Associates P-T

Julie Shim Park

Ms. Shim received her BA from the University of California Berkeley in 2003 and her JD from the University of San Francisco School of Law in 2008. She practices Workers’ Compensation Defense with the firm.

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Thomas S. Park

Mr. Park received his BA from California State University Long Beach in 1999 and his JD from Whittier Law School in 2002. He practices Workers’ Compensation Defense with the firm.

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Ken Patel

Mr. Patel has received his Masters in Commerce from Gujarat State University in 1984, his LLB from Gujarat State University in 1985, and an advanced degree from the Institute of Costs and Management Accountants from Kolkata, India. He practices Workers’ Compensation Defense with the firm.

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Suki Ishwar Patel

Ms. Patel received her BA degree from University of California, Irvine in June 1999 and her JD from Whittier Law School in May 2003. Ms. Patel practices Workers’ Compensation Defense with the firm.

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Nicholas S. Pavlovich

Mr. Pavlovich received his BS degree from California State University Fresno in 1990 and his JD from San Joaquin College of Law in 1997. He attended classes at the University of Paris in 1996. Mr. Pavlovich practices Workers’ Compensation Defense with the firm.

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Jewelle J. Plunkett

Ms. Plunkett graduated from California State University, Los Angeles in 1994 with a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice. She recieved her Juris Doctor from Southwestern Univeristy School of Law in December 2003 and was admitted to the State Bar of California in June 2004.

Ms. Plunkett worked as Staff Counsel for State Compensation Insurance Fund before joinnig the Laughlin, Falbo, Levy & Moresi Pasadena office in September 2011.

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Dyana J. Prince

Ms. Prince graduated from the University California San Diego in 2001 with a Bachelor of Arts in Human Development. After graduating, she worked for five years in the health insurance industry for a Third Party Administration Company where she held the title of Director of Claim Operations and later, Director of Contracting & Provider Relations.

In 2008 she obtained her Juris Doctorate from Golden Gate University, School of Law where she was a student in the Honors Lawyering Program.

Since admittance to the California State Bar in 2008, she has practiced in the areas of Business Law, Personal Injury, and Bankruptcy.

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Megha Rajput

Ms. Rajput received her BA in Legal Studies from the University of California Berkeley in 2007. She received her JD from the University of San Francisco in 2010. In law school, she received the CALI award for Legal Research & Writing and was a member of the McAuliffe Honor Society. She practices Workers' Compensation Defense with the firm. Her interests include cheering on the Cal Bears and painting. 

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James M. Ralph 

Mr. Ralph received his JD from the University of San Francisco School of Law in 2007. Mr. Ralph served as a Technical Editor for the USF Maritime Law Journal and as an Article Editor for the USF Intellectual Property Law Bulletin. He also published surveys of appellate decisions in both journals.  Additionally, he served as a judicial extern for the Honorable Maria Elena James, United States District Court, Northern District of California. Mr. Ralph received his undergraduate degree in Politcal Science from Colgate University in 2004, where he was founder and Co-Editor in Chief of The Colgate Forum.  Mr. Ralph was born and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah and remains a proud Utah Jazz fan. 

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Jose H. Razo

Mr. Razo received his BA from Stanford University in 1973 and his JD from the University of San Diego in 1976. He practices Workers’ Compensation Defense with the firm.

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Hulya Reshad

Ms. Reshad received her BA from the Loughborough University, UK in 1995, her MA from California State University Fresno in 1998, a Post Graduate Diploma in Law from The College of Law in London, UK in 2004 and her JD from San Joaquin School of Law in 2009. She practices Workers' Compensation Defense with the firm.

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Rita R. Reyes-Schmitt

Ms. Reyes-Schmitt received her BA from UCLA in 1987 and her JD from Whittier College School of Law in 1990. She practices Workers’ Compensation Defense with the firm.

Ms. Reyes-Schmitt is a California native, living in Los Angeles with her husband and two children. Ms. Reyes-Schmitt and her family are avid boaters and water skiers. She is an avid reader and plays golf in her spare time. Ms. Reyes-Schmitt is fluent in Spanish, not only speaking, but also reading and writing.

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Charles Rush

Mr. Rush received his BA from Gonzaga University, Spokane, Washington in 1968 and his JD from the American College of Law in 1976. He practices Workers’ Compensation Defense with the firm and has been a Certified Specialist in Workers' Compensation since 1995. 

