Education
J.D., University of California, Hastings College of Law, 1977
B.A., University of San Francisco, 1974
Bar Admissions
California
Court Admissions
U.S. Supreme Court
9th Circuit Court of Appeals
Northern District of California
Eastern District of California
Central District of California
Southern District of California
Affiliations
Northern California SuperLawyers, 2012
State Bar of California, Litigation, Employment and Real Property Sections
Association of Defense Counsel of Northern California
National Diocesan Attorneys Association, member of Executive Committee
Western Diocesan Attorneys Association
San Francisco Superior Court’s Mandatory Settlement Conference Panel, member
Paul E. Gaspari
- Contact information:
- Shareholder
- pgaspari@weintraub.com
- T: 415.772.9618
- F: 415.433.3883
Practice Areas
As a litigation shareholder of the firm, Paul advises clients on commercial law, insurance defense, public liability, real estate, and employment related litigation. He routinely represents employers and their insurers in the defense of employee misconduct actions including the defense of sexual harassment claims, DFEH and EEOC investigations and charges. Paul also litigates First Amendment issues for several national, state and local religious organizations.
Paul was trial and appellate counsel in the following reported cases:
- Karoutas v. HomeFed Bank (1991) 232 Cal.App.3d 767: Established duties of trustees conducting real estate foreclosure sales;
- Bollard v. California Province (9th Cir. 1999) 196 F.3d 940: Affirmed ministerial exception to Title VII claims in 9th Circuit;
- East Bay Asian Local Development Corp. v. State of California (1999) 69 Cal.App.4th 1033: Affirmed constitutionality of religious institution exemption to state landmarking act;
- Juarez v. Boy Scouts of America, Inc. (2000) 80 Cal.App.4th 87: Affirmed summary judgment in favor of Diocese which sponsored Boy Scout troop in which molestation was alleged;
- Richelle L. v. Roman Catholic Archbishop (2003) 106 Cal.App.4th 257: Affirmed dismissal of claim against employer for adult misconduct;
- Ridgewater Associates v. Dublin San Ramon Services District (2010) 184 Cal.App.4th 629: Affirmed summary judgment for wastewater treatment facility accused of altering ground water migration causing damaging to adjoining commercial properties.
From 2004 through 2006, Paul served as Defense Liaison Counsel in the California Judicial Council Coordinated Proceeding entitled "Clergy Cases III," a clergy sexual abuse proceeding with over 350 claimants.
Paul is a member of the Litigation, Employment and Real Property Sections of the California State Bar. He has lectured with the Practicing Law Institute, the California Continuing Education of the Bar and various national and local defense organizations. He is also a member of the bar of the United States Supreme Court.
Paul has been selected for inclusion in Northern California SuperLawyers by Law & Politics and San Francisco Magazine since 2005. In addition, he was recently appointed as a member of the San Francisco Superior Court's Mandatory Settlement Conference Panel.
Some examples of the litigation matters Paul has led include:
- Obtained defense verdict in 6 week jury trial v. religious order establishing that claims of sexual abuse by two plaintiffs were false claims;
- Obtained defense verdict in 11 day binding arbitration representing real estate developer who was accused of falsely representing the permitted use of two commercial condominiums in downtown San Francisco under local zoning laws. Post award successfully obtained judgment in superior court confirming the award;
- Successfully negotiated settlements of over $150 million in child molestation claims against institutional defendants accused of negligent hiring, supervision or retention;
- Obtained summary judgment for a Bay Area water and sanitation district accused of diverting groundwater migration which allegedly caused property damage to neighboring commercial buildings;
- Successfully settled claims against the City and County of San Francisco arising out of the death and injury to 3 young men at the San Francisco Zoo by a tiger which escaped her enclosure; successfully settled a claim against the City by a zoo keeper who was severely injured by the same tiger during feeding one year earlier.
- Successfully obtained insurance coverage for clients sued for child abuse, sexual harassment, employee misconduct, and fraud and misrepresentation in the sale of real property.
