Attorneys > Craig A.Livingston
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Craig Livingston is an experienced civil trial lawyer and a shareholder of Livingston Law Firm. His practice focuses on product liability defense, aviation, trucking/transportation, general liability and commercial litigation. He has successfully defended clients in state and federal court cases involving wrongful death and catastrophic injury.
Prior to joining LLF, Craig was Co-chair of the 30-lawyer Product Liability and Mass Torts Practice Group at Schnader Harrison Segal & Lewis. He writes and speaks frequently in the area of civil litigation and trial practice, with an emphasis on product liability and damages issues. He is a member of the Defense Research Institute, the International Association of Defense Counsel and the Product Liability Advisory Council where he is a Sustaining Member.
CURRICULUM VITAE
EMPLOYMENT
A-V rated civil trial attorney by Martindale-Hubbell with extensive state and federal courtroom experience. Has successfully tried to verdict or arbitrated many cases, including high-exposure wrongful death and spinal cord injury matters. Frequently writes and lectures on civil trials and damages topics, particularly those in the product liability area. Selected as a "Northern California Super Lawyer" in 2007 for his expertise in the product liability defense area.
AUGUST 2003-PRESENT
SHAREHOLDER
Livingston Law Firm
A Professional Corporation
Walnut Creek, California
General civil trial practice with particular expertise in product liability defense, trucking and transportation, aviation and commercial litigation. Serves as national coordinating and trial counsel for national and international manufacturers. Frequent lecturer and author in the areas of civil trials, damages and product liability litigation. Advisor to manufacturers on risk management issues.
MAY 1999-JULY 2003
PARTNER
Schnader Harrison Segal & Lewis LLP
San Francisco, California
Co-chair of the firm’s 30-lawyer Product Liability and Mass Tort Practice Group. Maintained active civil trial practice with emphasis on product liability, aviation and general liability matters. Obtained defense verdicts for an aerial work platform manufacturer in a wrongful death action and a vertical access ladder manufacturer in a spinal cord injury action.
OCTOBER 1997-APRIL 1999
PARTNER
OCTOBER 1990-SEPTEMBER 1997
ASSOCIATE
Bronson, Bronson & McKinnon
San Francisco, California
General civil trial practice. Obtained defense verdicts for an international firearms manufacturer in a highly publicized wrongful death action arising out of an accidental shooting of a teenage boy and an aircraft manufacturer in a wrongful death action arising out of a multiple fatality air crash. Served as national coordinating counsel for aerial work platform manufacturer.
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS
State Bar of California; Contra Costa County Bar Association; Sustaining Member – Product Liability Advisory Council; International Association of Defense Counsel; Defense Research Institute.
PUBLICATIONS
Lessons From Jury Research: The Mythical “Safe Company” Standard And How Product Liability Defendants Can Measure Up, IADC Product Liability Committee Newsletter, 2003
Defending America’s Manufacturers: Challenges, Rewards and Successful Strategies , Inside the Minds: Leading Product Liability Lawyers – Industry Insiders on the Art & Science Behind A Successful Product Liability Practice, Aspatore Books, 2003 (contributing author)
Firearms Litigation in 2002 and Beyond , VerdictSearch Products Liability Report, 2003
National Coordinating Counsel: Controlling Product Liability Exposure and Defense Costs, For the Defense, Defense Research Institute, 2001 (Recipient of the 2002 G. Duffield Smith Outstanding Publication Award from DRI)
Admissibility of Evidence of the Absence of Prior Similar Accidents in Product Liability Cases, CEB Program Handbook, California Continuing Education of the Bar, 2000
SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS
Effective In-House
Witness Preparation: Understanding, Promoting and Implementing Meaningful Corporate “BuyIn,”
Product Liability Advisory Council Fall Conference, 2007
Personal Injury Case Management for Seasoned Litigators, National Business Institute, 2007
The Psychology of In-House
Expert Witness Preparation and Testimony and The “Safe Company” Theme, Product Liability Advisory Council Spring Conference, 2006
Damages in California Civil Trial Practice, National Business Institute, 2003
Handling A Product Liability Case, California Continuing Education of the Bar, 2002
Defying Gravity in the Courtroom: Preparing and Trying the Aerial Device Case, DRI Product Liability Conference, 2002
Advanced Course of Study: Product Liability Litigation, California Continuing Education of the Bar, 2000
Municipal Firearms Litigation – Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow, American College of Trial Lawyers, Southwest Regional Meeting, 2000
EDUCATION
JURIS DOCTOR
University of San Francisco School of Law
MAY 1990, San Francisco, California
University of San Francisco Law Review, Articles Editor
Admitted to California Bar, December 1990
Admitted to United States District Court
Northern District of California, December 1990
Eastern District of California, March 1994
Admitted to United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit, December 1990
BACHELOR OF ARTS, LAW & SOCIETY
University of California, Santa Barbara
JUNE 1982, Santa Barbara, California
PERSONAL
Married, three children. Enjoys golf, winemaking, basketball, and gardening. Makes an award winning clam chowder.
