U.S. News & World Report Ranks Ellis Law Group “Top Tier” Law Firm

The Ellis Law Group has been recognized by U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers as a “tier one” firm in the field of legal malpractice defense (see press release). The 2011-2012 “Best Law Firms” rankings are based on a rigorous evaluation process that included thousands of clients and top lawyers. The national and metropolitan first-tier rankings are featured in the "Best Law Firms" standalone publication, which was distributed to 30,000 general counsel, and in a digital format worldwide. The rankings are also posted online at the U.S. News website and the first-tier rankings are featured in U.S. News & World Report's Money issue of Nov. 2011.

Firm's Future Move Subject of Business Journal Article

Ellis Law Group's plans to move to 740 University Ave. to accommodate future growth was the focus of an Oct. 7, 2011 article in the Sacramento Business Journal The firm's new home will be a single story building that brings our 12 attorneys and 13 staff together in a contiguous space. Expected to be available March 1, it will also offer ample room for expansion over the next five years and include amenities such as trial preparation space and underground parking.

Best Lawyers in America Recognizes
Mark Ellis for 3rd Consecutive Year

Mark Ellis will be included in the 2012 edition of The Best Lawyers in America® under the specialty of Legal Malpractice Law. This is the third consecutive year he has been recognized by Best Lawyers, which bases its selections on a peer-review survey comprising more than 2.8 million confidential evaluations by the top attorneys in the country. The publication has been described by The American Lawyer as “the most respected referral list of attorneys in practice.” Excerpts of lists appear in Corporate Counsel magazine, The Washington Post, The Los Angeles Times, New York Magazine, and more than 60 other regional magazines, reaching more than 15 million readers.

Firm Partners Honored By Super Lawyers 2011

For the eighth consecutive year, managing partner Mark Ellis was named a Northern California Super Lawyer by SuperLawyers.com and Law & Politics magazine. No more than 5 percent of a state's attorneys are selected as Super Lawyers. For the third consecutive year, Andrew Steinheimer was named a Northern California "Rising Star" by SuperLawyers.com. Rising Stars are " up-and-coming attorneys 40 years old or younger and/or attorneys who have practiced for 10 years or less." No more than 2.5 percent of California attorneys are named Rising Stars.

Andrew Steinheimer Obtains Defense Jury Verdict in Federal FDCPA Case.

Jones v. CBSJ Financial Corp. (N.D. Cal. January 11, 2011): After a mere 25 minutes of deliberations, a unanimous jury rejected plaintiff’s claims under the federal and state Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and entered a complete defense verdict in favor of the firm’s client. Andrew Steinheimer tried the case in front of the Honorable William J. Alsup of the United States District Court for the Northern District of California. The case was venued in San Francisco, California.

Ron Poirier Discusses Divorce Law on News 10

Partner Ron Poirier discussed the financial issues faced by divorcing couples in a Dec. 10, 2010 interview by Keba Arnold on "News 10 Good Morning." Topics included pensions, 401Ks, real estate and securities investments, credit card debt and trusts. (Click to see video.)

Mark Ellis Again Recognized By The Best Lawyers in America

Mark Ellis will be included in the 2011 edition of The Best Lawyers in America® under the specialty of Legal Malpractice Law. This will be the second consecutive year Mr. Ellis has been recognized by Best Lawyers, which bases its selections on a peer-review survey comprising more than 2.8 million confidential evaluations by the top attorneys in the country.

Mark Ellis Wins Jury Verdict in Sac City Unified Pension Case

After a lengthy and highly publicized trial, Mark Ellis won a 12-0 jury verdict Oct. 18, 2010 exonerating his clients David W. Girard and Allen R. Vinson of the Girard & Vinson law firm of legal malpractice allegations. The lawsuit was brought by the Sacramento City Unified School District, which sought $4.2 million in damages alleging the two lawyers failed to identify risks associated with an alternative pension plan they promoted. The trial began Aug. 18 and featured 26 witnesses and 3,000 pages of court documents. The Sacramento Bee ran several articles on the trial, the most recent appearing Oct 14 to report the case had gone to the jury and the last article appearing Oct. 19 to report the jury’s verdict.

Firm Partners & Associate Honored By Super Lawyers 2010

For the seventh consecutive year, partner Mark Ellis was named a Northern California Super Lawyer by SuperLawyers.com and Law & Politics magazine. And for the second consecutive year, partner Andrew Steinheimer and associate Jennifer Gregory were named Northern California "Rising Stars" by SuperLawyers.com. Rising Stars are defined by SuperLawyers.com as up-and-coming attorneys 40 years old or younger and/or attorneys who have practiced for 10 years or less. A feature on 2010 Northern California Super Lawyers and Rising Stars will be published by Sacramento Magazine in November.

IHOP Class Action Featured By Sacramento Business Journal

An  Aug. 13, 2010 article in the Sacramento Business Journal featured a class action lawsuit brought by the firm against the International House of Pancakes on behalf of Sacramento IHOP franchisee Sultan Hameed. Mark Ellis stated Hameed’s damages for breach of contract, violation of unfair competition law, and other complaints could exceed $400,000. Further investigation in preparation for trial will determine if more than 1,300 IHOP franchises nationwide have similar problems, he said.

Theresa LaVoie Elected to SCBA Board

Theresa LaVoie, a former president of Women Lawyers of Sacramento, has been elected to serve a 3-year term on the Board of Directors of the Sacramento County Bar Association.

