David A. Melton

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David's love of playing and watching baseball has carried through into his law practice. Success in the courtroom is a team effort that starts with old fashioned hard work and preparation along with effective communication with the client.

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After receiving a B.A. in Communications from California State University at Fullerton, David pursued his J.D. at Western State University College of Law. During law school he received the American Jurisprudence Award for Legal Writing, Remedies, and Constitutional Law and made the Distinguished Honor Roll. He joined Porter Scott in September 1995 and was voted a shareholder in November of 2001.  David combined background in technology and videography into telling a story for his clients in a courtroom.  He has completed over 30 jury and bench trials in federal and state court along with appellate cases in the California Courts of Appeal and the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. He also serves as a Judge Pro Tem, arbitrator, and mediator.  David’s practice has focused on the areas of personal injury, products liability, premises liability, pharmacy malpractice, civil rights, employment, and business litigation.  David has been honored with admission in the prestigious American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) and has an AV peer review rating with Martindale-Hubbell, the highest level of professional excellence.

Education

Western State University, College of Law (J.D., 1994)

  • Distinguished Honor Roll
  • American Jurisprudence Award for Legal Writing, Remedies, and Constitutional Law
  • Director’s Scholarship Awards

California State University at Fullerton (B.A., 1989)

Practice Areas Admitted to Practice
  • All California State Courts
  • United States Supreme Court
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
  • United States District Court for the Central District of California
  • United States District Court for the Eastern District of California
  • United States District Court for the Northern District of California

Professional Memberships & Awards

  • AV Rated by Martindale Hubbell
  • American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA), Member
  • Claims & Litigation Management Alliance (CLM)
  • National Retail and Restaurant Defense Association (NRRDA)
  • Northern California Association of Defense Counsel
  • Northern California Super Lawyers (2013-2022)
  • Sacramento County Bar Association
  • Sacramento Magazine’s Top Lawyers

Presentations & Seminars

  • 1-Day Jury Trial, Porter Scott
  • Defending the Premises Liability Case, National Business Institute
  • Interviewing Tips, McGeorge School of Law
  • Special District Website Requirements, Public Cemetery Alliance (PCA)
  • Special District Website Requirements, Golden State Risk Management Association Annual Conference (GSRMA)

Publications

  • “Defending the Premises Liability Case,” National Business Institute
  • “Interviewing Tips Panel Discussion,” McGeorge School of Law

Community Involvement

  • Member, Folsom Chamber of Commerce
  • Member, Sacramento County Bar Association Diversity Hiring and Retention Committee
  • Former Board of Directors, Treasurer & Secretary for Snowline Hospice (nonprofit, community-based organization dedicated to to serving our community by enhancing the lives of those with chronic, serious illness, and patients nearing end-of-life)

Representative Trials

  • Brown v. Campa
  • Cartia v. Winton Cemetery District
  • Castelanelli v. Kulp
  • Capital Mountain v. Wal-Mart
  • Clark v. County of Sacramento
  • Clear Channel, Inc. v. Delta
  • Davis v. PV Holding
  • Dhabolt v. Sam’s Club
  • Duncan v. Sam’s Club
  • Freitas v. Modesto Auto
  • Hall v. County of Sacramento
  • Hagle v. Wal-Mart
  • Hastings v. County of Sacramento
  • Holman v. Wal-Mart
  • Holsey v. Wal-Mart
  • Knippel v. Wal-Mart
  • Lang v. Geweke
  • Lewis v. Rex Moore
  • Louie v. Farmers
  • MAK v. Karimi
  • Mayer v. Avis
  • McIntyre v. Wal-Mart
  • Mora v. Nogales
  • Mott v. Hastings
  • Niaz v. Redondo
  • Northern California v. Davis
  • Phillips v. Waste Management
  • Phillips v. Wal-Mart
  • Ramirez v. Wal-Mart
  • Robles v. Wal-Mart
  • Schaub v. CK & Sons
  • Shull v. County of Sacramento
  • Silva v. Wal-Mart
  • Thomson v. Schillizzi
  • Vargas v. Wal-Mart
  • Zimmerman v. Wal-Mart

Alternative Dispute Resolution

  • Settlement Conference Attorney, Arbitrator, and Mediator