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BROOK A. ADAMS

September 14, 2012 , , , , Comments Off on BROOK A. ADAMS

EDUCATION

BROOK A. ADAMS received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Economics from University of the Pacific, California. She received her Juris Doctor from Western State University College of Law in Fullerton, California and was admitted to the State Bar the following year.

BACKGROUND

Ms. Adams began her career as a legal assistant where she specialized in intellectual property, patent and trademark law. She managed transcribing dictation, appeared in court, reviewed motions, and maintained client correspondences. During this time, Ms. Adams also worked a legal intern and learned the overall litigation process of contacting and prepping witnesses for trial, assisting the lead attorney during trial, presenting evidence to the courts, and drafting various legal documents including motions, discovery responses, and retainer agreements.

Since then, Ms. Adams has exclusively practiced Workers’ Compensation law and has gained notoriety for her extreme success with early settlement. Over the years, she has adopted an aggressive strategy and is a skilled negotiator. Ms. Adams possesses a careful attention to detail, which is demonstrated in her solid arguments in court. Growing up in Fresno, CA, it is only fitting that Ms. Adams is now our Managing Attorney in that office. Furthermore, her relations prove strong in these venues and she is well acquainted with the Fresno and Bakersfield Boards. Ms. Adams is a veteran attorney who is well versed in all areas of litigation, including directing depositions, appearing at court proceedings (including trials), and negotiating a variety of settlement agreements.

Samuelsen, Gonzalez, Valenzuela & Brown is pleased to have Ms. Adams as Managing Attorney in our Fresno office.

SHAWN S. HAGHIGHI

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EDUCATION

SHAWN S. HAGHIGHI graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English (British Literature) and a minor in Policy Studies. He received his Juris Doctor from Loyola Law School, Los Angeles and was admitted to the State Bar of California the same year.

BACKGROUND

In law school, Mr. Haghighi was an active member in Phi Alpha Delta International Law Fraternity, a Judicial Extern for the Los Angeles Superior Court, and volunteered for two years for VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) assisting low income families. In law school, Mr. Haghighi also served as a law clerk for the state’s leading firm in enforcement of family support judgments as well as interning for the business affairs department in one of the nation’s largest talent agencies.

Following law school, Mr. Haghighi served as an associate attorney in a well-known Orange County plaintiff’s firm handling a wide variety of civil matters from medical malpractice to class action lawsuits. Subsequently, he continued his civil experience at a high-volume Orange County plaintiff’s firm. Thereafter he began his defense career, exclusively handling civil matters for a large insurance authority, on behalf of self-insured cities, towns, and other public entities.

M. Haghighi joined the law offices of Samuelsen, Gonzalez, Valenzuela and Brown as an associate attorney in 2011. He has been handling workers’ compensation defense in our Long Beach office, including both state matters and cases under federal jurisdiction. Mr. Haghighi strongly believes in a tailored and pragmatic approach to cases. He prides himself on being a detail-oriented and creative problem-solver. Mr. Haghighi became a partner in 2018.

AURORA R. AYALA

September 14, 2012 , Comments Off on AURORA R. AYALA

EDUCATION

Aurora Ayala obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in 1999 from Pepperdine University, where she majored in Business Management. She also attended a Workers’ Compensation program through the University of Southern California.

BACKGROUND

Ms. Ayala began her career as a Hearing Representative in the area of Workers’ Compensation in 1990. She has attended a wide array of seminars on Workers’ Compensation and all its facets. She has covered over 700 appearances at Mandatory Settlement Conferences, Rating Conferences, Status Conferences, Trials, Vocational Rehabilitation Formals, depositions of applicants and witnesses and cross-examinations of physicians at various venues such as the San Diego, Santa Ana, Anaheim, Long Beach, Pomona, Riverside, San Bernardino, Oxnard, Bakersfield, Fresno, San Francisco, Oakland, Sacramento, San Jose, Redding and Marysville Appeals Boards.

She has also taught several seminars on rating including Rating under AMA Guidelines, and the Supplemental Job Displacement/Voucher issues.

She began working with Samuelsen, Gonzalez, Valenzuela & Brown in early 2005 as a Hearing Representative in the Newport Beach office. Prior to that she worked at another defense firm for more than four years and prior to that she brought with her over 14 years of expertise and knowledge of handling applicants’ claims.

july 2008

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KIMBERLY R. OGATA

September 14, 2012 , , , , Comments Off on KIMBERLY R. OGATA

EDUCATION

KIMBERLY R. OGATA received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Biological Science from Colorado State University in 1999. She received her Juris Doctor from California Western School of Law in 2002 and was admitted to the State Bar of California that same year.

