KRISTINE A. THAGARD
Costa Mesa Office

Educational Background:

B.S., 1977, Menlo College, Menlo Park, California, Business Administration, Cum Laude; 

Honorary Scholastic Societies:  Alpha Chi, Sigma Delta Epsilon J.D., 1980, 

University of Southern California, Law Center, Los Angeles, California;

 Judicial Extern: Associate Justice Robert Kingsley, Court of Appeal, Second Appellate District, Division Four;

University of California, Irvine, 1989-1990 Continuing Education, Hazardous Materials Management.

The American Inns of Court Foundation, James Gray Chapter, 2001.

 

Licensed in California and Nevada.

 
Substantive Background: Civil litigation practice including jury and bench trials in multi-party complex construction defect litigation, all aspects of construction contract disputes, fraud (bankruptcy), joint ventures, collection and UCC sales. Significant law and motion work, including numerous successful motions for summary judgment, as well as appellate work in the state and federal courts. Substantive litigation experience including construction defect (handled in excess of 650 cases to resolution since 1991), product liability, loan enforcement (including lender’s right to insurance proceeds), guarantees, purchase and sale transactions, partnership formation and dispute, toxic cleanup and environmental contamination, bankruptcy (litigation), lemon law, broker malfeasance, insurance bad faith, insurance declaratory relief, and wrongful termination; The American Inns of Court Foundation, James Gray Chapter, 2001;

Court-appointed Judge Pro-Tem, South Justice Center, Orange County.

 

R. ROBERT REISS
Costa Mesa Office

Educational Background:

B.A., 1981, Michigan State University, College of Arts and Letters, Honors College with honors;

J.D., 1984, Western State University College of Law;

San Diego College of Advocacy, 1987;

The American Inns of Court Foundation, Louis M. Welsh Chapter, 1992.

 

Licensed in California, Nevada and Arizona.

 
Substantive Background: Civil defense litigation practice specializing in complex construction defect litigation, general casualty defense including personal injury defense, commercial enterprises regarding product defect litigation, labor and employment law, and transactional matters. Tried over 30 cases in the Superior and Federal Courts, in addition to participating in hundreds of depositions, Municipal Court trials, and judicial arbitrations. Also served as a Superior Court appointed arbitrator and special settlement conference Judge Pro-Tem.

 

KEVIN A. BROWN
Las Vegas Office

Educational Background:

B.S., 1984, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah;

J.D., 1991, McGeorge School of Law, Sacramento, CA;

 

Licensed in Nevada and California.

 
Substantive Background:

Civil litigation practice handling commercial general liability lines, auto and premises liability, product liability and defense of subcontractors, general contractors and developers in construction defect claims. Also handled construction contract disputes, and defense of personal injury claims arising out of construction site accidents; trial experience including both bench and jury trial.

 

ELIZABETH C. BONN
Costa Mesa Office
Educational Background:

B.S. (with distinction), 1978, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona;

J.D., 1984, Pepperdine University School of Law, Malibu, California;

Licensed in California and Nevada.

 
Substantive Background:

Primary handling attorney for insurance defense matters including construction defect, bodily injury and property damage. Trial experience includes both bench and jury trials, including construction defect long cause matters to verdict.

DEBRA L. BRAASCH
Costa Mesa Office
 

Educational Background: B.S., 1980, University of California, Irvine, California, Cum Laude;

J.D., 1983, University of Southern California, Law Center, Los Angeles, California.

Licensed in California.

 
Substantive Background:

Primary handling attorney for insurance defense matters specializing in construction defect litigation with experience handling both developer and subcontractor cases. Extensive experience in general casualty defense litigation, including personal injury defense, premises liability and product defect. Trial experience includes both bench and jury trials, including construction defect long cause matters. Also has served as Judge Pro-Tem in Los Angeles Court system.

 

BRAD M. ELDER
Costa Mesa Office
 

Educational Background:

B.A., 1990, Criminal Justice, California State University Fullerton, Fullerton, California;

J.D., 1994, Western State University, Fullerton, California.

