Attorney Profiles
Diane C. Deckard
Member
diane@decklardlaw.com
Born: Weymouth, Massachusetts, March 4, 1947
Education: University of Santa Clara, B.A., 1971, University of Santa Clara, J.D., cum laude, 1981
Practice Areas: Legal Professional Liability; Civil Litigation; Mediation
Membership: Santa Clara County Bar Association; State Bar of California; Santa Clara Trial Lawyers Association.
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.
Biography:
Since 1981, Diane Deckard has been providing legal representation to clients throughout the communities of Santa Clara, Monterey, and Alameda Counties; including, but not limited to, San Jose, Oakland, San Francisco and Santa Cruz. Beginning as an associate at Hoge, Fenton, Jones & Appel in San Jose, Ms. Deckard gained experience in every facet of civil litigation including the defense of a wide variety of matters for individuals and businesses. Ms. Deckard 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.
For the past ten years, Ms. Deckard has devoted the professional liability aspect of her practice to representing the clients of lawyers who have failed to perform competently. Her background as a defense lawyer provides a unique perspective that enables her to evaluate cases objectively and to plan effective strategies for litigation and/or settlement of legal malpractice cases.
In addition, her civil litigation practice includes the representation of business clients in a wide variety of litigation matters, including partnership, officer and director liability , breach of contract, fraud and misrepresentation cases, business torts of all kinds. She represents individuals in estate and probate litigation, contested wills, partnership disputes, and elder financial abuse matters.
She is also trained as a mediator. Her philosophy emphasizes the individuality of each client and the uniqueness of each matter. She works closely with each client to develop an appropriate approach to the case, and to accomplish a resolution that best suits the client's needs and goals.
Lynn R. Toma
Of Counsel
lynn@deckardlaw.com
Born: San Jose, California, July 16, 1956
Education: University of Santa Clara, J.D., 1981 University of Santa Clara, B.A., 1978, magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa
Practice Areas: Civil Litigation, Business Litigation
Memberships: State Bar of California Los Angeles County Bar Association
Admissions: 1981 California State Courts; U.S. Court of Appeals Ninth Circuit; U.S. District Court - Eastern and Northern Districts of California
Miscellaneous Information: Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society, Recipient Emory Scholarship; Public Interest Law Certification
Biography:
Lynn R. Toma has practiced law in the field of civil litigation since 1981. The first eleven years of her career were devoted to a Plaintiff’s personal injury practice involving a variety of cases. These cases included medical malpractice, legal malpractice, products liability, peculiar risk of harm, and involved Defendants as varied as the U.S. government, General Motors, P.G.&E., and hundreds of 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, cases which she has handled have included complex civil litigation, contract disputes, business torts, fraud, will and trust contests, legal malpractice, construction defect, franchise disputes 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.
Diane L. Hernandez
Of Counsel
dhernandez@deckardlaw.com
Born: San Jose, California, August 20, 1960
Education: University of Santa Clara J.D. 1986, San Jose State University - BS Criminal Justice 1983
Practice Areas: Legal Malpractice, Civil Litigation, Business Torts, Tort Litigation
Membership: State Bar of California, Santa Clara County Bar Association, Santa Clara County Judicial Arbitration Panel, Santa Clara County Bar Association Pro Bono Project Panel
Admission: 1987 California State Courts; U. S. Court of Appeals Ninth Circuit; U.S. District Court - Eastern and Northern Districts of California
Biography:
Diane L. Hernandez has been attorney since 1986 specializing in civil litigation and providing a wide range of legal representation on both the Plaintiff and Defendant side of legal disputes. Ms. Hernandez began her career as a law clerk, then a junior associate, then a senior litigation associate with the Tumlin Law Firm in San Jose, California specializing in Plaintiff’s tort litigation. This litigation practice included cases involving wrongful death, catastrophic injuries, products liability, medical malpractice, insurance bad faith, and construction defect.
Since 1992, Ms. Hernandez’ practice has been focused primarily on civil and business litigation handling a wide range of civil, business, and real estate litigation matters, including contracts, fraud, misrepresentation, breach of fiduciary duties and other business torts.
Ms. Hernandez welcomes the challenges that litigation presents and is skillful in evaluating each case in order to devise a strategic plan which is designed to optimize every client’s ability to obtain the best possible result in each and every case. She is an aggressive litigator and is committed to provide a high level of services to all of her clients.
