Justia Legal Services & Lawyers Directory

My experience and expertise in criminal law is extensive. I have practice criminal law exclusively for over thirty years. I handled literally thousands of criminal cases, and over seventy-five jury trials. I have successfully handled virtually every type of serious felony as well as misdemeanors including well over a thousand DUI's.

My focus is the Coachella Valley including the cities of Palm Desert, Palm Springs, Indio, Cathedral City, Rancho Mirage, La Quinta, and Desert Hot Springs. I also practice in Morongo Valley in San Bernardino County, including the cities of Yucca Valley and Joshua Tree. However I will travel to any place my clients need me to go. I know and work with both Judges and DA's in all the courts I visit and have a very good relationship with each.

Helping people is at the core of why I decided to practice law. Although I believe people are pretty smart and well informed, knowing and understanding the law can be tough. It’s hard enough for people to deal with these financially trying times, let alone having to try to deal with them alone. Practicing Bankruptcy and Personal Injury law allows me many opportunities to step in and help people who would be left to deal with problems they’re simply not qualified to deal with.


Every client and every case is important. Foreclosures have been stopped, homes have been saved and excessive credit card debt has been wiped away for hundreds of clients. Filing bankruptcy has allowed people to have the new start they need and deserve. We take Personal Injury cases as personally as you do, and will fight for you to recover the maximum amount of damages available under law.

Partner at the Law Offices of Cortright, Valentine & Associates

Member of the State Bar of California – SBN 267224

Juris Doctorate from the University of La Verne College of Law, 2005

Extensive experience in: Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 Bankruptcy (Personal & Business)
Personal Injury
Civil Law
Insurance Defense
Legal Research

Kirk A. Lauby has a varied and comprehensive background in business management which is of particular benefit to the firm's business and business litigation clients. Mr. Lauby was admitted to the State Bar of California in 1978, and has combined his legal practice with business endeavors in the food marketing industry, oil and gas exploration, and real estate building and development.

Mr. Lauby is an experienced trial attorney with a focus on business litigation, construction defect litigation, construction injury litigation, premises liability, contractor general counsel assignments and personal injury. He has the distinction of having represented the developer defendants in what was at the time the largest construction defect jury trial held in Riverside County. Mr. Lauby has vast experience representing plaintiffs, developers, manufacturers and subcontractors in all construction trades.

His published opinion in Lopez v. C.G.M. Development, Inc. (2002) 101 CA 4th 430 is an established and often cited authority which limits liability of owners, developers and general contractors for injuries sustained by subcontractor employees.

Additionally, Mr. Lauby has had the opportunity to participate with multiple insurance carriers in their special investigation unit (SIU) automobile defense activities. He has tried and arbitrated several hundred SIU cases.

Mr. Lauby is licensed to practice in the State of California, and before the United States District Court. He is available to represent appellants in the California Appellate Court system.

He is a member of the State Bar of California, the Riverside County Bar Association, and the American Inns of Court and a former member of the American Bar Association, and the Los Angeles and Orange County Bar Associations.

Fernandez & Lauby LLP strongly supports alternative dispute resolution programs as the best means to control litigation costs and exposure. Mr. Lauby has successfully completed the mediator's training certificate from the Strauss Institute for Mediation at Pepperdine University School of Law. Mr. Lauby serves as a private mediator for construction, business litigation, real estate and personal injury disputes and is on the panel of mediators for Dispute Resolution Services. He also serves on the panel of arbitrators for the Riverside County and San Bernardino County courts.

Mr. Lauby received his Bachelor of Arts degree from U.C.L.A. in 1974 and his Juris Doctor degree from Southwestern University in 1978.

