News & Publications

Our team is at the forefront as the law develops—publishing, presenting, and receiving recognitions for our contributions. Read up on recent firm news here.

In a Verdict Magazine article, Bob Olson and Gary Wax discuss the meaning of “sudden” in the context of an insurance policy that covers “sudden and accidental” water discharges, but not slow leaks

The “Metaphysical Moment” When a Pipe Begins to Leak Is Not a “Sudden” Discharge Where Damage Only Results From a Gradual or Continuous Process (2013) 2 Verdict 13. In Brown v. Mid-Century Ins. Co. (2013) 215 Cal.App.4th 841, the California Court of Appeal rejected the

The “Metaphysical Moment” When a Pipe Begins to Leak Is Not a “Sudden” Discharge Where Damage Only Results From a Gradual or Continuous Process (2013) 2 Verdict 13.

What is “sudden?” In Verdict magazine, Gary J. Wax and Robert A. Olson discuss Brown v. Mid-Century Ins. Co. (2013) 215 Cal.App.4th 841, a published decision from the California Court of Appeal, Second District, which holds that a water leak from a home’s plumbing system

Aug 19, 2013
Cutting in Line at the Ninth Circuit, L.A. Daily Journal (Aug. 19, 2013).

Los Angeles Daily Journal (August 19, 2013) While state appellate courts do not encourage the filing of writ petitions to obtain immediate review of non-appealable trial court orders, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals – the busiest appellate court in the country — actively discourages

Aug 04, 2013
Wrongful Termination Claims Against Government Employers – Theories of Liability and Defense Under California Law: An Overview (2013).
Jul 09, 2013 Alana H. Rotter
How Appellate Courts Review Attorney Disqualifications, Los Angeles Daily Journal (July 9, 2013)

An order disqualifying an attorney is immediately appealable, and the Court of Appeal reviews such orders rigorously. In a July 9, 2013 Daily Journal article, Alana Rotter discusses two recently-published appellate decisions that reverse disqualification orders based on claimed conflicts of interest, highlighting the value

Jun 11, 2013 Alana H. Rotter
Case Highlights Importance of Timely Post-trial Motions, Los Angeles Daily Journal (June 11, 2013)

It’s important to correctly calculate the deadline for filing a federal appeal: File late, and the court will dismiss your appeal without ever reaching the merits. In this article, Alana Rotter discusses how post-trial motions impact the deadline calculations, and describes the cautionary tale of

Jun 02, 2013
Overcoming Writer’s Block and Procrastination for Attorneys, Law Students, and Law Professors, 43 New Mexico Law Review 193 (Spring 2013) (with David A. Rasch)

To read the article, click here.

Your Skills: Between Trial and Appeal, There’s a Record, S.F. Recorder

Because it is the appellant who must affirmatively demonstrate error, there is no short cut to reviewing the entire record.  One needle-in-a-haystack piece of evidence or buried court finding can defeat what might otherwise appear to be an airtight appellate argument. In a 2013 Recorder

9th Circuit Judges Call for an End to Anti-SLAPP in Federal Court, Los Angeles Daily Journal (May 9, 2013)

In a Daily Journal article, Alana Rotter discusses anti-SLAPP practice in the Ninth Circuit and why it may come to an end.

Feb 23, 2013 Timothy T. Coates
Federal Civil Rights Act, California Governmental Tort Liability Practice (CEB)

Who We Serve

PUBLIC ENTITIES

Whether on appeal, assisting trial counsel, or advising government officials contemplating legislative action, GMSR provides unique insight into the complex laws that impact public entities.

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INSURERS

Where coverage may exist, GMSR represents insureds on appeal effectively and efficiently. Where it does not, the firm protects insurers’ right to deny claims.

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BUSINESSES

GMSR offers corporate clients objective assessments on appeal, based on a deep understanding of the limitations and opportunities of appellate review.

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TRIAL COUNSEL

The firm’s lawyers are team players, collaborating with trial counsel at any level from legal strategy to writing or editing trial court motions and appellate briefs.

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GMSR vigorously advocates the rights of individual plaintiffs and defendants, in both state and federal appellate courts.

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COMMUNITY PRO BONO

As part of GMSR’s long-standing commitment to social justice and equality, GMSR provides pro bono appellate services to individuals and to community organizations on issues of concern.

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