Sean Michael Foldenauer

Sean Michael Foldenauer

also known as Sean Foldenauer, Sean M. Foldenauer

4.8
Rating: 9.9

Licensed for 29 years

Personal injury Lawyer at San Diego, CA
Practice Areas: Personal Injury, Litigation, Lawsuits & Disputes ... +8 more

1660 Hotel Cir N Suite 302, San Diego, CA

About Sean

Biography

Practice Areas

Fees and Rates

Cost

Free Consultation

$0 first 30 minutes

Hourly Rates

$ 325-395 per hour

Contingency

33%-40%


Payment Methods

  • Cash
  • Check
  • Credit Card

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Licenses

Licensed in California for 29 years

State: California

Acquired: 1997

Active

No misconduct found

Location

Foldenauer Law Group, APLC

1660 Hotel Cir N Suite 302, San Diego, CA, 92108

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Sean Michael Foldenauer's Reviews

Avvo Review Score

4.8 /5.0

17 Client Reviews

Filter Avvo Reviews (17) Refine reviews to match your needs. Use the filters to quickly surface reviews that align with your case or priorities.

Showing 6 - 10 of 17 reviews

Posted by anonymous | December 06, 2022 | Hired Attorney | Ethics & Professional Responsibility

Negative experience

I do not recommend attorney Sean foldenauer. I have negative experience in many aspects of Sean's professional Legal Services and fees charged, which were not appreciated. I clearly feel that Sean took advantage of my vulnerable situation to say the least. In my opinion, Sean failed in several... aspects, some of which were recognized by the fee arbitration on December 2016 (conducted by the ‘San Diego Bar Association’), and resulted with me being awarded of 13% of Sean’s total charges. I will only point out a couple of Sean’s failures: 1. Sean failed to follow his Attorney-Client fee contract a. I have retained the services of attorney Sean Foldenauer on 2-27-2015. While doing so, I have been very clear with Sean in regards to my negative experience in surprises in legal fees and do not want it to happen again. Sean assured me that it would not, and specifically added to our agreement the following: ‘ATTORNEY will get pre-approval from CLIENT of work to be performed on the case, and will provide a budget to client for approval before undertaking work.’ b. Sean failed to provide a budget for approval. The few times I have received an estimated amount or time required to complete a task - I addressed it immediately. c. The Attorney-Client fee agreement is clear in regards to providing control limits. This agreement never intended to be an ‘open check’ to Sean to do whatever, and with unlimited budget. These control limits are very important for a private client that does not live the litigation world, allowing him to make critical decisions, readjusting his strategy, redirecting his attorney’s hours, and to obviously avoid any potential surprises. 2. Missing payment for 18 months from Sean’s invoices. a. Sean’s invoices did not include a payment I made for the second invoice, even-though the payment was cleared by Sean at the time. b. I find it concerning that Sean discovered the ‘accounting error’ only 18 months later, despite the fact that I was screaming it out loud and later was forced to file a subpoena through the fee arbitration, in order to get Sean’s records and prove him wrong. Sean failed in several ways which in my opinion critically caused the time frame to stretch but mainly it affected my ability to make critical decisions. Eventually, it resulted with Sean over charging me a totally ridiculous amount for the services provided, regardless the quality of the services.

Posted by Christopher | May 14, 2022 | Hired Attorney | Personal Injury

Foldenauer Law Group is the Best!

I suffered a personal injury and hired Foldenauer Law Group. It was one of the best decisions I’ve made. Sean, his staff, Dan and Anissa were awesome. Sean’s knowledge of case laws, superb tough negotiator will fight tirelessly for you. I received a very good settlement from a not so friendly insuran...ce company. I highly recommend Foldenauer Law Group!!

Sean Foldenauer

Replied last May 23, 2023

Christopher: Thank you for your wonderful review! We're delighted to hear that you had a positive experience with Foldenauer Law Group. Our team, led by Sean, Dan, and Anissa, is dedicated to providing exceptional service and fighting tirelessly for our clients. We're thrilled that you received a favorable settlement despite dealing with a challenging insurance company. We truly appreciate your recommendation and look forward to assisting you or anyone you know in the future. Take care, Sean M. Foldenauer

Posted by haleigh | December 28, 2021 | Hired Attorney

you've hit the JACKPOT!

