John H. Dodd
Partner

John came to the Craddick office in 2011.  He is a partner focusing on defense of civil litigation in state and federal courts, including medical malpractice, administrative and staff privileges controversies, and professional board matters.  John is a member of and presenter for the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA), an exclusive national association of experienced trial lawyers and judges. 

Education
Southwestern University School of Law, J.D., 1987
University of California – Los Angeles (UCLA), B.A., 1984

Admissions
California State Courts
United States Federal District Courts:
       Northern District of California
       Central District of California
United States Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals

Associations and Affiliations

ABOTA – American Board of Trial Advocates (2010 to present)
ABOTA Civility Committee (2014 to present)
Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity
Kappa Sigma International Fraternity
State Bar of California
Contra Costa County Bar Association 

California Academy of Attorneys for Healthcare Professionals
California Medical Legal Committee

Presentations
“ABOTA – Civility Matters”
February 19, 2015 at Solano County Bar Association, Fairfield, California
Presenter at discussion and forum regarding civility in the practice of law including panel of attorneys and jurists.

 “ABOTA - Masters In Trial – The Expedited Jury Trial”
October 24, 2014 at Milton Marks Auditorium in San Francisco, California
Demonstration of Expedited Jury Trial process in day-long mock jury trial with other ABOTA members and judges.

American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons - "Acting As An Expert In a Medical Malpractice Case"

February 11, 2012 at Moscone Center in San Francisco, California

Invited speaker at presentation of annual meeting of orthopedic surgeons on the issue of involuntarily and voluntarily becoming an expert in a medical negligence case.

“Litigation Stress Seminar”
May 2011 at Claremont Hotel in Berkeley, California
Presentation of day-long seminar regarding litigation process and preparation for deposition and trial testimony to large group of emergency room physicians.

­“Overview of Medical Board Procedures”  - Regulatory Law Panel
November 18, 2010 in San Mateo, California
MGIS-sponsored panel for insurance professionals and Stanislaus Medical Society and San Mateo County Medical Association members.  Presentation involved the procedures surrounding a Medical Board investigation.

­“Overview of Medical Board Procedures”  - Regulatory Law Panel
November 16, 2010 in Modesto, California
MGIS-sponsored panel for insurance professionals and Stanislaus Medical Society and San Mateo County Medical Association members.  Presentation involved the procedures surrounding a Medical Board investigation.

“Electronic Charting Roundtable”
September 2010  - Queen of Valley Hospital, Napa, California
Roundtable discussion regarding electronic charting and record-keeping issues

“Street Smarts for the Emergency Physician”
September 2008 at St. Francis Memorial Hospital, San Francisco, California
Information related to frequency of and reasons for litigation and techniques to prevent litigation presented to emergency medicine physicians.

“Deposition Skills for Physicians”
May 2007 at Claremont Hotel in Berkeley, California
Presentation of day-long seminar regarding giving deposition and court testimony for large group of emergency room physicians.

“Risk Prevention Skills:  Communicating and Record-Keeping in Emergency Medicine”
July 2006 at Queen of the Valley Hospital in Napa, California
Presented information regarding record-keeping and risk prevention in the situation of a busy emergency department practice with emphasis on potential gaps in care

“Trends in Litigation Related to Eye Surgery Cases”
July 2000 in San Francisco, California
Presentation to eye surgeons and ophthalmologists regarding legal issues surrounding their practice.

“Legislative Trends in Tissue Banking”
June 1992 in Lake Tahoe, California
Guest speaker at international seminar of Tissue Bank Directors.  Seminar involved trends in law related to tissue banking

“Mock Trial:  Questioned Documents”
Spring 1990 in Torrance, California
Presented mock trial demonstration at meeting of Questioned Documents Examiners.

“Hospital Risk Management in Action”
1989 to 1998 at California State University, Los Angeles
Presented a lecture each semester on the process of litigation and special issues related to risk management to college course on risk management in the health care industry.

Published Decisions
Palay v. Superior Court (1993) 18 Cal.App.4th 919.  Court allowed discovery of mother’s prenatal records even though mother was not a party to action.  The court held that the mother and child were so inextricably linked that the constitutional protection of privacy did not preclude discovery since the evidence was relevant and the defendants had no other means to obtain this information.

Previous Work Experience
Law Offices of Steven D. Hillyard  (2004 to 2011) – John served as a senior trial attorney in eight lawyer professional negligence defense firm.  He handled all aspects of civil litigation defense in health care including malpractice and administrative cases.

Bonne, Bridges, Mueller, O’Keefe and Nichols  (1987 to 2004) – John was a  shareholder and senior trial attorney in this mid-sized professional negligence defense firm.  He started in the Los Angeles office after law school and subsequently was responsible for establishing a branch office in San Francisco in 1999 that employed 7 senior attorneys.

Community Service
Church Council - St. Matthew Lutheran Church  (2007 to 2010)
Walnut Creek, California
Elected to leadership of large East Bay church.  Member of committee to call pastor of congregational care.

Symmetry Lay Leadership Seminars  (2004 to 2006)
Walnut Creek, California
Led small group seminars to train lay leaders in a church setting.

Board of Trustees – The Buckley School (1997 to 1999)
Sherman Oaks, California
Elected to board of trustees for an independent K through 12 school.  Directly involved with development, fundraising, and scholarship programs.  President of Alumni Association concurrently.

Big Brothers of Greater Los Angeles (1988 to 1991)
Role model for fatherless boy for three years.  Featured in “Lifetime” cable special.

Martinez Education Foundation (MEF) (2015 – present)
Appointed to Board of Directors for fundraising association dedicated to raising money for Martinez Unified School District

T 925-838-1100
F 925-743-0729

John H. Dodd

T  925-838-1100

F  925-743-0729

12677 Alcosta Blvd, Suite 375
San Ramon, CA 94583