| About Our Practice |
Ford, Walker, Haggerty & Behar provides clients with legal services in all areas of civil litigation. Building upon our strong tradition in insurance defense, we have expanded into other areas of general casualty defense, including representation of self-insured entities, public and closely held corporations, municipalities, professionals and other individuals who value the aggressive pursuit of their legal
rights by a team of experienced and innovative attorneys.
The
backbone
of
the
firm
continues
to
be
a
general
liability
defense
practice
with
emphasis
on
defending
claims
in
the
areas
of
products
liability,
professional
liability,
automobile
negligence,
construction
defects,
municipal
defense,
insurance
coverage,
bad
faith,
and
environmental
law.
The
firm
has
become
widely
recognized
for
its
defense
of
large
exposure
personal
injury
claims,
many
of
which
are
the
subject
of
media
scrutiny.
The best measure of our success is the loyalty of our clients.
Most
of
our
largest insurance clients have been with the firm since its inception.
The Firm stresses open and frequent communications with clients to insure that the services provided meet the clients' expectations. Communication is furthered by direct e-mail links and a firm culture that stresses timely reporting at all phases of legal action. Our billing systems are also flexible,
providing the information required in a format and with a frequency that conforms to a client's preferences. We offer seminars, in our clients' offices, as a further means of sharing critical legal information.
|
| Cost-Effective Representation |
We are dedicated to delivering cost-effective legal services with optimal results. As a mid-sized firm we have a depth of attorney resources to apply when specific fields of expertise are
required.
The
firm
has
developed
an
excellent
reputation
for
its
trial
attorneys
and
success
in
trial. We provide not only case analysis, but also estimates and budgets up front, so that our client can determine an appropriate course of action with full knowledge of the costs involved. When in the best interest of the client, we advocate alternative dispute resolution as a cost-effective alternative to litigation.
|
| Experienced Counsel |
G. Richard Ford, Timothy L. Walker, William C. Haggerty and Jeffrey S. Behar founded our firm 1991. All four were senior partners at Shield & Smith, a large Los Angeles insurance defense law firm. They brought with them a group of talented lawyers with experience in defending general casualty litigation claims. G. Richard Ford retired in 2000.
Timothy
L.
Walker
withdrew
from
the
partnership
in
2008,
but
continues
to
handle
cases
in
an
of
counsel
role.
Theodore P. Shield, a founding partner at Shield & Smith,
also
continues in an of counsel capacity. From an original nucleus of eight partners
and sixteen associates, we have steadily grown to
more
than
forty
lawyers as our client base and areas of' service have expanded.
|
| Product
Liability |
For
the
past
30
years,
members
of
our
firm
have
been
involved
in
the
defense
of
a
variety
of
products
claimed
to
be
either
defectively
manufactured
or
designed.
The
defense
of
high-exposure
product
liability
cases
has
become
the
benchmark
of
the
firm’s
civil
litigation
practice.
The
trial
experience
of
the
firm’s
partners
in
this
area
of
practice
is
surpassed
by
few,
if
any,
other
defense
firms.
Ford,
Walker,
Haggerty
&
Behar
has
defended
products
including
aircraft
components,
automobiles,
bicycles,
heavy
machinery,
punch
presses
and
van
converters,
as
well
as
the
owners
of
premises
where
claims
of
strict
liability
lie.
Realizing
these
matters
are
more
complex
than
the
other
kinds
of
tort
litigation,
our
approach
is
to
work
closely
and
early
with
the
client
in
developing
an
effective
defense
strategy,
including
the
development
of
an
agreed-upon
plan
of
action
that
will
lead
to
the
successful
defense
of
the
product.
|
| Professional
Liability |
Our
commitment
to
the
defense
of
professional
liability
claims,
especially
in
the
subspecialties
of
dental,
chiropractic,
podiatric,
medical
malpractice
and
legal
malpractice,
has
made
professional
liability
one
of
our
thriving
practice
areas.
In
the
area
of
dental
malpractice,
Ford,
Walker,
Haggerty
&
Behar
represents
general
dentists
as
well
as
specialists,
including
oral
surgeons,
periodontists,
endodontists,
prosthodontists,
pedodontists
and
orthodontists.
We
also
represent
individual
dentists
who
are
not
covered
by
insurance
or
dentists
who
are
facing
disciplinary
proceedings
from
the
State
Board.
As
a
result
of
our
success
in
these
cases,
dentists
turn
to
our
firm
when
faced
with
accusations
that
may
affect
their
ability
to
practice
dentistry
within
the
state.
We
retain
the
services
of
an
in-house
expert,
who
is
both
a
practicing
attorney
and
a
dentist,
to
evaluate
claims.