If you're shopping around for a lawyer... you've just hit GOLD! In all seriousness, Foldenauer law is by far the best. No matter the circumstance, rest assured Sean and Dan will exceed your expectations and handle any case with exceptional care. They truly are EXPERTS in what they do. Throughout the ...whole process, I had direct open communication with Sean and/or Dan whenever I had any questions or anything. I could write a novel about the positive experience I've had working close with Foldenauer Law for two years... But to keep it short, THEY REALLY CARE. Foldenauer law is extremely trustworthy, reliable, compassionate, efficient, and full of integrity. I mean every word of that full heartedly ! I am forever grateful for Sean, Dan, and the rest of the firm. 1000000/10. I will use this law firm every time, instantly, if I ever need legal representation in the future, and you should too!

Sean Foldenauer

Replied last May 23, 2023

Haleigh: Thank you so much for your incredible review! We're thrilled to have exceeded your expectations and provided exceptional care throughout your case. We take great pride in our expertise and the level of service we offer. It's wonderful to hear that you experienced direct and open communication with Sean and Dan, as we believe that is vital in building a strong attorney-client relationship. Your kind words about our trustworthiness, reliability, compassion, efficiency, and integrity mean the world to us. We are truly grateful for your support and look forward to being your go-to law firm for any future legal representation needs. Thanks, again. Sean M. Foldenauer

Posted by Julie | October 05, 2014 | Business

Best law firm in San Diego, Foldenauer Law!

After a bad experience with a local, San Diego law firm, we literally interviewed 25 other law firms/attorneys as we were scared to repeat the same mistake we made the first time. Met with Dan and Sean Foldenauer, they were the only law firm out of all 25 that pointed out the legal mistakes made by o...ur former law firm, and the overall weakness in our case that needed to be addressed. This was during a "free consult". I was blown away as no other attorney would hand that over, and the other firms were vanilla with what their approach would be on our case. What was even more disturbing we found out during out initial interview of Foldenauer Law was our company wasn't represented as I was sued personally as well as my business. The prior firm failed to respond on representation for my company. No other lawyer/firm told us this! The lawsuits we were involved with, were emotionally charged for us, and very scary. What was comforting was that Dan and Sean always took my calls, always called back with updates. They worked really hard to turn around the former mistakes made by the other firm, and put together a strong strategy moving forward. They never missed a deadline and always were on top of everything! This has to be the only firm I've worked with that truly is into law as a love of practicing law, vs. charging gigantic retainers, etc. They are real people, who I highly regard and can call my "friends" as they kept their cool and helped hold me up during one of the most difficult points in my life. For that, I am eternally grateful and not only recommend them, but you would be doing a disservice to yourself to not have them as your legal team. Even the numerous external people, such as court reporters, told me in private, they are the best legal team in San Diego! That says a tremendous amount! Thank you Foldenauer Law (Dan, Sean & Tyler) for all the work you did!

Sean Foldenauer

Replied last May 23, 2023

Dear Julie: Thank you so much for taking the time to share your experience with Foldenauer Law. We are truly grateful for your kind words and thrilled to hear about the positive impact we had on your legal journey. We understand the importance of finding reliable and trustworthy legal representation, especially after a previous negative experience. It means a lot to us that out of the 25 law firms you interviewed, you chose Foldenauer Law based on our unique approach and dedication to your case. It warms our hearts to hear that we were able to maintain open lines of communication with you, promptly returning your calls and providing regular updates. Your satisfaction and peace of mind are our top priorities, and we are grateful for the opportunity to have been there for you every step of the way. Your recommendation and the positive feedback we received from external professionals, including court reporters, mean the world to us. We take great pride in our genuine passion for practicing law and our dedication to the well-being and success of our clients. Your recognition of our efforts is truly humbling. Thank you again for entrusting Foldenauer Law with your legal needs. If you or anyone you know ever requires legal assistance in the future, please do not hesitate to reach out. We are here to serve you. With heartfelt gratitude, Sean M. Foldenauer

Posted by Tom Metroyanis | June 24, 2014 | Business

Sean Foldenauer is an excellent Corporate Attorney

I was introduced to Sean Foldenauer about 10 years ago and when I needed an attorney for my company issues, I retained Sean. It was the best thing I ever did to protect me and my company. Since I've known Sean, I have been confident knowing that if any legal issues would arise, there was no nee...d to be stressed and worried. It has also been a comfort knowing that at anytime, I could give him a call for his advise before making the wrong decision . Sean isn't the typical attorney who takes notes, tells you how good he is and what he would do... only to forget the details later on... Sean listens to you, takes your information and utilizes it to give you the best defense needed. He has also been there for me for personal legal issues and has always done an excellent job protecting my interest. If you are looking for an honest, hard working professional attorney with great results, Sean Foldenauer is that attorney. Thank you Sean and your associates too.

