April 2018
PARTNER NEWS
AMMCG is proud to announce the elevation of Michelle L. Gearhart to partnership in the firm. Ms. Gearhart joined the firm in 2015 after practicing in San Diego for a number of years. Ms. Gearhart is a litigator and primarily represents public entities. Her practice also includes environmental law, property law, business litigation, and groundwater litigation. Ms. Gearhart practices in State and Federal courts as well as Courts of Appeal. She works out of the firm’s Avila office.
The firm is also pleased to announce that Jean St. Martin has joined AMMCG bringing with her an extensive real estate and real property practice which includes planning and land use as well as environmental and zoning law. Jean is based out of the Paso Robles office. She is a graduate of USC Law School and has been practicing in San Luis Obispo County since 2000.
September 2017
LINDA SOMERS SMITH JOINS THE BOARD OF THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY
The Community Foundation San Luis Obispo County recently announced the addition of partner Linda Somers Smith to its Board of Directors. Linda’s diverse legal background, which serves the wide-ranging needs of her clients throughout the Central Coast will offer value to The Community Foundation Board discussions. The Community Foundation San Luis Obispo County is a county-wide community resource for local charitable giving. Created by and for the people of San Luis Obispo County, the Foundation is an enduring source of charitable funds to meet the changing needs and interests of the community. “I love living in an area where individuals, families, and businesses can make an immediate impact on the community through giving and feel fortunate to join a committed group of individuals dedicated to supporting and enhancing these charitable efforts,” said Linda.
To read the September 2017 Foundation press release click here.
September 2016
AMMCG EXPANDS ITS TRANSACTION PRACTICE
AMMCG is proud to announce the addition of a new attorney to the firm.
MOLLY M. WILSON joins the firm to work on health care, general business, real property and employment matters. She is a 2011 graduate of University of San Francisco School of Law and has been practicing with a firm in Bakersfield. Molly grew up in San Luis Obispo and is excited to make the move back to the area.
July 2016
STEVE ADAMSKI WORKS WITH THE WAGSTAFFE GROUP AND LEXISNEXIS TO PRODUCE INTERACTIVE, MULTI-MEDIA ONLINE PLATFORM FOR FEDERAL LITIGATORS
Steve Adamski first met Jim Wagstaffe in 1981 when they both clerked in San Francisco for United States District Judge Spencer Williams. Jim is now considered one of the country’s foremost experts on federal courts.
For the past thirty years, as a contributing editor, Steve assisted Jim in writing, editing and updating the renowned Rutter Group’s Federal Civil Procedure Before Trial, the leading California treatise on federal practice.
This year, Steve has partnered with Jim to create the Wagstaffe Group dedicated to providing federal litigators and courts with simple, comprehensive and authoritative guidance to navigate the complexities of federal litigation.
Together with LexisNexis, the Wagstaffe Group will produce and distribute nationwide a number of new online and print resources for federal litigators. The focus will be an innovative online platform which will include current analysis, in-depth overviews, how-to videos, checklists and case summaries all tailored to meet the real world, real time needs of both trial lawyers and federal courts.
The LexisNexis project is expected to launch in the first half of 2017.
LexisNexis is a leading global provider of content and technology solutions for professionals in legal, corporate, tax, government, academic and non-profit organizations. As a digital pioneer, the company was the first to bring legal and business information online with its Lexis® and Nexis® services.
To read the July 2016 LexisNexis press release announcing our agreement click here.
May 2016
LITIGATION NEWS
The firm prevailed on Summary Judgment in a matter arising from an accident involving a vehicle and plaintiff bicyclist. Plaintiff was alleging that the intersection in question constituted a dangerous condition. The firm represented the City of San Luis Obispo who asserted that the subject intersection did not constitute a dangerous condition and the design immunity bars plaintiff’s claims. After weighing the opinions of experts for both plaintiff and the City, the Court concluded that plaintiff’s expert did not explain how the identified features of the intersection, whether they exist or not, rendered the intersection unreasonably dangerous. Accordingly, the City’s Motion for Summary Judgment was granted.
AMMCG CONTINUES TO SUPPORT THE SAN LUIS OBISPO LEGAL ASSISTANCE FOUNDATION
The San Luis Obispo Legal Assistance Foundation (SLOLAF) recently held its second annual fundraiser. The Foundation provides legal services in the County and strives to meet the legal needs of the most vulnerable in the community. AMMCG is proud to continue its support for this much needed service.
December 2015
JOSH GEORGE ELECTED 2016 SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY BAR PRESIDENT
In December, Josh George was installed as the SLO County Bar president for 2016. The San Luis Obispo County Bar Association is governed by a nine-member Board of Directors consisting of eight current members, with the immediate past president holding an ex officio position. Director elections are held at the annual Bar Association Holiday Party in December of each year. The president is selected by the Board.
November 2015
STEVEN ADAMSKI MODERATES PANEL DISCUSSION ON GROUNDWATER AND WINE FOR THE 2015 WINE LAW FORUM
In November 2015, Steven Adamski participated in the State Bar’s annual Wine Law Forum. The event was held at the Allegretto Resort in Paso Robles, California. Over a hundred lawyers from across the state and beyond attended the two-day conference.
