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David Jeff Darnell

Litigation Attorney at Santa Ana, CA

5.0   1 review
  • Licensed for 22 years
    State CA
    Acquired 2000
    Status
    Active No misconduct found

We have not found any instances of professional misconduct for this lawyer.

About David

Learn David’s areas of practice.

4
Practice areas
  1. Litigation
    50%
    Complex Business Litigation Contract Law Commercial Law Fraud and other intentional torts Unfair Business Practices False Advertising Trade Secrets Litigation Securities Litigation Insurance

    23 years

  2. Business
    30%
    Complex Business Litigation Contract Law Commercial Law Fraud and other intentional torts Unfair Business Practices False Advertising Trade Secrets Litigation Securities Litigation Insurance

    23 years

  3. Insurance
    10%
    Complex Business Litigation Contract Law Commercial Law Fraud and other intentional torts Unfair Business Practices False Advertising Trade Secrets Litigation Securities Litigation Insurance

    23 years

  4. Securities and investment fraud
    10%
    Complex Business Litigation Contract Law Commercial Law Fraud and other intentional torts Unfair Business Practices False Advertising Trade Secrets Litigation Securities Litigation Insurance

    23 years

David J. Darnell is a highly experienced trial attorney with an impeccable track record. In other words, he delivers results and helps clients win.

Mr. Darnell specializes in business, contract and complex commercial matters, as well as disputes involving corporate governance, fiduciary duties, partnerships, fraud and other torts.

Mr. Darnell obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California at Santa Barbara, where he majored in Communications and Environmental Studies. He then earned his law degree at Southwestern University School of Law in Los Angeles, where he participated in the Southwestern Moot Court Honors Program and served on its Board of Governors.

Mr. Darnell is an accomplished advocate with both the pen and in open court. In fact, his skills were acknowledged early in his legal career in the 1999 National Moot Court Competition, where he won the prestigious Best Brief award and was a Semi-Finalist in oral argument.

Mr. Darnell has been selected as a Super Lawyer, a rating awarded to the top 5% of all attorneys in the state, in every year since 2015. In addition, in 2012, 2013 and 2014, he was selected as a Rising Star by Super Lawyers, a peer nominated honor bestowed on the top 2.5 % of all attorneys in the state who are 40 years of age or under.

As a professional, Mr. Darnell's counsel has led to significant results for clients in trials, arbitrations and mediations. One case in particular involved the defense of a multi-million dollar claim in a 6 week jury trial, which resulted in a monetary award to his client who was only a defendant in the action. He has also obtained numerous multi-million dollar judgments, verdicts and settlements for plaintiffs.

Some of Mr. Darnell's recent cases include:

  • A judgment for more than $2.7 Million, on which he collected 100% of the judgment, plus interest and costs.
  • A compete defense for his clients after an eight day trial in which the plaintiffs had sought more than $7 million dollars on claims of fraud and breach of fiduciary duty. After hearing the evidence and closing arguments, the trial court found in favor of Mr. Darnell's clients and against the plaintiffs on all counts. In addition to zero liability, his clients were awarded more than $17,000 in costs.
  • A $15.5 million settlement for his client in a case involving claims of illegal dividends and breach of fiduciary duty against corporate officers and directors.
  • A judgment for more than $1 million after a federal jury trial.
  • A very favorable settlement for clients who were sued in a wrongful death case arising out of unfortunate circumstances and presenting substantial risks of losing everything they owned. The settlement preserved their assets and brought closure to an emotionally charged lawsuit.
  • The total dismissal of a case against his clients based on alleged constitutional and due process violations.
  • A $695,000 arbitration award for his client in a breach of contract case.

Mr. Darnell is an active member of the California state bar and is licensed to appear and try cases before every state court in California, as well as the United States District Court for the Southern, Central, Eastern and Northern Districts of California, and the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.

Contact David

Similar lawyers nearby

Callahan & Blaine
3 Hutton Centre Drive
Ninth Floor
Santa Ana, CA, 92707

Reviews

5.0 / 5.0
  1 customer review
5 Star
 
100%
4 Star
 
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3 Star
 
0%
2 Star
 
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1 Star
 
0%
Posted by anonymous | August 6, 2010
Excellent results. Informative. Honest.
I am a small business owner and needed help. He was very knowledgeable. I could not be happier with the results. He really cares and he has been there for all of our needs.