This
wide
professional
liability
exposure
has
familiarized
us
with
every
type
of
claim
asserted
by
the
plaintiffs.
We
work
closely
with
well-respected
expert
witnesses.
Although
cost-effective
resolution
of
every
lawsuit
is
the
goal,
the
firm
has
a
wealth
of
trial
experience
should
this
step
become
necessary.
Recognizing
that
professional
liability
cases
are
driven
not
only
by
legal
and
factual
issues,
but
also
by
emotional
factors,
we
are
sensitive
to
the
personal
aspects
of
a
professional
liability
claim.
|
| Aviation
Litigation |
For
many
years,
Ford,
Walker,
Haggerty
&
Behar
has
represented
the
aviation
industry
in
the
defense
of
casualty
claim
litigation.
We
continue
to
represent
major
commercial
airlines,
operators
and
manufacturers
doing
business
both
domestically
and
abroad.
Our
clients
also
include
component
part
manufacturers,
operators
and
maintenance
facilities
in
the
defense
of
aviation
litigation.
We
have
defended
the
airline
industry
in
multi-district
litigation
with
respect
to
a
number
of
the
major
aircraft
crash
cases.
We
have
developed
expertise
in
forensic
accident
reconstruction
and
in
the
application
of
the
Federal
Aviation
Regulations.
Another
area
of
our
expertise
is
the
application
of
the
Warsaw
Convention
and
Montreal
Agreement
to
claims
emanating
from
international
flights.
|
| Premises
Liability |
Several
of
our
attorneys
focus
specifically
on
the
entire
range
of
premises
liability
claims.
Ford,
Walker,
Haggerty
&
Behar’s
lawyers
have
extensive
experience
and
background
in
handling
these
claims,
often
providing
seminar
instruction
to
the
insurance
industry
and
self-insureds.
From
the
traditional
slip-and-fall
cases
to
the
defense
of
higher
exposure
cases
involving
false
arrest,
assault
and
battery,
we
have
the
expertise
that
attracts
nationally
known
department
store,
retail
outlet
and
hotel
chain
clients.
|
| Employment
and
Civil
Rights
Litigation |
The
law
firm
has
enjoyed
a
long
history
of
representing
defendants
in
the
context
of
employment
related
matters,
including
discrimination
and
wrongful
termination
cases.
Several
of
the
attorneys
have
developed
an
expertise
with
respect
to
the
handling
of
cases
emanating
from
the
Unruh
Act
and
Americans
With
Disabilities
Act
(ADA)
on
behalf
of
commercial
property
owners.
|
| Bad
Faith |
While
third-party
bad
faith
litigation
against
insurance
companies
has
essentially
disappeared
following
the
California
Supreme
Court
decision
in
Moradi-Shalal
v.
Fireman’s
Fund
Insurance
Companies,
first-party
cases
are
still
unfortunately
too
common.
Most
of
these
claims
are
without
merit,
but
the
potential
exposure
to
carriers
remains
significant
because
punitive
damages
are
almost
always
alleged.
We
recognize
the
dangers
in
these
claims
and
appreciate
the
implications
of
a
direct
attack
on
the
way
our
insurance
clients
conduct
their
business.
The
attorneys
at
Ford,
Walker,
Haggerty
&
Behar
who
specialize
in
defending
bad
faith
litigation
draw
on
collective
experience
of
nearly
70
years
of
defending
general
liability
claims.
Because
of
this
background,
we
have
a
working
knowledge
of
how
claims
are
properly
handled.
This
is
essential
to
an
effective
evaluation
and
defense
of
bad
faith
lawsuits,
and
enables
us
to
provide
legal
counsel
to
our
insurance
carrier
clients
before
problems
arise.
Our
approach
in
defending
lawsuits
is
to
promptly
recognize
and
evaluate
the
pros
and
cons
of
each
case,
provide
cost-effective
resolution
of
the
claims
which
are
adverse,
and
strenuously
resist
those
which
are
unwarranted.
We
also
advise
and
provide
seminars
to
our
clients
on
how
to
prevent
conduct
that
can
lead
to
bad
faith
claims.
Our
goal
is
to
reduce
the
incidents
that
cause
problems,
as
well
as
handle
the
legal
situations
that
inevitably
arise
in
any
substantial
claims
operation.
|
| Public
Entity
Representation |
Since
the
firm’s
formation,
attorneys
at
Ford,
Walker,
Haggerty
&
Behar
have
specialized
in
representing
municipalities,
metropolitan
transit
authorities
and
police
departments
in
lawsuits
seeking
recovery
for
a
variety
of
claimed
damages
resulting
from
slip-and-fall
accidents,
use
of
public
transit,
environmental
clean-up
claims,
property
damage,
alleged
dangerous
conditions
of
public
property,
inverse
condemnation
proceedings,
contractor
claims
and
prosecution
of
claims
arising
under
the
False
Claims
Act.
