, health club business, auto accessories business.  The auto accessories business included additional licensing agreements for continued operations in non-local markets.

• Represented owners of multiple gift shops in defense of dilution action brought by San Francisco based chain with national trademark.  Action was favorably dismissed after two years of litigation.

• Represented contractors as defendants in trade secrets suit brought by regional property management organization arising out of joint venture with former employee.  Matter was favorably resolved five months into litigation.

 Recent articles:  "Tort Law and Criminal Acts", a casenote on Saelzler v. Advanced Group. 

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