See All Client Reviews

Sean Michael Foldenauer's Lawyer Endorsements

Endorse Sean
Jennifer Lynn Martinez headshot
Jennifer Martinez

Personal injury lawyer | Jul 07

Relationship: Opposing Counsel on matter

"I endorse this lawyer. Sean is a strong advocate for his clients and I would be happy to refer any clients looking for a personal injury lawyer his way."

Jeremy M. Evans headshot
Jeremy Evans

Lawsuits and disputes lawyer | Feb 18

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Sean is a trusted friend and colleague. He is well respected in the San Diego and Los Angeles legal communities. Sean is known as a trial lawyer and is well accomplished in and outside of the courtroom. I highly recommend Sean for your legal disputes. His experiences in legally and non-legally related businesses provide for great advice and perspective. Sean's staff and associate attorneys are well trained and rising stars. I would not hesitate to hire the Foldenauer Firm today."

James Nelson Dicks headshot
James Dicks

Personal injury lawyer | Nov 29

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer. The attorney works very hard for the clients and keeps up with the law by attending legal seminars to assist them in this regard. I endorse this attorney."

Kathleen Margaret Tooma headshot
Kathleen Tooma

Lawsuits and disputes lawyer | Jul 31

Relationship: Worked together on matter

"To put it frankly, Sean gets the job done. Sean and I worked together on a matter and he was informative, supportive, and a huge asset. I endorse this lawyer."

Niki Tran headshot
Niki Tran

Personal injury lawyer | Jul 17

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I had the pleasure of meeting Sean Foldenauer at a community function a while back. Immediately after meeting Sean I was amazed by his knowledge and experience. As we discussed one of his recent personal injury case, his passion and devotion for his clients was apparent, and so was his level of expertise. Sean is a stellar when it comes to civil litigation! Not only is he professional, but he is honest and up front with all of his advice. I would not hesitate to recommend his law office to any one in need of his services. I fully endorse Sean and the Foldenauer Law Group."

Tyler Robert Campbell headshot
Tyler Campbell

Lawsuits and disputes lawyer | Jul 11

Relationship: Co-worker

"Mr. Foldenauer is a highly experienced litigator and trial attorney. His presence in the courtroom is commanding. His approach is sometimes unconventional, but always effective. He is an aggressive advocate for each of his clients’ individualized needs and goes the extra mile to ensure they are well informed and their concerns adequately addressed. His approachable and subtlety persuasive demeanor ensures that his clients feel comfortable and his adversaries remain cautious. Mr. Foldenauer’s dedication to his clients’ needs is reflected in the favorable outcomes he is consistently able to obtain for them. He is an efficient problem solver and strategist. He thinks outside the box when other attorneys would see no viable case or claim. His working knowledge and understanding of the law both in theory, and in practice is impeccable. Mr. Foldenauer, is equipped with the skills and experience necessary to provide each and every one of his clients with the results they deserve."

Malosack Berjis headshot
Malosack Berjis

Litigation lawyer | Mar 11

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Mr. Foldenauer is a well-respected attorney in the legal community, who consistently provides accurate and helpful responses to Avvo questions. I endorse this lawyer."

Wenzhao Wang headshot
Wenzhao Wang

Litigation lawyer | Jan 14

Relationship: Worked together on matter

"I have had the pleasure of working directly with Mr. Sean Foldenauer in a highly-contested business litigation case filed in United States District Court. Mr. Foldenauer is the co-lead trial attorney on the case and has shown himself to be an excellent strategist and problem solver. He is sharp and articulate. He can explain very complex legal issues in plain language to make the client fully understand. His approach for taking time to explain to the client the status of the case and the law and provide advice on the best path forward is of tremendous value to clients. I highly endorse this attorney."

