Steven W. Sanchez
Steve attended Stanford University where, among other things, he was a member of the Senior Core Committee (student government) and toured Australia as a member of the Stanford Rugby Team. At Boalt Hall School of Law, Steve's awards and honors course of study included Moot Court (Oral Argument), Real Property Law and Professional Responsibility.
Steve joined Kirby Noonan Lance & Hoge in 1988 and became a partner in 1994. His practice focuses on the areas of general civil, business and commercial litigation. Steve has experience in large complex civil matters and has represented such notable companies as Jack in the Box, Inc., the San Diego Unified Port District, Palomar Technologies, Inc. and Wells Fargo Bank in both Plaintiff and Defense matters. Steve was co-trial counsel with David Noonan on the highly publicized case, PLC v. Wells Fargo Bank.
Outside the courtroom, Steve has been involved in legal professional organizations including the Louis M. Welsh Chapter of the American Inns of Court, the Association of Business Trial Lawyers and the San Diego County Bar Association.
Steve is married with three children. He enjoys spending time with his family, working as a classroom volunteer at his children's school and attending his children's various activities. He also enjoys tennis, golf and traveling.
Steve has received an AV® Peer Review rating from the Martindale Hubbell International Law Directory.
The AV® Peer Review Rating shows that a lawyer has reached the height of professional excellence. He or she has usually practiced law for many years, and is recognized for the highest levels of skill and integrity. This rating is the result of a peer review system based upon the confidential opinions of practicing attorneys and members of the judiciary.
For more about the AV rating click here.
Litigation Practice Areas
- General Civil
- Business
- Commercial
Education
- University of California, Berkeley, J.D., 1986
- Stanford University, B.A., 1983
Professional Memberships and Activities
- San Diego County Bar Association
- Los Angeles County Bar Association
- Association of Business Trial Lawyers
- American Bar Association
- American Inns of Court, Louis M. Welsh Chapter
Selected Case Information
BANKING
- Steve was co-trial counsel for a national banking association in a six-week federal court jury trial based on complex lending and bankruptcy issues. Plaintiff, the liquidating entity successor to Pioneer Mortgage, alleged that our client kept Pioneer Mortgage in business while it was otherwise insolvent thereby allowing Pioneer Mortgage to further defraud its investors. Plaintiff sought from our client about $125 million in alleged fraudulent transfers purportedly made to keep Pioneer Mortgage in business. Following a mistrial resulting from a hung jury, the trial court granted our motion for judgment on all counts and entered judgment for our client. The matter was favorably settled following appeal.
- Steve represented a national banking association in defense of a national class action brought by personal injury structured settlement payees. Plaintiffs sought more than $100 million in damages based on, among other things, purported breaches of the controlling agreements and alleged diversion of their structured settlement proceeds by various trustors, trustees and investment advisors. The matter was favorably settled on a class-wide basis.
CLASS ACTIONS
- Steve represented a national banking association in defense of a national class action brought by personal injury structured settlement payees. Plaintiffs sought more than $100 million in damages based on, among other things, purported breaches of the controlling agreements and alleged diversion of their structured settlement proceeds by various trustors, trustees and investment advisors. The matter was favorably settled on a class-wide basis.
- The Firm was lead trial counsel for a certified class of California consumers who purchased a certain dietary supplement (Xenadrine RFA-1). The action sought restitution and other remedies under California Business & Professions Code section 17200. After a seven-week non-jury trial, the trial judge found in favor of the class in all respects and awarded more than $12 million in restitution, in addition to substantial injunctive relief. Steve handled post-trial motions, the appeal and post-trial settlement negotiations.
- Steve defended a Fortune 500 company in a putative class action alleging various wage and overtime claims. The putative class, consisting of the clients' present and former managers, sought tens of millions of dollars in allegedly unpaid overtime compensation. The matter was favorably settled on a class-wide basis before plaintiffs' motion for class certification.
CONTRACT DISPUTES
- Steve represented a national banking association in defense of a national class action brought by personal injury structured settlement payees. Plaintiffs sought more than $100 million in damages based on, among other things, purported breaches of the controlling agreements and alleged diversion of their structured settlement proceeds by various trustors, trustees and investment advisors. The matter was favorably settled on a class-wide basis.
- Steve represented a national cellular telecommunications services provider in a multi-million dollar breach of contract claim. Plaintiff contended that it was entitled to purchase, at wholesale prices, certain cellular telecommunications services, such as blocks of telephone numbers and cellular air time, and resell those services to the public at retail prices. Plaintiff alleged that it lost millions of dollars when the Firm's client purportedly breached the contract. Steve obtained summary judgment in favor of the client.
- Steve currently represents a San Diego governmental agency in the prosecution and defense of various contract-related claims against a former tenant relating to the former tenant's obligation to clean up contamination at and around the leased premises. The amount in dispute is several million dollars.
- Steve represented a technology company in the prosecution and defense of various contract-related claims in connection with the development, manufacture, and delivery of an air traffic control system for the Canadian government. The complicated case involved highly technical substantive information, complex interrelated companies and subsidiaries, and some litigation in Canadian courts. In the end, the Firm obtained a multi-million dollar settlement in favor of our client.
PROFESSIONAL NEGLIGENCE LITIGATION
Steve frequently represents clients in professional negligence and errors and omissions litigation. Steve has represented a number of local, regional and national law firms and attorneys in such litigation. There are unique considerations about whether such actions should proceed to trial, juror attitudes toward professionals, and the unique considerations of our clients in handling such cases. The following are examples of professional liability litigation Steve has handled:
- Steve defended a prominent law firm against claims that it failed to properly prosecute and recover tens of millions of dollars in an underlying partnership dispute. Plaintiffs alleged that certain claims and damages should have been pursued and recovered in the underlying action. Steve obtained summary judgment in favor of the law firm.
- Steve defended a nationally-recognized law firm against claims that it failed to properly negotiate a land sale agreement. The plaintiff developer alleged that the law firm failed to obtain certain contract terms and sought more than a million dollars in damages. Steve obtained summary judgment in favor of the law firm.
- Steve is currently defending a well known law firm against claims that it failed to properly prosecute certain causes of action during a lengthy two-phase trial. The plaintiff developer seeks several million dollars in damages.