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Jim Betts, WTJ attorney with 40 years of experience prosecuting and defending cases in both state and federal courts, has retired from practicing law. His time in civil trial practice included a wide range of cases, including jury trials, and extensive experience in labor law issues. The WTJ team said goodbye on August 30 with …

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Celebrating Brodie Surfus The WTJ team is happy to welcome Brodie Surfus to the practice of law as our newest attorney. After learning this week that he had passed the February 2023 California Bar Exam, his swearing-in ceremony took place on May 11, 2023, before the retired Justice James Ardaiz. We are excited to celebrate Brodie’s success and know he will continue to …

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WTJ’s 2023 retreat is in the books! Our firm spent the weekend in Monterey, CA, for a time of bonding with our team and their families. We enjoyed team-building activities such as a scavenger hunt, a catamaran cruise, and golfing. There was also a beach bonfire that included delicious s’mores. We truly value our incredible …

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WTJ is growing again! Our firm is excited to announce its merger with Fresno-based firm Betts & Rubin. The distinguished firm has merged into WTJ as of August 1, 2022, bringing local, longtime attorneys Jim Betts & Joe Rubin to our team. These seasoned attorneys will be huge assets to us, as they both bring decades of experience serving California clients.

WTJ is growing again! Our firm is excited to announce its merger with Fresno-based firm Betts & Rubin. The distinguished firm has merged into WTJ as of August 1, 2022, bringing local, longtime attorneys Jim Betts & Joe Rubin to our team. These seasoned attorneys will be huge assets to us, as they both bring decades of experience serving California clients.

WTJ is growing again! Our firm is excited to announce its merger with Fresno-based firm Betts & Rubin. The distinguished firm has merged into WTJ as of August 1, 2022, bringing local, longtime attorneys Jim Betts & Joe Rubin to our team. These seasoned attorneys will be huge assets to us, as they both bring decades of experience serving California clients.

The WTJ Barrels and Bites Open House was a success! We were so grateful to open our new building to clients, family, and friends while enjoying live music, conversations, and treats on Thursday, April 21. Cheers to everyone who attended and helped us make the night a special one. To those who couldn’t make it, …

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WTJ is pleased to announce our firm is expanding. We have opened a second office location in Merced, CA with the hiring of attorney Kyle Hampton. Kyle previously served North Valley clients through his own firm and is now leading WTJ’s expansion into Merced. Kyle has engaged exclusively in litigation since 2008, bringing more than …

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The Business Journal has recognized WTJ Law this year in the top 20 of its women-owned businesses list for the San Joaquin Valley. Our firm has been very focused since its inception in striving for excellence not only for our clients but also for our own team. Two female attorneys were elevated in 2021, bringing …

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WTJ celebrated its four-year anniversary on Thursday, February 10, with a staff lunch on the patio. They say, “time flies when you’re having fun,” and none of us could believe it had already been four years! WTJ has accomplished so much in the last several years that it is hard to list every single milestone, …

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WTJ said goodbye to Jamie Webb, the Transactional team’s long-time secretary of nearly two decades. Jamie retired on February 2, 2022, and celebrated the big milestone with a champagne toast with her team earlier this week. Jamie looks forward to spending her time exploring her hobbies. Cheers, and enjoy retirement, Jamie!

Fresno Attorneys Named to 2022 Top Regional Lawyers List WTJ is proud to recognize its attorneys who have been named either a Northern California Super Lawyer or Rising Star by SuperLawyers.com for 2022. Only a small percentage of attorneys in California receive this distinction each year—no more than 5% of attorneys are "Super Lawyers" and …

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Recently, the State Bar of California Standing Committee on Professional Responsibility and Conduct (COPRAC)* published Formal Opinion No. 2021-205 concerning the ethical duties owed by an interviewing lawyer and his or her law firm to a prospective client.

Since the Summer of 2019 when Anna Barcus Allen came to WTJ from Baker, Manock and Jensen, Anna has been an essential part of the WTJ transactions team.

After a long and prestigious career, Presiding Justice James A. Ardaiz is retiring from the active practice of law and from WTJ, the firm where he spent his final years as a highly successful litigator, mediator and arbitrator.

The WTJ team stepped out of the office on Friday, December 3, 2021, to celebrate our own Jessica Thomason.

WTJ is fortunate to be comprised of people who are wholeheartedly committed to serving clients and supporting colleagues. As our firm continues to grow and evolve, it is our privilege to elevate the members of our team who have become respected leaders in the community and industry, in addition to being leaders in our office. …

Continue reading "Announcing the Elevation of Courtney McKeever & Kristi Marshall"

WTJ was proud to welcome two hardworking Central Valley natives, Brodie Surfus and Jaskarn Chahal, as Summer Associates between May and August of 2021. We are even more excited to announce that both accepted full-time post-bar offers at the end of their summer tenure.

