Wroten & Associates is committed to supporting an environment that respects diversity both professionally and personally.
Founder and shareholder of Wroten & Associates, Ms. Kippy Wroten's experience covers a broad spectrum of complex litigation encompassing all areas of healthcare liability including high exposure and class action claims of elder abuse, fraud, and corporate unfair business practices. Ms. Wroten's experience includes the successful defense of individual healthcare providers, independent long term care facilities, ancillary service providers, as well as related corporate enterprises and their executives.
Ms. Wroten has developed an aggressive defense team dedicated to the comprehensive representation of long term care providers in all aspects of their operations including risk management, human resources, management of electronic discovery, and national litigation oversight. Ms. Wroten is a leader in the development of innovative educational support tools designed to lessen the cost of caregiver and family education, improve the provision of care, and limit ultimate risk exposure. Ms. Wroten's clients include individuals, privately owned facilities, and multi-facility public companies.
In 2004, Ms. Wroten was honored for her trial defense of a skilled nursing facility, which gained recognition as one of Los Angeles County's Top 10 Defense Verdicts. In June 2008, the Second Appellate District issued an opinion which upheld a pre-trial Summary Judgment obtained by Ms. Wroten on behalf of facility owners and executive officers of a long term care company. The Appellate Court further rebuked plaintiffs attempt to expand attorney fee shifting laws and denied plaintiff's request for a retrial of their failed fraud claim. Ms. Wroten has also become experienced in managing the new genre of class actions being filed against long term care providers which extends to the cost effective management of voluminous electronic discovery demands. Ms. Wroten's cost effective ability to manage such complex matters gives her clients the financial edge needed to engage an effective strategic defense.
Ms. Wroten started her legal career as a Deputy District Attorney for Orange County where she prosecuted gang, child and spousal abuse cases. Thereafter, she spent 15 years as a litigator for a prestigious healthcare defense firm where she was a shareholder and led their long term care practice area. Ms. Wroten founded Wroten & Associates in 2006 to better meet the growing challenges of the long term care industry. Wroten & Associates is designed to provide personal service at rational rates.
Ms. Wroten is a sought after speaker who is dedicated to the education of the healthcare industry and legal community. She has been an invited lecturer for the Defense Research Institute, the Southern California Association of Healthcare Risk Managers, the University of California, Irvine Medical Center, Chapman University College of Law, and the Association of Southern California Defense Counsel.
Ms. Wroten received her Bachelor’s degree at California State University, Long Beach and her Juris Doctor at Western State University, College of Law. She has been a member of the California Bar since 1988. Ms. Wroten has been peer review rated "AV" by Martindale-Hubbell.
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A shareholder at Wroten & Associates, Regina Ann Casey has been defending physicians, hospitals and various other healthcare providers for over 20 years.
Previously serving as a litigation partner at an East Coast firm with offices in Maryland and Washington D.C., she then worked with a West Coast medical malpractice defense firm. She has been with Wroten & Associates since it was founded.
Ms. Casey has successfully defended medical malpractice cases in federal and circuit courts in Maryland. She has also tried cases in the U.S. District Court and Superior Court for the District of Columbia, and in California’s Superior Court. She has participated in a number of arbitrations and is a mediation specialist. She has represented physicians in administrative hearings before the Medical Board in Maryland and at hearings to defend physicians' hospital privileges.
She graduated magna cum laude from Duke University earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 1975. After working as a nurse at the University of Virginia and Georgetown University Hospitals, she earned her Master of Science in Nursing at Catholic University America, where she was a member of the Nursing Honor Society, Sigma Theta Tau. She graduated with honors from the University of Maryland Law School and was admitted to the Maryland Bar in 1986; the District of Columbia Bar in 1987, and the California Bar and U.S. District Court for the Central District of California in 2001.
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A shareholder at Wroten & Associates, Laura Sitar defends medical malpractice, employment, and elder abuse cases.
She litigates cases on behalf of doctors, dentists and long-term care facilities involving all types of employment actions including sexual harassment, wrongful termination, retaliation and wage and hour claims. She also provides employment related risk management services to help clients avoid litigation.
