Lisa J. Damiani is the founder and principal attorney at Damiani Law Group APC, a law firm based in San Diego but practicing throughout Southern California in the areas of employment law and criminal defense.
Ms. Damiani earned her Juris Doctorate law degree from California Western School of Law in San Diego, where she served as editor on the law review. After competing nationally with her law school's trial team, she was awarded for her trial advocacy skills with the Richard D. Westbrook Trial Advocacy Award, awarded by the San Diego Trial Lawyers Association in 1987.
Immediately upon being admitted to the Bar in 1988, Ms. Damiani opened her own law practice, focusing on criminal cases. She joined the white collar crime practice group of a national law firm in 1993, where she handled high-profile criminal matters and participated in employment, business, government contract, and product liability class action litigation cases, first as an associate and later as a partner in the firm. Ms. Damiani started Damiani Law Group APC in 2000, concentrating on criminal defense and employment and business litigation. Her criminal and civil trial experience is extensive. She has successfully tried to jury numerous cases in state and federal courts in California, Idaho, Oklahoma, Colorado, and Nevada.
Ms. Damiani has been included in San Diego Super Lawyers for two consecutive years running, in 2010 and 2011. She has received an AV rating from the renowned legal services directory Martindale-Hubbell, indicating the highest level of legal ability, ethics, and professionalism, as rated by her peers. She has lectured on various topics for the California State Bar, the National Institute of Trial Advocacy (NITA), the National Association of Professional Employer Organizations (NAPEO), Continuing Education of the Bar (CEB) and Federal Defender's Inc. She has judged trial competitions and assisted in coaching trial teams from her alma mater. She has facilitated in the ABA sponsored program "Core Skills of Creative Problem Solving" and continues in her own professional growth and development while serving the legal community in San Diego, California, and nationwide.
Professional Associations/Memberships
State Bar of California
American Inn of Court, William B. Enright Chapter (former Board Member)
California Attorneys for Criminal Justice
Consumer Attorneys of California
National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
Association of Trial Lawyers of America (Past Chair of the Criminal Law Section)
Verdicts and Settlements:
United States of America v. SDG&E, et al., U.S. District Court, Southern District of California: Firm's client acquitted after six week federal criminal jury trial involving allegations of conspiracy and violations of the Asbestos Work Practice Standards.
People v. Sempra Energy, et al., El Cajon, California Superior Court: case dismissed against firm's client in a civil action involving alleged violations of the Asbestos Work Practice Standards.
U.S. Marine Corps, General Court Martial of Staff Sergeant: Firm's client found not guilty after court martial proceeding involving charges of rape and sodomy of two alleged victims.
Viens v. Beach Enterprises, et al., San Diego, California Superior Court: Firm's client awarded over $500,000.00, including punitive damages, by a jury in civil labor & employment case.
Torres, et al. v. The City of San Diego, San Diego, California Superior Court: Summary judgment entered in favor of firm's client in civil declaratory relief action related to her rights to indemnification from the City of San Diego.
People of the State of California v. Lawrence Grissom, et al., San Diego, California Superior Court: Case dismissed against firm's client in civil matter involving City Pension Fund.
The San Diego City Employees Retirement System v. San Diego City Attorney Michael Aguirre, et al., San Diego, California Superior Court: Case dismissed against firm's client in civil matter involving City Pension Fund.
Raymond v. The Home Depot, et al., San Diego, California Superior Court: Case dismissed against firm's client in a civil race discrimination & harassment action.
People of the State of California v. Cathy Lexin, et al., San Diego, California Superior Court, Court of Appeal & California Supreme Court: Case dismissed against firm's client charged with crime of conflict of interest
