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Firm News

Co-Founding Partner Greg Bentley Serves as Judge in UCI Law Moot Court Competition

On January 9, 2019 Greg Bentley served as a judge at the University of California, Irvine School of Law’s Moot Court Competition held at UCI Law School. This year, the students argued First Amendment speech issues in the context of public schools. Mr. Bentley enjoyed the experience and had this to say: “It was great seeing so many great young minds excelling at what they love. These students have bright futures in the legal field. Thank you to UCI Law for hosting such a fantastic competition!”

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Co-founding Partners Greg Bentley and Keith More Attend the Inauguration of Gavin Newsom

On January 7, 2019, Greg Bentley and Keith More attended the Inauguration of Gavin Newsom on the steps of the Capitol Building in Sacramento. The ceremony included the Governor’s address and remarks by First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom, and was followed by a celebration at the Governor’s Mansion, where Mr. Bentley was also interviewed by ABC7 news. Mr. Bentley and Mr. More have been avid supporters of Mr. Newsom from the beginning, and look forward to working with the Governor continuing to fight for consumer rights and protections in California.

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Co-founding Partner Keith More Donates $100,000 to DePaul University College of Law for Endowment Scholarship Fund

Co-founding Partner Keith More has generously donated $100,000 to set up an endowment scholarship fund at his alma mater DePaul University College of Law. The endowed fund is named “Keith and Paige More Breasties Endowed Scholarship” – and will serve to provide recognition and financial assistance to students enrolled in the College of Law, who have good academic standing and financial need, with a preference given to students who have been impacted, either directly or indirectly, by breast or ovarian cancer. Mr. More’s daughter, Paige More, underwent a preventive double mastectomy after testing positive for the BRCA1 gene that is known to cause cancer. Ms. More has since become an advocate and founded a nonprofit organization, The Breasties, which is dedicated to supporting young women affected by breast and ovarian cancer. By setting up this endowment, Mr. More is honoring his daughter’s ongoing fight with breast and ovarian cancer as well as honoring his mother Cookie’s legacy. Mr. More, a proud alumnus of the College of Law, is grateful for all the opportunities afforded to him and wishes to help future students.

For more information on The Breasties, please visit https://thebreasties.org/

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Bentley & More Hosts Veterans Legal Institute’s Lawyers for Warriors Planning Committee Meeting and Lunch

On Tuesday December 18, Bentley & More hosted the Veterans Legal Institute’s Lawyers for Warriors Planning Committee December Meeting and Lunch. Our own Natasha Axelrod is part of the planning committee for the next Lawyers for Warriors event to be held September 23, 2019 at the Center Club in Costa Mesa. The event is a networking and fundraising event honoring and supporting the Veterans Legal Institute, which provides pro bono legal services to veterans, and has served over 5,000 low-income veterans to date.

Bentley & More is proud to be working with such a dedicated and amazing organization. https://www.vetslegal.com/

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Bentley & More Partner Greg Bentley Quoted in The Press Democrat Following Announcement of Lawsuit Against Insurance Giant CSAA

Press coverage from Tuesday’s press conference announcing the filing of the lawsuit against insurance giant CSAA on behalf of five families who lost their homes in the 2017 wine country fires. Bentley & More’s Greg Bentley is quoted in the article linked below: “These AAA insureds — as well as many other AAA insureds throughout the state — are woefully underinsured in the event of a fire loss and will be unable to rebuild their home.”

https://www.pressdemocrat.com/business/9083572-181/santa-rosa-area-wildfire-victims-sue

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Bentley & More Partner Greg Bentley Announces Filing of Insurance Bad Faith Lawsuit Against Insurance Giant CSAA for Underinsuring Families Who Lost Their Homes in 2017 Wildfires

On December 18, 2018 Greg Bentley of Bentley & More LLP held a press conference to announce the filing of an insurance bad faith lawsuit by several families against AAA, known as CSAA Insurance Group in Northern California, claiming the insurance giant systematically underinsured their homes before the 2017 Wildfires destroyed their properties. Because of AAA’s actions, these families have been left hundreds of thousands of dollars short of the cost to rebuild their homes. Despite purchasing AAA homeowner insurance policies they thought would take care of them when disaster strikes, many cannot even begin rebuilding their homes, moving back into their communities, and trying to rebuild their lives. Mr. Bentley, along with co-counsel Chris Kreeger of Rosenthal & Kreeger, represents five families whose properties were damaged and who are suing CSAA.

The event was covered by the local ABC, KPIX/CBS, and KTVU/Fox stations, as well as the Santa Rosa Press Democrat.

