Attorneys
Mark Skapik is the founder of the firm and has a broad range of litigation experience that includes trial and appellate work in both state and federal courts. Mr. Skapik graduated from California State Polytechnic University Pomona with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering in 1985. As an engineer, Mr. Skapik worked in the areas of mechanical airframe design, hydraulic engineering, quality control and product sales. His experience, background and related education in the engineering field bolsters and enhances his successful representation of clients. He is knowledgeable in the areas of product design, manufacturing processes, metal and plastics technology and structural and mechanical stress analysis. As an attorney, Mr. Skapik has handled matters from automobile liability claims to complex and lengthy construction defect trials. He also has extensive experience with a variety of large loss product liability matters, from printing press and automobile rollover cases to food poisoning and mold exposure matters.
Mr. Skapik received his law degree from Southwestern University College of Law and was admitted to practice in 1993, is a member of the California State Bar, and is admitted to practice in all of the State Courts and the Federal Court, Central District.
Ms. Skapik is counsel with the firm, whose practice areas focus primarily in litigation and organization of complex matters and environmental and land use cases, including matters involving the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Endangered Species Act (ESA), Multispecies Habitat Conservation Plans, Coastal Commission Act, the Subdivision Map Act, California Planning and Zoning Laws, and Designation and Delineation of Wetlands. Ms. Skapik assists both private entities and public agencies with the preparation and defense of environmental documents prepared in association with CEQA and NEPA, including Environmental Impact Reports, and Environmental Impact Statements. Ms. Skapik has substantial state and appellate court experience litigating such matters. She is the attorney of record in several published CEQA, ESA, and land use cases.
Ms. Skapik also has experience litigating environmental matters involving the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC). Ms. Skapik also has extensive experience with complex products liability cases involving industrial, construction and retail products. Ms. Skapik has litigated complex multi-million dollar toxic tort matters, and has represented Fortune 500 companies in landmark environmental/toxic tort cases, including the Lockheed Litigation, the General Dynamics Litigation, and the Hughes Aircraft Litigation.
Ms. Skapik is admitted to practice in all California Courts and the United States District Courts for the Northern, Central, Eastern and Southern Districts of California, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, and the United States Supreme Court.
A Senior Associate with the firm, Mr. Rohde has experience in civil litigation matters with emphasis in general construction law, construction defect litigation, toxic mold, mechanics’ lien actions and personal injury matters. He also has extensive experience in the medical field, with in depth knowledge of medical terms, practices, procedures, as well as medical billing practices.
Mr. Rohde graduated cum laude from California State Polytechnic University with a Bachelor of Science in business administration in 1994. He received his law degree from Southwestern University College of Law and was admitted to practice in California in 2000. Mr. Rohde is also admitted to practice in the U.S. District Court – Central District and the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. He is a member of the American Bar Association, Federal Bar Association, Eastern Bar Association, and Los Angeles County Bar Association.
Mr. McNally is a member of the Los Angeles County Bar Association, the San Bernardino Bar Association and the Irish-American Bar Association. Mr. McNally also sits as an Associate Professor of Constitutional Law at Westwood College. Mr. McNally performed his undergraduate studies at Whittier College where he received a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and served as student body president. Mr. McNally attended Glendale University College of Law where he received a Juris Doctorate as well as the American Jurisprudence Award in Torts. Mr. McNally is admitted to practice in all California State Courts.
Miguel A. Ortiz, an associate of the firm, has extensive litigation experience representing both plaintiffs and defendants in personal injury, commercial and family law matters. In 2007, Mr. Ortiz successfully represented a Plaintiff at a wrongful termination trial who was awarded $1,000,000 in damages.
Mr. Ortiz graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles with a Bachelors of Arts degree in Political Science in 1994. He obtained his Juris Doctorate from Loyola Law School in 2006. Mr. Ortiz also served in the California Air National Guard from 2000 to 2006. Mr. Ortiz is a member of the State Bar of California and was admitted in 2006. Mr. Ortiz is admitted to practice in the U.S. District Court and Bankruptcy Court of California for the Central District, Southern and Eastern Districts. Mr. Ortiz is also an accredited attorney with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Mr. Ortiz is fluent in Spanish.
Mr. Mullen, an Associate Attorney with the firm, has practiced law in California, New York and Florida in the areas of trusts, estates and taxation law with an emphasis on estate planning and estate and trust administration.
A native of New York City, Mr. Mullen earned a bachelor’s degree from Iona College, received his law degree (J.D.), cum laude, from New York Law School and a Masters in Taxation Law (LL.M) from New York University.
