Patrick S. Schoenburg

Patrick Schoenburg has successfully represented clients at trial in state and federal court, in appeals, arbitration hearings and in the negotiation of contracts, license agreements and other transactions. He has particular expertise in defending mass tort, environmental, toxic tort and professional liability claims involving technical issues and has developed innovative strategies for attacking questionable scientific evidence. His practice includes defense and prosecution of commercial and employment claims and client counseling regarding contract and related business matters. Patrick’s articles have been published by the ABA, Harris-Martin, CEB and Mealey’s and he has been quoted on legal issues in the New York Times and leading industry publications. He is a co-author of CEB’s guidebook for handling mold litigation in California. After graduating from the University of Southern California Gould School of Law, where he was a member of the Southern California Law Review, Patrick served as a law clerk to the Hon. A. Andrew Hauk of the United States District Court for the Central District of California.

Patrick has frequently been selected to serve as lead and national counsel by clients faced with mass tort claims. He was lead defense counsel in the Federal Multi-District Litigation that followed the 2012 Hantavirus outbreak at Yosemite National Park, represented the target defendant in litigation following a 2018 multi-State E. coli outbreak and recently defended a school district in Washington State against 200 claims of PCB exposure. On the commercial side, Patrick represents both insurance and corporate clients in cost recovery/indemnity actions. In the last two years, he has recovered $1.8 million and the return of real property valued at $2 million for these clients.

Education

• University of Southern California (J.D., 1992)
• University of California, Santa Barbara (B.A., 1987)

Licensed to Practice in

• California

News

Publications

• A Roundup of Covid-19 Litigation, CLM Magazine (December 2020)
• Can Covid-19 Liability Be Waived?, Risk Management Magazine (September 1, 2020)
• Assessing Personal Injury Liability from Covid-19, Risk Management Magazine (May 1, 2020)
• Looking for Liability: Assessing COVID-19 Risks by Looking at Other Infectious Diseases, CLM Magazine (April 2, 2020)
• Sparring Over Spores: Apartment Management, Vol. XLI, Number 10 (October 2010)
• Air Testing For Mold Deemed Unreliable by Centers for Disease Control, California Apartment Association News (July 2010)
• Conflicting Appellate Decisions Create Uncertainty Regarding Defenses In California Toxic Tort Litigation, Legal Insights: Claims Resources And Solutions, Issue Management (Fall/Winter 2009)
• Handling Mold Litigation in California, CEB Action Guide, Continuing Education of the Bar, 3rd, 4th & 5th Editions (2005, 2007 & 2009)
• New Study Focuses on Benzene Biomarkers: Will Results Impact Litigation?, Martin Litigation Watch: Benzene (October 2007)
• Mold Litigation 2007: Current Trends In This Once Emerging Tort, Claims Quarterly, Vol. 25, No. 2 (May 2007)
• Evidence of Exposure: Evolving Standards of Proof in Benzene Litigation, Mealey’s Litigation Report: Benzene, Vol. 1, # 2 (July 2006)
• Analyzing Mold Claims From A Scientific and Medical Perspective: What Real Property Owners, Managers, Developers and Their Attorneys Need To Know, Continuing Education of the Bar – Real Property Law Reporter, Volume 29, Numbers 1 & 3 (January & May 2006)
• The Return Of Privity As A Barrier To Warranty Claims In Welding Rod and Other Occupational Exposure Cases, Harris Martin Litigation Watch: Welding Rods (2005)
• Evaluating and Challenging Expert Witnesses in California Mold Exposure Litigation, Continuing Education of the Bar – Real Property Law Reporter, Volume 27, Number 1 (January 2004)
• Latest Developments in Mold Exposure Litigation, American Bar Association Natural Resources & Environment Journal, Volume 17, Number 2 (Fall 2002)

Community Activities

• Central Valley Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Light the Night Executive Committee – 2018 to present; Executive Challenge Fundraising winner – 2018.
• Former member of State Board of Governors, Local Advisory Committees (Los Angeles and Fresno) and Mentor of the Year – VIP Mentors, Inc.
• Member – Pro Bono Panel – United States District Court, Eastern District of California