Licensed in California.

 
Substantive Background:

Civil litigation practice includes insurance defense matters including multi-party complex construction defect litigation defending subcontractors, general contractors and developers; defense of personal injury and property damage claims arising out of construction site accidents and mold exposure; personal injury, premises liability, product liability and property damage. Trial experience includes jury trials.

THOMAS FRIEDMAN
Las Vegas Office
 
Educational Background:

B.A., 1988, Economics, University of California, San Diego, California;

J.D., 1998, Thomas Jefferson School of Law, San Diego, California, Cum Laude.

Licensed in Nevada and California.
 
Substantive Background:

Civil litigation practice includes handling construction defect, personal injury and premises liability matters.

 

JOSHUA A. KUNIS
Las Vegas Office
 

Educational Background:

B.A., 1981, MBA (Finance) 1984, Hofstra University,
Hempstead, New York;

J.D., 1995, Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law,
New York, New York; Jacob Burns Scholar, 1992-1994
 

Licensed in Nevada

 
Substantive Background:

Civil litigation practice, responsible for complete case management of personal injury/wrongful death litigation through arbitration, mediation and trial. Also handle construction defect litigation on behalf of general contractors and subcontractors.

 

MELANIE C. POLK
Las Vegas Office

Educational Background:

B.A., 1981, University of Nevada, Reno, Nevada;

J.D., 1984, McGeorge School of Law, Sacramento, CA;

Judicial Law Clerk; Judge William P. Beko, Fifth Judicial District Court, Nevada;

Appointed as Juvenile Court Master; Fifth Judicial District Court Nevada.

Licensed in Nevada.
 
Substantive Background:

Civil Litigation practice including jury and bench trials in complex construction defect litigation, workers’ compensation defense, contract disputes. Substantive litigation experience in construction defect litigation both in State Courts and Tribal Courts. Significant law and motion work in all State Courts and various Tribal Courts throughout Nevada. Significant criminal defense litigation experience at all Court levels while employed as a Deputy State Public Defender. Significant teaching experience volunteering for State Bar Youth activities such as the mock trial competitions. Past President of Nevada State Bar Continuing Legal Education Committee. Past President of Douglas County Bar Association.

 

JENNY ANGLIN
Costa Mesa Office
 

Educational Background:

B.A., 2001, English: Literacy & Composition, California State University, Long Beach, California;

J.D., 2004, Loyola Law School, Los Angeles, California.

Licensed in California.

 
Substantive Background:

Civil litigation practice includes insurance defense matters including multi-party complex construction defect litigation defending subcontractors, general contractors and developers; defense of personal injury and property damage claims arising out of construction site accidents and mold exposure; personal injury, premises liability, product liability and property damage. Trial experience includes jury trials.

 

WILLIAM I. CHOPAK
Costa Mesa Office

Educational Background: B.S., 1962, Rider University, Lawrenceville, New Jersey, Business Administration;

M.S., 1972, Fordham University, New York, New York, Master of Science;

J.D., 1981, University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law.

Licensed in California.

 
Substantive Background: National Construction Defect Litigation Director for CNA Insurance; Assistant Vice President/National Construction Defect Claims Manager for CNA Insurance; Southern California Managing Trial Attorney for Staff Counsel office of Continental Insurance/CNA Insurance; private civil/insurance defense litigation practice specializing in complex construction defect litigation, general casualty defense including personal injury defense and product defect litigation; criminal and civil prosecution experience with San Diego City Attorneys’ office; extensive trial experience with both bench and jury trials with many cases tried to verdict. Also has extensive experience in providing seminars for attorneys and claims adjusters regarding alternative dispute resolution, complex construction defect claims and litigation management

 

PARALEGALS


Laura Barta
Paralegal
Costa Mesa Office
Christine Obal
Paralegal
Las Vegas Office
     

Doria Priest
Paralegal
Costa Mesa Office
Lauren Preston
Paralegal
Costa Mesa Office
Lori Doan
Paralegal
Las Vegas Office



© 2005 THAGARD & REISS, LLP