Phillips Spallas & Angstadt LLP

We're #hiring a new Legal Assistant in San Francisco, California. Apply today or share this post with your network.

We're #hiring a new Associate Attorney in Las Vegas, Nevada. Apply today or share this post with your network.

We're #hiring a new Associate Attorney in Los Angeles, California. Apply today or share this post with your network.

October 1 marks the beginning of LGBTQ History Month, an annual month-long observance that provides role models, builds community, and represents a civil rights statement about the invaluable contributions of the LGBTQ+ community. LGBTQ History Month was first celebrated in the United States in 1994, centering on National Coming Out Day, which occurs annually on October 11th. The month honors the countless unsung LGBTQ+ pioneers, changemakers, and trailblazers whose stories and achievements remain instrumental in understanding our shared history. We want to take this time to especially honor the contributions of our LBGTQ+ team members and the leadership, expertise, independent thinking, creativity, and all they bring to our firm that makes us better!

We're #hiring a new Associate Attorney in San Francisco, California. Apply today or share this post with your network.

Fun times at the ball game for our Los Angeles Team :)

Our San Francisco Team enjoys Happy Hour in the neighborhood!

Partner Robert Phillips made a presentation, “ABC’s of Defending Spinal Injury Claims” at this year’s annual CLM Claims Unleashed 2024 (April 2 – 4) conference in San Francisco. Mr. Phillips’ presentation covered topics that included the medical basics of spinal injury, common treatments, studies attorneys should know about, defenses to back injury claims, what medical bills are recoverable, and defenses to fraudulent claims and excessive billing. Mr. Phillips reported that the conference was “quite extraordinary” and “represented a broad cross-section of professionals and ideas from around the country. CLM demonstrates the value to our clients of sharing resources, information, and expertise.”

International Women’s Day is March 8   This day challenges us to imagine a gender equal world, free of bias, stereotypes, and discrimination. A world that’s diverse, equitable, and inclusive. A world where difference is valued and celebrated. It asks us to, together, forge women’s equality, and collectively #InspireInclusion.   At Phillips, Spallas & Angstadt we believe International Women’s Day belongs to everyone. The spirit of IWD connects directly with the values of diversity that the firm is founded on, and our values inspire our commitment to providing our women employees--and all our people--with the support they need to thrive professionally and personally.   On this International Women’s Day we honor and thank the women and all our people who contribute to our success and the health and success of their families, their communities, and the world.

Premises Owners Prevail on Appeal in Dog Attack Case By Associate Attorney Jacob Colvin   In Fraser v. Farvid, No. B324831 (Cal. Ct. App. Feb. 9, 2024), the Court of Appeal for the Second District affirmed judgment notwithstanding the verdict where plaintiff failed to present evidence that defendants knew or should have known that their tenant kept vicious dogs on property.  The defendants leased a single-family home to a tenant. The tenant, without notifying the property owners, moved in two pit bulls. The pit bulls later attacked plaintiff.    At trial, in an attempt to show the defendants had actual knowledge of the dog’s dangerous propensities, plaintiff presented an email from the defendants’ neighbor that happened to mention, without more, two guard dogs. While there were some questions as to the credibility of the defendants’ testimony, plaintiff presented no other evidence related to these two dogs, and the jury awarded plaintiff more than $600,000.     The trial court later granted defendants’ motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict. Affirming the trial court, the appellate court explained that plaintiff failed to establish the “actual knowledge rule” that a landlord must have knowledge of a tenant’s dog’s vicious nature. To that end, standing alone, an email that happens to identify guard dogs living at the property is not evidence that defendants had knowledge that the dogs were dangerous. The take-away here is that the mere knowledge a tenant’s ‘guard dog’ is present on private property is not enough to find liability against a landlord.