Amber Kelly is a senior counsel at Walsworth who focuses her practice on general liability and asbestos matters. She is a skilled trial attorney with nearly 40 years of experience handling all aspects of litigation, including developing case strategy, forming discovery plans, taking and defending fact and expert witness depositions, and representing clients in jury trials, arbitrations, and mediations. Amber is proud to be a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA), one of the preeminent national organizations for experienced trial lawyers.
Prior to joining Walsworth, Amber represented a wide range of clients, including corporations, insurance companies, and public entities, in a variety of premises liability, motor vehicle accident, complex toxic tort, products liability, construction defect, and insurance bad faith matters.
- Noorbakhsh v. Mosser Properties, et al(2023) – Second chaired and successfully defended Mosser Properties, a landlord, in a San Francisco jury trial, in which a tenant alleged damages in excess of $500,000. Plaintiff’s lowest settlement demand was $450,000. Defendant submitted a CCP §998 Offer to Compromise of $225,000. During trial Plaintiff dismissed the Breach of Implied Warranty, Breach of Implied Covenant of Habitability, Breach of Covenant of Quiet Enjoyment, Nuisance, Violation of CC Sections 1940.2 and 1942.5, and Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress causes of action. Ultimately the jury only awarded $63,000 — less than 15% of Plaintiff’s lowest demand—for negligence and constructive eviction. Mosser prevailed on the First claim for Tenant Harassment under San Francisco Rent Ordinance Sect. 37.108, which allows attorney fees and triple damages to the prevailing party and filed a cost memorandum. Although Plaintiff filed a Motion to Strike/Tax our costs, after hearing oral arguments, the judge ruled that considering the Plaintiff’s claims and jury verdict, the Defendant is the prevailing party “on the case and under CCP§ 998,” and granted Defendants’ request for costs, including expert fees.
- Clark v. Karnezis– First chaired a San Francisco jury trial resulting in complete defense verdict in favor of 19-year-old driver sued by a physician severely injured during a motor vehicle accident.
- Tillis v. Oakland Coliseum/Syufy Theaters– First chaired a jury trial resulting in complete defense verdict in favor of Oakland Coliseum/Syufy in a case involving claims of dangerous condition of the premises.
- Batieste v. BARTD – First chaired a jury trial resulting in complete defense verdict in favor of BARTD in a case involving claims of dangerous condition of public property.
- Walker v. Abex, et al. – First chaired a San Francisco jury trial resulting in complete defense verdict in favor of insulation distributor/contractor sued for personal injury in an asbestosis case.
- Hill v. ACandS, Inc., et al. – Second chaired a San Francisco jury trial resulting in defense verdict in favor of asbestos fiber supplier in wrongful death mesothelioma case.
- Nunez v. Advocate Mines, et al. – Second chaired a Los Angeles jury trial resulting in complete defense verdict in favor of an asbestos fiber broker in a wrongful death mesothelioma case.
- Van v. BARTD, et al. – Second chaired a jury trial resulting in nonsuit for BARTD in a case involving a plaintiff in a persistent vegetative state claiming dangerous condition of public premises due to ongoing construction of the Pittsburgh-Antioch BARTD extension.
- Gibbs v. Holmes, et al. – Successful defense, through summary judgment, of Ackerman McQueen, a national public relations firm, in a case involving claims of intentional tort and workplace harassment.
- Hughes v. Western MacArthur(1987) 192 Cal.App.3d 951. – Prepared successful Respondent’s Brief on Appeal resulting in Court of Appeal decision requiring plaintiffs to specifically plead successor liability.