Alison Buchanan to Speak at the Santa Clara County Bar Association

The Nuts and Bolts of Litigating Against Vexatious Litigants

Hoge Fenton attorney Alison P. Buchanan will be part of a panel at the Santa Clara County Bar Association speaking on the topic of “The Nuts and Bolts of Litigating Against Vexatious Litigants.”

If you are a defense attorney, you are bound to run up against at least one pro per plaintiff who makes your life, and the life of your client, a nightmare. You need to know when that pesky plaintiff has gone from just a pain in your neck to a full-blown vexatious litigant. Next, you need to know how to deal with that vexatious litigant when defending your client. Finally, you should be aware of the ethical issues presented when dealing with such an individual.

The panel members will discuss:

• How to identify a vexatious litigant
• How to file a vexatious litigant motion
• Ways to get the case dismissed
• Ethical issues that arise when dealing with vexatious litigants
• Pitfalls to avoid
• A judge’s perspective on vexatious litigants

Each attendee will receive written examples of successful vexatious litigant motions and requests for security. Most importantly, a Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge will explain what he/she likes to see when defense counsel is dealing with a vexatious litigant.

If you cannot attend in person, sign up to attend the Live Webcast (click on registration link, below, for details). If you require assistance, please contact the SCCBA at (408) 287-2557.

Speakers:

• Honorable Kenneth Barnum, Superior Court of California, County of Santa Clara
• Eric Bengtson, Davis & Young
• Alison Buchanan, Hoge Fenton Jones & Appel, Inc.
• Justin Draa, Greenfield, Sullivan, Draa & Harrington LLP
• Sharon Hightower, Ericksen, Arbuthnot, Kilduff, Day & Lindstrom, Inc.

Schedule:

• Registration: 11:30 AM
• Program: 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM

MCLE Credit: 1.0 General Substantive Law and 1.0 Legal Ethics