San Diego Personal Injury Attorneys Berman & Riedel, LLP - Attorneys at Law

858-350-8855 - San Diego, CA Home Office - Practicing throughout the State of California

San Diego Personal Injury Attorneys


Attorney William M. Berman

William M. Berman

Berman & Riedel, LLP
Firm Founding & Managing Partner, Since 1997
San Diego, California
ph (858) 350-8855
fax (858) 350-9855
e-mail:

William M. Berman is a successful San Diego personal injury attorney and the founding and managing partner Berman & Riedel, LLP. One of the youngest attorneys ever in the State of California to receive the highest possible Martindale-Hubbell AV rating, Mr. Berman has broad litigation experience in handling complex civil litigation matters on behalf of injured consumers involving claims of serious automobile accidents, trucking accidents, aviation accidents, boating/watercraft accidents, catastrophic construction and work site injuries, products liability matters, and medical malpractice actions. In addition to his work as a San Diego accident lawyer, Mr. Berman was instrumental in establishing the firm's renowned nursing home and elder abuse litigation department, obtaining one of the highest settlements ever against a residential care facility for the elderly in the State of California in just his second year of practice. Since such time, Mr. Berman has gone forward to develop one of the leading elder abuse/neglect practices throughout the state, and his work in the area of elder abuse and neglect litigation continues to garner substantial media attention and the notice of the state legislature, which has helped to bring the issue of proper elder care to the forefront of the public's mind.

Areas of Practice/Focus:

  • Serious Personal Injury
  • Wrongful Death
  • Elder Abuse/Neglect
  • 90% of Practice Devoted to Plaintiffs' Personal Injury and Wrongful Death Litigation

Bar Admissions:

  • California State Bar, 1997
  • U.S. District Court Southern District of California, 1998
  • U.S. Supreme Court, 2003

Formal Education:

  • California Western School of Law, San Diego, California, January, 1997, Juris Doctor, cum laude
  • Arizona State University, May 1993, Bachelor of Science (Major: Justice Studies, Minor: Communications)

Honors and Awards:

  • Outstanding Advocate Award, Consumer Attorneys of San Diego, 2000 - Present
  • Lawyers to Watch in 2000, San Diego County Bar Association, 2000 - Present

Professional Associations and Memberships:

  • Member, Consumer Attorneys of San Diego, 1997 - Present
  • Member, San Diego County Bar Association, 1998 - Present
  • Member, American Trial Lawyers Association, 1999 - Present

Past Legal Positions:

  • Law Offices of William M. Berman, Sole Practitioner, 1997 - 1999
  • Berman & Walton, LLP, Founding and Managing Partner, 2000 - 2005
  • Berman & Riedel, LLP, Founding and Managing Partner, 2005 - present

Pro Bono Activities:

  • Trial Lawyers Care, Inc. (September 11 Fund Pro Bono Program), 2002 - 2004

Ancillary Businesses:

  • Professional Sports Management

Hobbies:

  • Sports, Travel, Recreation

Featured Articles in the News:

Attorney Kelley Riedel

U. Kelley Riedel, Esquire

Berman & Riedel, LLP
Firm Partner, Since 2005
Firm Attorney, Since 2002
San Diego, California
ph (858) 350-8855
fax (858) 350-9855

U. Kelley Riedel is a San Diego personal injury lawyer and partner with the civil litigation firm, Berman & Riedel, LLP, where she has worked since 2002. Ms. Riedel has extensive experience in handing complex general personal injury cases and medical malpractice lawsuits, as well as product liability actions in both state-wide and nationally coordinated federal multi-district litigation cases for defective medical devices. Currently, Ms. Riedel heads the firm's legal-based administrative functions, marketing, reporting of case matters, overseeing publication of the firm's periodic newsletter and maintaining the firm's multiple websites. In addition to overseeing the firm's administrative needs, Ms. Riedel also directs the firm's community outreach programs, including the coordination of pro-bono and volunteer services conducted by the firm. Indeed since joining the firm, Ms. Riedel has handled several high profile pro bono cases, including the work she provided for Trial Lawyers Care, Inc., where she together with firm partner, William M. Berman, represented the widow and children of one of the most prominent and Nationally featured FDNY firefighters who lost his life in the 9/11 terrorist attacks, obtaining an exemplary settlement from the federally-funded Victim's Compensation Fund after presenting evidence that the claims of this particular family should not be bound to the "presumed limits" imposed under the Fund.

