John Cummings Grier

MATHEWS BERGEN & GRIER's managing Principal is John C. Grier.  The firm was originally formed by Wesley H. Mathews in the late 1950's.  Robert L. Bergen was one of the original partners.  Bob retired in 1988.  Wes retired in 1995, although he continued to act 'of counsel' for six additional years.  Both continue to reside in the San Diego area.

John first began practice with the firm (then known as Mathews, Bergen, Vodica and Potash) in 1979 upon being admitted to the practice of law by the California State Bar Association (John had served the the firm prior six months as a law clerk, while studying for and awaiting the Bar Examination results). Three years later, John became a partner (and the firm name became Mathews, Bergen, Potash and Grier).  Howard Potash retired in 1988.  John became the managing partner of Mathews Bergen & Grier in 1995. The practice moved to El Cajon (although continuing to serve all of San Diego County) in 2004. Construction of a new office located at 172 Wells Ave., El Cajon is scheduled to begin in 2009, after long delays.

John has been appointed to many County and State Bar committees and actively serves as aSpecial Master under Court appointment, Superior Court Judge Pro-Tem, San Diego County Fee Dispute Aribitrator and serves on the Client Relations Committee of the San Diego County Bar Association.  In additon to membership in the California State Bar Association, John is active as a member of the Intertribal Bar Association of Southern California and the San Diego County Bar Association is a Section member of the Trust and Estates sections of both the County and State Bar Associations.

John has 3 children, ranging in age from 17 to 25. The oldest (Genevieve) was a June 2006 graduate (with honors) from Cal Poly Pomona and is employed at Disneyland. Kendrick recently finished high school and is currently working in construction trades while attending City College in San Diego, while Corrie (17) is a student at Culver City High School, in Culver City, California.  Culver City High School empasizes 'creative arts'. Each of John's children have a theatrical 'bent'.  Genevieve's minor was theater (she particularly enjoys costume design). Kendrick was a 'boy sailor' in the movie Master and Commander, which was filmed nearby in Rosarito, Mexico and Corrie, in addition to her performing arts regular school has spent two summers at the La Jolla Playhouse and a recent summer at the Santa Monica Playhouse in theatrical study.