James Olson is an associate in the Riverside office of Fernandez & Lauby. Mr. Olson graduated from University of California, San Diego in 2004 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology. In 2008, he received his Juris Doctorate degree from the University of San Diego School of Law. While in law school, Mr. Olson volunteered for the San Diego County Public Defender's Office and received recognition for honors in Advanced Legal Writing and Negotiations. Also while in law school, Mr. Olson clerked for Kolod Wager Law Offices. Mr. Olson has worked as an associate attorney at the Law Offices of Robert E. Muir, a real estate and business litigation firm, for more than a year.

Mr. Olson's current practice includes general civil litigation, construction defect, insurance defense and personal injury.

Mario Rodriguez received his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) in 1977.

He graduated from the UCLA School of Law in 1980, receiving the degree of Juris Doctor.

He was admitted as an attorney in California in 1980.

An experienced trial attorney, Mario Rodriguez has been a criminal defense attorney for 30 years. He represents clients charged with serious felonies in both State and Federal Court throughout the United States. One hundred percent of Mr. Rodriguez 's practice is defending individuals and businesses in the area of Criminal Law. The investigating agencies have included local police departments, the Sheriff's Department, the F.B.I., the D.E.A., the A.T.F., and the U.S. Customs Service.

In 1997, he was certified as a Criminal Law Specialist, certified by the Board of Legal Specialization, State Bar of California. He is one of only fourteen Certified Criminal Law Specialists in Riverside County.

Mr. Rodriguez has been involved in numerous high profile cases, and has tried over one-hundred and fifty jury trials, winning acquittals in what were considered impossible cases.

Mr. Rodriguez is a member in good standing of the California State Bar, California Attorneys for Criminal Justice, the National Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys and the California Public Defenderâs Association.

Mario Rodriguez has dedicated his legal career to protecting the reputation and freedom of his clients.

Criminal defense attorney in Palm Desert, California

"I will get you the quality treatment you need and the money you deserve"

I have been practicing Workers Compensation and Employment law cases including FEHA and 132 a discrimination cases for over 13 years with a nearly flawless track record in representing injured employees in all industries.

