Based out of Santa Barbara, CA, Dustin E. Woods focuses his entire career on civil defense litigation. He is formally affiliated with the Los Angeles and Sacramento offices. His practice extends throughout all of Northern, Central and Southern California. Dustin is supported by a team of associates, partners, litigation professionals, technology professionals and trial preparation support. He practices in both State and Federal Courts in California. In addition, Dustin has been admitted pro hac vice in Florida and Nevada. He has consulted on Pacific Region matters in Arizona, Nevada, Oregon, Washington and Montana. He is otherwise able to refer cases to GRSM attorneys in all 50 states.
With respect to the specific areas of law and damages, Dustin has handled a non-exclusive list of the following:
Catastrophic Injuries: Decapitation, loss of limbs, quadriplegia, paraplegia, impalement, falls from high rise buildings, stabbings, shootings, suffocation, crushing injuries, rape/sexual assault of adults and minors, chemical/fire burns, scarring, organ damage, vision damage, brain damage, PTSD, severe emotional distress, eye and ear damage, and other areas.
Transportation: Major commercial trucking companies and other entities on motor vehicle negligence, driving standards of care, turning, lane changing, excessive speed, parking, adequate rest, training, supervision, hiring, entrustment, maintenance of vehicles, safety standards, roll-over situations, distractions, safety in inclement weather and compliance with local, federal and state regulations, etc.
Premises Liability: Hotels, casinos, housing communities, golf courses, gyms, retail stores, grocery stores, ropes courses, and others on property maintenance, disrepair, record keeping, training, lighting, repairs, slip/trip hazards, maritime dock design/maintenance, dog bites, exotic/illegal animal possession, security, third party criminal acts, unsafe conditions, parking lot design, mold, and asbestos.
Products Liability: Issues involving commercial swimming pools, high rise buildings, electricity, exploding tankless water heaters, dishwashers, bicycles, dune buggies, tires, steering wheels, retail clothing racks, ceilings, elevators, commercial truck (hitches, dollies, brakes, and engine maintenance), car seats, fire pits, ADA equipment failures, metal sheeting, causes of wildfires, floor mats, packaging, flooring, plumbing, food contamination, residential/commercial windows, large gates, lift gates, wheelchair lifts, stadium stairways and railways, steering wheels, underride guards, gym equipment defects, decks, freezing units, scaffolding, automatic doors, motor vehicles, golf carts and others.
Habitability: Ceiling collapses, code compliance, mold, asbestos, lack of heat and air conditioning, windows, locks, security, flooding, nuisances, noise, violence, security (or lack thereof), infestation of rats, snakes, bed bugs, wasps, bees, centipedes, roaches, rodents and scorpions.
Professional Liability: Real Estate Agents (failure to disclose defects, fraud, contractual issues, etc.); Insurance Agents and Brokers (failure to procure requested and adequate insurance) on residential, commercial and agricultural properties. Attorneys in legal malpractice cases.
Landlord / Tenant: Responses to requests for maintenance and repairs, security, neighbor disputes, assaults, foliage overgrowth, ceiling collapses, drug use, property maintenance, electrical issues flooding, lease issues, trespass, unlawful detainer, eviction/constructive eviction, withholding deposits, abuse, harassment, retaliation, eviction, etc.
- Presenter, Insurance Policies are Not Created Equal, Insurance Management Club of Columbia University, October 2020
- Presenter, Forensic Expert Witness Association (FEWA)
Admissions
- California
- U.S. District Court, Central District of California
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
Memberships
- Santa Barbara County Bar Association
- Santa Barbara County Unity Bar
- Ventura County Unity Bar
Education
- J.D., Whittier College School of Law, 2003 (2.5 year expedited program)
- B.A., Political Science, Loyola Marymount University, 1999
Honors
- Super Lawyers® Rising Stars distinction in Personal Injury and Professional Liability, 2013-2014