The RegistryCounty Record · California
Litigation Attorneys in Alameda County, California
Counsel for civil lawsuits: filing, defending, trying and settling cases in California courts. In Alameda County, that work runs through the Superior Court of California, County of Alameda. This directory presents litigation records from official State Bar of California data in neutral order.
The East Bay's most populous county; civil calendars run through Oakland's René C. Davidson Courthouse and the Hayward Hall of Justice. Venue for most litigation matters arising in the county lies with the Superior Court of California, County of Alameda, seated at Oakland.
Before comparing counsel, note the clock. Under Cal. Code Civ. Proc. §§ 335.1, 337, 338, 339, the governing period is two years for personal injury (§ 335.1); four years on a written contract (§ 337); three years for property damage and fraud (§ 338); two years on an oral contract (§ 339). A defendant served with a summons generally has 30 days to respond (Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 412.20(a)(3)). Injury claims against a public entity first require a written government claim within six months (Gov. Code § 911.2).
This page is the Alameda County chapter of the registry's statewide record · Litigation Lawyers in California collects all 58 counties.
The clock & the court
Two years for personal injury (§ 335.1); four years on a written contract (§ 337); three years for property damage and fraud (§ 338); two years on an oral contract (§ 339).
Cal. Code Civ. Proc. §§ 335.1, 337, 338, 339
A defendant served with a summons generally has 30 days to respond (Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 412.20(a)(3)). Injury claims against a public entity first require a written government claim within six months (Gov. Code § 911.2).
Superior Court of California, County of Alameda.
County seat: Oakland
Official court information, locations, and filing rules: alameda.courts.ca.gov
Litigation · Alameda County roster
1,120 attorneys on the official State Bar of California roll list litigation among their practice areas with an address of record in Alameda County.
1,079 of them hold an active licence; the remainder are recorded as inactive and are not currently eligible to practise.
The roster concentrates in Oakland (673), Berkeley (134), Pleasanton (87) and Emeryville (49).
17 hold a State Bar Certified Legal Specialist designation, a certification issued by the State Bar's Board of Legal Specialization, and not a rating or a ranking.
66 are recorded as taking client work in a language other than English.
Admission years on this roster run from 1961 to 2026.
The employers most represented here are Donahue Fitzgerald LLP (15), Koyama & Costello (15) and Dentons US LLP (13).
Litigation matters in Alameda County
The matters this field covers, as Californians search for them. Each attorney's own profile states which of these they take.
- filing a civil lawsuit
- defending a lawsuit
- responding to a summons and complaint
- discovery and depositions
- motions and injunctions
- jury and bench trials
- mediation and settlement
- arbitration hearings
- limited civil cases up to $35,000
- complex and multi-party cases
- class actions
- post-trial motions
- enforcing and collecting a judgment
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Litigation questions, cited
How long do I have to respond to a lawsuit in California?
Generally 30 days after the summons and complaint are served on you (Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 412.20(a)(3)). If nothing is filed in time, the plaintiff can ask the court to enter a default judgment (Code Civ. Proc. § 585). Eviction (unlawful detainer) cases allow far less time, so read the summons for the exact deadline.
What is the difference between small claims, limited civil and unlimited civil cases?
Small claims court hears claims up to $12,500 brought by an individual ($6,250 for a business), and attorneys generally cannot represent parties at the hearing (Cal. Code Civ. Proc. §§ 116.220, 116.221, 116.530). Claims up to $35,000 proceed as limited civil cases with streamlined procedures (§ 85); larger claims are unlimited civil cases with full discovery.
Who pays attorney's fees in a California lawsuit?
Usually each side pays its own unless a statute or contract says otherwise (Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 1021). A contract fee clause is made reciprocal by Cal. Civ. Code § 1717, so the prevailing party can recover fees even if the clause names only one side. The prevailing party can generally recover court costs such as filing fees (Code Civ. Proc. § 1032).
Can I be required to arbitrate instead of going to court?
Usually yes, if you signed an enforceable arbitration agreement: on a petition, the court must order arbitration unless the right was waived or grounds exist to revoke the agreement (Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 1281.2). California courts refuse to enforce unconscionable arbitration terms, and employment agreements covering statutory claims must meet minimum fairness requirements (Armendariz v. Foundation Health Psychcare Services, Inc. (2000) 24 Cal.4th 83).
How is a court judgment collected in California?
A money judgment is enforceable for ten years and can be renewed (Cal. Code Civ. Proc. §§ 683.020, 683.110), through wage garnishment, bank levies and liens on real property. It accrues interest, generally at 10% a year, with a lower rate for many consumer-debt judgments (§ 685.010).
Legal information, not legal advice.
Litigation by city in Alameda County
Related counsel in Alameda County
Litigation in nearby counties
Source: Cal. Code Civ. Proc. §§ 335.1, 337, 338, 339 · State Bar of California licensee records · Checked: · Maintained by the California Attorney Registry from official State Bar of California records. Legal information, not legal advice.
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