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Litigation
Los Angeles, California, 90017
Acker & Whipple pursues excellence in defense litigation. We commit to providing professionally and personally satisfying career opportunities for attorneys and staff with challenging and rewarding responsibilities and enrichment of career skills in a nurturing, team-oriented environment. We believe this foundation enables us to better provide high-quality, full-service legal representation in civil tort litigation. The fundamental responsibility of the firm’s leadership is to implement and maintain this mission.
Acker & Whipple has successfully represented manufacturers, large and small, in a wide variety of lawsuits. Our attorneys have defended distributors and sellers, as well, in personal injury and property damage cases involving alleged defects in design and manufacture and insufficient warnings. The firm has successfully handled complex, multi-party litigation involving alleged harmful exposure to asbestos, cases involving catastrophic or fatal injuries allegedly caused by construction materials and equipment, automotive equipment, and recreational products, as well as cases involving household and personal items. Acker & Whipple, while always mindful to maintain a cost-effective approach, is proud of it success record in product liability litigation and case resolution.
Jerri joined Acker, Kowalick & Whipple in 1995 and accepted a shareholder position in 2000. In 2004, Jerri took on the responsibilities of managing partner for the firm. She continues, however, to maintain a full case load of larger exposure litigated matters as well as responsibility for the supervision and training of associate attorneys. Jerri’s impressive legal experience includes 25+ years of defending clients through litigation, including commercial trucking litigation, products liability, construction workplace injuries and general tort claims such as complex automobile accidents and premises liability. Jerri has acted as lead or sole trial counsel on multiple jury and bench trials, and she is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA). She has successfully briefed and argued appellate issues before the California Courts of Appeal and the California Supreme Court.
The firm is celebrating with Stephen Acker as he passes this career milestone. The trial of Stephen’s 50th verdict focused on an indemnity provision of a construction contract to install new pipes and equipment in the plaintiff’s oil refinery. Plaintiff sought reimbursement of over $1.1 million for the costs of defending and settling a bodily injury claim it alleged arose out of the defendant client’s work when a valve failed to allow oil to spray onto adjoining property injuring a crew member of a passing railroad locomotive. Stephen argued successfully on behalf of the defendant that the defect was not part of the defendant’s work, which had been substantially altered between completion of the construction project and the occurrence of the underlying bodily injury claim. After eleven trial days, the jury returned a defense verdict. Congratulations, Stephen! Read More
Brendan Smith graduated from the University of California, San Diego with a B.S. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and a minor in English Literature before earning his J.D. from Loyola Law School, Los Angeles in 2016. While in law school, Brendan earned the top grade in his Ethical Lawyering course and was awarded First Honors. He received a similar distinction for his work in Appellate Advocacy. Outside the classroom, Brendan volunteered in a non-profit legal services organization where he had the opportunity to serve clients with a variety of legal issues including public benefits eligibility and advance planning. Prior to joining Acker & Whipple, he worked in a private law firm in Century City that specialized in personal injury.
Nick Pappas earned his J.D. from Southwestern Law School in 2015 and was admitted to the State Bar of California the same year, after graduating cum laude with a B.A. in History from the University of San Diego. While in law school, Mr. Pappas was awarded CALI and Witkin Awards for academic excellence and worked for the Southwestern Entertainment & the Arts Clinic. Prior to joining Acker & Whipple, Mr. Pappas worked on the Health Care Liability Team in the Los Angeles office of a well-known defense firm specializing in the defense of claims of medical malpractice and elder abuse. Mr. Pappas is a member of the State Bar of California and is admitted to the United States District Court, Central District of California.
Acker & Whipple attorneys have a successful history in the defense of trucking matters. We defend against catastrophic injury and wrongful death claims. Acker & Whipple assists our clients in every step of the claim investigation and resolution from scene investigation at the time of the accident to locating witnesses to obtaining the right expert in various fields such as accident reconstruction and biomechanics. We are proud, active members of the Trucking Industry Defense Association (TIDA) and stay abreast of new developments affecting the defense of trucking claims. While our goal is effective case resolution in a cost-effective matter, our attorneys understand that our clients’ may also have big-picture business concerns which affect litigation decisions and respect unconventional strategies when appropriate.
Sonie graduated magna cum laude from UCLA, where she received a B.A. in Anthropology and Communication Studies. In 2010, she earned her J.D. from Loyola Law School Los Angeles. During law school, Sonie was as a Certified Law Student and juvenile advocate with the Center for Juvenile Law & Policy. She also served as the Events Chair for the Evening Student Bar Association and was named the recipient of Loyola Law School’s 2010 National Association of Women Lawyers Outstanding Law Student Award. She has since obtained a broad range of defense litigation experience, including second-chairing multiple successful trials.
