Mr. Thompson has focused the last 20 years of practice on the defense of public entities, their
elected officials, and their employees. A significant portion of his practice involves the
defense of federal civil rights actions brought under 42 U.S.C.A. section 1983 against law
enforcement agencies, their officers, detention staff and medical personnel. Claims
associated with section 1983 actions frequently include state civil rights, medical malpractice,
and wrongful death claims.
In addition, Mr. Thompson handles county social service cases involving Child Protective
Services, state and federal employment claims under FEHA and Title VII, state and federal
privacy rights litigation.
Mr. Thompson began his law practice in 1976 with house counsel for Liberty Mutual Insurance
Company in San Francisco. He handled his first jury trial 6 months into practice and tried over
50 jury trials before joining Van de Poel, Strickland & Haapala as a partner in 1988. Mr.
Thompson's active litigation practice is now principally in federal court.
Admissions:
The State Bar of California (1976)
United States District Court for the Northern District of California
United States District Court for the Eastern District of California
United States District Court for the Central District of California
United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
United States Tax Court
United States Supreme Court
Military Service:
LtJg USNR (1968-1971) Guided Missile Destroyers Atlantic and Pacific Fleets.
Education:
San Francisco State University (1968)
Lincoln University School of Law (1976), Law Review
Memberships:
Northern California Association of Defense Counsel (ADC)
Public Agency Risk Managers Association (PARMA)
Alameda County Bar Association (ACBA)
Board of Directors Alameda County Health Care Foundation
Representative Clients are County of Alameda, Alameda County Sheriff’s Office, City of
Oakland, County of Marin, Marin County Sheriff’s Office, County of San Joaquin, San Joaquin
County Sheriff’s Office, County of Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office, County of
San Benito, San Benito County Sheriff’s Office, County of Sutter.
elected officials, and their employees. A significant portion of his practice involves the
defense of federal civil rights actions brought under 42 U.S.C.A. section 1983 against law
enforcement agencies, their officers, detention staff and medical personnel. Claims
associated with section 1983 actions frequently include state civil rights, medical malpractice,
and wrongful death claims.
In addition, Mr. Thompson handles county social service cases involving Child Protective
Services, state and federal employment claims under FEHA and Title VII, state and federal
privacy rights litigation.
Mr. Thompson began his law practice in 1976 with house counsel for Liberty Mutual Insurance
Company in San Francisco. He handled his first jury trial 6 months into practice and tried over
50 jury trials before joining Van de Poel, Strickland & Haapala as a partner in 1988. Mr.
Thompson's active litigation practice is now principally in federal court.
Admissions:
The State Bar of California (1976)
United States District Court for the Northern District of California
United States District Court for the Eastern District of California
United States District Court for the Central District of California
United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
United States Tax Court
United States Supreme Court
Military Service:
LtJg USNR (1968-1971) Guided Missile Destroyers Atlantic and Pacific Fleets.
Education:
San Francisco State University (1968)
Lincoln University School of Law (1976), Law Review
Memberships:
Northern California Association of Defense Counsel (ADC)
Public Agency Risk Managers Association (PARMA)
Alameda County Bar Association (ACBA)
Board of Directors Alameda County Health Care Foundation
Representative Clients are County of Alameda, Alameda County Sheriff’s Office, City of
Oakland, County of Marin, Marin County Sheriff’s Office, County of San Joaquin, San Joaquin
County Sheriff’s Office, County of Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office, County of
San Benito, San Benito County Sheriff’s Office, County of Sutter.
ATTORNEY PROFILE
510-763-2324
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