Steven Halbert Wilhelm headshot
Steven Wilhelm

Litigation lawyer | Sep 28

Relationship: Worked together on matter

"I endorse this lawyer. Sean and his firm are on the top of my referral list if I or any of my associates encounter any type of a conflict. Many times, because we are involved in transactional work as well as litigation, a matter where we have negotiated the agreements etc. will have a dispute arising therefrom. Having also partnered with Sean, I know he has the 'bull dog tenacity' that it takes to prevail in all different forms of litigation. I have brought him into the fold on several multimillion dollar disputes either as a co-partner on the case and or as a conflict referral because we were counsel for one side or the other in the underlying transaction. Further, while there are other attorneys in San Diego who no doubt have many of these same characteristics I know that I can trust Sean to not bury my referral in extraordinary fees and costsd, and this is something that many attorneys simply don't keep under control. He has my highest recommendation. Steve W"

Christopher Paul Sohovich headshot
Christopher Sohovich

Litigation lawyer | Sep 06

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer. Sean is a tireless advocate for his clients. He and his firm do things the right way to maximize results and keep the costs down. There is not a more effective or talented firm in all of San Diego. They know their stuff and they get the job done. The Foldenauer Law Firm is where I refer anyone in need of the best."

Matthew John Speredelozzi headshot
Matthew Speredelozzi

Litigation lawyer | Sep 05

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I highly recommend Mr. Foldenauer for any litigation issues. He has been a highly respected and authoritative attorney for many years. His experience in complex litigation is invaluable for his clients. He is also one of the best DUI attorneys in San Diego. He is a member of the National College of DUI defense and has helped countless clients successfully defend their DUI Cases. I highly recommend this lawyer for ANY type of litigation case."

Michael Jeffers Hoisington headshot
Michael Hoisington

Litigation lawyer | Aug 31

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I recommend this lawyer without hesitation. Mr. Foldenauer is not only smart, but also highly experienced and knowledgeable with respect to litigation practice and strategy. He has proven himself to be an exceptional lawyer and an asset to the legal community."

Frank Wei-Hong Chen headshot
Frank Chen

Litigation lawyer | Jun 09

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Sean Foldenauer demonstrates tremendous knowledge and experience in a wide variety of legal matters. His responses on Avvo are thoughtful, articulate, and accurate. I have tremendous respect for his sound legal knowledge and ability to communicate that knowledge. He is a true asset to our legal community. It is my pleasure to endorse him."

Ajay Mohan Kwatra headshot
Ajay Kwatra

Business lawyer | Jun 02

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"This is the guy you want on your side at trial! I endorse Mr. Foldenauer."

Michael Charles Doland headshot
Michael Doland

Lawsuits and disputes lawyer | May 30

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I have reviewed several answers of Mr. Foldenauer and they are consistently accurate and calculated to be understood by Avvo askers. He shows concern for the individual needs of the asker. These are exactly the attributes that any prospective client would look for in an attorney, and any San Diego client would be fortunate to obtain the beneift of his services."

Jennifer Roberta Walters headshot
Jennifer Walters

Unknown lawyer | May 15

Relationship: Other

"Sean is an excellent attorney and I would recommend him without reservation. He is professional, gracious, articulate, and a fantastic trial attorney. Sean is well respected, approachable, and an excellent advocate for his clients."

Brian Keith Findley headshot
Brian Findley

Litigation lawyer | May 02

Relationship: Worked for lawyer

"I endorse this lawyer. Sean takes the time to understand his clients and their goals, and has the skills to acheive them. He is a respected litigator in the community, and a trusted friend and mentor to me."

Sean Michael Gaffney headshot
Sean Gaffney

Litigation lawyer | Apr 27

Relationship: Worked together on matter

"Sean Foldenauer is an excellent trial attorney whose expertise with complex business disputes and tort claims yields extraordinary results. For those matters incapable of settlement and involving "bet the company" levels of exposure, Foldenauer has the wisdom and courtroom skills to be trusted to present the best possible case for his clients."

