Josh Anaya is a partner at Walsworth and is a member of the firm’s trial team. He focuses his civil defense practice primarily on high-exposure general liability, toxic tort, and asbestos litigation where he successfully defends a variety of clients, ranging from mom-and-pop to Fortune 500 companies, governmental entities, insurance companies, and individuals seeking to defend their interests in catastrophic injury, wrongful death, and business disputes. Josh litigates these matters by concentrating on the final 100 days before trial, developing trial strategies, arguing in limine and dispositive motions, negotiating at settlement conferences, preparing client representative witnesses for trial examination, and serving as lead trial counsel.
Josh relies on his advocacy experience from both sides of the aisle to advise on litigation matters from initial client intake to final appeal. Josh has taken and attended hundreds of percipient and expert depositions in a variety of cases. This comprehensive experience informs his trial strategies and client recommendations. Josh and his clients work together to analyze cases both on the merits as well as on the procedural issues to create a targeted, tailored litigation plan.
Josh’s 16 years of California litigation involving trials and appeals, including oral argument before California Fourth District Court of Appeal and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, helped develop the procedural acumen he uses to give clients detailed, cost-effective risk management solutions. This approach not only allows Josh to lead clients through difficult disputes, but also to follow his passion teaching and educating the next generation of advocates—both inside and outside Walsworth. Josh has presented to law students and military legal service attorneys in small settings, to attorneys and in house counsel in national conferences, and to firm colleagues on topics ranging from civil procedure and depositions to trial advocacy. Passionate about volunteering, Josh has received the California Bar Wiley W. Manual award on three occasions during his legal career, for his work with the San Diego Legal Aid Society.
- As lead trial counsel in protracted product liability case after nearly ten years of litigation, obtained dismissal on behalf of product manufacturer client for waiver of costs at trial call after extensive expert depositions and motions in limine.
- As lead trial counsel in one-week breach of contract and fraud case, obtained favorable verdict for individual client that included $260,000 in attorneys’ fees.
- As lead trial counsel in a two-and-a-half week breach of contract and fraud case, obtained directed verdict for individual client on fraudulent inducement claim.
- As lead trial counsel in alleged traumatic brain injury case, obtained nominal settlement of less than $10,000 for individual client before jury selection and after successfully arguing motions in limine.
- Obtained dismissal with prejudice for waiver of costs of product manufacturer client based upon successful dispositive motion after deposing plaintiff.
- Obtained dismissal with prejudice for waiver of costs of individual clients in wrongful death shooting case based upon prelitigation investigations and pleading attacks.
- After associating into the case two years after issuance of terminating sanctions, obtained relief from default judgment for individual client based upon law and motion procedural attacks.
- Trials PAC – “My Cousin Wolfy: Evidentiary Objections at Trial”