Jacqueline Vitti Frederick, Esq.

Jacqueline Vitti Frederick - Born in New York, NY, Jacqueline Vitti Frederick later relocated to Los Angeles, California. Following her graduation from Immaculate Heart High School in 1973, Jacqueline attended California State University, Northridge and then California State University, Los Angeles. Working three jobs to support herself, Jacqueline attended the San Fernando Valley College of Law/University of LaVerne where she excelled, honing in on her gift of speech and writing and learning the art of trial practice and litigation, all while graduating in the top 10% of her class.

After graduation, Jacqueline immediately began work with the firm of Gould, Sayre and Chavez, in Santa Monica, California where she represented clients in matters of serious bodily injury claims and labor negotiations. In 1984, Ms. Frederick opened her law firm in Los Angeles focusing her practice on serious bodily injury claims and trials.

After 10 years of successful and extensive practice in Los Angeles County, Jacqueline moved to San Luis Obispo County and opened the first law office in the quaint town of Nipomo, California. Since 1991, Jacqueline has and continues to serve the communities of San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties, handling a wide variety of cases ranging from complex torts, personal injuries, brain and burn injuries, injuries to children, dog bite cases, wrongful deaths, sexual assault cases, motor vehicle accidents, premise liability, construction defects, equipment failures, products liability, real estate matters, business, water law, environmental law, agriculture, fraud, employment and contract law.

Such cases have included:

Negligence and product liability action arising out of the explosion of an oil tanker in a welding shop resulting in two deaths.

Product Liability case involving a pressure cooker explosion resulting in severe burn injuries to a young employee.

Wrongful Death case resulting from Medical Malpractice in which the decedent was misdiagnosed with severe asthma rather than congestive heart failure.

Personal Injury accident against a major retail establishment involving premises liability resulting in serious multiple injuries.

Personal Injury accident wherein minor client was the sole survivor of a devastating auto accident.

Personal Injury case involving a faulty electrical switch resulting in the electrocution and serious permanent injuries.

Sexual Assault cases on behalf of the victims.

Personal Injury case wherein postal carrier was attacked by three-pit bulls resulting in permanent scaring.

Personal Injury action on behalf of minor child who was attacked on separate occasions by live-in tenant's dogs resulting in permanent injuries.

Wrongful death of minor child in which the decedent drowned in the family pool while unsupervised.

Personal Injury case against landowner who failed to properly restrain bulls in pasture resulting in serious auto accident and extensive injuries to the plaintiff.

Personal Injury case involving collapse of a deck resulting in serious bodily injuries.

Medical negligence case involving failure to diagnose breast cancer.

Fraud case against bank and Foreclosure Company for fraudulent foreclosure proceeding.

Discrimination and Retaliation case by a tenured professor who was wrongfully denied promotion to full professor status.

California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Case involving a County land use ordinance.

Real property division actions (partition actions) involving co-owners of properties who no longer wish to be co-owners with one another.

Real property and water law case involving farmers and farm landowners accused of disrupting the natural and history flows of water received by an adjacent landowner.

Her office also handles family law, probate and criminal cases. Ms. Frederick also offers services as a mediator, arbitrator and judge pro-tem.

In addition to her successful law practice, Jacqueline devotes time to supporting several legal and civic causes in the San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties. Fluent in English and Spanish, Jacqueline prides herself on being the voice for many who feel their own is not strong enough to be heard.

Areas of Practice

Personal Injury

Wrongful Death

Real Estate

Business Law

Motor Vehicle Accidents

Premises Liability

Bar Admissions

California, 1980

U.S. District Court Southern District of California

U.S. District Court Central District of California

Education

San Fernando Valley College of Law, La Verne, California

J.D. - 1980

Published Works

The Firemen's Rule Revisited, The Advocate, April, 1982

Settlement Negotiated, Los Angeles Trial Lawyers Association Journal, October, 1983

Settlement Negotiated, 1983

Directing the Investigation, Trial tactics journal of the Los Angeles Trial Lawyers Association, October, 1984

Editor and Chair of Seminar, "The First Annual Auto Accident Manual", 1985

Client Planning, Medical Planning, Investigation, Los Angeles Trial Lawyers Association, 1985

The Nuts and Bolts of Prosecuting a Worker's Compensation Claim, Los Angeles Trial Lawyers Association, October, 1986

How to Recognize and Manage Third Party Cases, Los Angeles Trial Lawyers Association, October, 1987

Presentation of the Case to the Arbitrator, Los Angeles Trial Lawyers Association, October, 1988

Monthly Newsletter, Editor 1997-1999, Women Lawyer's Association of San Luis Obispo

A Letter From The Editor, Women Lawyers Association of San Luis Obispo Newsletter, January, 1999

The Status of Women, Women Lawyers Association of San Luis Obispo Newsletter, February, 1999

