Board Member

For the past 32 years, I have had extensive experience addressing legal issues facing Californians with special needs. Most of these have involved the administration of public social services – most recently the California Department of Developmental Services. I also have worked on numerous cases and issues involving the administration of the Medi-Cal program, which is recognized by courts (and critics) as one of the most complex, arcane, and difficult areas of legal practice. In my capacity as a staff attorney to the Medi-Cal program, I provided sound legal advice to the Department’s executive staff and managers, including the development of strategies to obtain the approval of California’s control agencies, and the approval of the federal agencies that oversee the Medicaid program. In my 12 years at the legal office at the Department of Developmental Services, I applied my skills towards the effective administration of the Lanterman Act, a program that often intersects various other State and federal programs for persons with developmental disabilities, including the Medicaid and Medicare programs.

I have personally served as an advocate for the State in many court proceedings, and in various administrative matters before various administrative bodies, including the Office of Administrative Hearings and the State Personnel Board. I have personally handled many family law and guardianship cases in California Superior Courts statewide, I have also successfully appealed a superior court order to the 5 th District Court of Appeal, which resulted in a published opinion that is extremely favorable to the State’s recovery program for the costs of institutional care for persons with developmental disabilities.

I have always strived to maintain a good relationship with the various other attorneys I have worked with, and perhaps most importantly, I believe that I have maintained a good personal relationship with all my clients, which has helped me to better advocate their interests.