P.K. Schrieffer LLP

Paul K. Schrieffer is the founding partner of the Firm’s Los Angeles County office.  He is an active trial lawyer and litigator in courts throughout Sothern California, and also acts as monitoring counsel for companies across the country.  Mr. Schrieffer has tried complex, high exposure cases for many clients during his 20-year career, ranging from wrongful termination, discrimination and harassment to agents and broker’s E&O and insurance bad faith.   

Mr. Schrieffer is admitted to practice before the California Supreme Court, as well as the Central, Eastern and Southern California Federal District Courts, in addition to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and the Federal Circuit for Copyright and Trademark Disputes in Washington D.C.  He has also been admitted in litigation with the Eastern District in Pennsylvania, New Mexico, Arizona and Hawaii.  He has successfully argued before the California Court of Appeal, including the Second District in First Pacific Bank v. Underwriters at Lloyds and Carpenter v. NBC Universal.  Mr. Schrieffer has been a member of the Los Angeles County Bar Association, the Association of Southern California Defense Counsel, and the American Bar Association.  He is an original member of the Insurance Committee of the Los Angeles County Bar.  He has also authored articles for California Lawyer Magazine, Safeco’s Professional Edge Magazine and other publications.       

In addition to lecturing nationally and abroad for insurance companies and corporate clients, he has participated in symposia on California bad faith litigation, agents and brokers liability, the Americans with Disabilities Act, California and Federal employment practices liability, as well as seminars on insurance regulations.  Mr. Schrieffer has also served as a Judge Pro Tem for the Los Angeles County Superior Court system, as a Settlement Program Officer, and as a Court-appointed Arbitrator.   

NOTABLE TRIAL VERDICTS:          

Heidari v. ESI/FME Inc. – Trial of a wrongful termination whistleblower case in Orange County Superior Court wherein Plaintiff sought recovery for allegedly reporting the fraud and illegal payments.  After a week in trial, the jury deliberated for ½ a day prior to returning the 12-0 defense verdict.  This case was featured in DRI - The Voice of the Defense Bar's December 2, 2009 issue of The Voice.

Vanderhyde v. Pacific Specialty Insurance Company – 6-week trial in San Diego Superior Court in downtown San Diego defending an insurance broker accused of fraud, negligent misrepresentation and professional negligence.  Potential exposure exceeded $2 million.  The jury returned a defense verdict in favor of the firm’s client on all causes of action. This case was featured in DRI - The Voice of the Defense Bar's June 4, 2008 issue of The Voice.

Carpenter v. NBC Universal – 3 week catastrophic personal injury jury trial resulting in a defense verdict in favor of Universal arising from finger crush injuries to a grip at a sound stage on the set of a television series.  Potential exposure exceeded $1.5 million.  The jury found that although the plaintiff was injured by a defectively designed 2 ton ‘elephant’ door on the sound stage, he was not entitled to recovery because the special employer/borrowed servant rule, and application of a multi-factor control test, barred his recovery.  The verdict was appealed and upheld by the Second District Court of Appeal in California and the California Supreme Court.

Espinoza v. VMS, Inc. – defense verdict at trial defending a Professional Employer Organization in a catastrophic personal injury case venued in Beverly Hills.  

Tabib v. Blank - 3 week accounting malpractice jury trial resulting in a unanimous defense verdict in downtown Los Angeles.            

Graffam v. Amorelli - 2 week broker negligence trial in Rancho Cucamonga, California resulting in a unanimous defense verdict.      

Johnson v. Universal Studios – 2 week jury trial in Glendale California arising from a severely fractured hip and resultant hip replacement to an 80 year old female who contended blowing fountain water created a dangerous condition.  The jury returned a unanimous defense verdict for Universal Studios after 37 minutes of deliberations.

Mintz v. Universal Studios – 2 week severe injury case with stipulated liability and multiple level spinal fusion. The jury awarded less than the pretrial offer.          

Certain Underwriters at Lloyds, London v. Vreeken – motion for summary judgment granted in Honolulu, Hawaii based litigation for Lloyds arising from the total collapse of a resident’s home and subsequent insurance claim.  On motion, the court found in Underwriters’ favor based upon material misrepresentations in the application. 

Knaak v. Knaak – motion for summary judgment granted in Orange County Superior Court based litigation for an insurance broker sued following $19 million uncovered judgment against client.  Court grants summary judgment in favor of the broker, which is now the subject of post hearing motions.

Recent seminars Mr. Schrieffer has presented include:  

October 2009 – Paul K. Schrieffer presented the “Meat and Potatoes of Broker E&O Claims” in Irvine, California.   

February 2009 – Paul K. Schrieffer presented a seminar at Safeco in Seattle on recent trends in California Agents and Broker E&O law. 

February 2009 – Paul K. Schrieffer was a speaker at an Accident and Health seminar in London, England on trends in the A&H insurance market and claims. 

September 2008 – Paul K. Schrieffer presented a seminar on cutting edge trends in professional errors and omissions for accountants in San Diego, California. 

September 2008 – Paul K. Schrieffer presented seminars on the California Fair Claims Practices Act for companies and syndicates at Lloyds of London. 

March 2008 – Paul K. Schrieffer conducted California Fair Claims Practices Act training - Underwriters at Lloyds, London, England. 

January 2008 – Paul K. Schrieffer presented on recent trends in claims handling and coverage investigation, London,   England.