Ms. Sitar became an attorney after a 15-year career in corporate management where she directed the human resource function of a 2000 employee, $100 million region. Since commencing a second career in law 10 years ago, she was a senior associate with a prestigious healthcare defense firm before joining Wroten & Associates, where she is a shareholder.
Ms. Sitar graduated cum laude from Tufts University, in Boston Massachusetts in 1979. She attended Western State University, College of Law, were she graduated summa cum laude and valedictorian of her class in 1998. While at Western State she clerked for Justice William Rylaarsdam on the California Court of Appeals and successfully argued a sexual harassment and retaliation claim before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. She was a recipient of the 1998 Fellowship of the American Board of Trial Advocates. Ms. Sitar has been a member of the California State Bar since 1998 and is admitted to practice in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.
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A shareholder at Wroten & Associates, Darryl Ross maintains a diverse litigation practice with experience handling all aspects of civil litigation including arbitrations, complex settlements, trials (jury and court), and appeals. Mr. Ross’ practice focuses on the defense of nursing homes and residential care facilities. He has successfully handled a wide variety of health care matters for public and private entities including insurance coverage issues, product liability claims, interpretation, advice and enforcement of medical staff bylaws, as well as class action litigation.
Mr. Ross graduated from California State University, San Diego in 1992. He attended Western State University, College of Law, where he earned recognition as a Distinguished Student before graduating in 1995. Mr. Ross has been a member of the California State Bar since 1995 and is admitted to practice in the U.S. District Court for the Central and Southern Districts of California.
Mr. Ross is a Planning Commissioner for the City of Aliso Viejo California, as well as Regional Commissioner of AYSO Region 889.
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Sarah Gates defends long-term care facilities against elder abuse accusations. Her deep knowledge of all aspects of the challenging and complex pre-trial long-term care litigation helps guide the client through this complex process.
With respect to discovery and motion practice, Ms. Gates provides comprehensive and strategically innovative defenses on behalf of the long-term care facility operator.
Ms. Gates' experience extends to case investigation, coordination of discovery, witness preparation and trial preparation. Her practice also includes writ preparation.
She focuses on the defense of elder abuse and neglect claims; the defense of negligence and malpractice claims in the long term care setting; and the provision of ancillary services to long-term care providers such as restraining orders, and the development of litigation guidelines and best practices.
Ms. Gates graduated from California State University San Bernardino with a Business Administration degree, and obtained her Juris Doctor from the Southwestern University School of Law in Los Angeles. While at Southwestern, she was active in the Moot Court Honors Program, competing in the National Labor and Employment Law competition in New York City, and the International Information and Technology Competition in Chicago. Ms. Gates also was a member of the Moot Court Board of Governors. She was admitted to the California State Bar and to practice in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California in 2003.
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Carmen Martin extensively practiced plaintiff's personal injury and family law before turning her focus to medical malpractice and long-term healthcare defense.
Ms. Martin has been an intregral part of the Wroten & Associates team developing expertise in complex law and motion, witness preparation and case evaluation and development. Ms. Martin also provides litigation support managing witnesses and evidence presentation at trial and arbitration.
Ms. Martin earned her Juris Doctor from Whittier College School of Law in 1987. She was a member of the Whittier College School of Law Moot Court Honors Board earning an award for Best Internal Written Brief, Fall 1985 and participating in the 1986 Traynor Moot Court and National Moot Court Competitions.
A former member of the Idaho State Bar and U.S. District Court for the District of Idaho, Ms. Martin has been a member of the California State Bar since 1991, and is a member of the U.S. District Court for the Central and Eastern Districts of California. Ms. Martin is also a member of DRI and ASHRM.
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Stephen Hunter joined Wroten & Associates in 2008. He was admitted to the California State Bar and the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California in 2007.