View All Endorsements
Jennifer Lynn Martinez headshot
Jennifer Martinez

Personal injury lawyer

Vikram Singh Monder headshot
Vikram Monder

Criminal defense lawyer

Jeremy M. Evans headshot
Jeremy Evans

Entertainment lawyer

Tyler Robert Campbell headshot
Tyler Campbell

Personal injury lawyer

Janice F. Mulligan headshot
Janice Mulligan

Medical malpractice lawyer

Niki Tran headshot
Niki Tran

Criminal defense lawyer

Katherine Joy Paculba Lacher headshot
Katherine Lacher

Litigation lawyer

Kathleen Margaret Tooma headshot
Kathleen Tooma

Litigation lawyer

James E Dunn headshot
James Dunn

DUI and DWI lawyer

Michael Jon Fremont headshot
Michael Fremont

DUI and DWI lawyer

Constantine D. Buzunis headshot
Constantine Buzunis

Litigation lawyer

Malosack Berjis headshot
Malosack Berjis

Litigation lawyer

Wenzhao Wang headshot
Wenzhao Wang

Business lawyer

Steven Halbert Wilhelm headshot
Steven Wilhelm

Business lawyer

G. Cole Casey headshot
G. Cole Casey

DUI and DWI lawyer

Matthew John Speredelozzi headshot
Matthew Speredelozzi

Criminal defense lawyer

Christopher Paul Sohovich headshot
Christopher Sohovich

DUI and DWI lawyer

Ajay Mohan Kwatra headshot
Ajay Kwatra

Medical malpractice lawyer

Frank Wei-Hong Chen headshot
Frank Chen

Litigation lawyer

Michael Charles Doland headshot
Michael Doland

Litigation lawyer

Experience

Rating:  9.9 (Superb)

Honors

2016

Top 100 Lawyers, American Society of Legal Advocates

2015

Best Lawyers, San Diego Business Journal

2014

Best of the Bar, San Diego Business Journal

2012

A+ Rating, Better Business Bureau

2011

A+ Rating, Better Business Bureau

2011

Top Attorney, San Diego Daily Transcript

2011

Top Lawyers, San Diego Daily Transcript

2010

A+ Rating, Better Business Bureau

2009

Trial Program Graduate, San Diego Inn of Court College of Trial Advocacy

2009

A+ Rating, Better Business Bureau

2008

Evidence Program Graduate, San Diego Inn of Court College of Trial Advocacy

2008

Top Lawyers, San Diego Daily Transcript

2008

Top Attorney, San Diego Daily Transcript

1995

San Diego Justice Journal, Law Review - Lead Articles Editor

1995

San Diego Justice Journal, Law Review - Published Author

1994

Torts - Top of Class, American Jurisprudence Award

1994

Torts - Top of Class, Corpus Juris Secundum

Work Experience

2007 - Present

Principal Attorney -- Litigation & Trial Counsel, Foldenauer Law Group, APLC

1997 - 2007

Partner, Frantz, Townsend & Foldenauer LLP

Associations

2013 - Present

Louis M. Welsh American Inn of Court

Barrister

2008 - Present

American Business Trial Lawyers Association

Attorney Member

2008 - Present

Association of Business Trial Lawyers

Attorney Member

2006 - Present

Consumer Attorneys of California

Member

2000 - Present

United States District Court for the Central District of California

Member

1997 - Present

State Bar of California Litigation Section

Member

1997 - Present

United States District Court for the Southern District of California

Member

1997 - Present

San Diego County Bar Association, Litigation Section

Member

1997 - Present

Consumer Attorneys of San Diego

Attorney Member

1997 - Present

San Diego County Bar Association

Attorney Member

1997 - Present

State Bar of California

Attorney Member

2008 - 2009

San Diego Inn of Court College of Trial Advocacy

Member

1997 - 2007

Consumer Attorney Association of San Diego

Member

Sample of Legal Cases

Cheng v. On the Border Restaurant (San Diego Superior Court - 2016)

$1.5 Million Plaintiff's verdict

Dev-Land v. American Paramount (San Diego Superior Court - 2014)

$1.250,000 in cash settlements PLUS $9.949,000 Court Judgment.

Bank v. San Diego Nightclub Owners (San Diego Superior Court - 2012)

Defense Verdictfor Client - No Liability

Smith v. Cornell, et al. (San Diego Superior Court - 2012)

Favorable 12 - 0 Jury Verdict for Client

Stuart v. Regiers (San Diego Superior Court - 2011))

$4.5 Million Judgment for Client

Decker v. Schultz, et al. (San Diego Superior Court -- 2010)

Mid Six-Figure Judgment for Client After Trial

See More Legal Cases

Education

1996

Thomas Jefferson SOL

law

1993

California St Univ Northridge

undergraduate

1988

Grove School of Music

Speaking Engagements

2002

Thomas Jefferson School of Law

California Civil Litigation Practice

2001

California Western School of Law

California Civil Litigation Practice

2000

Thomas Jefferson School of Law

California Civil Litigation Practice

2000

San Diego County Bar Association

Music Business for Attorneys

1999

Thomas Jefferson School of Law

California Civil Litigation Practice

Publications

1994

San Diego Justice Journal - Law Review Criminalizing Free Speech

Languages

English

Spanish

Activity

Avvo Rating

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  • Experience & background Years licensed, work experience, education
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