Sonoma County Bar Association
The early use of a private investigator in situations that may end up in litigation can make or break your case . Going blindly into litigation is a quick way to waste time and resources and can end up costing your client unnecessary expense or even losing a case. Comprehensive pre-filing investigations help fashion litigation strategies and the efficient use of resource planning.
A good investigator can help you set a direction and follow it through a lawsuit.
Patrick W. Emery
Abbey, Weitzenberg, Warren
& Emery
Mr. Emery has been a trial lawyer in Sonoma County for over 40 years. His efforts have resulted in his recognition as a Super Lawyer of Northern California and his inclusion in Best Lawyers in America. In addition, he is one of only six practicing attorneys in Sonoma County elected to the prestigious American College of Trial Lawyers. He is also an elected member of the American Board of Trial Advocates.
His trial experience extends to personal injury and wrongful death cases arising from many types of accidents, product failures and medical negligence events. He is also experienced in major consumer class actions. Mr. Emery has won a number of Sonoma County’s highest verdicts and settlements, several of which have been achieved against major national corporations.
During the last 20 years, in addition to his focus on the representation of plaintiffs, he has continued to represent selected individuals and businesses in large case commercial litigation, most often involving issues of agricultural production and financing.
Mr. Emery has been an active member of the legal community, serving as President of the Sonoma County Bar Association and as a member of the Sangster Chapter of the American Inns of Court. He has presided over cases as a judge pro tem of the Sonoma County Superior Court and has acted as an agreed arbitrator and mediator in many matters. He is a frequent continuing education lecturer on civil litigation subjects for a variety of organizations, including California Continuing Education of the Bar. He has taught Trial Practice at Empire College of Law for many years and teaches in the Trial Advocacy Workshop at Stanford Law School.
James F. DeMartini
Law Office of James F. DeMartini
Mr. DeMartini has practiced law in the County of Sonoma since 1977. After thirteen years of commuting to Santa Rosa as a partner in the law firm of Stark, DeMartini & Curry, he moved his practice full time to his Cloverdale office in 1990. Mr. DeMartini’s practice focuses on Real Estate, Personal Injury, Business Law, Employment Law, and Estate Planning. In addition to his law practice, Mr. DeMartini serves as a mediator with Common Sense Mediation and is a Market Rate and No Fee mediator for the Sonoma County Superior Court. He acts as a Superior Court arbitrator and discovery facilitator and has volunteered his time as a settlement conference panelist for 25 years. Mr. DeMartini has been a member of the Sonoma County Bar Association Executive Board since 2013, having served as President (2016), Vice-President (2015), Treasurer (2014), and Secretary (2013). Over the last three decades Jim has supervised the incorporation of many of Cloverdale’s non-profit organizations, including the Cloverdale Boys and Girls Club, Cloverdale Historical Society, Cloverdale Volunteer Fire Fighters Association, Cloverdale Rotary Foundation, American Legion Gun Club, and the Cloverdale Wine and Visitors Center.
Scott Wilmore
Private Investigator
Mr. Wilmore began his investigative career after receiving his Bachelor’s Degree in criminal justice in 1976. For 13 years, he worked as a criminal defense investigator with the Sonoma County Public Defender’s office. Six of those years were served as Senior (Chief) Investigator. He was a certified polygraph examiner during his time with the Public Defender.
Mr. Wilmore opened his private investigation practice in 1989, with a concentration on civil litigation, both plaintiff and defense, and criminal defense investigations. In addition, he provides investigative services including complete background histories, asset, real estate, social media, missing persons, and family law investigations.
Mr. Wilmore was active in the California Defense Investigator’s Association for many years, serving as President in 1984-1985. Since opening his private practice, he has been an active member of the National Council of Investigation and Securities Services and in the California Association of Licensed Investigators, the country’s largest investigative society. He served two terms as a District Governor, enhancing the education of the Northern California investigative community. Mr. Wilmore has lived in Sonoma County since 1963 and is closely connected to the legal and local community at large.
Date: Monday, March 5, 2018
Time: Check-In: 3:45 pm; Presentation: 4:00—5:00 pm
Presenter(s):
Patrick W. Emery, Abbey, Weitzenberg, Warren & Emery
James F. DeMartini, Law Office of James F. DeMartini
Scott Wilmore, Private Investigator
Place: SCBA Office, 111 Santa Rosa Ave., Ste. 222, Santa Rosa, CA 95404.
Parking for this seminar is ONLY available in the Public Parking Garage at 555 First Street. Please do not park in the parking lot at 111 Santa Rosa Avenue
Registration Fee: $60–SCBA Members; $75–Public
MCLE: 1.0 Unit Participatory Credit in General Law
Student: $20 (The student discount is now available online for SCBA Student Members. Students who are not members of SCBA may utilize the student discount by downloading the registration form and submitting it with proof of current enrollment to the SCBA Offices. For more information on becoming a member of SCBA, please contact Susan Demers at (707) 542-1190 ext. 18.)
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