Practice Areas
Practice Description
Patrick Desmond is a trial attorney representing clients in a wide range of matters. In his career, he has successfully represented government agencies, businesses and individuals before jurors, judges, arbitrators and mediators. He has successfully defended catastrophic injury, employment discrimination and civil rights claims. Mr. Desmond has prosecuted numerous eminent domain cases from beginning to end, including cases related to the 22 Freeway expansion project. He has also defended environmental lawsuits, including a citizen-suit action under the Clean Water Act brought against a city based on sewage spills over a five-year period. Mr. Desmond has also successfully defended police officers against claims of civil rights violations.
Mr. Desmond has tried cases to verdict in both state and federal court. Most recently, he obtained a unanimous defense verdict for a public agency in a case involving disability discrimination. He was also co-trial counsel in a case in which the jury returned a verdict for $11.7 million for the firm’s client.
Professional Activities
Mr. Desmond is a member of the Orange County Bar Association.
Representative Matters
- Obtained summary judgment for police officer and agency accused of using excessive force with a police dog
- Obtained summary judgment for transportation agency following accident caused by professional driver passing out from an allergic reaction to an almond
- Multiple summary judgment motions granted for public agencies based on recreational trail immunity
- Limited verdict to $250,000 in an admitted liability bus accident case where plaintiff was seeking in excess of $5,000,000
- Obtained defense verdict in disability/FMLA leave discrimination case
Education
- University of San Diego School of Law (J.D., 2001)
- California State University, Long Beach (B.A., with honors, 1997)