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Dennis E. Wagner

Wagner & Pelayes, LLP
California (Southern)
Business LitigationEmployment & Labor LitigationPublic Entity Liability
1325 Spruce St., Suite 200, Riverside, CA 92507

Dennis E. Wagner

Wagner & Pelayes, LLP
California (Southern)
Business LitigationEmployment & Labor LitigationPublic Entity Liability
1325 Spruce St., Suite 200, Riverside, CA 92507
9516864800
dew@wagner-pelayes.com
wagner-pelayes.com
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Bio

Dennis E. Wagner, Partner

Dennis E. Wagner, partner, has been practicing law since 1981 and has extensive experience in a wide range of legal areas. He has represented public entities since 1987.  While working with the law firm of Roberts & Morgan he represented the County of Riverside, City of Riverside, State of California and City of Corona.

Dennis served as Interim County Counsel for the County of San Bernardino Office of County Counsel in 2006.  As County Counsel he directed advice to the Board of Supervisors and to all Elected Officials and Department Heads for the County of San Bernardino.

Prior to forming the firm of Wagner & Pelayes, LLP, he was a Deputy County Counsel for the County of San Bernardino for 10 years. He has represented many of the County departments, department heads and their employees during that time including the representation of the Superior Court for the County of San Bernardino and members of the Judicial Bench.  During this time he tried a number of cases and has regularly appeared before the State Appellate Courts, Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and the California Supreme Court.  He is a member of (ABOTA) American Board of Trial Advocates and served as the 2011 President of the local chapter of the Federal Bar Association.  He has tried many cases with an outstanding record of verdicts.

He has served on the Ninth Circuit’s screening panel for bankruptcy judges.  He is AV rated by Martindale Hubbell.  He has defended many municipalities and has an accomplished record of verdicts in their favor.

EXPERIENCE
Partner- Wagner & Pelayes, LLP

(September 2004 to present)

Responsible for handling the defense of public entities and employees, business litigation and trial work.

Interim County Counsel, County of San Bernardino County Counsel’s Office

(May 3, 2006 to November 2006)

Responsible for overseeing a staff of attorneys and support staff.  As County Counsel directed advice to the Board of Supervisors and to all Elected Officials and Department Heads for the County of San Bernardino.

Deputy County Counsel for San Bernardino County Counsel

(June 1994 to August 2004)

Responsible for defending the County of San Bernardino, Board of Supervisors, Department Heads, Special Districts and their employees, Judges and Court Administration and the Board of Supervisors in state and federal courts, including writs and appeals before the California Courts of Appeal, United States Ninth District Court of Appeal and California Supreme Court.

Attorney, Roberts & Morgan

(September 1987 to June 1994)

Responsible for defense of governmental entities and insurance civil cases in Riverside and San Bernardino counties through trial and appeal.

Attorney, Keefer, O'Reilly & Haight

(August 1982 to September 1987)

Responsible for defending various clients in civil litigation, plaintiff cases, advising a wide variety of business and corporate clients and federal criminal cases as a member of the Federal Defense Panel in Las Vegas, Nevada.

EDUCATION

1972-1977     Western Michigan University

Kalamazoo, MI BA

Criminal Justice

1978-1981     California Western School of Law

San Diego, CA

Juris Doctorate

BAR MEMBERSHIPS

1981- California State Bar

1983- Nevada State Bar

1985- Texas State Bar

1981- United States District Court, Southern District of California

1982- Ninth Circuit Court of Appeal

1983- United States District Court, State of Nevada

1987- United States District Court, Northern District of California

1987- United States District Court, Central District of California

2010- Fifth Circuit Court of Appeal

2011 - United States Supreme Court

2011 - Seventh Circuit Court of Appeal

BAR ASSOCIATIONS AND AFFILIATIONS

1982- 1987 Clark County Bar Association, Nevada

1987- 1994 Riverside County Bar Association

1993- 1995 Leo A. Deegan Inns of Court, Barrister Level

1994-present San Bernardino Bar Association

1998-present Inland Empire Federal Bar Association

2002-present American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA)(advocate)

2002-present Board of Directors, Inland Empire Chapter,

Federal Bar Association

2009-present California Council of School Attorneys

2009–present California School Boards Association

ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE

Instructor- Periodic instructor at the San Bernardino Sheriff's Academy on civil liability issues for deputy sheriffs and supervisors. 1997- 2011.

Lecturer- Presenter at State Sheriff's Association (2001) on Sexual

Harassment and discrimination issues of employment.

Seminar training for Probation Department management and employees regarding civil liability issues on use of force.

Seminar training for Social Workers regarding civil liability issues.

Seminar-Guest Lecturer - Lecturer at seminars to attorneys involving issues unique to governmental tort defense and liability issues, GIEMLA, Federal Bar Association and Riverside County Bar Association; seminar on e-discovery issues for trial attorneys in June 2004 for Federal Bar- Inland Chapter.

Arbitrator- Arbitration Panel for the Superior Court of the State of California, County of San Bernardino. 1990 - Present.

Mediator – Attorney Settlement Officer for the Federal Central District Court

Speaker – California School Board Association Education Conference – How to avoid “Serial Meeting” Brown Act Violations and Cutting Attorney Fees in Tough Economic Times

Panel Member – Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals screening panel for Bankruptcy Judges

 

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