Legal Services & Lawyers

Ms. Benedict grew up in San Diego, California. Throughout her childhood and into her adult life, Ms. Benedict has been an avid athlete. Her passion for athletics has shaped Ms. Benedict's life and approach to the practice of law.

Ms. Benedict completed her undergraduate studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara and received her law degree from the University of San Diego School of Law.

While Ms. Benedict was attending law school, she worked for the non-profit appellate law firm, Appellate Defenders, Inc. (ADI.) ADI administers the appointed counsel system in the Fourth Appellate District for indigent defendants on appeal. As a clerk at ADI, Ms. Benedict received extensive training in appellate brief writing. Upon graduating from law school, Ms. Benedict stayed on at ADI as a staff attorney. During her time as a staff attorney at ADI, Ms. Benedict represented in excess of 100 clients on appeal and presented numerous arguments at the Court of Appeal and three appearances at the California Supreme Court. Additionally, Ms. Benedict supervised the work of other appellate practitioners appointed to represent defendants on appeal.

In the summer of 2005, Ms. Benedict opened her own private practice. The focus of Ms. Benedict's practice remains appellate representation, both civil and criminal, as well as providing legal research and writing services to trial attorneys. However, Ms. Benedict's passion for athletes and her joy of cycling, led to the deveoplement of a niche practice of representing cyclists who have been injured.

Samuel Spital is the Managing Attorney at Spital and Associates. He is committed to personal service; his honesty, integrity and trustworthiness are only surpassed by his exceptionally high level of concern for his client. The law firm serves individuals and businesses in a wide array of civil, administrative and criminal matters.

Sam Spital began his legal career as a Deputy Attorney General for the California Department of Justice (serving from 1970 - 1978, in both the Criminal and Civil Law Divisions). As a Deputy Attorney General, he handled over 50 appeals, in all State and Federal Courts. Additionally, he prosecuted several hundred businesses and professionals licensed by the State for unprofessional conduct, violations of criminal statutes, gross negligence, consumer fraud, white-collar crimes, and other misdeeds. He represented nearly every State Agency, California Board and Bureau in cases involving fraud, breach of contract, construction defects, negligence, malpractice, health care, unprofessional conduct and unfair business practices

In 1978, Sam started his own Law Firm, eventually becoming Managing Attorney supervising seven offices throughout California, a team of 10 lawyers and nearly 50 employees handling over 10,000 cases. Also, Sam served as a Deputy Probation Officer for the County of San Diego (2001-2002) in the Adult Field Services section at the Hall of Justice in Downtown, San Diego. Sam's relentless focus on his clients and their needs and desires continues to be the paradigm for his law firm. The motto is: "A Law Firm that Cares!"