Justice Denied, Women Lawyers Association of San Luis Obispo Newsletter, March, 1999

Letter to the Editor in recognition of the participants of the Mock Trial Competition, Women Lawyers Association of San Luis Obispo, April, 1999

An Officer of the Court, Women Lawyers Association of San Luis Obispo Newsletter, April, 1999

Justice Is Served Through The Protection of the Innocent - A Worthy Cause, Women Lawyers Association of San Luis Obispo Newsletter, May, 1999

"Bits N' Pieces of Nipomo," Weekly Article, Nipomo Adobe Press Newspaper, 1999

Honors and Awards

Valedictorian - Immaculate Heart High School, Los Angeles, 1973

Product Liability Achievement Award, University of La Verne College of Law, 1979

Moot Court Award, University of La Verne College of Law, 1979

Nominated and Elected, Board of Governors for the Los Angeles Trial Lawyers Association, 1982 - 1990

President's Achievement Award - Los Angeles Trial Lawyers Association (Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles), 1989

Recognition by the Honorable Ricardo A. Torres, Assistant Presiding Judge of the Los Angeles Superior Court for participation in the Joint Association Settlement Officer Program, 1989

President's Achievement Award - Los Angeles Trial Lawyers Association, 1990

Nipomo Chamber of Commerce House Beautiful Recognition, 1997

Business Person of the Year - Nipomo Chamber of Commerce, 1998

Recognition by Senator Jack O'Connell for Community Service, 1999

Recognition by San Luis Obispo County Supervisor Ruth Brackett for Community Service, 1998

Nipomo Chamber of Commerce Business Beautiful Recognition, 1998

Achievement Award by the San Luis Obispo County Planning Department for community service in connection with the formation of the Olde Towne Nipomo Association and the creation of the Olde Towne Design Plan, 1998

Award by the Central Coast Association of Planners to the Olde Towne Nipomo, 1999

Recognition by the Senior Legal Project for Pro Bono Services Provided to Senior Citizens, 1999

Award of Merit by the State Association of Planners to the Olde Towne Nipomo Association Board for the Olde Towne Nipomo Design Plan, 1999

Recognition by Supervisor Katcho Achadjian for Community Service, 2003

Recognition by Supervisor Katcho Achadjian for Community Service, 2004

Recognition by Supervisor Katcho Achadjian for community service and retirement after 10 years from Nipomo County Advisory Board, 2005

Paul Harris Fellowship Award, Rotary Club, 2009

Professional Associations and Memberships

California State Bar, Member

San Luis Obispo County Bar Association, Member

San Luis Obispo County Bar Association, Fee Arbitration Panel, 2005 - Present

San Luis Obispo County Bar Association Real Estate Roundtable, Chairperson, 2005 - Present

San Luis Obispo Attorney Referral Service, Member

Santa Barbara County Bar Association, Member

Santa Barbara County Superior Court, Judge Pro Tem

Northern Santa Barbara County Bar Association, Member

California Women Lawyers Association, Judge Pro TemBoard Member, 2004 - Present

San Luis Obispo County Women Lawyers Association, Affiliate Governor

San Luis Obispo County Women Lawyers Association, Board Member

San Luis Obispo County Women Lawyers Association, Past President

Santa Barbara Women Lawyers Association, Member

Rodney S. Melville Central Coast Chapter of the American Inns of Court, Member

Disability Legal Rights Foundation, Cancer Legal Resource Center, Volunteer

California State Bar Real Estate Section, Chairperson Central Coast, Roundtable, 2005 - Present

Central Coast Trial Lawyers Association, Member

California Consumer Attorney Association, Member

Consumer Attorney Association of Los Angeles, Member, 2005 - Present

Consumer Attorney Association of Los Angeles, Past Member, Board of Directors, 1982 - 1990

California Consumer Attorney Association, Member

Pro Bono Activities

Nipomo Adobe Press, Author of a Weekly Public Interest Article, 1999 - Present

Arroyo Grande Community Hospital, Board of Directors, 2004 - Present

San Luis Obispo County Woman Shelter, Board of Directors, 2010 - Present

Nipomo High School, San Luis Obispo Mock Trial Attorney Coach, 2006 - Present

Clark Center for the Performing Arts Foundation, Board Member

Olde Towne Nipomo Association, Founding Board Member, 1995 - Present

Festival Mozaic, Board of Directors, 2010 - Present

President, San Luis Obispo Bar Associations Charity (SLOBAC), 2010 - Present

Nipomo Mesa Management Area Technical Water Management Group, 2009 - Present

Board Member, Arroyo Grande Community Hospital Foundation, 2003

Nipomo Chamber of Commerce, Member, Two-Term President, 2000 - 2002

Nipomo Chamber of Commerce, Board Ambassador, 1993 - 1998

Rotary Club of Nipomo, 1998 - 2006

Languages

English (Primary)

Spanish