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Lawyer Profile

Image of Sherman M. Spitz

Sherman M. Spitz

Berger Kahn , ALC
  • Recognized Since:
    2016
  • Recognized in:
    Litigation - Insurance
    Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs
  • Website:
    http://www.bergerkahn.com
  • Location:
    One Park Plaza, Suite 340
    Irvine, CA 92614

Sherman M. Spitz is one of the most experienced trial attorneys in California, having tried more than 90 cases to jury verdict. A particular focus of his practice is substituting into cases at the eleventh hour and getting excellent results in the courtroom. Sherman is rated A.V., the highest rating, by Martindale Hubbell.

Sherman is well-versed in all aspects of litigation at the pretrial, trial, and appellate levels in federal and state courts, as well as in arbitrations and mediations.

Representing both plaintiffs and defendants, Sherman has successfully litigated a wide range of civil litigation cases, including business litigation, insurance bad faith, employment, and personal injury litigation. He also has handled legal malpractice, healthcare-provider negligence, and police abuse cases.

Sherman has extensive experience in defending insurance carriers in litigated, as well as non-litigated, matters.

In addition to being named to the list of 2016-present Best Lawyers, from 2012-present he was named to the list of Southern California Super Lawyers, with recognition to the lists of “Top 50″ Orange County Super Lawyers from 2013-present, and “Top 100″ Southern California Super Lawyers in 2015 and again in 2017.

Over the years, he has developed a niche specialty in protecting the insurance carriers’ interests in arson and/or fraud claims, including defending the carriers in bad faith litigation, pursuing declaratory relief actions and conducting examinations under oath.

In select cases that have not presented a conflict of interest, Sherman has also represented insureds against insurance carriers. He has lectured on numerous topics related to claims investigation and good faith claims handling.

Sherman has achieved a number of multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements on behalf of plaintiffs, including a $7.5 million settlement in a wrongful death action and a $6.5 million settlement in an employment discrimination case. He has also obtained numerous defense verdicts.

From 1979 to 1981, Sherman served as a Deputy District Attorney in the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, where he conducted scores of jury trials and hundreds of preliminary hearings. Sherman is one of two founding partners of Berger Kahn’s Orange County Office, which was opened in 1984.

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  • Lawyer Bio
  • Client Comments
  • Firm Details
  • Legal Insights
  • News & Media
  • Case History

Lawyer Bio

Sherman M. Spitz is one of the most experienced trial attorneys in California, having tried more than 90 cases to jury verdict. A particular focus of his practice is substituting into cases at the eleventh hour and getting excellent results in the courtroom. Sherman is rated A.V., the highest rating, by Martindale Hubbell.

Sherman is well-versed in all aspects of litigation at the pretrial, trial, and appellate levels in federal and state courts, as well as in arbitrations and mediations.

Representing both plaintiffs and defendants, Sherman has successfully litigated a wide range of civil litigation cases, including business litigation, insurance bad faith, employment, and personal injury litigation. He also has handled legal malpractice, healthcare-provider negligence, and police abuse cases.

Sherman has extensive experience in defending insurance carriers in litigated, as well as non-litigated, matters.

In addition to being named to the list of 2016-present Best Lawyers, from 2012-present he was named to the list of Southern California Super Lawyers, with recognition to the lists of “Top 50″ Orange County Super Lawyers from 2013-present, and “Top 100″ Southern California Super Lawyers in 2015 and again in 2017.

Over the years, he has developed a niche specialty in protecting the insurance carriers’ interests in arson and/or fraud claims, including defending the carriers in bad faith litigation, pursuing declaratory relief actions and conducting examinations under oath.

In select cases that have not presented a conflict of interest, Sherman has also represented insureds against insurance carriers. He has lectured on numerous topics related to claims investigation and good faith claims handling.

Sherman has achieved a number of multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements on behalf of plaintiffs, including a $7.5 million settlement in a wrongful death action and a $6.5 million settlement in an employment discrimination case. He has also obtained numerous defense verdicts.

From 1979 to 1981, Sherman served as a Deputy District Attorney in the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, where he conducted scores of jury trials and hundreds of preliminary hearings. Sherman is one of two founding partners of Berger Kahn’s Orange County Office, which was opened in 1984.

Read more on firm website
  • Bar Admissions
  • Affiliations
  • Award List

Bar Admissions:

  • California, 1978

Affiliations:

  • American Board of Trial Advocates - Member
  • Orange County Bar Association - Member

Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America for work in:

  • Litigation - Insurance
  • Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs
 

Awards:

  • “America’s Top 100 High Stakes Litigators” Lifetime Achievement Honor
  • 2012 Southern California Super Lawyers
  • 2013 Southern California Super Lawyers
  • 2014 Southern California Super Lawyers
  • 2015 Southern California Super Lawyers
  • 2016 Southern California Super Lawyers
  • 2017 Southern California Super Lawyers
  • 2018 Southern California Super Lawyers
  • 2019 Southern California Super Lawyers
  • 2020 Southern California Super Lawyers
  • America’s Top 100 High Stakes Litigators 2018
  • AV Preeminent Peer Review Rated – Martindale-Hubbell
  • Best Lawyers of America 2016 Southern California - Litigation-Insurance
  • Best Lawyers of America 2017 Southern California
  • Best Lawyers of America 2018 Southern California
  • Best Lawyers of America 2019 Southern California
  • Top 100 Southern California Super Lawyers 2015
  • Top 100 Southern California Super Lawyers 2017
  • Top 50 Orange County Southern California Super Lawyers 2013
  • Top 50 Orange County Southern California Super Lawyers 2014
  • Top 50 Orange County Southern California Super Lawyers 2015
  • Top 50 Orange County Southern California Super Lawyers 2016
  • Top 50 Orange County Southern California Super Lawyers 2017
  • Top 50 Orange County Southern California Super Lawyers 2018
  • %u201CAmerica%u2019s Top 100 Attorneys%u201D Lifetime Achievement Honor
 

Lawyer Client Comments

Firm Details

Berger Kahn , ALC
http://www.bergerkahn.com
 
3 Office Locations
in 1 Country

United States

United States

California

California

Corte Madera, CA

300 Tamal Plaza, Suite 215

Corte Madera, CA 94925

United States

(415) 891.3321

Get Directions

Irvine, CA

One Park Plaza, Suite 340

Irvine, CA 92614

United States

(949) 474.1880

Get Directions

San Diego, CA

10085 Carroll Canyon Road, Suite 210

San Diego, CA 92131

United States

(858) 547.0075

Get Directions

Legal Insights

Southern California In the News
In the News: Southern California

News & Media

Related Articles

In the News: Southern California

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Recent News

Sherman Spitz of Berger Kahn accepted into American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA)

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Featured Publications

Cover for our Southern California publication

Lawyer Case History

Favorable Result by Principal Sherman Spitz Led to Recent Appeal Victory

Berger Kahn Principal Sherman Spitz represented a large company in a case that was subsequently defended upon appeal years later, thanks, in part to the groundwork laid by Spitz in the initial case. Kmart Corporation v. Hartford Fire Insurance Company is a result arising from Spitz’s original trial. In it, the judge ruled that the insurer had breached its duty to defend by not agreeing to defend. The appellate court reversed the trial judge’s decision denying the insurers request to be reimbursed for the defense fees it paid. Kmart Corporation v. Hartford Fire Insurance Company defended the appeal, and also won its cross appeal and recovered around $100,000 in defense fees.
 
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