State & Federal Appeals

Hornblower, Manning, Ward, Harrison, Venecia & Rodriguez attorneys have prosecuted and defended appeals of verdicts from trials handled both by the firm and by trial lawyers from other firms. We have represented appellants and appellees in federal and state courts of appeals, and have filed and responded to petitions for extraordinary relief such as writs of mandamus.

Appellate Analysis Begins at the Trial Stage

Our trial attorneys conduct litigation at the trial court level with an awareness of possible issues on appeal, either to preserve a victory or reverse an unjust result. Some of the firm's trial attorneys also practice in the appellate area; those who do not have appellate expertise consult the firm's appellate attorneys at all stages of litigation, including preparation of pleadings, summary judgment motions, motions to dismiss, discovery disputes, removal and remand and preparation of proposed instructions, definitions, and questions for the trial court to submit to the jury.

Our appellate attorneys often provide vital trial support at the following stages:

Identification and Preservation of Potential Appellate Legal Issues - providing trial counsel a blueprint of the essential elements of claims and defenses with an emphasis on securing and preserving victory, while ensuring error is preserved for appeal in the event of an unfavorable result.

Evaluating Admissibility of Evidence - identifying issues that may affect the admissibility of crucial evidence at trial.

Summary Judgments and Motions to Dismiss - working with trial counsel to prepare motions, briefs, and responses.

Interlocutory Appeals - appealing interlocutory orders, such as temporary injunctions and class action certification.

Petitions for Writ of Mandamus - advising trial counsel on the merits of seeking mandamus relief, preparing briefing and presenting oral argument.

The Jury Charge - assisting trial counsel in identifying the most effective and persuasive method of presenting legally correct jury questions and instructions, and making objections to the charge.

Appellate Representation After Trial

After trial, our appellate attorneys provide representation in the following areas:

Suspending Collection of Adverse Judgments Pending Appeal - assessing and implementing methods to suspend the opposing party's collection of an adverse judgment while an appeal is pending.

Post-Trial Motions - briefing and arguing post-trial motions, such as motions for judgment or to disregard jury findings and motions for new trial.

Post-Trial Evaluation - evaluating the likelihood of success and the potential repercussions from pursuing post-trial remedies, as well as evaluating post-trial mediation.

The Appeal - taking post-trial steps to secure enforceable, favorable judgments, preservation of error, perfecting the appeal, identifying issues for appeal, briefing and arguing at all levels of appellate review.