Mr. Mullen has provided counsel and assistance to donors and their professional advisors on establishing charitable funds and foundations. Mr. Mullen has advised as to issues surrounding gifts of complex assets, planned and major gift fundraising, charitable estate planning, legacy planning and business succession issues and has lectured on the importance of life and estate planning.
Mr. Mullen is a member of the Trusts and Estates and Taxation sections of the California State and Los Angeles Bar Associations.
Attorney Eric C. Morris, provides representation and legal counsel in matters pertaining to Civil Litigation, Class Action, Bankruptcy, Immigration, Construction Defect, Consumer Protection, Disability Rights, Criminal Defense, Labor & Employment, Insurance / Bad Faith, Mass Tort, Trusts & Estates and Real Estate. Mr. Morris worked for law firms Stone, Rosenblatt & Cha, PLC; Koeller, Nebeker, Carlson, & Haluck, LLP; and Somach Simmons & Dunn, LLP. Mr. Morris has litigated disputes from inception through discovery, pre-trial proceedings, trial, mediation and arbitration, involving contract disputes, real estate disputes, construction defect defense, insurance defense, torts, professional licensure defense, insolvency and mortgage lending disputes.
During his years of practice, Mr. Morris assisted in successful litigation resolution of multiple complex-litigation, multi-party construction defect disputes on behalf of national developers. Mr. Morris successfully obtained a summary judgment on behalf of a developer and insurance company against a lien claimant. He successfully defended a national developer and national mortgage bank’s California real estate licenses against Department of Real Estate administrative law claims of real estate licensure violations. He second-chaired a successful prosecution of a six-figure arbitration judgment on behalf of an internet marketing company. He successfully bifurcated and licensed a national developer’s California operations with the Contractor’s State Licensing Board and Department of Real Estate. Mr. Morris successfully helped argue and win a plaintiff judgment in the United States Federal Court, Eighth Circuit, against the Environmental Protection Agency, requiring the revision of the Lead NAAQS Emission Standard to protect public health.
Mr. Morris is admitted to practice before all state courts in California; the Central, Southern and Eastern Districts of the U.S. District Court, California.
Eric C. Morris has a Juris Doctorate from Washington University School of Law, St. Louis where he was a Board Editor of the Washington University Law Review. Mr. Morris obtained his Bachelor of Arts, Business / Economics from the University of California, Santa Barbara. Prior to pursuing his legal endeavors, Mr. Morris served as a Congressional Page for the Speaker of the House of the United States Congress. He is an active member of the State Bar of California, Los Angeles County Bar Association, Habitat for Humanity, Volunteer Legal Services Program, and Walk Now.
Publications include:
Abigail Real & Bienvenido Real, Jr. v. Countrywide Home Loans, (2009) 2009 WL 249800 (S.D. Cal.).
Document Retention Obligations In The 21st Century, SRC At Issue (2008).
United Van Lines LLC and Mayflower Transit LLC v. Edwards, (2008) 2008 WL 2817574 (E.D. Cal.).
United Van Lines LLC v. Besch, (2008) 2008 WL 4066203 (N.D. Cal.).
Phillips v. Mayflower Transit LLC, (2008) 2008 WL 5043374 (Cal. Superior).
Missouri Coalition for the Environment v. Leavitt and US Environmental Protection Agency, 2004 WL 5608625 (E.D.Mo.) (2004).
Relicensing Oroville Dam – The Next 50 Years, 14 CAL. WATER L. & POL’Y RPTR 306 (2004).
Threats Loom to New Melones Water Supplies, 14 CAL. WATER L. & POL’Y RPTR 340 (2004).
During his downtime, Mr. Morris enjoys distance running, hiking, sailing and travel.
C. Mario Jaramillo, Esq., is an experienced relationship builder. During his first few years of practice, Mario worked at prominent California law firms, where he represented a multitude of clients. His caseload ranged from the simple to the complex; his clients from individuals to multi-national corporations.
As a result of his early legal experience, Mario was soon able to expand and open his own practice. Quickly, his practice grew and his representation of clients became more focused on assisting individuals with personal claims and small businesses with general matters. Due to his small business knowledge, Mario became a panel member of the SCORE workshops for the L.A. Chamber of Commerce and regularly lectured small business owners on the pros/cons of owning their own business, as well as legal pitfalls to avoid.
Mario now consults both clients and attorneys in a variety of legal matters; including the quality and marketing of one’s business/product/services. Mario’s expertise is in spotting the legal issues faced by his clients and compiling of team of attorneys and support staff to best represent the client’s interests and goals in the most efficient and economical manner. Attorneys and clients throughout California seek Mario’s counsel in this regard and he has established longstanding relationships with clients and fellow attorneys as a result.