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Josephine A. Sanchez

Josephine Sanchez was born and raised in Los Angeles.  She attended UCLA where she received her Bachelors degree in History and Political Science.  She received her Law degree from the UCLA School of Law.  Previously, Ms. Sanchez was Staff Counsel for State Compensation Insurance Fund for eight years where she practiced workers' compensation defense and received the 2006 award for Corporate Excellence.  She presently serves on the board of the Latina Lawyers Bar Association.  She is a mentor with the LACBA Mentoring Program for the Wilson High School Law Magnet program.  She is a recipient of the Staples Community Star Award and the Catholic Charities Service Award.  She enjoys baking, traveling, Pilates and UCLA football and basketball. 

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Stephanie Seaman

Ms. Seaman received her JD from the University of San Francisco School of Law in 2007.  Ms. Seaman represents employers and carriers in matters arising under the Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act and its extensions, including the Defense Base Act.

Ms. Seaman served as a member of the University of San Francisco’s Law Review and worked as a Senior Literary Editor for the USF Maritime Law Journal. She was also Brief Specialist for the Judge John R. Brown Admiralty Moot Court Competition in 2006 and 2007, where her team reached the quarterfinals both years. Ms. Seaman completed her undergraduate education in her home state of Colorado, where she majored in Economics with a Business Emphasis at the University of Colorado at Boulder.

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Karla J. Shannon

Ms. Shannon received her BS degree from the University of California at Davis in 1972, Her MA in 1975 from the California State University in Sacramento and her JD from the University of San Francisco in 1982. She practices Workers’ Compensation Defense with the firm.

Before law school, Ms. Shannon's educational background was in the area of life sciences and medicine. During graduate school, she completed a one year internship in medical technology at Kaiser Permanente in Oakland. Thereafter, Ms. Shannon became a licensed medical technologist and worked for Kaiser Permanente in Oakland and San Rafael for five years. In the later part of her employment, she began studies at University of San Francisco Law School. Her focus at the time was to work in environmental law or a medically related area of law. While she worked for a short period of time in civil litigation (insurance defense), transitioning into workers’ compensation was a natural move for her background. Ms. Shannon has been continuously practicing in the area of workers’ compensation for 24 years. In her spare time, she enjoys activities associated with a Sacramento rock and mineral club, spending time with family and friends, and traveling.

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Laurence M. Sjauwfoekloy

Mr. Sjauwfoekloy received his BA from the University of California Berkeley in 1992 and his JD from Santa Clara University School of Law in 2001. He practices Workers’ Compensation Defense with the firm.

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Susan W. Smith

Ms. Smith received her LLB from Lincoln Law School in 1986. She practices Workers’ Compensation Defense with the firm.

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David B. Speyer

Mr. Speyer received his BS from Cornell University in 1983, a Masters from London School of Economics in 1984 and his JD from Temple University School of Law in 1989. He has practiced in the Workers' Compensation arena (both defense and applicant roles) since 1989.  Mr. Speyer practices Workers’ Compensation Defense in the firm's Pasadena office. 

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Pauline H. Suh

Ms. Suh received  her BA from UC Berkeley in 1997 and her JD from Santa Clara University School of Law in 2003. She practices Workers’ Compensation Defense with the firm.

Ms. Suh worked at Netscape/AOL prior to attending law school. She was involved in East San Jose Community Law Center during law school. She also interned at the Supreme Court of South Korea in summer of 2002. 

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William F. Tarchala

Mr. Tarchala received his Bachelor of Arts Degree from Northern Illinois University in 1976 and his Juris Doctor from Lincoln Law School (Sacramento, California) in 1994. He has worked as a Workers' Compensation Defense attorney since 1995 and currently practices Workers' Compensation Defense with the firm in the Sacramento office.

Mr. Tarchala served as PIWC Mid-Valley Chapter President in the past and is currently Vice President for that association. 

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Lisa Thor

Ms. Thor received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in English and Spanish from University of California, Davis in 2003. She received her Juris Doctor from University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law in 2007. She was admitted to the California State Bar in 2008.

Currently, Ms. Thor practices in the area of Workers' Compensation Defense with the firm.

Prior to her time with the firm, Ms. Thor worked as a law clerk for the Napa County Public Defenders Office, a certified student attorney for the Community Legal Services Clinic in Sacramento, California practicing immigration law and family law, a clerk for Administrative Law Judges Laba and Hoover in Sacramento, California, and as court appointed minor's counsel in the arena of juvenile dependency law in Sacramento and Fresno, California.

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Jared B. Tsai

Mr. Tsai received his BA from UC Berkeley in 1995 and his JD from Santa Clara University Law School in 1999. He practices Workers’ Compensation Defense with the firm.

Mr. Tsai, in addition to the practice of workers' compensation, enjoys  Lakers basketball and Texas Hold’em.

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