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Bentley & More Partner Keith More Helps Raise Over $216,000 for Charity at OCTLA Top Gun Awards Ceremony

On December 1st, Bentley and More LLP Partner Keith More helped raise over $216,000 for charity as the live auctioneer at the Orange County Trial Lawyers Association’s (OCTLA) Top Gun Awards ceremony held at the Westin South Coast Plaza. Every year the annual event raises money for charity, and this year’s deserving non-profit was Together We Rise, an organization dedicated to helping children in foster care. Mr. More, a three time winner of OCTLA Trial Lawyer of the Year and former president of the organization, is in his eighth year of serving as live auctioneer for the annual event. Bentley & More also sponsored the sold out event. “We could not be more excited to help in raising a record amount for Together We Rise. Everyone involved is absolutely amazing,” said Mr. More. Please join us in our commitment this holiday season in giving back to the community. Photo by Rick Kraemer, Executive Presentations.

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Bentley & More Partners Greg Bentley and Clare Lucich Obtain $947,000 Verdict Against $185,000 Offer

THIS JUST IN: Bentley & More partners Greg Bentley and Clare Lucich obtained a $947,000 verdict against Corona Del Mar Properties LLC. The offer going into Trial was $185,000! Defense asked the jury to award only $50,000 to $100,000, but clearly the jury did not buy the defense’s attempt to discount justice. In this case, the Plaintiff slipped and fell on a freshly painted walkway at a retail property and suffered serious injuries to her shoulder and bicep requiring surgery. The Plaintiff was additionally diagnosed with Neurogenic Thoracic Outlet Syndrome, a nerve compression disorder resulting in pain, numbness, and tingling. Great work Greg and Clare!

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Options for Compensation After a Wildfire

California’s recent fires have caused millions of dollars in destruction from property damage, injury, and death. The 2018 fire season has the dubious honor of being the worst in California history. Thousands of residents throughout the state have been displaced from their homes and suffered both tangible and intangible losses as a result. Knowing your options for compensation following a wildfire is one of the best ways to protect your family... Read More

How Insurance Companies Take Advantage of Wildfire Victims

Tragically, this has been a catastrophic year for wildfires throughout the state of California. Several blazes have ravaged the area, leading to hundreds of thousands of acres burned, thousands of people displaced from their homes, and millions of dollars of property damage. With so many people reporting total losses, insurance companies are inundated with claims. As a policyholder, you essentially pay your premiums in exchange for a promis... Read More

Mudslide Risk After Wildfires

In the wake of the recent Camp Fire that ripped through Paradise and surrounding communities, thousands of California residents find themselves displaced from their homes. The blaze led to millions of dollars in property damage and dozens of injuries and deaths. As the deadliest wildfire in California history, officials are still tallying the damage – and residents will feel the effects for years to come. Though the blaze may be officially ... Read More

Greg Bentley Featured on KNBC Los Angeles

Randy Mac of KNBC Los Angeles ran an in-depth piece on one of Greg Bentley’s clients and her 18 month old daughter who were severely injured by a defective e-cigarette battery. Mr. Bentley also discussed the complete lack of regulation in the e-cigarette industry and how it continually puts consumers at risk.

https://www.nbclosangeles.com/investigations/E-cigarette-lawsuit-toddler-burned-unregulated-danger-explosion-500885471.html

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Bentley & More Fighting LG Chem’s Attempt to Avoid Responsibility for Exploding E-Cigarette Battery Injuries

November 19, 2018 – Orange County, CA – LG Chem, LTD. is the Korean company responsible for manufacturing many of the exploding lithium-ion batteries used in today’s e-cigarette devices. It is now attempting to shield itself from responsibility for the devastating injuries suffered by unsuspecting consumers when their defective LG battery exploded. Although California e-cigarette users can easily and routinely purchase LG lithium-ion batteries in retail stores and online, LG has filed seven motions (with more to come) throughout the state seeking to avoid legal responsibility for this harm based upon a “lack of California jurisdiction.”

Greg Bentley, founding partner of Bentley & More LLP in Newport Beach, CA, which is litigating more than 20 cases in which an LG lithium-ion battery exploded and severely injured a California consumer, is pushing back against this stall tactic. On November 13, Bentley’s firm filed a Motion to Transfer and Coordinate Actions in Orange County Superior Court asking to coordinate at least seven actions for the purposes of conducting the necessary and relevant jurisdictional discovery.

“It’s shocking that this company buries its head in the sand, reaping profits on the sale of these defective LG lithium-ion batteries, and then has the gall to assert essentially, ‘hey, we are from South Korea, you can’t sue us in California.’ It’s appalling and consumers should be aware,” said Bentley. Bentley & More is leading the charge in holding e-cigarette companies accountable, with Greg Bentley handling cases on behalf of injured consumers throughout the United States. “LG’s tactics are just another shining example of the e-cigarette industry’s desire to put profit over safety. We will keep fighting and keep bringing attention to the issue, until something changes,” said Bentley.