Mr. Adamski put together and moderated two sections of the Wine Law Forum. The first section addressed legal issues related to California groundwater with a focus on both groundwater adjudication and the recent Sustainable Groundwater Management Act. The second section focused on current issues relating to the Paso Robles Groundwater Basin including litigation, efforts to establish a local groundwater management agency and recent County efforts to regulate groundwater usage.
Other sections during the one and a half day forum focused on appellations and the process of how to obtain an American Viticultural Area (“AVA”) designation as well as employment issues relevant to vineyards and wineries.
The Wine Law Forum was put on by the Continuing Education of the Bar (CEB), a program of the University of California which is co-sponsored by the State Bar of California.
JUNE 2015
LINDA SOMERS SMITH JOINS FIRM
AMMCG is very proud to announce that LINDA SOMERS SMITH has joined the firm as a partner. Named to the “50 Women in Business” list by the Pacific Coast Business Times, Linda enjoys an excellent track record both at work and at play. She has a diverse legal practice, including business and business formation, transactional law, real property and healthcare. She also advises clients in strategic alliances, intellectual property and employment law. Linda is a two-time U.S. Champion marathon runner and a member of the Road Runners Club of America Hall of Fame. Linda enjoys an AV Preeminent® Peer Review rating—the highest rating a lawyer can receive in regards to professional excellence.
MICHELE L. PERRIN has also joined AMMCG as a paralegal. She serves on the Board of Directors of the Central Coast Paralegal Association. Michele will assist Linda Somers Smith with business and real estate transactions, intellectual property and employment law. She will assist Janet Wallace with estate planning and administration.
JUNE 2015
AMMCG AGAIN MAJOR SPONSOR OF FIRESTONE WALKER INVITATIONAL BEER FEST
Paso Robles, CA. For the fourth year in a row, AMMCG is a major sponsor of the Firestone Walker Invitational Beer Fest. Rated as one of the top beer festivals in the nation, the event brings brewers and their beers from around the world in five star celebration of craft beer. The event is a benefit for the Pioneer Day committee which is dedicated to the preservation of the unique history and culture of Paso Robles, California.
MAY 2015
GARY EBERLE REGAINS CONTROL OF EBERLE WINERY
Paso Robles, CA. Gary Eberle, the 2015 Wine Industry Lifetime Achievement Award Winner, announced his obtaining a majority interest in Eberle Winery. Eberle was the first to put the Paso Robles Appellation on the map and continues to be the longest continuously family-owned winery in the region.
“It hit me hard when I faced the fact that I lacked majority control over this place,” he says. “Now the future is up to me and my wife Marcy to continue to develop the property and its wine to their utmost potential.”
Gary would like to thank Tom Madden and the firm of Adamski Moroski Madden Cumberland & Green LLP for their outstanding legal representation.
MAY 2015
AMMCG AGAINS SPONSORS THE AVILA BEACH FINISH OF STAGE 4 OF THE AMGEN TOUR OF CALIFORNIA
Avila Beach, CA. For the second time, AMMCG will be a major sponsor of the Avila Beach Stage 4 finish of the Amgen Tour of California. The 10th annual Amgen Tour of California professional cycling race features 18 world-class teams competing over eight days and 724 miles of California’s most scenic highways, roadways and coastlines. After the Stage 4 start in Pismo Beach, the race will travel 107 miles first south along Highway 1, through the Santa Maria Valley to Highway 166 and through the local wine country, ending along the coast at Avila Beach.
APRIL 2015
AMMCG ANNOUNCES THE ADDITION OF AN EXPERIENCED LITIGATOR TO THE FIRM
AMMCG is very proud to announce the addition of a new lawyer to the firm.
MICHELLE L. GEARHART, named a Southern California Distinguished Attorney just last year, joins AMMCG with an AV Preeminent® Peer Review rating—the highest rating a lawyer can receive in regards to professional excellence. She specializes in complex tort, contract, product liability, employment and civil rights cases on behalf of businesses and public entities.
JANUARY 2015
AMMCG SELECTED AS A 2015 “TOP RANKED LAW FIRM”
AMMCG has been named one of the 2015 U.S. Top Ranked Law Firms by LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell. To be eligible for selection, the firm must have at least ten attorneys and at least one-third must have received an AV® Preeminent rating. This rating indicates the rated attorney has been deemed by his or her peers to have demonstrated the highest level of ethical standards and legal ability.
Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings are driven by the confidential opinions of lawyers and members of the judiciary who provide reviews of lawyers about whom they have professional knowledge. Martindale-Hubbell has a database of more than 250,000. Of these, less than 2,500 firms nationwide were named to its 2015 list.
AMMCG has appeared on the annual Top Ranked Law Firms list since its inception in 2013.
JANUARY 2015
AMMCG ANNOUNCES TWO NEW PARTNERS
AMMCG is proud to announce the elevation of two attorneys to partnership in the firm.
ALLEN G. BOWMAN joined AMMCG in 2007. His practice focuses on business and real estate litigation, veteran’s benefits and disability ratings appeals, nonprofit advertising, insurance and estate planning matters. He works out of our Paso Robles office.
JOSHUA M. GEORGE joined AMMCG in 2009. His practice areas include business litigation, personal injury, real property litigation and public entity defense. He works out of our Avila Beach office.