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William A. Muñoz
wmunoz@mpbf.com
Mr. Muñoz was born and raised in Stockton, CA. His practice focuses primarily on complex civil and commercial litigation in state and federal court, including professional liability, general liability, insurance coverage opinions, insurance bad faith, attorney-client fee disputes, and employment claims.
Mr. Muñoz is admitted to practice before all Court in the State of California, and the Federal District Courts of California for the Central, Eastern, Northern and Southern Districts, as well as the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. Mr. Muñoz also serves as a Dispute Resolution Conference Judge for El Dorado County Superior Court.
Representative Jury Trials
- Kubat v. Henderson Successfully obtained a nonsuit in a legal malpractice action wherein the Plaintiffs contended that the settlement from the underlying matter was coerced resulting in the sale of a piece of real property at below market value. The matter is currently on appeal.
- Hall v. Lawson Prosecuted personal injury action with partner Mark Ellis where client sustained six fractures to his cervical spine following a motor vehicle collision with tractor trailer. The case settled for a substantial amount during jury deliberations on the liability phase.
- American National Property and Casualty v. Mason & ThomasSecond chaired a legal malpractice action with partner Mark Ellis where plaintiff was seeking $2.5 million in damages after claiming it was subject to a bad faith claim by its insured, who was represented by the defendant attorney in the underlying personal injury matter that ultimately settled for $1.7 million above the policy limits. The plaintiff failed to heed the defendant attorney’s advice regarding the possibility of a verdict in excess of the policy limits. After a three week trial, the jury returned a defense verdict.
- Richardson v. VillanuevDefended driver of rear end collision resulting in a defense verdict on liability
- Freeman v. Cancilla Defended driver of rear end collision resulting in a nominal verdict in favor of the Plaintiff
- Hazzard v. Khandani Represented defendant driver in auto collision. The matter was settled for the plaintiff’s medical specials after a Evidence Code § 402 hearing where the Court rejected Plaintiff’s contention that there is a “good faith” exception to Proposition 213’s limitation on the recovery of damages for an uninsured motorist.
Representative Court Trials
- Discover v. Corber Obtained a nonsuit for defendant attorneys and prevailed on motion for attorneys fees wherein the Court awarded over $80,000 in attorney's fees
- Wells Fargo Bank v. Speedelink Represented Wells Fargo bank in an action on a guaranty agreement executed by owners of defunct corporation resulting in a judgment in favor of Wells Fargo Bank for the outstanding debt of over $60,000 plus the attorney’s fees and costs incurred to prosecute the matter
- Harrison v. Fialkowski Represented defendant attorney in a legal malpractice action where the attorney client was also seeking over $70,000 in past fees and costs owed by client arising from representation in there related matters. After the initial defense verdict was set aside due to the apparent malfeasance of the former client’s attorney, the former client agreed to dismiss the malpractice claims and submit the attorney’s fee claim to binding arbitration. The arbitrator awarded our client all of her fees and costs owed in addition to the fees and costs incurred in prosecuting the fee claim resulting in a total award of over $90,000.
- Campbell v. Zumbrun Represented defendant attorney in a five-month legal malpractice action with partner Mark Ellis arising from an underlying eminent domain action where the attorney obtained a verdict for the malpractice plaintiff in excess of $2 million. The attorney had a cross-complaint for over $600,000 in fees and costs against the former client. The malpractice claims were dismissed in limine and the matter proceeded on the attorney’s fee claim resulting in a verdict in favor on the attorney for all past due fees and costs in addition to over $1 million in attorney’s fees for prosecuting the fee claim
Other Matters
- Young v. Jones & Stephens Successfully obtained summary judgment for law firm in a legal malpractice action wherein the Plaintiff contended that the attorner failed to pursue a serious and willful claim in her workers' compensation matter
- Raines v. Portfolio Successfully defended collection agency and its attorneys in maclicious prosecution and abuse of process action by prevailing on anti-SLAPP motion
- Finander v. Eskanos & Adler Successfully defended collection agency and attorneys by prevailing on motion to dismiss. The matter is currently on appeal to the Ninth Circuit
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