BACKGROUND

Born and raised in Kona, Hawaii, Ms. Ogata was a member of the Hawaii Clubs throughout her attendance at Colorado State University and during law school. She served as a Small Claims Clerk Advisor at the Superior Court in South Bay, San Diego County. Ms. Ogata also participated in a non-profit guardianship clinic in assisting walk in clients. Prior to joining the Newport Beach office, Ms. Ogata interned for a civil law firm in the intellectual property department. She joined the Newport Beach office of Samuelsen, Gonzalez, Valenzuela & Brown in August of 2003 practicing Workers’ Compensation Law, defending employers, claims administrators, and insurance carriers with quality legal services for over six years. Ms. Ogata is also Certified Specialist in Workers’ Compensation Law.

JAMES A. MORRISON

September 14, 2012 , , Comments Off on JAMES A. MORRISON

EDUCATION

JAMES A. MORRISON received his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology and Business Economics from the State University of New York at Stony Brook in 1979. He received his Masters in Business Administration from Dowling College in New York in 1981. Mr. Morrison received his Juris Doctor from the University of California, Hastings College of Law in 1986. He was admitted to practice in the State of California in 1987.

BACKGROUND

Beginning in 1987, Mr. Morrison has been a Workers’ Compensation defense attorney for Wausau Insurance, Kemper Insurance, and TIG Insurance Company. He joined the Long Beach office of Samuelsen, Gonzalez, Valenzuela & Brown in February of 1999 solely practicing Workers’ Compensation Defense.

HARVEY S. BROWN

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EDUCATION

HARVEY S. BROWN received his Bachelor’s Degree from California State University of Northridge in 1969, and obtained his law degree from San Fernando Valley College of Law in 1979. Mr. Brown has been working as a Workers’ Compensation attorney after passing the exam with the State Bar of California in 1993.

BACKGROUND

Mr. Brown was admitted to practice in 1979, and worked as an attorney at the State Compensation Insurance Fund from approximately 1979 to 1991. Until 1986, Mr. Brown was an associate attorney, handling complex legal matters including defense, 132(a) and S&W’s. During that time, Mr. Brown also trained in and handled the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation claims for the State Compensation Insurance Fund.

In 1986, Mr. Brown was appointed Managing Partner of the Cerritos office of State Compensation Insurance Fund. In that capacity, he managed 15 attorneys as well as a support staff of 20. During that period, Mr. Brown dealt with various claims departments, providing direction, control and training. From 1986 to 1991, Mr. Brown also provided legal training, conducted seminars, and created teaching materials for the seminars for 300 attorneys with State Compensation Insurance Fund. During that time Mr. Brown also advised school districts and self-insured employers such as the State of California which would often involve meetings with state agencies and state personnel.

In 1991, Mr. Brown became an associate with Samuelsen, Gonzalez, Valenzuela & Brown and in 1994; he became a partner with the firm. Since 1998, Mr. Brown has been a member of the Board of Directors of the firm and currently serves as the managing partner of the Newport Beach, Encino, San Diego and Sacramento offices.

Prior to opening the Orange County office, Mr. Brown was in charge of training all new attorneys with the firm. This included integrating them into the Workers’ Compensation environment, giving them complete training as well as monitoring their daily activities. As a managing partner, Mr. Brown handles all complex litigation including 132(a) ‘s and S&W’s.
Mr. Brown has been the Secretary, Vice President and President of the Long Beach Workers’ Compensation section of the Long Beach Bar Association. In that regard, he has also conducted seminars in the past several years on Workers’ Compensation issues for the Long Beach Bar Association, together with Mr. Allan Bass, the former presiding judge from Santa Ana.

Mr. Brown has also prepared a newsletter for the past several years, providing clients with the latest updates, and giving them legal and advisory opinions on the latest Workers’ Compensation laws. Mr. Brown also performs Workers’ Compensation seminars for his clients, and provides legal advice by telephone and/or e-mail on cases that he may not be representing clients on.

DANIEL F. VALENZUELA

September 5, 2012 , , , , Comments Off on DANIEL F. VALENZUELA

EDUCATION

DANIEL F. VALENZUELA received his Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of Santa Clara in 1977 and his Juris Doctor (Cum laude) from Arizona State University College of Law in 1980. He was admitted to practice in Arizona in 1980 and in California in 1982.

BACKGROUND

Mr. Valenzuela’s experience includes instruction in legal education as well as an attorney for the U. S. Department of Labor, Washington, D.C. where he represented the Department in hearings and appeals involving Workers’ Compensation claims under the Black Lung Benefits Act. He joined Samuelsen, Gonzalez, Valenzuela & Brown in 1982 and continued his Workers’ Compensation defense practice handling claims filed pursuant to the Workers’ Compensation Laws of California and the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act. He was certified as a specialist in Workers’ Compensation law in May of 1994. He is currently the firm’s President and Managing Partner of the Long Beach office.

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