About Bentley & More LLP
Bentley & More LLP specializes in working closely with clients to deeply understand their lives and tell their individual stories. The firm’s success comes from tailoring each solution to a client’s particular needs. That success is measured in far more than awards, verdicts, and peer recognition, it is measured in the real differences made in our clients’ quality of life. Bentley & More focuses on the representation of consumers in the fields of catastrophic personal injury, product liability, insurance bad faith, and workers’ compensation, with particular expertise in matters that cross over multiple fields.

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What Happens if I Get in an Accident in an Uber?

The peer-to-peer model of doing business has enjoyed immense popularity in recent years. For both convenience and cost-savings, more people are skipping the taxi services in favor of companies like Uber and Lyft. These companies have their advantages but also their dangers. For one, Uber and Lyft lack the thorough vetting processes of cab companies. Additionally, since the peer-to-peer model is relatively new, liability is still an evolving ar... Read More

Are Bird Scooters Safe to Ride?

The sharing economy has become more popular in recent years, and intrepid entrepreneurs are thinking beyond the basic car service and room sharing. Alternative modes of transportation, like boats and even bikes, have become a part of the sharing economy. The Bird Scooter is an electric device that people can use to make their way around town. They’re convenient, but are they safe? A Convenient Mode of Transport The Bird Scooter system is con... Read More

Pursuing Damages for a Dog Bite in California

Pets are more than just animals; for many of us, they’re members of the family. We tend to their needs as we would for any other loved one – we take them to the vet for medical care, feed them, and make sure they feel loved. Unfortunately, not everyone shares the same care and devotion to their animals. When the negligent care or supervision of a dog leads to another’s injury, the owner of the animal might be liable for the damages that res... Read More

Bentley & More partners featured in Sept./Oct. ’18 edition of CAOC’s Forum magazine

Electronic cigarettes are an ongoing and burgeoning problem.  Beyond their obvious pitfalls, e-cigs can catastrophically explode—blasting shrapnel, flames, and corrosive chemicals onto helpless users. And what should seem like a straightforward liability case often turns into a different beast altogether. This article, written by Bentley & More partners Greg Bentley and Matt Clark, explores some of the issues arising in e-cig litigation, how to properly begin to address those potential pitfalls, and the new direction these cases may be heading.

Click HERE or Photo below to view the full article.

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Bentley & More sponsor OCWLA 43rd Annual Gala

The Orange County Women Lawyers Association (OCWLA) held its 43rd Annual Gala at the spectacular Pelican Hill Resort on September 13, 2018.  The event is a major fundraiser for the organization and supports its charitable giving, scholarship and other programs throughout the year.  At the helm was this year’s OCWLA President, Jaimi Groothuis.  Over 300 judges, attorneys, friends, and family were in attendance.

OCWLA President-Elect, Michelle Philo, did an incredible job planning this year’s Gala.  Guests were greeted with a glass of champagne on the resort’s veranda while they perused the silent auction baskets and enjoyed a beautiful sunset overlooking Crystal Cove.  The event then moved inside for the dinner program where Keith More emceed the evening, entertaining the audience and helping the organization raise over $12,000 in live donations throughout the course of the night.

The evening focused on this year’s honorees, Judge Karen Robinson, OCWLA’s Judge of the Year, Andra Greene, Attorney of the Year, and Best Best & Krieger, LLP, received the first ever Advancement of Women Award.  OCWLA’s major philanthropic recipients, WHW and Girl’s Inc., were also recognized for the great work they do to open doors for the girls and women of Orange County.

For the fifth year in a row, Bentley & More proudly sponsored OCWLA’s Gala, which has become one of the premier events for Orange County’s legal community.

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California’s Car Insurance Laws

California operates under a fault-based system for car accidents and insurance purposes. This means a driver is responsible for the damages he or she causes on the road. Drivers must purchase automobile insurance that covers the state’s minimum insurance requirements. It’s also important to understand how fault works in car accident insurance settlements and lawsuits. An Orange County car accident lawyer can help you navigate the legal process... Read More

Crosswalk Right of Way in California

California is home to some of the most congested traffic in the country, but countless pedestrians are also making their way through California streets every day. Drivers need to exercise care around pedestrians, and it’s a wise idea to know the laws concerning pedestrians’ right-of-way on California roads. Pedestrians should also know a few best practices to avoid serious accidents and injuries. If you have questions or think you have a case,... Read More