Attorneys Author Amicus Brief In U.S. Supreme Court Case

Mark Ellis and Andrew Steinheimer collaborated with Ronald Zumbrun to author an amicus curiae brief on behalf of the California Collectors Association in Jerman v. Carlisle, McNellie, Rini, Kramer & Ulrich LPA, a case argued before the U.S. Supreme Court in January 2010. At issue is whether a debt collector’s legal error qualifies for the bona fide error defense under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA).

Mark Ellis is included in the 2010 edition of The Best Lawyers in America® under the specialty of Legal Malpractice Law. Selection to Best Lawyers, which has been published for more than a quarter century, is based on a peer-review survey comprising more than 2.8 million confidential evaluations by the top attorneys in the country. The advertisement-free publication has been described by The American Lawyer as “the most respected referral list of attorneys in practice.” Excerpts of lists appear in Corporate Counsel magazine, The Washington Post, The Los Angeles Times, New York Magazine, and more than 60 other regional magazines, reaching more than 15 million readers.

Firm Attorneys Honored By Super Lawyers 2009

For the sixth consecutive year, Law & Politics magazine selected Mark Ellis as a Northern California "Super Lawyer." SuperLawyers.com also named Andrew Steinheimer a "Rising Star." Rising stars are up-and-coming attorneys 40 years old or younger and/or attorneys who have practiced for 10 years or less.

Sacramento Business Journal Article

Mark Ellis was interviewed in a Sept. 19, 2008 Sacramento Business Journal article that noted conflict must be profitable "judging by a local boutique trial and litigation law firm that specializes in going to court rather than settling cases." In two years, the article notes, the size of the firm has tripled.

Mark Ellis was named a 2008 Northern California "Super Lawyer" by SuperLawyers.com and San Francisco Magazine. It is the sixth consecutive year Mr. Ellis has received the honor.

Unanimous Jury Verdict in Collections Case

Rouse v. Clark (S.D. Cal. August 2008) involved the claim that a collection attorney intentionally attempted to collect a debt owed by the father from the son by recording a default judgment against the son’s residence. Plaintiff alleged that these claims violated the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, California’s Rosenthal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, California’s Unfair Competition Law, and California Consumer Legal Remedies Act, as well as supported common law claims for intentional and negligent infliction of emotional distress. Mark Ellis argued that the default judgment was recorded against the judgment debtor and that recordation of the default judgment in the county in which it was obtained was the industry practice and reasonable. In other words, there was no improper collection activity. After one week of trial, the jury returned a unanimous verdict in favor of the collection attorney, his law firm, and his staff. The debt buyer client had been dismissed by the Court after the close of plaintiff’s case in chief. The plaintiff’s counsel had asked the jury to award $500,000 for a lost refinancing opportunity and more than $500,000 in emotional distress damages. The plaintiff’s attorney had withdrawn the plaintiff’s $400,000 settlement demand after 10:00 p.m. the night before the case went to the jury.

Jury Awards Attorneys Fees in Malpractice Victory

Partners Mark Ellis and Theresa LaVoie successfully defended a legal malpractice case brought against their law firm client (Bloom v. HBCW, October 2007), obtaining a complete defense verdict and exoneration for the law firm and its attorneys. After the five week jury trial, the jury also returned a favorable verdict for the firm against its former clients for their failure to pay the fees and cost incurred by the firm in the earlier representation. In rejecting the allegations that the law firm was not entitled to be fully paid, the jury awarded the firm everything it was seeking. Ultimately the client law firm was awarded total judgments exceeding $425,000 in damages, attorney’s fees and costs.

National Business Institute Presentation

Mark Ellis co-presented with Kevin Culhane a seminar titled "Rules and Procedures for Federal Court Success" in Santa Rosa on Nov. 12, Sacramento on Nov. 16, and Fresno on Nov. 30, 2007. The seminar focused on the rules and procedures particular to federal court covering case filings, discovery, evidence, expert witnesses and more. Mark Ellis joined Bonnie Anderson and E. Warren Gubler to present "FDCPA Compliance for the California Practitioner" on Jan. 11, 2008. This seminar will covered the dos and don'ts in trying to collect a debt. NBI's Web site is nbi-sems.com.

California Association of Collectors

Mark Ellis was part of a legal panel at a seminar presented by the California Association of Collectors at its 90th annual convention held in Monterey in October 2007. The panel discussed issues and legal trends regarding FDCPA, the Rosenthal FDCPA, and the Identity Theft Act.

San Francisco Daily Journal Interviews LaVoie as Expert on Equine Law

Theresa LaVoie was quoted as an expert on equine law in an August 20, 2007 article titled "Holding Their Horses: Attorneys Bone Up, Ride Into a Growing Legal Niche."

Madam President LaVoie Featured in Sacramento Lawyer Article

Theresa LaVoie, president of Women Lawyers of Sacramento, was featured in an article on WLS's new officers in the April 2007 edition of The Sacramento Lawyer, a magazine published by the Sacramento County Bar Association.

Ellis Honored by San Francisco Magazine

Mark Ellis was named a 2007 Northern California "Super Lawyer" by SuperLawyers.com and San Francisco Magazine. It is the fifth consecutive year Mr. Ellis has received the honor.

LaVoie Becomes President of Women Lawyers of Sacramento

Theresa LaVoie has been named 2007 President of Women Lawyers of Sacramento. an organization founded in 1962 that advocates legislative changes to benefit women and children, supports candidates for judicial and other public appointments, and sponsors events for members to meet other attorneys, judges and legislators.

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