All Categories

Diana Lytel Featured on Cover of VERDICT MAGAZINE

12/29/2017

December 29, 2017: We are delighted to share another amazing firm accolade of our Partner featured on the Cover of Verdict Magazine, titled "Young Guns: Stars of the Wild West." Diana Lytel is a Partner at Lytel & Lytel, LLP where she has been an invaluable asset to our clients and we are delighted that she is being recognized outside the firm.

The featured article states "The cover for this edition of Verdict magazine is intended to showcase some of the Association's outstanding young leaders. The definition of "Young Gun" in the Merriam-Webster dictionary is "A young person who is successful or who is expected to be successful." Coincidentally, the example of "young gun" provided in the dictionary is: "He/she is one of the young guns at the law firm... They are fearless, talented and their moral compass is always pointed in the right direction."

In the magazine, Diana was also highlighted in an old western-style "Wanted" poster with an in-depth feature inset of her many accomplishments as an attorney, where she was branded as Diana "Dynamite" Lytel.

Partner, Diana P. Lytel "President's Award" & Super Lawyer

3/3/2017

March 3, 2017

LYTEL & LYTEL, LLP congratulates Diana P. Lytel for being honored by the nation’s preeminent regional defense organization, the Association of Southern California Defense Counsel (ASCDC, with the President’s Award.

Diana Lytel was also recognized by Super Lawyers as a 2017 Rising Star for the third year in a row, representing an elite 2.5% of practicing attorneys in America.

LYTEL & LYTEL, LLP provides general litigation, personal injury and professional conduct legal services. 805.963.8100 or info@lytellaw.com

Leading Santa Barbara Defense Attorney Roger Lytel, Partner of Lytel & Lytel, LLP, is selected as “Top 100 Trial Lawyers” by The National Trial Lawyers

5/28/2016

Top Santa Barbara Defense Attorney Roger Lytel, Partner of Lytel & Lytel, LLP, is selected as “Top 100 Trial Lawyers” by The National Trial Lawyers, which is a member organization composed of the premier trial lawyers from across the country.

Only the top 100 trial lawyers from each state or highly-populated regions of certain states who are actively practicing in civil plaintiff and/or criminal defense law are eligible for invitation. Invitees must demonstrate superior qualifications, leadership skills, and trial results as a legal professional. The selection process for this elite honor is based on a multi-phase process based upon objective and uniformly applied criteria which includes peer nominations combined with third party research.

Prospective members of The NTL are carefully screened prior to receiving an invitation for membership. The criteria used in the evaluation process include, but are not limited to, the following:

Reputation among peers, the judiciary, and the public
The previous year’s achievements, settlements and verdicts as a trial lawyer
Board Certification as a trial lawyer or trial attorney
Nominations received from leading trial lawyers, current members and/or our executive committee members
Leadership and membership within other national and state trial lawyer organizations
Rankings and ratings of the attorney by established organizations.
Membership is not automatically renewed; attorneys are reevaluated annually to determine whether their activities and accomplishments qualify them for continued membership.

| Phone: 805.963.8100 | Email: info@lytellaw.com | Law Offices: Santa Barbara & Ventura Counties |

Diana Lytel Earns AV Preeminent Rating from Martindale-Hubbell®

2/1/2016

Santa Barbara Lawyer and Partner of Lytel & Lytel, LLP has earned an AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell®, the highest Preeminent rating in legal ability and ethical standing. Diana Pugh Lytel achieved the coveted rating before reaching her 10 year of legal practice mark with a 5.0 out of 5.0 rating scale. This AV® Rating represents the pinnacle of professional excellence. It is achieved only after an attorney has been reviewed and recommended by their peers – members of the bar and the judiciary.

AV Preeminent® (5.0): A significant rating accomplishment - a testament to the fact that a lawyer's peers rank him or her at the highest level of professional excellence. Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Ratings™ are the gold standard in attorney ratings, and have been for more than a century.

A sampling out of many 5.0 out of 5.0 Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Rating Attorney Reviews:

5.0 out of 5.0 "I have worked with Diana Lytel in litigation trial cases. She has a remarkable and gifted legal mind. She is very effective with trial related client representation, such as examination of witnesses and experts, writing and arguing persuasive motions in court or arbitration, etc. Highly recommend."

5.0 out of 5.0 "She is a very knowledgeable, ethical and skilled attorney with excellent abilities in civil litigation. We have spent a substantial amount of time together in litigation, and she is an excellent attorney."

