Carla Vanessa Minnard

Carla Vanessa Minnard

4.8
Rating: 10.0

Licensed for 31 years

Employment and labor Lawyer at Oakland, CA
Practice Areas: Employment & Labor, Litigation

4100 REDWOOD ROAD, SUITE 20 A, Oakland, CA

About Carla

Practice Areas

Fees and Rates

Cost

Free Consultation

$0 first 30 minutes

Hourly Rates

$ 450-650 per hour

Contingency

33%-40%


Payment Methods

  • Cash
  • Check
  • Credit Card

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Licenses

Licensed in California for 31 years

State: California

Acquired: 1995

Active

No misconduct found

Location

THE MINNARD LAW FIRM

4100 REDWOOD ROAD, SUITE 20 A, Oakland, CA, 94619

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Carla Vanessa Minnard's Reviews

Avvo Review Score

4.8 /5.0

20 Client Reviews

Showing 1 - 1 of 1 review | Staff & Support

Posted by Eric | October 02, 2012 | Medical Malpractice

Easily offended

Carla accepted the medical negligence case of my disabled sister who died in March 2012 in a Burbank hospital. Things went REALLY well for several weeks: she was very quick to reply, very complimentary and caring. I would email her and would almost always receive a reply the very same day. Howev...er, things really went wrong at one point. She was telling me something about the legality of me suing as my sister's sibling and it just didn't make sense to me. So, after hanging up from her, I did some online research. She had told me that siblings couldn't sue (in this particular instance), but I found LOTS of website that said otherwise. So I emailed her the information and she wrote back, totally changing the subject and acting like that's not what she had ever said. That disturbed me. So I decided to go to her website to look her up, something I had wrongly not done before hiring her (I was so thrilled that she was taking my case, I just went with it). On her website, it was clear that she was an employment law attorney. Nowhere in her qualifications did it list medical negligence or malpractice. So I shot her off an email and as kindly as I could, asked if she had ever worked on a medical negligence case before. NINE days later, I still had not received a reply from her. This from the gal who had been replying so fast up until that point. So I emailed the attorney who had referred me to her (he is a friend of a judge that lives on my street), and told him what happened. He said he'd call her and inquire. He wrote me back that I should talk to her about it. So I emailed her and told her that he had said that. I then received an email from Carla stating that "sometimes attorneys and client relationships just aren't meant to be. " (or something to that effect). I was shocked! Up until questioning her credentials, she was 100% behind working on my case. Once I questioned her, all of a sudden, we weren't a match. When I called her on this, she was a bundle of excuses. She sent me a letter saying she would not be representing me in the case for my sister. She didn't say our contract was null, and I asked her to put that in writing. She refused. She flat out said that it had nothing to do with my questioning of her credentials...but what else could it have been? Just a coincidence that it happened after I questioned her and then 9 days passed with no response?! All this time, I'm also cc-ing Simona Farrise, the head of the firm. She NEVER once replied to me. Now one would think that if one of her attorneys was having a problem with a client, she'd want to intervene...but she never did.

See All Client Reviews

Carla Vanessa Minnard's Lawyer Endorsements

Endorse Carla
Dustin Linley Collier headshot
Dustin Collier

Employment and labor lawyer | Dec 23

Relationship: Worked together on matter

"Carla Minnard is a brilliant and exceptionally skilled trial attorney. I had the privilege of trying a case with her this year, and I learned so much from simply being in her presence. You could not possibly go wrong hiring Carla, and I cannot endorse her highly enough!"

Anne Casey Costin headshot
Anne Costin

Discrimination lawyer | Jul 31

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"There are many lawyers that represent employees here in the SF Bay Area. But there are only a handful that I would trust to represent one of my own family members or friends. Carla is one of the few lawyers I know who has the down to earth sensibility of someone you need to trust, and the razor-sharp and passionate advocacy skills of someone you need to win."

Paul Julian Steiner headshot
Paul Steiner

Litigation lawyer | Jul 27

Relationship: Worked together on matter

"I endorse this lawyer. Carla is a very smart, decisive and capable attorney. She cares greatly about her clients and advocates for their cause with passion, wisdom efficiency and great skill. When I need to turn to a lawyer or need advice, i turn to Carla, even though she is much younger than i am. In the fields of law that she handles, Carla would be my go-to choice of lawyers. i unhesitatingly am pleased to endorse her. Paul Steiner"

Lyle Eric Shapiro headshot
Lyle Shapiro

Employment and labor lawyer | Nov 01

Relationship: Worked together on matter

"Carla is a superb trial lawyer who is a relentless advocate for her clients."

Jana Marie Moser headshot
Jana Moser

Employment and labor lawyer | Nov 01

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Carla is a tireless advocate for her clients and a pleasure to work with. I highly recommend Carla for any employment dispute."