Cost

We have not found any cost information for this lawyer

Contact for Details

Resume

AVVO RATING 9.5 (Superb)

Work Experience

  • Senior Attorney
  • Callahan & Blaine
  • 2010 - Present
  • Attorney and Team Leader
  • BKGG
  • 2004 - 2010
  • Attorney
  • Weston Herzog LLP
  • 2001 - 2004

Education

  • Southwestern Univ SOL
  • JD - Juris Doctor
  • 2000
  • Univ of California Santa Barbara
  • Undergraduate
  • 1996

Legal Cases

  • Whitehead v. Herron
  • Complete defense for my client at trial
  • Skorheim v. Flanders
  • $15.5 million win for my client
  • AMI v. Dominion
  • $1,055,000.00 judgment for my client
View all legal cases

Associations

  • Orange County Bar Association, Business & Litigation Section
  • Member
  • 2009 - Present
  • State Bar of California, Litigation Section
  • Member
  • 2009 - Present
  • Orange County Bar Association
  • Member
  • 2006 - Present
  • State Bar of California
  • Member
  • 2000 - Present
  • Active OC
  • Board Member
  • 2009 - 2010
  • Southwestern Moot Court Honors Program
  • Board of Governors
  • 1999 - 2000
  • Soutwestern Moot Court Honors Program
  • Member
  • 1998 - 2000
View all associations

Honors and Awards

  • Super Lawyer
  • Super Lawyers
  • 2016
  • Super Lawyer
  • Super Lawyers
  • 2015
  • Southern California Rising Star
  • Super Lawyers
  • 2014
  • Southern California Rising Star
  • Super Lawyers
  • 2013
  • Southern California Rising Star
  • Super Lawyers
  • 2012
  • Best Brief Award, Medal for Excellency in Advocacy
  • American College of Trial Lawyers
  • 1999
  • Semi-Finalist, Medal for Excellency in Advocacy
  • American College of Trial Lawyers
  • 1999
  • Best Writer Finalist
  • Southwestern University School of Law
  • 1998
  • Oralist Finalist
  • Southwestern University School of Law
  • 1998
  • Dean's List
  • University of California at Santa Barbara
  • 1996
  • Dean's List
  • University of California at Santa Barbara
  • 1995
View all awards

Attorney endorsements

Received (18)
Given (26)
Endorse David
Litigation Attorney | Oct 25
Relationship: Co-worker
"Terrific litigator with a great track record of success. I endorse this lawyer."
Business Attorney | Aug 10
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"I endorse this lawyer."
Insurance Attorney | Aug 06
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"I endorse this lawyer."
Business Attorney | Aug 06
Relationship: Supervised lawyer
"I endorse this lawyer."
Litigation Attorney | Jun 19
Relationship: Worked together on matter
"David is a highly skilled and well respected litigator with a tireless work ethic. He consistently achieves excellent results for his clients. I endorse this lawyer."
Litigation Attorney | Jun 17
Relationship: Worked together on matter
"David is a senior litigator that is a pleasure to work for. He is smart, diligent, hard-working, responsive, and pleasant. For those reasons, I fully endorse him as an attorney."
Unknown Attorney | Jun 16
Relationship: Co-worker
"David has achieved excellent results for his business clients. I endorse this lawyer."
Business Attorney | Nov 09
Relationship: Worked together on matter
"I endorse this lawyer."
Litigation Attorney | Aug 18
Relationship: Co-worker
"I endorse this lawyer's work."
Litigation Attorney | Aug 17
Relationship: Worked together on matter
"I endorse this lawyer's work."
Litigation Attorney | Aug 17
Relationship: Co-worker
"I endorse this lawyer's work."
Litigation Attorney | Aug 12
Relationship: Co-worker
"I endorse this lawyer's work."
Litigation Attorney | Aug 12
Relationship: Co-worker
"I endorse this lawyer's work."
Business Attorney | Aug 12
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"I endorse this lawyer's work."
Business Attorney | Aug 11
Relationship: Co-worker
"I endorse this lawyer's work."
Litigation Attorney | Aug 11
Relationship: Co-worker
"I endorse this lawyer's work."
Litigation Attorney | Aug 11
Relationship: Worked together on matter
"I endorse this lawyer's work."
Securities and investment fraud Attorney | Aug 10
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"I endorse this lawyer's work."
View more endorsements

Avvo Contributions

This attorney hasn't created any legal answers in Q&A or legal guides recently on Avvo.

Santa Ana Litigation Lawyer David Jeff Darnell
David Jeff Darnell
Litigation Attorney
Santa Ana, CA
Licensed for 22 years