This achievement adds to a long list of professional accolades and accomplishments for Ms. Lytel, such as Super Lawyer, Board of Director for Association of Southern California Defense Counsel (ASCDC), Chairperson of ASCDC's General Premises Liability Committee, Committee member of DRI Civil Defense Organization, a remarkable win ratio from her trial history, an impressive list of successful outcomes for clients and so forth.

| Phone: 805.963.8100 | Email: info@lytellaw.com | Law Offices: Santa Barbara & Ventura Counties |

Again, Diana Lytel Selected Super Lawyer Rising Star-Top 2.5%

1/22/2016

Diana P. Lytel, law partner of LYTEL & LYTEL LLP, has been selected to the 2016 Super Lawyers® Southern California Rising Stars list, an honor reserved for those lawyers who exhibit excellence in practice. Ms. Lytel also has been recognized as 2016 Top Women Attorneys for Southern California. This is the second year in a row where Ms. Lytel has been named as Super Lawyer Rising Star and Top Women Attorneys.

While up to 5% of the lawyers in a state are named to Super Lawyers®, no more than 2.5% are named to Rising Stars. The Rising Stars list is developed using the same patented multiphase selection process used for the Super Lawyers® list except: to be eligible for inclusion in Rising Stars, a candidate must be either 40 years old or younger or in practice for 10 years or less.

Super Lawyers research department evaluates the attorneys based on the following criteria:

-Verdicts and settlements;
-Transactions;
-Representative clients;
-Experience;
-Honors and awards;
-Position within law firm;
-Bar and or other professional activity; special licenses and certifications; pro bono and community service as a lawyer; scholarly lectures and writings; education and employment background; and other outstanding achievements

LYTEL & LYTEL, LLP represents insurance companies, business entities and individuals in general litigation. Relying on innovative strategies and demonstrated litigation skills, our attorneys confidently handle a diverse practice of legal disputes involving premises liability, personal injury, commercial transportation, commercial real estate, construction defects, toxic tort, criminal defense and general business defense.

Centrally based in California, our law offices serve the large majority of regions in the state with experienced attorneys and dedicated staff. Prompt, accurate evaluation of legal questions and disputes is the hallmark of our practice. Communication is also a cornerstone of our practice and we take every effort to share any important developments in the case with our clients. We are cost conscious and results-driven, providing clients with phase-based budget forecasts and periodic updates that evaluate the cost-benefit tradeoff between all potential outcomes such as mediation, arbitration, outright settlement or trial.

Roger Lytel, Partner of LYTEL & LYTEL LLP, Receives Highest Possible 10/10 Superb Attorney Rating from Avvo Rating Service

6/10/2015

Santa Barbara, CA – Top Ranked Criminal Defense Lawyer, Roger Lytel, receives another distinguished award by Avvo Attorney Rating Service with the highest Superb 10 out of 10 rating. The highest possible rating distinction is a reflection of his ongoing commitment to promoting the highest standards of legal excellence. Lytel has also been previously recognized by Avvo with a Client’s Choice Award.

The Avvo rating is calculated using a mathematical model that considers the information shown in a lawyer’s profile, including a lawyer’s years in practice, disciplinary history, professional achievements and industry recognition - all factors that that are relevant to assessing a lawyer’s qualifications. Even those who know very little about what they will need in a lawyer are able to make an informed decision, due to Avvo.com’s “unmatched level of transparency.” Avvo will show information about lawyers based solely on the need of the potential client and not on how much that lawyer may have paid to be on the site. Thus the most reliable information is given to the individual, and they are able to make a decision on legal representation with confidence.

Santa Barbara County & Ventura County Law Firm News: LYTEL & LYTEL, LLP | Phone: 805.963.8100 | Email: info@lytellaw.com | Website: http://www.lytellaw.com | Law Offices: Santa Barbara & Ventura Counties |

Lytel Hosting ASCDC's Speaker Seminar "Debunking and Redefining the Plaintiff Reptile Theory"

5/25/2015

Hosting as Co-Chair of the General Liability/Premises Liability for the Association of Southern California Defense Counsel (ASCDC), Diana Lytel has brought in Bill Kanasky Jr., Ph.D, to discuss the reptile tactics being successfully
applied by Plaintiff attorneys. The ASCDC "Debunking and Redefining the Plaintiff Reptile Theory" Seminar will be held on June 18, 2015, at the Jonathan Club's downtown LA location.

The well-known “reptile revolution” spearheaded by attorney Don Keenan and jury consultant Dr. David Ball is a ubiquitous threat to defendants across the nation and advertised as the most powerful guide available to plaintiff attorneys seeking to attain favor able verdicts and high damage awards in the age of tort reform. In this seminar, Bill Kanasky Jr., PhD., a nationally recognized and leading expert in witness preparation and jury psychology will provide defense attorneys a clear understanding of how reptile tactics really work and a blueprint of how to counter attack, rather than defend, at all points of the litigation timeline.

