Mr. Cook is an experienced trial attorney, mediator, and arbitrator who has over thirty years of litigation experience. He has served as lead counsel in a large number of jury and court trials, appellate proceedings, arbitrations, mediations, and agency proceedings. His practice is focused on commercial litigation (including contract, construction, real estate, and employment disputes) and personal injury. Mr. Cook has been active in community affairs in Monterey County. He has served on numerous boards for nonprofit organizations and educational institutions, including the Big Sur International Marathon, All Saints Day School, Carmel Youth Baseball, and Catholic Charities. He has been active in professional activities, having served on the Executive Committee of the Monterey County Bar Association, and has sat as Judge Pro Tem in the Monterey County Courts.
Prior to entering private practice Mr. Cook was a Captain in the U.S. Army (1973-1976) and served three years in the Judge Advocate General Corps as a trial attorney.
Representative experience:
- Mediator and Arbitrator
Mr. Cook’s mediation and arbitration cases have included Will and Trust contests as well as attacking or defending Trustees. Mr. Cook has served as a mediator on numerous cases involving personal injury, estate and trust disputes, construction issues and real property. He has been appointed by the court to serve as a Special Referee in partition cases.
- Employment Law
Mr. Cook’s employment law practice is focused primarily on representing employers. His cases have included wrongful termination, sexual harassment, age discrimination, and American with Disabilities Act claims. He has also represented companies in defending wage and overtime claims.
- Trust and Estate Litigation
Mr. Cook has represented trustees and beneficiaries in trust and estate litigation. He has litigated cases contesting Wills and Trusts. He has also served as a mediator on these disputes.
- Construction Disputes
Mr. Cook has represented developers, general contractors, sub-contractors, civil engineers, geo-technical engineers, and structural engineers in construction disputes. He has taken a number of these cases through trial and arbitration and has, himself, served as an arbitrator and mediator. Mr. Cook has also pursued and defended numerous mechanic liens claims.
- Personal Injury
Mr. Cook has handled cases involving death and major injury vehicular accidents, as well as product liability cases and dog bite cases. He has also handled Federal Tort Claims cases on behalf of injured parties. Additionally, Mr. Cook serves as an arbitrator and mediator in personal injury cases.
- Commercial Litigation
Mr. Cook has represented general partners in partnership disputes and litigated corporate disputes. He has also handled corporate, general and limited partnership, and limited liability company dissolutions. In addition, he has represented companies in trade secret litigation.
Education
- Dickinson School of Law, J.D., with honors, 1973
- East Stroudsburg University, B.A., with honors, 1970
- Who's Who in American Colleges and Universities
Admissions
- State of California, 1976; State of Pennsylvania, 1973
- U.S. Court of Military Appeals, 1973; U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California; U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Military Appeals, 1973; U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California; U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit; U.S. District Court for the Central District of California
Affiliations
- The State Bar of California
- Monterey County Bar Association
- United States District Court
- Central District of California