Mr. Hunter graduated from California State University, Hayward and obtained his Juris Doctor from Thomas Jefferson School of Law in San Diego, California. He was honored in law school for his pro bono work at Thomas Jefferson's Veterans Legal Assistance Clinic. He also received the Distinguished Volunteer Award for his work through the San Diego Volunteer program as well as the State Bar's Wiley W. Manuel Pro Bono Award for Legal Service.
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Cynthia Uptmore joined Wroten & Associates after more than ten years in the nursing field working as a registered nurse and more recently in clinical risk management. Ms. Uptmore's clinical background provides her with a unique understanding of the challenges facing staff in long term care facilities. She will continue to focus her practice toward risk management and defense of long term care facilities against elder abuse claims.
Ms. Uptmore earned her Nursing Degree from Cypress College in 1997 and her Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Administration in 2005 from California State University Long Beach. She earned her law degree from Whittier College School of Law. Ms. Uptmore was admitted to the California Bar and the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California in 2008.
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As a nationally recognized expert in healthcare risk management, and an accomplished registered nurse and attorney, Kimberli M. P. Smart adds a unique component to Wroten & Associates as an independent contractor working on special projects.
Ms. Smart assists facilities nationwide with risk management challenges that range from clinical and litigation prevention risk management programs to root-cause analysis and performance improvement. Experience gleaned from a healthcare career and courtroom practice allows Ms. Smart to provide keen insights into risk management, to avoid litigation and enhance care.
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William Ha joined Wroten & Associates in 2009. After studying philosophy and political science at the University of California, Irvine, Mr. Ha earned his Juris Doctorate from California Western School of Law in San Diego. There, he was a member of the Moot Court Honors Board, and was awarded the title of Distinguished Advocate in the annual David Gill Mock Trial Tournament.
Mr. Ha has been recognized for his pro bono service in family law as a recipient of the California State Bar Wiley W. Manuel Pro Bono Award and the San Diego Volunteer Lawyer Program Distinguished Service Award. His clinical internships in law school included experience as a law clerk in the San Francisco District Attorney's Office, and as a legal intern with the Northern California affiliate of the American Civil Liberties Union where he worked on protecting student rights to privacy in relation to fast evolving cell phone technology in public schools.
Mr. Ha was admitted to the California State Bar in 2008. Mr. Ha is a triathlete and a food enthusiast.
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Lora Ajello joined Wroten & Associates in 2009. She was admitted to the California State Bar and the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California in 2008.
Ms. Ajello graduated cum laude from the University of California, Irvine with degrees in Political Science and History. At UCI, Ms. Ajello spent a summer interning for the Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women in Washington, D.C. She obtained her Juris Doctorate from Chapman University School of Law in Orange, California. She was honored in law school for her work as an editor for the Nexus Journal, and received CALI Awards in both Advanced California Civil Procedure and Legal Research and Writing. During her time at Chapman, Ms. Ajello spent a semester abroad in England studying comparative legal theories and dispute resolution at Cambridge University. Ms. Ajello clerked for the Honorable Judge Kirk Nakamura on his limited civil calendar at the Orange County Superior Court and additionally worked at the Alona Cortese Elder Law Center.
Ms. Ajello is a member of the Orange County Bar Association, the American Bar Association and the Los Angeles County Bar Association.
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Justin Buhr joined Wroten and Associates in 2009. He was admitted to the California State Bar in 2009.
Mr. Buhr graduated from California State University, San Francisco and obtained his Juris Doctor from University of San Diego School of Law.
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Hilary Wallington joined Wroten Associates in 2009. She received her Juris Doctor from the University of San Diego School of Law in 2008. During her legal studies Ms. Wallington participated in national moot court competitions and was a member of Phi Alpha Delta. She also attended the International Institute on Comparative Law in London in 2006. Ms. Wallington gained experience clerking at general litigation firms before joining Wroten & Associates to focus on healthcare law. A graduate of the University of California, Santa Barbara she earned her undergraduate degree in Political Science with a minor in English in 2005. She spent the summer of 2004 studying at Pembroke College at Cambridge University.
Ms. Wallington is a member of the State Bar of California and the Orange County Bar Association.
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