Bill Kanasky Jr., Ph.D., is Vice President of Litigation Psychology at Courtroom Sciences, Inc., a full-service, national litigation consulting firm. He is recognized as a national expert, author, and speaker in the areas of witness training and jury psychology. Dr. Kanasky consults on more than 175 cases annually in the areas of defendant witness training, jury decision-making research, and jury selection strategy. Importantly, his empirically based consulting methods are specially designed to defeat plaintiff “Reptile” strategies, which have resulted in billions of dollars of damage awards across the nation.

ASCDC is the largest and most influential defense organization in California encompassing more than 2,200 attorneys who represent diverse clients including businesses, large multi-national corporations, insurance companies and studios. As one of the nation's preeminent regional defense organizations, ASCDC is actively involved in legislative and appellate matters.

Registration information: http://www.ascdc.org/events.asp or http://www.ascdc.org/PDF/ASCDC%20Hot%20Topic%20-%20LA%20-%20Jun15.pdf

Santa Barbara County & Ventura County Law Firm News: LYTEL & LYTEL, LLP | Phone: 805.963.8100 | Email: info@lytellaw.com | Website: http://www.lytellaw.com | Law Offices: Santa Barbara & Ventura Counties |

Roger Lytel selected as Nation’s Top 1% Attorneys

3/25/2015

The National Association of Distinguished Counsel (NADC) has bestowed Roger B. Lytel, Partner in LYTEL & LYTEL LLP, with the honor of being selected as the Nation’s Top 1% Attorneys. The four-stage process begins with a lengthy vetting process by a research team, peers, a blue ribbon panel of attorneys and finally a judicial review board of former judges. NADC is an organization dedicated to promoting the highest standards of legal excellence. The mission of the NADC is to objectively recognize the attorneys who elevate the standards of the Bar and provide a benchmark for other lawyers to emulate. By virtue of the incredible selectivity of our research process, only the elite few are invited to join the ranks of the NADC. Less than 1% of practicing attorneys in the United States are afforded the opportunity to be named “Nation’s Top Attorneys.” The recipients of this prestigious award have demonstrated the highest ideals of the legal profession.

Stage 1: Candidates are identified either by nomination or an in house research team. Nominations are accepted from members of NADC, fellow attorneys, and current or former clients.

Stage 2: NADC prospective candidates are identified, a lengthy vetting process is employed by NADC researchers. The information considered in this review process is sourced from publicly available information, including attorneys’ websites, public profiles, client reviews, and court records. Specifically, the research team evaluates factors which include, but are not limited to the following: firm profile and reputation, years of practice, education, training, trial experience, case outcomes, peer endorsements, client reviews, professional awards, professional memberships, leadership in legal organizations, community involvement, disciplinary status, and other noteworthy achievements. Multiple factors are considered by the NADC research team in evaluating its potential members.

Stage 3: A blue ribbon panel of attorneys studies the results provided by the NADC research team. These attorneys, having achieved podium status in their own right by multiple independent organizations, separate and apart from the NADC, are specially positioned with the perspective and knowledge in selecting “Nation’s Top Attorneys.” While considering the information presented to them, they make careful determinations as to who among their peers possesses the background, accomplishments, and prowess to serve as an example to other attorneys. The result is a list of attorneys who are considered truly elite.

Stage 4: A judicial review board, led by a group of former judges, weighs in on the final candidates. The purpose of this phase is to ensure that those who are named “Nation’s Top Attorneys” have epitomized the ideals of the legal profession. They finalize the process of selecting the attorneys whose stellar reputation and exceptional performance exemplify only the highest standards. Those invited as members of the NADC must exhibit qualities becoming of an Officer of the Court, and have also demonstrated admirable character and virtue in the course of their practice of law.

Diana Lytel selected as Super Lawyers® Rising Star | Top 2.5%

2/2/2015

Diana P. Lytel, law partner of LYTEL & LYTEL LLP, has been selected to the 2015 Super Lawyers® Southern California Rising Stars list, an honor reserved for those lawyers who exhibit excellence in practice. Ms. Lytel also has been recognized as 2015 Top Women Attorneys for Southern California.

While up to 5% of the lawyers in a state are named to Super Lawyers®, no more than 2.5% are named to Rising Stars. The Rising Stars list is developed using the same patented multiphase selection process used for the Super Lawyers® list except: to be eligible for inclusion in Rising Stars, a candidate must be either 40 years old or younger or in practice for 10 years or less.

LYTEL & LYTEL, LLP represents insurance companies, business entities and individuals in general litigation. Relying on innovative strategies and demonstrated litigation skills, our attorneys confidently handle a diverse practice of legal disputes involving premises liability, personal injury, commercial transportation, commercial real estate, construction defects, toxic tort, criminal defense and general business defense.