Bar Admissions:

  • California State Bar, June 1997
  • U.S. District Court Southern District of California, June, 1997
  • U.S. Supreme Court, November 2003

Formal Education:

  • California Western School of Law, San Diego, California, January 1997, Juris Doctor
  • University of Arizona, May, 1994, Bachelor of Arts (Major: Political Science Minor: Biochemistry)

Professional Associations and Memberships:

  • Member, Consumer Attorneys of San Diego, 1997 - Present
  • Member, San Diego County Bar Association, 1998 - Present
  • Member, American Trial Lawyers Association, 1999 - Present

Past Legal Positions:

  • Berman & Riedel, LLP, Partner, 2005 - present
  • Berman & Walton, LLP, Associate Attorney, 2002-2005
  • Neil, Dymott, et.al., Associate Attorney, 1997-2002

Pro Bono Activities:

  • Trial Lawyers Care, Inc. (September 11 Fund Pro Bono Program), 2002 - 2004

Hobbies:

  • Exercise, Sports and Travel
Attorney Natalie B. DeClusin

Natalie B. DeClusin

Berman & Riedel, LLP
Associate Attorney
San Diego, California
ph (858) 350-8855
fax (858) 950-9855
email:

Natalie B. DeClusin is an associate San Diego personal injury attorney with the firm. She joined the team at Berman & Riedel, LLP, directly after being admitted to the California State Bar in December 2008. Ms. DeClusin is a civil litigation attorney with her primary focus being in serious personal injury, wrongful death, and elder abuse/neglect cases. As a student at California Western School of Law, she was accepted into the dual-degree program, and graduated cum laude in May 2008 with her Juris Doctor (J.D.) and Masters of Business Administration (M.B.A.). In addition, Ms. DeClusin earned top honors for her legal research and writing, and became a tutor for California Western's Academic Achievement Program.

Bar Admissions:

  • California State Bar, 2008
  • U.S. District Court Southern District of California, 2008

Formal Education:

  • California Western School of Law, Juris Doctor, cum laude, May 2008
  • San Diego State University, Masters of Business Administration, May 2008
  • Arizona State University, Bachelor of Arts in English Literature, Minor in Spanish, cum laude, June 2004

Professional Associations and Memberships:

  • Member, San Diego County Bar Association, 2008 - Present
  • Member, North County Bar Association, 2008 - Present

Honors and Awards:

  • Academic Achievement Award, Advanced Legal Research and Writing (Highest Grade in Class)
  • Dean's List, Fall 2005 and Fall 2007

Past Legal Positions:

  • Post-Bar Law Clerk, Berman & Riedel, LLP, 2008
  • Legal Intern, Wertz McDade Wallace Moot & Brower, 2008
  • Legal Intern, Doan Levinson and Liljigren, 2007
  • Legal Intern, Office of the U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, 2005

Pro Bono Activities:

  • Legal Intern, California Western Community Law Project, 2005-2006
  • Teacher, Street Law, 2005-2006
Brian C. Ellis, Esquire

Brian C. Ellis, Esquire

Associate Attorney
Berman & Riedel, LLP
San Diego, California
ph (858) 350-8855
fax (858) 350-9855
e-mail:

Brian C. Ellis has been practicing law in California since obtaining his license, focusing his attention in the area of personal injury litigation. Mr. Ellis joined Berman & Riedel, LLP, as an Associate Attorney in early 2010, and brings with him a strong background, work ethic and desire to fight on behalf of victims.  He has broad civil litigation experience handling matters involving serious automobile accidents, work site injuries, products liability matters and wrongful death claims.  Mr. Ellis began his career as counsel for a national insurance company, working on behalf of defendants, where he gained valuable insight into insurance company practices and policies surrounding claims adjustments and civil litigation.  He now uses the knowledge he learned as a civil defense attorney to successfully represent individuals who have suffered harm due to the negligent, harmful and wrongful conduct of others.

