David Davidson

Overview

David Davidson serves as a strategic legal partner to professionals in the design, construction, environmental, real estate, and insurance sectors. His approach to legal strategy and advocacy combines seasoned trial expertise with a deep commitment to fostering long-term client success. David’s litigation abilities span the resolution, in and out of state and federal courts, of complex, high-stakes disputes, setting him apart as a trusted advocate who navigates challenging matters with precision, insight, and credibility.

Given his extensive trial experience, David represents publicly and privately held companies across diverse industries, such as entertainment, construction, hospitality, manufacturing, and real estate. His experience emphasizes defending manufacturers, suppliers, and retailers in product liability, big-box retail premises liability matters, toxic torts, professional liability, and environmental litigation. Clients value his ability to secure favorable outcomes through both rigorous courtroom advocacy and skillful negotiation, including for Fortune 500 firms and specialized manufacturers in firearms and outdoor products.

David’s reputation is built on managing high-exposure, difficult cases while providing practical legal counsel focused on risk management and contractual issues. Acting as outside general counsel or on targeted interventions, he helps clients in the design and construction communities mitigate legal risks and resolve disputes efficiently. Additionally, David delivers tailored in-house seminars to keep clients informed of evolving laws, industry trends, and contractual best practices, reinforcing his role as a proactive and trusted legal advisor.

Experience

• Represented a plaintiff’s law firm in state court proceedings arising from a $475,000 settlement diverted through an email spoofing scheme, including a published California Court of Appeal decision of first impression allocating the risk of cyber‑fraud loss, and a subsequent Orange County action successfully dismissed with an appeal pending based on Anti-SLAPP along with litigation privilege, lack of duty, and collateral estoppel.( Thomas v. Corbyn Restaurant Development Corp., (2025) 111 Cal.App.5^th 439 (certified for publication) and related action of Tyson & Mendes, LLP v. Chambers & Noronha, APC, et al)
• Secured dismissal of professional negligence claims against an engineering firm in California state court when the court sustained a demurrer without leave to amend. The court found the claims barred by the economic loss doctrine, statute of limitations, and plaintiff’s failure to timely serve the defendant and file a required certificate of merit. (Lycee v. Trevin Schall Architect)
• Represented plaintiff in a real estate dispute in Riverside County Superior Court and on appeal, successfully affirming entry of judgment enforcing a written settlement agreement under California Code of Civil Procedure §664.6 over challenges to acceptance, delivery, and evidentiary procedure. (Sandee Hwang v. Linger Chu, Unpublished Decision - 2016 Cal. App. Unpub. LEXIS 1746 * | 2016 WL 909080)
• Represented a major aerospace and defense contractor in a federal asbestos personal‑injury action, securing dismissal while a summary judgment motion was pending based on the government contractor defense. (Shindelbower, et al. v. Honeywell International, Inc.)
• Represented a recreational vehicle manufacturer in federal subrogation litigation arising from an alleged motorhome fire, securing dismissal based on a contractual waiver‑of‑subrogation provision. (Gotham Insurance Company et al v. Newmar Corporation)
• Secured a dismissal of a professional negligence claim against an engineering firm in Riverside County Superior Court when court-stained demurrer without leave to amend. The Court found Plaintiffs' claims were barred by the two (2) year statute of limitations for failing to file a Certificate of Merit as required by California Code of Civil Procedure §411.35 at the time of the filing of the Complaint and within the sixty-day safe harbor period. (Moreno Valley USD v. Ajax Boilder)
• Represented two (2) design professional firms, JCM Group, Inc. and Paul A. Moote & Associates, Inc., both of which were involved in the construction Phases I through IV of the Graduate Campus at the Malibu Campus of Pepperdine University, prevailing on motions for summary judgment against both Pepperdine University and Layton and Associates. The Court found the claims were barred by the two (2) year statute of limitations applicable to design professionals.  (Pepperdine University v. Leighton and Associates, et al.)

Honors & Presentations

Honors

• Rising Star, Construction Litigation: Business, Personal Injury - Products: Defense, Business Litigation, Environmental Litigation, Super Lawyers Rising Stars, 2009-2011

Presentations & Speeches

• Panelist, “Jurisdictional Update: Overview of Arizona, California, Nevada and Washington,” Perrin Construction Defect Claims and Trial Conference, Las Vegas, NV, June 21, 2018
• Panelist, "Navigating the Minefield of Complex Cases (HOA, Condos, Hotels)," Perrin National Construction Defect Conference, Ft. Lauderdale, FL, November 19, 2015

News

Civic

• Member, National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF)

Professional

• Member, Iowa State Bar Association, 2021 to Present
• Member, California State Bar Association, 2001 to Present
• Member, Washington State Bar Association, 2017 to Present
• Member, Wyoming State Bar Association
• Member, Orange County Bar Association
• Member, Los Angeles County Bar Association
• Member, Federal Bar Association
• Member, Claims and Litigation Management Alliance (CLM)
• Member, Professional Liability Underwriting Society (PLUS)
• Member, California Association of Environmental Professionals (AEP)
• Member, American Institute of Architects, California Council (AIACC Allied Membership)
• Member, Association of Southern California Defense Counsel (ASCDC)