Deckard Law Firm Attorney Profiles

Education: J.D., University of Santa Clara, cum laude, 1981; B.A., English, University of Santa Clara, 1971; California Certified Legal Malpractice Specialist, 2011, California State Bar Certified Legal Malpractice Specialist

Practice Areas: Legal Malpractice; Trust, Estate and Probate Litigation; Commercial Litigation; Civil Litigation; Mediation

Admissions: 1981, California, U.S. District Court, Northern District of California and U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit; 1999, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California; 1999, U.S. Tax Court.

HONORS: CALIFORNIA SUPER LAWYER: 2008, 2009; Martindale-Hubbell Bar Register Of Preeminent Women Lawyers, 2011

Biography:
Since 1981, Diane Deckard has been providing legal representation to clients throughout the San Francisco and Monterey Bay areas. Beginning as an associate at Hoge, Fenton, Jones & Appel in San Jose, Ms. Deckard gained experience in every facet of civil litigation by defending a wide variety of matters for individuals and businesses. She went on to develop a practice in which, for approximately nine years, she focused on the defense of lawyers, accountants and financial planners in professional negligence actions.

A part of her practice remains the defense of attorneys, but since 1997, Ms. Deckard has devoted the majority of the professional liability aspect of the practice to representing the clients of lawyers who failed to perform competently. Her experience as a defense lawyer enables her to evaluate cases objectively and to plan effective strategies, anticipating defenses that will be raised. Prepared to go to trial if that is the best strategy, her training and experience as a mediator serves the firm’s clients well in exploring settlement options thoroughly first. In 2001, she completed a 40-hour course in Commercial Mediation through ADRA.

In addition to legal malpractice, her civil litigation practice includes the representation of business clients in a wide variety of litigation matters including partnership, breach of contract, officer and director liability, fraud and misrepresentation cases, and business torts of all kinds. She also represents individuals in estate and probate litigation, contested wills, elder financial abuse matters and partnership disputes.

For examples of cases she has handled, see Practice Areas overview.




Education: J.D., University of Santa Clara, 1981; B.A., University of Santa Clara, magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa

Practice Areas:Legal Malpractice; Civil Litigation; Commercial Litigation; Estate & Trust Litigation

Admissions: 1981 California State Courts, U.S. District – Eastern and Northern Districts, U.S. Court of Appeals Ninth Circuit

Miscellaneous Information: Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society, Recipient Emory Scholarship; Public Interest Law Certification

Biography:
Since 1981, Lynn Toma has practiced law in the field of civil litigation. The first eleven years of her career were devoted to a Plaintiff’s personal injury practice involving a variety of cases including medical malpractice, legal malpractice, product liability and peculiar risk of harm. She litigated cases against defendants as varied as the U.S Government, General Motors, P.G. & E., and hundreds of other companies and individuals.

Since 1992 Ms. Toma has broadened her practice to include general civil litigation cases and the representation of both Plaintiffs and Defendants. In this later phase of her career, she has handled complex civil litigation, contract disputes, business torts, fraud, will and trust contests, legal malpractice and financial elder abuse litigation.

Ms. Toma excels at legal research and writing, and is a skilled negotiator. She has drafted thousands of winning motions and briefs and negotiated the settlement of hundreds of cases. Her interpersonal skills have enabled her to communicate effectively with clients, as well as opposing counsel, in order to bring about the successful resolution of her cases. She truly enjoys being part of the team of highly qualified and dedicated professionals that comprise the Deckard Law Firm.