Mr. Ellis is married, and lives with his wife in Capistrano Beach.  In his spare time, he enjoys running, baseball and travel.  He is an avid fan of both the San Diego Padres and Chargers.

Areas of Practice/Focus:

  • Serious Personal Injury
  • Wrongful Death
  • Work Site / Construction Accidents
  • Premises Liability / Injuries
  • Product Defect Litigation

Bar Admissions:

  • California State Bar, February 2007

Formal Education:

  • Suffolk University Law School (Boston, MA), Juris Doctor, May 2006
  • University of California at Santa Barbara, Bachelor of Arts in Business/Economics, Minor in Spanish, June 2003

Past Legal Positions:

  • Associate Attorney, Berman & Riedel, LLP, 2010 - Present
  • Associate Attorney, Trachtman & Trachtman, 2009 – 2010
  • Associate Attorney, Osman & Associates (A Division of Travelers Ins. Co.),2007 –  2009

Rita R. Cole

Berman & Riedel, LLP
Certified Paralegal
San Diego, California
ph (858) 350-8855
fax (858) 950-9855

Rita R. Cole is a certified paralegal and administrator with the firm, Berman & Riedel, LLP. Rita has been with the firm since 1999, and has worked in the legal field as a paralegal in the areas of elder abuse, personal injury, construction defect, and family and employment law since 1991. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology/Criminal Justice from Washington State University and received her paralegal certificate from University of California San Diego.

Valerie C. Ramirez - Certified Paralegal

Valerie C. Ramirez

Berman & Riedel, LLP
Certified Paralegal
San Diego, California
ph (858) 350-8855
fax (858) 350-9855
e-mail:

Valerie C. Ramirez is a 2005 graduate of the University of San Diego where she received Bachelor of Arts degrees in Psychology and Speech Communication Studies. In 2006 she went on to complete the University of San Diego's Paralegal Program with a focus in civil litigation.

Valerie joined Berman & Riedel, LLP, as a civil litigation paralegal in August 2006. Since she joined the firm, she has gained a great deal of knowledge about the legal field, especially in personal injury and elder abuse related law. In her current position, Valerie handles case management issues for nearly every case the firm undertakes and assists our San Diego personal injury attorneys in completing discovery, motion-work, court-filings, calendaring, records requests, and new client intakes. Valerie enjoys the fact that her position at the firm allows her to work with clients directly from the initial client meeting up through trial in some cases. An active member of the firm, Valerie helps to keep clients informed of hearing dates, assists clients with responding to discovery, and updates clients on developments surrounding their cases. Valerie enjoys the relationships she is able to maintain and create with clients, and believes that they feel comfortable contacting her at any time.

Valerie enjoys staying active and takes pleasure in running, swimming, and golfing. She is a sports enthusiast, and likes attending local as well as out-of-town professional sporting events. She also enjoys cooking and entertaining for her friends.

Yvonne L. Sanchez - Legal Assistant

Yvonne L. Sanchez

Berman & Riedel, LLP
Legal Assistant
San Diego, California
ph (858) 350-8855
fax (858) 350-9855
personal e-mail:

Yvonne L. Sanchez is currently a student at the University of San Diego where she is completing the Paralegal Program with an emphasis in Civil Litigation. Yvonne received an Associates of Arts degree from Cuesta College in Liberal Arts as well as an Aesthetician License from The San Francisco Institute of Esthetics.

Yvonne originally joined our team of San Diego accident lawyers Berman & Riedel, LLP, as a receptionist in August of 2007, but was quickly promoted into a position as a legal assistant. Since joining the firm, she has gained valuable experience and knowledge in the legal field, with a particular emphasis in the areas of handling elder abuse/neglect and serious personal injury matters. In her current position as a legal assistant, Yvonne handles case management issues for every case the firm undertakes. Soon to receive her advanced degree, she looks forward to continuing her career in the legal field as a certified paralegal.

Yvonne enjoys staying active in her community by attending various art, music, sporting and cultural events in San Diego.

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