Sage R. Knauft
Sage R. Knauft
Our Team Sage R. Knauft

Sage Knauft is a partner at Walsworth and leads the firm’s environmental and real estate practice groups. He has a diverse practice including business litigation, employment law, environmental litigation, construction law, general liability, product liability, premises liability and public entity litigation. He has successfully represented a wide variety of clients, including private companies and individuals, municipalities, manufacturers, distributors, contractors, subcontractors and property owners in complex and multi-party litigation. Sage has been involved in several trials and arbitrations and has successfully negotiated numerous favorable settlements for his clients.  In addition to his litigation practice, Sage frequently gives lectures and presentations in various topics relating to his practice areas.

  • OCWD v. Sabic, et al. – Reached a favorable settlement on behalf of machine valve manufacturer in large groundwater contamination case brought by Orange County Water District. Lowest settlement amount paid by any named defendant in the case.
  • OCWD v. Sabic, et al. – Successfully obtained summary judgment on behalf of a second valve manufacturer in large groundwater contamination case brought by Orange County Water District.
  • Goodwin v. Ingersoll-Rand Company – Obtained a defense verdict after a six-day jury trial in a wrongful death case where the decedent was riding on the defendant’s golf car and fell, sustaining fatal injuries. Decedent’s spouse and children claimed that our client failed to provide adequate warnings regarding the use of the car and defectively designed the braking system. Plaintiffs’ expert was Reuben Vollmer, a well-known expert witness on vehicle accidents who has testified in a number of golf car cases.
  • OCLA v. Susan’s Healthy Gourmet – Secured a binding arbitration award in a business litigation case.
  • McKinnon v. Club Car, Inc. – Secured a mediated settlement in a products liability case.
  • Hehr v. Harding Lawson Associates – Secured a mediated settlement in a product liability case.
  • Cipriano v. Mainline, Inc. – Represented broadband equipment manufacturer with over 100 employees in a sexual harassment claim brought by a former salesperson. Through discovery and taking the plaintiff’s deposition, developed compelling evidence that contradicted all her claims, including co-worker testimony, photographs of alleged incidents and an electronic record of her communications. Net result was mediated settlement for a fraction of the plaintiff’s original demand.
  • Wroblewski v. City of Orange – Represented City in a claim brought by a fire department captain alleging discrimination and disparate treatment based on marital status (single vs. married). Through multiple depositions of plaintiff’s co-workers, developed evidence to support defense that plaintiff was not discriminated against in being passed over for promotion and that the decision was entirely based on merit. Resolved claim for nominal monetary amount and agreement to remove certain disciplinary reports from plaintiff’s personnel file.
  • Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles v. PCC Technical Industries, et al. – Represented owners and operators of a steel mill sued by the Housing Authority of L.A. in a federal CERCLA action relating to soil contamination at a redevelopment site. Case settled favorably shortly before trial.

  • “Pandemic Litigation Bootcamp: Don’t Get Caught With Your Mask Down: Employment Law During COVID-19″
  • “Sexual Harassment and Abusive Conduct Prevention Training”
  • “Employee Leave Law”
  • “Leaves of Absence: Accommodation or Hardship?”
  • “Selected Issues in Environmental Litigation – An Update: Asbestos, Benzene, Pollution, Trucking/Diesel Fuel”
  • “What the Tweet?! Collecting and Using Social Media Evidence to Investigate Claims”
  • “He Said/She Said: Workplace Harassment & Retaliation – What Every Claims Representative Needs To Know”