Office: Northern California
Phone: (925) 356-8201
garakawa@wshblaw.com
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| Education: | Southwestern University School of Law , 1994
J.D.
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University of Southern California , 1985
B.A.
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| Experience: |
Business
Prosecution and defense of breach of contract and fraud claims.
Representation of clients in lawsuits involving breach of commercial leases.
Litigation and counseling in matters involving intellectual property rights.
Negotiation and drafting of contracts.
Coordinating risk management activities (e.g., risk response and protocol).
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Catastrophic Injury & Premises Liability
Defense of owners and property managers in third-party criminal liability cases.
Defense of national retailer against customer allegations of wrongful detention, sexual harassment, and accidents on store premises.
Defense of major entertainment company against lawsuits related to accidents on studio property.
Defense of major California utility company against accident claims related to utility company property.
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Commercial Litigation
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Construction
Defense of claims, ranging from minor to catastrophic losses (such as the collapse of a building).
Defense of property owners, contractors, and developers against suits arising from catastrophic injury accidents on commercial and residential sites.
Defense of business establishments against injury claims involving third parties.
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Environmental & Pollution
Litigation of contaminated groundwater claims.
Defense of single family home developers, apartment building owners, and general contractors of schools and hospitals against mold claims.
Risk management counseling for developers and other construction related entities.
Presentation of seminars (to residential developer warranty personnel regarding pre-litigation claims handling.
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Professional Liability
Representation of insurance agents/brokers and financial advisers in professional liability litigation.
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Proposition 65 - Consultation & Litigation
Representation of multi-national corporations, such as Sears, Roebuck and Co. Assistance to companies on compliance procedures. Conduct seminars on issues relating to Prop 65.
Representation of Developer before Municipal Entities regarding California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
Defense of multiple-plaintiff, toxic tort cases involving groundwater and soil contamination, and personal injury claims.
Mold, asbestos, benzene, and other chemical exposures in residential and commercial settings.
Defense of clients in cases involving exposure to contaminated soil, underground storage tank leaks, and emissions from neighboring properties.
Draft and negotiate the terms and conditions of Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions on behalf of residential construction developers.
Defend clients against allegations of personal injury and property damage caused by flooding and raw sewage exposure contamination.
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Real Estate
Represented real estate developer in financial workout agreements with lenders and subcontractors.
Represent prospective bidder in action for damages against trustee of foreclosure sale for violation of procedures regarding conduct of foreclosure sale.
Defend lenders against claims of predatory lending practices by trustor facing foreclosure sale and other mortgage loan litigation.
Represent many real estate developers and general contractors in mechanics lien foreclosure actions and negotiations of resolution of mechanics lien disputes.
Represent real estate developers in easement disputes with property owners.
Represent real estate developers in disputes regrading DRE disclosure issues.
Represent real estate developer in dispute with Municipality regarding increase of over $2 million in entitlement and other development fees.
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Transportation
Defense of trucking companies and truck drivers in catastrophic accident cases.
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Memberships
ABA Section on Real Property, Probate and Trust Law.
Concord Chamber Board of Directors, 2010; 2009
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Heading the firm's Northern California office, Greg focuses on toxic tort litigation, environmental law, employment law, trucking, transportation, and bad faith litigation. He defends property owners, contractors, and developers against mold and third-party injury claims. He also provides representation in transactional matters and general business litigation. He has spoken at numerous seminars and presentations, including the Northern California Claims Conference, regarding defending the mold claim. Before entering the legal profession, Greg was a television reporter for KCNC-TV, the Denver NBC affiliate. |
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