Centrally based in California, our law offices serve the large majority of regions in the state with experienced attorneys and dedicated staff. Prompt, accurate evaluation of legal questions and disputes is the hallmark of our practice. Communication is also a cornerstone of our practice and we take every effort to share any important developments in the case with our clients. We are cost conscious and results-driven, providing clients with phase-based budget forecasts and periodic updates that evaluate the cost-benefit tradeoff between all potential outcomes such as mediation, arbitration, outright settlement or trial.

Lytel's ASCDC Summary on Gonsalves v. Li (A140284) verdict: Court of Appeal held that a party's denials of requests for admissions are inadmissible at trial where a party's conduct in litigation is not in issue.

1/17/2015

                The First District Court of Appeal ruled yesterday that a party’s denial or lack of admission in response to requests for admissions cannot be used for impeachment purposes. The panel overturned a judgment of more than $1.2 million in favor of a BMW sales associate who was injured during a test drive that was a result of defendant’s alleged reckless driving. The Court of Appeal ruled that the trial court erred in the admitting (over defense counsel’s objections) various requests for admissions in which the defendant Li stated that he had insufficient information to admit or deny the supporting interrogatory responses.

                In Gonsalves, a BMW salesman, Kenneth Gonsalves, sued defendant Ran Li after a 2008 incident that plaintiff claimed left him with back and neck pain that ultimately required surgery after less intrusive treatments failed to treat his symptoms.   In the complaint, Gonsalves claimed that Li negligently accelerated into a turn at an unsafe speed thereby losing control of the vehicle and causing his injuries. Li denied liability, claiming that he lost control of the vehicle when Gonsalves told him to hit the "M" button, which enables the driver to program functions to suit individual preferences including engine response.

              During trial, plaintiff called Li as an adverse party witness. Over the defense’s objection, plaintiff’s counsel examined Li in front of the jury as to why he declined to admit during discovery that at the time he began his turn, he was driving “too fast for the conditions.” Li responded “I stand by my admissions that I signed.” At the conclusion of Li’s testimony, the judge—over defense objection—admitted the full sets of the requests for admissions and special interrogatories that asked Li to explain any denials to the requests as well as Li’s responses to both into evidence. In closing argument, plaintiff’s counsel argued to the jury that defendant’s failure to admit in response to requests for admissions is evidence of Li’s failure to take responsibility for plaintiff’s injuries. The jury found in favor of plaintiff (awarding $200,000.00 in economic medical expense damages and $1,000,000.00 in noneconomic damages).

                On appeal, the Court of Appeal stated that the use of responses to requests for admissions, other than admissions themselves, to impeach a party’s credibility is not permissible. The court took issue with the fact that Li was asked to explain “by memory and on the spot” and without the ability to consult with his attorney why he took a legal position. The panel found that the trial court permitted examination of Li which was unfair and prejudicial to him, and erred in admitting those responses into evidence. More generally, the Court of Appeal reaffirmed that “litigation conduct is not relevant evidence at trial in the ordinary case.”

                In summary, the Court of Appeal held that a party's denials of requests for admissions are inadmissible at trial where a party's conduct in litigation is not in issue. It follows that a party's denials may not be the subject of cross-examination at trial.

                The finding could have potentially significant implications. This decision brings to light the importance of requests for admissions and the caution to be taken when responding and the need to object to attempts to introduce discovery conduct at trial.

Diana P. Lytel

Co-Chair, General Liability Committee | Association of Southern California Defense Counsel

<<Previous

Diana Lytel Featured on Cover of VERDICT MAGAZINE

Partner, Diana P. Lytel "President's Award" & Super Lawyer

Leading Santa Barbara Defense Attorney Roger Lytel, Partner of Lytel & Lytel, LLP, is selected as “Top 100 Trial Lawyers” by The National Trial Lawyers

Diana Lytel Earns AV Preeminent Rating from Martindale-Hubbell®

Again, Diana Lytel Selected Super Lawyer Rising Star-Top 2.5%

Roger Lytel, Partner of LYTEL & LYTEL LLP, Receives Highest Possible 10/10 Superb Attorney Rating from Avvo Rating Service

Lytel Hosting ASCDC's Speaker Seminar "Debunking and Redefining the Plaintiff Reptile Theory"

Roger Lytel selected as Nation’s Top 1% Attorneys

Diana Lytel selected as Super Lawyers® Rising Star | Top 2.5%

Lytel's ASCDC Summary on Gonsalves v. Li (A140284) verdict: Court of Appeal held that a party's denials of requests for admissions are inadmissible at trial where a party's conduct in litigation is not in issue.

Author

Archives

Categories

We Would Love to Have You Visit Soon!

Hours

Telephone

Email