Alternative Dispute Resolution

We believe the goal of every claim should be to avoid litigation and where possible to resolve the matter early, perhaps through a form of alternative dispute resolution. To this end the members of the firm are certified as mediators and arbitrators in the county courts (www.lasuperiorcourt.org). All members have had extensive training and experience in these processes, with training and certification through Pepperdine University's Institute for Dispute Resolution and the Los Angeles County Bar Dispute Resolution Services. The firm engages in an active mediation and arbitration practice, both private and through county courts.

Business Litigation

The firm represents a number of local and national businesses and assists them in resolving business related disputes. We provide advice and assistance with drafting contracts, partnership agreements, and other legal documents. We also provide litigation support with enforcing contracts, and with defending breach of contract claims. We recognize that litigation as a business expense for our clients, and strive to resolve all matters effectively and efficiently.

Elevator Litigation

Upon graduating from Georgia Tech, Mr. Saacke was first employed by Otis Elevator Company in their southeastern region in Atlanta, Georgia. Mr. Saacke worked in the field with construction in the new installation of geared and gearless units, on the modernization of existing units, and with field adjusters. Mr. Saacke spent six months at the Otis headquarters in New York undergoing their rigorous training program following which he worked in the Atlanta office and then in new equipment and service sales in Nashville, Tennessee.

Mr. Saacke has handled the defense of cases involving elevators and escalators with the City of Los Angeles, Department of Airports in both state and federal courts. Numerous manufacturers were represented in the mix of equipment operated by this client who performed their own maintenance.

In addition, Mr. Saacke has represented small independent elevator maintenance companies through Golden Eagle Insurance Company. And, he has handled geared, gearless and hydraulic elevator litigation for General Elevator Company, U.S. Elevator, Dover Elevator, and ThyssenKrup Elevator Corporation.

Governmental Tort Litigation

For over 20 years, the firm has represented various public entities including transit companies, police departments, school districts, cities and counties in the defense of the varied claims to which these clients are exposed. This specialized area of litigation involves public transit, police civil liability, premises liability and other claims arising under the governmental tort claims act as well as constitutional claims such as inverse condemnation.

Insurance Coverage

Insurance Fraud and Questionable Claims

Investment Loss

McNulty & Saacke assists brokers, broker-dealers, clearing firms, and investment bankers on a variety of matters. Our experience includes defending customer claims of negligence, breach of fiduciary duty, unsuitability, and churning, defending alleged California Corporations Code violations related to market manipulation, providing representation to individuals during depositions and NASD interrogations obtaining expungement orders, and resolving collection matters. We also advise and assist our clients with NASD and SEC compliance issues.

Maritime

McNulty & Saacke has handled maritime claims since its inception. We currently represent steamship lines, container terminals, and various other ocean, rail and land transportation entities. We are a full service firm to our maritime clients, and not only provide litigation support, but review and draft maritime contracts, and act as personal counsel for individual members. Our experience includes handling Jones Act cases, LHWCA cases, cargo loss and subrogation matters, and attending dockside and on-board vessels to address deaths, injuries, oil spills, cargo loss, damage and contamination, stowaways, deserters, AQMD violations, contraband smuggling, immigration issues, safe manning requirements, coast guard and other civil and criminal violations. We have developed a special expertise with handling cargo theft matters, both for individual carriers and insurance companies.

Mortgage Banking & Lender Liability

McNulty & Saacke provides litigation support to banks, mortgage bankers and lenders. Our attorneys have litigated a wide variety of matters, including wrongful foreclosures, discrimination claims, fraud and breach of contract claims against correspondents and brokers, claims of inadequate disclosures, REO related claims, and claims of improper loan servicing. Our practice area also includes litigation involving RSPA, TILA, Fair Credit Reporting Acts, and Fair Debt Collection Practices Acts.

Premises Liability

The firms experience in premises liability runs the full range, from the traditional slip and fall cases through those involving allegations of false arrest, assault and battery, defective conditions and improper security. Representative clients have included markets, airports, apartment complexes, hotels, laundromats, schools and other public property.

Products Liability

Both Mr. Saacke and Mr. McNulty have had years of experience as applications engineers. Mr. Saacke is a graduate engineer in mechanical engineering from Georgia Tech. The firms litigation experience in this area includes alleged vehicle defects involving lift gates, seat belts, gas caps, steering mechanisms, wheels and fuel systems; machine tools, including punch presses, steel rolling equipment, drilling and boring machinery; miscellaneous machinery and equipment such as elevators, escalators, washing machines, rota-tillers, power tools and accessories; and also consumer products including campers, shoes, coffee makers, children’s toys and food products.

Risk Management Support

In addition to litigation support, the firm has worked in the early investigation of accidents in order to provide an accurate assessment of exposure while protecting the investigation as work product.

The firm is available as well for seminars geared to educate local personnel on the ways to reduce exposure and how to be prepared in the event of litigation.

Transportation

Since its inception, the firm has handled litigation in the areas of private and commercial transportation. The firm involves itself with issues of DMV and ICC regulations as well as the various national and international acts and conventions governing the transit of goods and persons. Sample cases have included public and private transit lines; local, infra-state, intra-state and international carriers; truck and automobile rental companies, frieght forwarders and maritime claims.