ATTORNEYS

Prior to joining Fernald & Zaffos, Gina spent five years at Horvitz & Levy LLP, a firm specializing in civil appeals.  During her time there, Gina participated as lead attorney in numerous appeals concerning a wide variety of issues, including medical malpractice, product liability, juror misconduct, and insurance coverage and bad faith.  Gina has prepared and filed appellate briefs in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, the California Supreme Court, the California Courts of Appeal, and the Appellate Division of the Superior Court.  She has appeared and presented oral argument before the Ninth Circuit, various districts of the California Court of Appeal, and the Appellate Division of the Superior Court.  Her efforts in the Ninth Circuit resulted in a favorable published decision in U.S. v. Universal Fruits & Vegetables, 370 F.3d 829 (9th Cir. 2004) (holding Court of International Trade has exclusive jurisdiction over government’s action to recover antidumping duties on Chinese garlic despite labeling as violation of “reverse false claims” provision of False Claims Act).

Since 2006, Gina has been a panel attorney for the California Appellate Project, representing indigent criminal and juvenile defendants on appeal as appointed by the Second District Court of Appeal.

Gina was admitted to practice law in the state of California in 2001.  She is also admitted to practice before the United States District Court for the Central District of California and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.

• Participated as lead attorney in numerous appeals concerning a wide variety of issues, including medical malpractice, product liability, juror misconduct, and insurance coverage and bad faith;
• Appeared and presented argument before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, resulting in a favorable published decision: U.S. v. Universal Fruits & Vegetables, 370 F.3d 829 (9th Cir. 2004) (holding Court of International Trade has exclusive jurisdiction over government’s action to recover antidumping duties on Chinese garlic despite labeling as violation of “reverse false claims” provision of False Claims Act);
• Prepared and filed numerous appellate briefs in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, the California Supreme Court, the California Courts of Appeal, and the Appellate Division of the Superior Court;
• Appeared and presented arguments before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, the Second, Third, and Fourth Districts of the California Court of Appeal, and the Appellate Division of the Superior Court;