Gerald Barry Dorfman

I am responsible for all matters handled by my office. Paralegals, law clerks and associates may be utilized in appropriate situations, but the buck stops with me. Intentionally remaining small has enabled me to continue to provide unparalleled personal attention and confidentiality. My clients are the reason I am here, and I work hard for the best results possible. I am honored by the trust placed in me, and strive to maintain it at the highest level. You are entitled to understand the law applicable to your matter and the options available, as well as my best advice. I have served hundreds of satisfied clients over the years and look forward to continuing to serve with determination, skill and integrity.

Columbia University

B.A.

UC Hastings COL

Law Degree

Lead Counsel Rated

Lead Counsel

2016

Lead Counsel Rated

Lead Counsel

2014

100 Trust Rating

LawGives

2014

California State Bar  # 107581

Member

1983 - Current

California

Since 1983

9th Circuit

Since 1984

• Credit Cards Accepted
  Through PayPal and Venmo.
• Contingent Fees
  Contingency fees range from 15% to 45%. These apply to personal injury cases, and select other matters.
• Rates, Retainers and Additional Information
  Regular hourly rate is $450.

Real Estate Law

Commercial Real Estate, Condominiums, Easements, Eminent Domain, Homeowners Association, Land Use & Zoning, Mortgages, Neighbor Disputes, Residential Real Estate, Water Law

Business Law

Business Contracts, Business Dissolution, Business Finance, Business Formation, Business Litigation, Franchising, Mergers & Acquisitions, Partnership & Shareholder Disputes

Personal Injury

Animal & Dog Bites, Brain Injury, Car Accidents, Construction Accidents, Motorcycle Accidents, Premises Liability, Truck Accidents, Wrongful Death

Arbitration & Mediation

Business Arbitration, Consumer Arbitration, Family Arbitration

Appeals & Appellate

Civil Appeals, Federal Appeals

Elder Law

Landlord Tenant

Evictions, Housing Discrimination, Landlord Rights, Rent Control, Tenants' Rights

Probate

Probate Administration, Probate Litigation, Will Contests

• Litigation

Q. Requesting information about being a non-spousal beneficiary on the life insurance plan of my deceased ex-partner.

22 November 2021

A: This is the type of detailed information you should not be posting on the Internet. Just by way of example, assume you have a right to both, but there is strong possibility one or more relatives may file suit. One good outcome would be to disclaim the 401K in exchange for a release for all claims from all potential litigants. Letting the entire world know your bargaining position (which you do by posting on the Internet) is not at all conducive to that negotiated resolution. Since there is apparently a decent amount of money involved, arrange a detailed document review and consultation with a competent attorney, so you can explore all your options privately.

Q. Is it worth getting a lawyer if a family is sueing me for crashing into them when they had said they were not injured.

10 November 2021

A: Turn this over to your insurance company right away. They will provide you with a lawyer and defend you. If you did not have insurance, you will have to defend yourself, and risk having a very large judgement against you, as well as having your license taken away until you pay the judgement. It is not uncommon for people to think they are okay at the scene, and find out later they had injuries, sometimes very serious ones. You need to be sure you act right away so you (hopefully your lawyer) don't miss the deadline to respond to the lawsuit.

Q. How to move Grandpa in our rental house if we have tenants on a lease until Feb 2021???

8 November 2021

A: If you have a valid lease with your tenants which runs through February, 2022, you can't force them to leave before then. A lease is a contract. Your best course may be to try to negotiate a buyout.