Profile
Professional Experience
Law Office of Justin Tierney
(1993-Present)
Sacramento, California
Principal of civil litigation defense practice focusing on personal injury and property defense, construction defect and construction law, public entity defense, premise, and product liability, litigation defense, and insurance law including coverage disputes in Federal and California courts. Judicial mediator and arbitrator for local superior courts and private mediator and arbitrator.
Mason and Thomas
(1987-1993)
Sacramento, California
Employed by insurance defense firm. Specialized in construction defect, public entity defense, motor vehicle accidents, and complex litigation involving environmental and construction law.
Law Office of James S. Reed
(1984-1986)
Sacramento, California
During law school, employed as law clerk for personal injury, contract and business transaction law.
California Energy Commission
(1979-1982)
Geothermal Energy Specialist
Before attending law school, responsible for a statewide marketing strategy to develop an alternative energy technology (direct use of geothermal energy). Educated and assisted businesses, investors, engineers and local government entities toward developing specific applications of the technology. Also, responsible for coordinating NEPA/CEQA (EIS/EIR) review for the Commission. Published reports included a guide to small scale electric geothermal development and wind development EIR.
Education
McGeorge School of Law
(1982-1986)
Sacramento, California
Juris Doctor
A practical legal education emphasizing insurance, property and contract law, civil litigation and alternative dispute resolution.
University of California, at Davis
(1974-1978)
Bachelor of Science, "Biological Ecology"
Created an individual, interdisciplinary major that included bio-chemistry, ecology, life sciences, genetics, advanced mathematics, human development and earth sciences.
Professional Affiliations
Member: State Bar of California; Northern, Eastern and Central U.S. District Courts of California, and Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.
Continuing Legal Education Instructor: Strategies for Conducting Successful Contractual Arbitration (CEB); Handling Complex Civil Litigation (CCLSA); Construction Defects and Mold Litigation (Lorman) and Advanced Deposition Tactics (NBI). Guest lecturer at the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law.
Professional Affiliations: Sacramento Risk Management Forum (Past President), Member of Sacramento County Bar Association, Association of Defense Counsel of Northern California, and Federal Bar Association.
Relevant Legal Publications
“Construction Defect and Mold Litigation” Solving Water Intrusion and Mold Problems in California (Lorman: 2002/2003)
"California Home Builders' Market: Analysis of Construction Defect and Mold Litigation" (For Munich Re, Zurich, Switzerland - May, 2004)
“Defending Your Expert’s Testimony” Advanced Expert Witness Deposition Tactics (NBI: January 2009)
“Construction Defect and Mold Litigation” Advances in Environmental Mold Issues in California (Lorman: 2003)