Jeffrey A. Swedo

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Jeffrey Swedo is a Partner in the Orange County office of GRSM. Jeffrey practices throughout the State of California as well as nationally. Jeffrey chairs the firm’s national Product Liability, Aviation, and Torts Practice Group. With over 30 years of trial experience, Jeffrey brings a unique style of creative approaches and resourceful strategies to litigation. Jeffrey finds that the best pre-trial resolutions for his clients occur when opposing parties understand that he is prepared to try a case to verdict.

Jeffrey has successfully defended clients at trial in complex multi-party matters involving products liability claims, medical devices, and high exposure torts. Representative products range from automobiles and tires to endoscopes and medical devices. Jeffrey defends manufacturers of forklifts, power tools, safety helmets, and a wide variety of consumer products. Jeffrey’s experience also extends to lawsuits involving aviation claims, toxic torts, and construction defects. Jeffrey is a firm believer that early analysis of every lawsuit is key to determining strategy as to whether the claim should be geared for settlement or prepared for trial.

As a commercial litigator, Jeffrey understands a client’s need to weigh the costs and burdens of litigation with an expected outcome. He strives for win-win and business solutions that allow the client to return their focus to their business activities rather than become mired in litigation. He gears his strategies to protect the client’s relationships with others, their brand, and their reputation. Jeffrey has defended and prosecuted numerous business lawsuits. He has also litigated and tried a number of real estate related matters, and represents several large homeowners’ associations in their real estate and business litigation.

In matters of professional liability, Jeffrey has defended professionals from various fields including attorneys, accountants, architects, and engineers. In these cases, sensitivity to the client’s reputation and business, and vindicating them from any accused malpractice, is critical to any successful outcome.

Jeffrey is prepared to try a case any time and anywhere a client asks him to do so. He has been called upon many times to parachute into a case where original counsel has faced some unforeseen challenges. Besides his practice throughout the State of California, Jeffrey is western regional counsel for several clients.

Products Liability

Jeffrey has litigated and tried numerous cases for a variety of product manufacturers and suppliers. These products run the gamut from industrial products to consumer products. Jeffrey has successfully taken a number of these cases to trial. He has numerous defense verdicts and summary judgments to his credit.

Recent Trials

Jeffrey recently defended a tool manufacturer at trial where a power saw severely injured plaintiff’s hand. Plaintiff accepted the significantly lower defense offer after commencement of trial. One of Jeffrey’s most recent trials involved a complex $10 million tire defect lawsuit in which he obtained a nonsuit. That case was reversed on appeal and Jeffrey then prevailed on a summary judgment motion. Jeffrey obtained summary judgment for an insurance carrier who established it had no duty to defend an additional insured vendor for a products liability lawsuit. Jeffrey has had a number of cases settle during trial, whereby his clients received very favorable settlements after the other side viewed the defense presentation.

Commercial Litigation

In commercial matters, Jeffrey has both defended and prosecuted a wide variety of matters ranging from breach of contract claims to cases involving fraud, lender liability, and business torts. Jeffrey’s commercial practice has included a large number of real property disputes. In two cases of note, he quieted title to a rare vintage motor vehicle having a value in excess of $10 million, and resolved a dispute as to ownership of a $17 million vintage vehicle. Jeffrey also recently tried a business interference case, obtaining a multi-million-dollar settlement after several days of trial.

Admissions

California
United States District Court, Central and Southern Districts of California
United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit

Education

J.D., cum laude, The Cornell Law School, 1977
B.S., B.A., summa cum laude, Economics, Valparaiso University, 1973