Since its inception, WTJ has strategically grown to enhance its team and allow it to provide additional services to its clients.

Please note the below changes to California minimum wage and overtime requirements coming into effect in 2021.

From its inception, Whitney, Thompson & Jeffcoach has been a women-owned firm. Fresno business litigation attorneys Mandy Jeffcoach, Niki Cunningham, Marshall Whitney, and Tim Thompson joined together in 2018 with the intention of building a firm dedicated to serving clients with the highest quality of legal representation …

In response to the COVID19 outbreak, the federal government has passed emergency legislation known as the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (the “Act”), enacted on March 18, 2020.

With all of the evolving news surrounding the novel coronavirus, we wanted to take a moment and let our business clients know there are some silver linings in an Executive Order that was signed Monday, March 16, 2020, by Governor Newsom.

Local law firm Whitney, Thompson & Jeffcoach has hired three new attorneys to join their team. Carl Refuerzo, Partner, Courtney McKeever, Partner, and Anna Barcus Allen, Associate, join the firm with nearly 50 years of combined experience in transactional business law.

By Will Jackson Well, kind of. In the U.S., each side usually pays its own attorney’s fees, unless a contract or statute provides otherwise. Code of Civil Procedure section 1021.9 falls under this second exception to the general rule. It allows attorney’s fees for the prevailing plaintiff in an action to recover damages to personal …

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The California Supreme Court Confirms Healthcare Employees’ Choice to Waive Second Meal Period and Provides Clarity To Healthcare Employers By Alyson Berg & Daniel Aisaka On December 10, 2018, the California Supreme Court handed a victory to both healthcare employers and their employees, upholding the ability of certain healthcare employees to voluntarily waive their second …

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Ninth circuit finds no application of the “ministerial exception” to ADA claim of teacher at religious school By Alyson Berg Recently, the Ninth Circuit in Biel v. St James School, 911 F. 3d 603 (9th Cir. 2018) held that the “ministerial exception,” an affirmative defense to employment claims for religious employers, did not apply to …

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By Marshall Whitney & Mandy Jeffcoach The California Supreme Court in Cassell v. Superior Court (Wasserman, Comden, Casselman & Pearson LLP) (2010) 51 Cal.4th 113, held that the mediation confidentiality encompasses discussions between the attorney and the client, and therefore, the confidentiality provisions of Evidence Code 1115 barred any evidence of what was discussed between …

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Whitney, Thompson & Jeffcoach is proud to announce their newest addition, Justice James Ardaiz, retired Administrative Presiding Justice from California’s Fifth District Court of Appeal. Prior to joining the WTJ team, he was with Baker, Manock & Jensen PC in Fresno since 2011. “I am pleased to join Whitney Thompson & Jeffcoach, an innovative law …

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Whitney, Thompson & Jeffcoach, LLP FRESNO, Calif. (February 9, 2018) — Fresno business litigation attorneys Marshall Whitney, Tim Thompson, Mandy Jeffcoach, and Niki Cunningham are leaving McCormick Barstow to establish a new boutique litigation firm named Whitney, Thompson & Jeffcoach, LLP (WTJ), bringing years of experience together to create a new legal practice. The WTJ …

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The attorneys at WTJ have been busy—outside of their normal careers, WTJ lawyers are always dedicating themselves to serve the community, and this time, that has resulted in an award and a speaking engagement for two of our partners, Mandy Jeffcoach and Marshall Whitney. Mandy Jeffcoach recently received an award from the court for her …

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Fresno Business Journal Four partners with Fresno law firm McCormick Barstow have struck out on their own to form a new boutique firm that will be majority women-owned. Former McCormick partners Tim Thompson, Marshall Whitney, Mandy Jeffcoach and Niki Cunningham have joined forces to establish Whitney, Thompson & Jeffcoach. The attorneys have years of trial …

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Northern California Super Lawyers releases 2018 selections FRESNO, Calif. (July 31, 2018) — Whitney, Thompson & Jeffcoach is pleased to announce that all five of the firm’s partners, as well as one associate, have been selected as 2018 Northern California Super Lawyers or Rising Stars. Marshall Whitney and Tim Thompson have been named on the …

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Northern California Super Lawyers Releases 2020 Selections Whitney, Thompson & Jeffcoach is pleased to announce that seven of the firm’s partners, as well as one of counsel attorney and one associate, have been selected as 2020 Northern California Super Lawyers or Rising Stars. Mandy Jeffcoach has been selected to be on the list of Top …

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Whitney, Thompson & Jeffcoach is always proud to share the recent accomplishments of our firm, especially when they pertain to our work and expertise. See some of our most recent trial and settlement wins below. Practice Area: Fraud/Financial Elder Abuse Date: March 2019 Attorneys: Tim Thompson & Niki Cunningham Description: Tim and Niki recently prevailed …

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