Patrick S. Schoenburg

Patrick Schoenburg has successfully represented clients at trial in state and federal court, in appeals, arbitration hearings and in the negotiation of contracts, license agreements and other transactions. He has particular expertise in defending asbestos, environmental, toxic tort and professional liability claims involving technical issues and has developed innovative strategies for attacking questionable scientific evidence. His practice also includes defense and prosecution of commercial and employment claims and client counseling regarding contract and related business matters. Patrick’s articles have been published by the ABA, Harris-Martin, CEB and Mealey’s. He is a co-author of CEB’s guidebook for handling mold litigation in California. After graduating from the University of Southern California Law School, where he was a member of the Southern California Law Review, Patrick served as a law clerk to the Hon. A. Andrew Hauk of the United States District Court for the Central District of California.

Patrick is also a member of WSHB’s Coronavirus National Response Team. He has a broad and deep background handling litigation and claims arising from infectious diseases caused by viruses, bacteria and fungi. This includes a defense verdict in a multi-plaintiff case in which a developer was accused of failing to warn of the risk of coccidioidomycosis (fungi) at a jobsite and serving as lead defense counsel in the Federal Multi-District Litigation that followed the 2012 Hantavirus outbreak at Yosemite National Park. Patrick currently represents a party in the multi-State litigation resulting from the 2018 E. coli (bacteria) cases associated with romaine lettuce.

Community Activities

Central Valley Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Light the Night Executive Committee - 2018 to present; Executive Challenge Fundraising winner - 2018.

Former member of State Board of Governors, Local Advisory Committees (Los Angeles and Fresno) and Mentor of the Year - VIP Mentors, Inc.

Member - Pro Bono Panel - United States District Court, Eastern District of California

Awards & Accomplishments

AV Preeminent Lawyer by Martindale-Hubbell, 2005 - Present

Super Lawyer, 2012

Events, Seminars & Presentations

Invited speaker, Mass Tort Litigation Tools For Paralegals Conference, Mealey’s Publications & Conference Group, Los Angeles, California, November 13 - 14, 2003

Invited speaker, Property Casualty Insurers Association of America (Presentations to Claims, Liability and Property Insurance Committees on Chinese Drywall Issues), 2009

Publications

A Withering Assault, CLM Magazine (June 2019)

A New Era in Toxic Torts?, CLM Magazine (September 2018)

Sparring Over Spores: Apartment Management, Vol. XLI, Number 10 (October 2010)

Air Testing For Mold Deemed Unreliable by Centers for Disease Control, California Apartment Association News (July 2010)

Conflicting Appellate Decisions Create Uncertainty Regarding Defenses In California Toxic Tort Litigation, Legal Insights: Claims Resources And Solutions, Issue Management (Fall/Winter 2009)

Handling Mold Litigation in California, CEB Action Guide, Continuing Education of the Bar, 3rd, 4th & 5th Editions (2005, 2007 & 2009)

New Study Focuses on Benzene Biomarkers: Will Results Impact Litigation?, Martin Litigation Watch: Benzene (October 2007)

Mold Litigation 2007: Current Trends In This Once Emerging Tort, Claims Quarterly, Vol. 25, No. 2 (May 2007)

Evidence of Exposure: Evolving Standards of Proof in Benzene Litigation, Mealey’s Litigation Report: Benzene, Vol. 1, # 2 (July 2006)

Analyzing Mold Claims From A Scientific and Medical Perspective: What Real Property Owners, Managers, Developers and Their Attorneys Need To Know, Continuing Education of the Bar - Real Property Law Reporter, Volume 29, Numbers 1 & 3 (January & May 2006)

The Return Of Privity As A Barrier To Warranty Claims In Welding Rod and Other Occupational Exposure Cases, Harris Martin Litigation Watch: Welding Rods (2005)

Evaluating and Challenging Expert Witnesses in California Mold Exposure Litigation, Continuing Education of the Bar - Real Property Law Reporter, Volume 27, Number 1 (January 2004)

Latest Developments in Mold Exposure Litigation, American Bar Association Natural Resources & Environment Journal, Volume 17, Number 2 (Fall 2002)