Overview
An experienced attorney of over 30 years, Stephen Caine’s practice focuses on the representation of clients in appellate and trial courts primarily in the defense of professional liability claims. He defends architects, engineers, attorneys, accountants, doctors, nurses, and other licensed professionals in commercial and corporate litigation, homeowners’ association liability, civil RICO claims, insurance “bad faith” actions, toxic exposure claims including asbestos litigation and California’s “Prop. 65,” and general liability tort claims.
He has been certified as a specialist in appellate law by the California State Bar Board of Legal Specialization since 2002. Steve has researched and authored over 125 appellate briefs in the California Court of Appeal, California Supreme Court, and United States Court of Appeal.
Experience
- Cassel v. Superior Court (2013) 51 Cal.4th 113: Successfully obtained reversal of adverse rulings by the trial court and Court of Appeal regarding the admissibility of mediation communications offered in professional liability action. The California Supreme Court rules that California’s mediation confidentiality statutes are to be applied broadly, and that all mediation communications are inadmissible and not subject to discovery.
- Baudino v. SCI California Funeral Services, Inc. (2008) 169 Cal.App.4th 773: Obtained summary judgment for commercial client against allegations of fraud, unfair business practices, and violation of federal pricing and consumer notice guidelines (16 Code Fed. Reg. §§ 453.1 – 453.9), and obtained affirmance of the summary judgment on appeal.
- Brutocao v. The Hunt Club Community Assoc. (G037266) 2008 Cal. App. Unpub. LEXIS 1717: Defended homeowners’ association against claims of fraud and breach of fiduciary duties established in homeowners’ association CCRs when homeowner alleged he was treated unequally in Board’s decision regarding design of common area amenities.
- Furla v. Jon Douglas Co. (1998) 65 Cal.App.4th 1069: Defended real estate agent in dispute over erroneous appraisal and claimed misrepresentations arising from inconsistent standards for measuring the square footage of houses under California law. Incomplete release language in a form real estate purchase contract creates liability for misrepresentations by real estate professionals during sale negotiations that would normally be barred in a properly drafted contract.
Credentials
Education
- Pepperdine University School of Law (J.D.)
- Indiana University (B.S.)
Licensed to Practice in
- California
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
- U.S. District Court, Central District of California
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California
- U.S. District Court, Southern District of California
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of California