Moira Collette McQuaid headshot
Moira McQuaid

Employment and labor lawyer | Oct 31

Relationship: Opposing Counsel on matter

"Ms. Minnard and I opposed one another on a case (before I myself became a plaintiffs' attorney). I found her to be extremely knowledgeable and competent in the area of employment law and a noble crusader who did not fail to pursue every viable avenue on behalf of her client. I highly respected her then (and now), which is why we've remained in contact over the years. She has gone on to become one of the premier trial attorneys in our area of employment law. I highly endorse Ms. Minnard."

Karine Bohbot headshot
Karine Bohbot

Wrongful termination lawyer | Oct 30

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Carla is one tenacious and staunch advocate for her clients. She is an expert in her field, cares for her clients and works diligently to obtain the best result of those she represents. I highly recommend Carla, and have done so on more than one occasion, and happily endorse her."

Elizabeth Louise Riles headshot
Elizabeth Riles

Employment and labor lawyer | Oct 28

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Carla is a fantastic attorney. She truly cares about her clients and is one of the toughest litigators that I know. Her clients are luck to have her."

Dana R. Wares headshot
Dana Wares

Employment and labor lawyer | Oct 28

Relationship: Worked for lawyer

"Carla is a highly respected and accomplished employment and personal injury attorney. She uses her invaluable and numerous years of experience in the courtroom to obtain results for her clients that are consistent with their goals. I highly endorse Carla!"

Sharon Joellen Arkin headshot
Sharon Arkin

Employment and labor lawyer | Oct 27

Relationship: Worked together on matter

"Carla is tough, caring, and a fighter. She will bring her all to the table - every day."

Stephen R Jaffe headshot
Stephen Jaffe

Employment and labor lawyer | Dec 12

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer."

View All Endorsements
Dustin Linley Collier headshot
Dustin Collier

Employment and labor lawyer

Lyle Eric Shapiro headshot
Lyle Shapiro

Litigation lawyer

Sami Nabil Khadder headshot
Sami Khadder

Business lawyer

Jana Marie Moser headshot
Jana Moser

Employment and labor lawyer

Karine Bohbot headshot
Karine Bohbot

Employment and labor lawyer

Anne Casey Costin headshot
Anne Costin

Civil rights lawyer

Elizabeth Louise Riles headshot
Elizabeth Riles

Employment and labor lawyer

Sharon Joellen Arkin headshot
Sharon Arkin

Appeals lawyer

DeWitt Marcellus Lacy headshot
DeWitt Lacy

Civil rights lawyer

Paul Julian Steiner headshot
Paul Steiner

Litigation lawyer

Stephen R Jaffe headshot
Stephen Jaffe

Employment and labor lawyer

Experience

Rating:  10.0 (Superb)

Honors

2018

Super Lawyer, SuperLawyers

2017

TOP LAWYERS IN CALIFORNIA, AMERICAN LAWYER MEDIA

2017

Super Lawyer, Thomson Reuters

2017

Top Lawyers of Northern California, San Francisco Magazine

2016

SUPER LAWYERS, THOMPSON REUTERS

2016

TRIAL LAWYER OF THE YEAR NOMINEE, Consumer Attorneys of California

2016

TOP VERDICTS IN CALIFORNIA, Verdict Search

2015

SUPER LAWYER, Thompson Reuters

2014

Super Lawyers, Thomson Reuters

Associations

State Bar of California

Member

American Bar Association

Member

National Employment Lawyers Association

Member

California Employment Lawyers Association

Member

California Women Lawyers

Member

California Trial Lawyers Association

Member

Contra Costa County Bar Association

Member

Sample of Legal Cases

Minakshi Jafa Bodden v. Bikram Choudhury

Unanimous Jury Verdict for Plaintiff

Radford v. BAE

More than $2 million dollar Jury Verdict for Plaintiff

See More Legal Cases

Education

1994

Golden Gate University Law School

JD - Juris Doctor

1991

State University of New York at Buffalo

BA - Bachelor of Arts

Speaking Engagements

2016

San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association

THE PATHS LESS TRAVELED

2016

Consumer Attorneys of California

TRYING EMPLOYMENT CASES WITH HIGH PROFILE DEFENDANTS

2015

American Bar Association

LEGAL ISSUES IN TELECOMMUTING

2013

California Employment Lawyers Association

DRAFTING & RESPONDING TO WRITTEN DISCOVERY IN EMPLOYMENT CASES

Publications

2016

Consumer Attorneys of California (CAOC) Forum Magazine ODIOUS MISCREANTS, DETESTABLE TOOLS

2013

Consumer Attorneys of California (CAOC) Forum Magazine SILENCE IS NOT GOLDEN

2001

Industrial Labor Relations Law Journal EFFECTIVE HARASSMENT & DISCRIMINATION PREVENTION IN THE GLOBAL WORKPLACE

Languages

English

Activity

Avvo Rating

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