Presiding Artibrator of the State Bar of California (2006-2008). California State Bar Committee on Mandatory Fee Arbitration (2001 – 2008; Chair 2004-2005; Vice Chair 2002-2004). California State Bar Committee on Judicial Nominees Evaluation (2009- ). Vice chair, Bar Association of San Francisco Committee on Arbitration and Mediation of Fee Disputes (1996 - present). Board of Contributors, Medical Malpractice Law & Strategy, affiliated with New York and National Law Journals (1983-90). Editorial Board, San Francisco Attorney, Bar Association of San Francisco (1991-1995). Chair, Section on Insurance, Negligence & Compensation Law, Bar Association of San Francisco (1971); Vice Chair, California State Bar Committee to Confer with the California Medical Association (1979-1980); Vice Chair, Medical-Legal Liaison Committee, Bar Association of San Francisco (1970); Chair, CTLA Legal Students Committee (1970).
Administrative Law Judge pro tem, California Office of Administrative Hearings - Keyhea hearings regarding involuntary administration of psychiatric medications to prison inmates (1998 - 2003). Judge pro tem, San Francisco Superior Court, civil jury trial, settlement conferences, small claims appeals (1991-1997). Nevada County Municipal Court,small claims (1996 – 2004). Advisory Committee on Voir Dire, Judicial Council of California (1988-1992), established originally by statute as California Task Force on Voir Dire; coauthor of standardized Juror Questionnaire for Civil Cases adopted by California Judicial Council (form MC-001) (1993). Member, Private Judging Advisory Panel, Institute for Social Analysis (1991). Lawyer delegate to Ninth Circuit Judicial Conference, Seattle, Washington (1969).
President, California Trial Lawyers Association (now CAOC) (1980); Vice President (1978 and 1979). Chair, California Trial Lawyers Association Amicus CuriaeCommittee (1982, 1985 and 1986, member 1974-1976, 1978, 1980-1986). Assistant Editor, California Trial Lawyers JOURNAL (1970-1977); Board of Governors, California Trial Lawyers Association (1976-1986); chair, California Trial Lawyers Association Committee on Malpractice Law Litigation (1976). Board of Governors, Western Trial Lawyers Association (1983-1986). Chair, State Legislation Subcommittee, Association of Trial Lawyers of America (1981-1982); Vice-chair, ATLA Administration Department (1983); member ATLA Board of Governors, (1980-1983). Consultant to Nevada Trial Lawyers Association before Assembly Judiciary Committee of the Nevada legislature (1985). Consultant to Alaska Bar and Trial Lawyers Associations to Alaska Governor's Commission on Medical Malpractice (1975). Member, National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (2005).
Assistant Professor of Law [adjunct faculty], University of California Hastings College of the Law, 1971-1984, teaching courses in Legislation and Legislative Advocacy, Government Tort Litigation, and Trial Practice. Faculty member: National College of Advocacy, Association of Trial Lawyers of America, Reno, Nevada, 1981; Civil College of Advocacy, San Francisco (Hastings College of the Law) 1978. Instructor, "Law for the Layman," YWCA of San Francisco, 1965. Teaching Assistant, Department of Speech, University of California, 1961-1964. Frequent lecturer. Author of two books, two course texts for courses taught at Hastings College of the Law, and over two dozen articles. Invited lectures for more than two dozen professional organizations on a variety of professional topics.
Legal Experience
From 1965-2005: full-time preparation and trial of civil cases including professional liability (with emphasis on attorney or physician malpractice), attorney fee disputes, business and real estate, insurance carrier liability (in particular insurance bad faith claims), technical liability, personal injury, product liability, construction defect, elder financial abuse, and other types of damages litigation in California Superior Courts, Nevada District Court, and the United States District Court.
Appellate practice includes approximately fifty cases before the California Courts of Appeal and Supreme Court, Nevada Supreme Court, United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, and -- in 1968 -- the United States Supreme Court. Appellate cases of interest include:
American Bank and Trust Company v. Community Hospital of Los Gatos-Saratoga, Inc. (1984) 36 Cal.3d 359; briefed and argued (and reargued) before the California Supreme Court on behalf of amicus curiae California Trial Lawyers Association testing the constitutionality of the 1975 Medical Injury Compensation Reform Act.
Edwards v. Pacific Fruit Express (1968) 390 U.S. 538, 20 L.Ed.2d 112, 88 S.Ct. 1239.
Chambers v. Kay (2002) 29 Cal.4th 142.
Gallo v. Peninsula Hospital (1985) 164 Cal.App.3d 899; limited use of undisclosed expert witnesses.
Gampell v. Superior Court (1982) 33 Cal.3d 242; established the authority of the Governor to fill appellate court vacancies authorized by the Legislature.
Nogueiro v. Kaiser Foundation Health Plan (1988) 203 Cal.App.3d 1192; establishing arbitrators' authority to determine law applicable to arbitration awards.
Price v. Shell Oil (1970) 2 Cal.3d 245; expanded the product safety doctrine of strict liability to apply to leased products.
Ramirez v. Superior Court (1980) 103 Cal.App.3d 746; prohibited enforcement of arbitration agreements involving individual patients where the patient did not knowingly and voluntarily agree to arbitration.
Truman v. Thomas (1980) 27 Cal.3d 285; expanded the doctrine of "informed consent" in medical malpractice cases.
Recognition of Experience certificates: "Professional Negligence," "General Trial Lawyer," and "Products Liability," California Trial Lawyers Association, 1979.
Personal
Recent community activities: Commissioner, Palm Desert Rent Review Commission, 2006 - (vice chair 2008); Commissioner, Town of Truckee Planning Commission, (1999 - 2001); Tahoe Donner Association Governing Documents Revision Committee (1997- 2000); Tahoe Donner Architectural Standards Committee (alternate 1997-1999, member 1999 - 2000); USTA NorCal certified umpire (1998 - 2000);Tahoe Donner Tennis Club Board of Directors (1997-1999).
J.D., University of California (Boalt Hall, 1964); A.B., "Communications and Public Policies," University of California (Berkeley, 1961). Course certificate, Aircraft Accident Investigation, Institute of Aerospace Safety and Management (University of Southern California, 1969). Admitted to practice: California Bar, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, and United States District Court for the Northern District of California (1965); United States District Court for the Eastern District of California (1982); United States District Court for the Central District of California (1998); United States Supreme Court (1968). Mediation training: Commercial Mediation, 40 hours, ADRA (1994); Commercial Arbitration, 7 hours, American Arbitration Association (1994); Fee Dispute Mediation and Arbitration, Bar Association of San Francisco, 11 hours (1992, 1995 and 1996); Advanced Mediation, 13 hours, John Paul Jones Group (1997)
Conseiller, Confrerie des Vignerons de Saint Vincent Bourgogne et Macon USA (1984-1990). Vice President, United Nations Association of San Francisco (1969-1970). Vice President, Medical & Professional Society (1977; Director 1978-1979)). Life member, Sierra Club and East African Wild Life Society.
Countries visited: Antigua, Australia, Austria, Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Canada, Comoros, Costa Rica, Denmark, England, Fiji, France, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Haiti, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Kenya, Martinique, Mauritius, Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands, New Caledonia, New Hebrides [Vanuatu], New Zealand, Portugal, St. Lucia, St. Martin, Seychelles, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, Tahiti, Thailand, Trinidad, Tunisia, and Turkey.
Born April 20, 1940, San Francisco. Wife: Ruth. Children: Leah and Jessica.