We
have
extensive
trial
experience
in
representing
a
number
of
cities,
including
the
City
of
Long
Beach,
in
all
aspects
of
municipal
civil
litigation.
|
| Construction
Defect |
Ford,
Walker,
Haggerty
&
Behar
specializes
in
defense
of
construction
defect
litigation.
We
represent
the
interests
of
many
prominent
developers,
general
contractors
and
subcontractors
in
connection
with
a
broad
spectrum
of
litigation
involving
commercial
buildings
and
properties,
together
with
residential
housing
and
condominium
associations.
Our
expertise
includes
cases
emanating
from
alleged
design
and
architectural
deficiencies
to
structural,
mechanical
and
electrical
issues.
We
have
experience
in
handling
both
single
and
multi-party
complex
litigation
involving
earth
movement,
soil
subsidence
and
water
intrusion.
Our
use
of
technology
greatly
increases
our
efficiency
in
handling
these
claims,
especially
in
the
representation
of
developers
and
general
contractors.
We
have
developed
expertise
in
the
formation
and
use
of
litigation
case
management
orders,
the
establishment
of
protocols
for
visual
and
intrusive
testing,
and
computerized
matrix
information
for
the
evaluation
of
construction
defects
and
most
economic
repair
programs.
Our
use
of
alternative
dispute
resolution
and
mediation
has
resulted
in
greater
efficiency
and
cost-effectiveness
in
handling
complex
cases
and
multi-party
litigation.
|
| Pollution
and
Toxic
Torts |
Starting
in
the
early
1990’s,
there
has
been
a
proliferation
of
complex
litigation
involving
environmental
claims.
From
sick
building
syndrome,
pesticide
exposure,
mold
exposure,
emissions
of
pollutants
into
the
air
and
underground
storage
tank
discharges
to
asbestos
abatement,
claims
abound.
For
corporate
America
and
the
insurance
industry,
these
claims
present
unique
problems.
Ford,
Walker,
Haggerty
&
Behar
is
experienced
in
handling
these
types
of
claims,
experienced
not
only
with
the
subject
matter
but,
equally
important,
in
the
cost-effective
management
of
litigation.
We
maintain
an
aggressive
posture
in
defending
cases,
yet
seek
to
control
the
cost
of
defense
at
all
stages
of
litigation.
We
accomplish
this
by
means
of
full
input
and
clear
communication
with
plaintiff’s
counsel
to
narrow
and
define
the
scope
of
claims,
use
of
uniform
questionnaires
in
conjunction
with
opposing
counsel
in
lieu
of
costly
formal
discovery
and
judicious
use
of
attorney
manpower.
|
| Fraudulent
and
Suspect
Claims |
A
traditionally
strong
area
of
practice
of
Ford,
Walker,
Haggerty
&
Behar
has
been
the
identification
and
handling
of
fraudulent
and
suspect
claims.
We
have
substantial
experience
representing
insurance
carriers
and
their
insureds
in
defending
these
claims,
which
include
staged
and
"paper"
vehicular
collisions,
fraudulent
and
exaggerated
medical
claims,
and
arson,
homeowners
and
automobile
theft
claims.
We
interface
with
the
insurance
industry,
the
Insurance
Crime
Prevention
Institute
and
appropriate
agencies
of
law
enforcement
to
protect
the
industry,
its
insureds
and
the
general
public
from
exposure
to
fraudulent
claims.
Two
of
our
partners
are
members
of
the
Southern
California
Fraud
Investigators
Association.
Our
relationship
with
this
association
and
with
the
special
investigation
units
of
our
various
industry
clients
allows
us
to
stay
abreast
on
the
latest
developments.
Frequently
we
are
called
upon
to
advise
and
provide
seminars
to
the
industry
on
the
handling
of
fraudulent
and
suspect
claims.
|
| Convenient Locations |
The
Firm
has
offices
servicing
both
Northern
and
Southern
California
counties.
Long Beach provides a convenient geographic position from which to serve our major clients in both Los Angeles and Orange counties. Our offices are located in the
top
two
floors
of
the
World Trade Center, which is the centerpiece of a revitalized downtown Long Beach. Although the majority of the
Firm's
Southern
California
practice is concentrated in Los Angeles and Orange Counties, Ford, Walker, Haggerty & Behar also engages in all phases of litigation in federal and State courts in San Diego, San Bernardino, Ventura, Santa Barbara and Kern Counties for clients located across the United States and internationally.
Our
Sacramento
office
is
geographically
located
to
serve
our
major
clients
in
all
Northern
and
Central
Valley
counties.
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