Biography
David Hunt is a trial lawyer whose courtroom experience and institutional advisory work intersect government, land use, environmental, and maritime law. Over more than four decades, he has tried cases, argued appeals, and served as general counsel to numerous coastal cities in California.
David's litigation experience spans jury and bench trials, appellate work in the U.S. Supreme Court and the California Supreme Court, and administrative proceedings before regulatory bodies. He has litigated cases before the California Coastal Commission, Regional Water Quality Control Board, and the State Water Resources Control Board, and has handled federal civil rights matters, CEQA and California Coastal Act litigation, inverse condemnation, zoning and land use disputes, and Public Contract Code matters.
David's general counsel background informs his approach to litigation. He understands the operational, political, and budgetary realities that public entities, institutions, and corporations face as defendants. David served as City Attorney of Newport Beach, a charter city on the California coast, where he provided and oversaw all legal services for the city. He also served as City Attorney of Pismo Beach and Morro Bay, both general law coastal cities with Tidelands Trust legal needs, and Morro Bay with harbor and ground lease issues that required specialized maritime and real property counsel. He served as general counsel for the former San Miguel Sanitary District and his law firm served as general counsel for the San Simeon Community Services District.
Representative Matters
Maritime
David has built a maritime defense practice that includes limitation of liability actions, dangerous condition claims on navigable waters, and wrongful death matters.
Defense verdict for a marina owner in a dangerous marina and floating dock case in the Los Angeles Superior Court.
Federal court summary judgment for a houseboat lessor in a propeller strike injury case on navigable waters of the United States.
Summary judgment in a wrongful death case alleging negligent leasing of a pleasure boat on Lake Tahoe.
Settlement of multiple fatality cross limitation of liability actions arising from a two-skiff accident off Catalina Island.
Higher Education
David has developed a particularly deep record defending institutions of higher education across employment, Title IX, premises liability, and student-initiated claims.
Defense verdict after a six-week employment jury trial in Los Angeles County.
Defense verdict in a Title IX jury trial alleging sexual discrimination based on sexual orientation.
Defense verdict in premises liability bench trial in a case brought by a former student.
Summary judgment in an employment discrimination case under the California Fair Employment and Housing Act, and successfully defended on appeal before the California Second District Court of Appeal.
Ninth Circuit affirmation of a 12(b)(6) dismissal of a civil rights and Title IX claim brought by a former student.
Successful defense of a dismissal after demurrer of a fraud claim brought by a former student. · Favorable jury verdict in a significantly below the last demand in a high-stakes trial involving a spectator in a traumatic brain injury case against a private school.
Civil Rights
Defense verdict for a city and a peace officer in a federal civil rights excessive force case brought in state court.
Education
- University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law (J.D., 1983)
- University of California, Irvine (B.A., 1979)
Bar Admissions
Courts
- Supreme Court of the United States
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the Central District of California
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California
Professional Affiliations
- State Bar of California