Certified - Pepperdine University - Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution

Welcome, my name is Amir Afsar and I have been a California Bar Certified attorney since 2004. My practice, Afsar Law Group, A.P.C., is located in Palm Desert, California and provides legal services to clients throughout the Coachella Valley including:

Palm Desert, CA
Rancho Mirage, CA
La Quinta, CA
Indian Wells, CA
Palm Springs, CA
Indio, CA
Cathedral City, CA
Desert Hot Springs, CA
Bermuda Dunes, CA
Coachella, CA
Thermal, CA
Yucca Valley, CA
29 Palms, CA
Joshua Tree, CA
Banning, CA
Beaumont, CA

And various other areas throughout Riverside and San Bernardino County.

Here are the practice areas I can assist you with:

BUSINESS LAW AND ENTITY FORMATION

* Court Representation
* Formation of California and Out-of-State Corporations
* Formation of Limited Liability Companies (LLCs)
* Formation of Limited Liability Partnerships
* Annual Corporate Maintenance (Shareholder/Director Meetings; Resolutions; Minutes)
* Purchase / Sale of a Business
* Commercial Collections
* Board of Director and Shareholder Disputes
* Commercial and Residential Landlord/Tenant Disputes
* Buy-Sell Agreements
* Business Purchase and Sale Transactions
* General Counsel for Your Business

REAL ESTATE AND CONSTRUCTION

* Mediation, Arbitration, and Litigation of Disputes
* Mechanic's Liens and Stop Notices
* Foreclosures
* Easements
* Promissory Notes and Deeds of Trust
* Construction Agreements (Fixed Price, Cost Plus, Home Improvement Contracts, etc.)
* Pool Construction Contracts
* Landscape and Maintenance Contracts
* Home Improvement Contracts
* Commercial and Residential Landlord / Tenant Matters
* Eviction (Unlawful Detainer)

ESTATE PLANNING

* General Estate Planning
* Wills and Codicils
* Trusts
* Probate Avoidance
* Guardianships
* Health Care Directives
* Durable Powers of Attorney

For legal assistance in Palm Desert, Rancho Mirage, La Quinta, Palm Springs, Indio, and throughout the Coachella Valley, contact Amir Afsar with Afsar Law Group, A.P.C. at 760-345-3110 or visit us on the web at www.AfsarLaw.com.