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The Maritime Attorney
Other Attorneys Recommend

Berschler Makes a Difference

Our Accomplishments

  • Proctor Member of the Maritime Law Association of the United States, and a California Certified Legal Specialist in Admiralty and Maritime Law.
  • Lead attorney in published opinions emanating from the Ninth Circuit of the United States Court of Appeals, and from the State of California Court of Court of Appeals.
  • Litigates cases in the state and federal court level.
  • Litigates administrative hearings before the United States Coast Guard.
  • Represents clients whether they be injured at sea or be victims of personal injury, wrongful death accidents ashore, or vessel owners-operators.
  • We have contributed to the development of case law applicable to vessel-side personnel under Title VII, the Civil Rights Act of 1866 (42 U.S.C., §§1981; et seq;) the Civil Rights Act of 1964, amended in 1991 (42 U.S.C., §§ 2000e; et seq.)
  • Has won cases at trial and on appeal under the Federal Tort Claims Act, 28 U.S.c., §§2674; et seq.
  • Admitted to the Fourth Circuit for the United States Court of Appeals

"Certain cases
We have litigated
changed the law and
changed in the way
certain governments
do business."



For instance, in Ali v Rogers, a test case before the Ninth Circuit of the United States Court of Appeals, the decision did not rule out a merchant mariner’s right to combine discrimination claims under the Civil Rights Act of 1990 or the Civil Rights Act of 1964 using the procedures mandated by the Suits in Admiralty Act and its companion Clarification Act.

Our client’s successful appeal in Summers v. United States directly caused modification of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area’s rules for public use of beaches. This case also clarified the parameters and application of the Discretionary Function Doctrine defense incorporated in the Federal Tort Claims Act. In Cabezas v. United States, tried in the United States District Court between August 2006 and January 2007, my client made new law at the trial level. The United States paid a premium for our client to withdraw that award.

The City of Burlingame, California revised the installation of and guarding around trees throughout the major shopping street of Burlingame Avenue as a direct result of success in Fie v. City v. Caesar, my clients’ appeal resulted in the expansion of the scopes of persons civilly liable for sexual abuse of a minor.

Our Team

With more than 49 years of experience serving clients nationwide,
our team is dedicated to help our clients and our community. 

Proctor in Admiralty
Maritime Law Association
of the United States
Certified Legal Specialist
in Admiralty and Maritime Law by the State Bar of California

Areas of Practice

• Admiralty & Maritime Law
• Business & Commercial Law
• Personal Injury — Plaintiff
• Personal Injury — Defense
• Cruise Line Passenger (Admiralty)
• Federal Tort Claims
• Coast Guard License Defense
• Vessel Purchase and Sale
• California Government Tort Claims Act

Litigation Percentage

• 90% of Practice Devoted to Litigation

Admissions to Practice

• California, 1973
• U.S. Federal Courts, 1973
• U.S. Court of Appeals 9th Circuit
• U.S. District Court Central District of California
• U.S. District Court Eastern District of California
• U.S. District Court Northern District of California
• U.S. District Court Eastern District of Michigan

• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit

Education

• Temple University School of Law, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• J.D. – 1973
• Pennsylvania State University, State College, Pennsylvania
• B.A. – 1969

Representative Cases

• Summers v. United States, 905 F.2 1212 (9th Cir. 1990)

• Joseph v. Johnson [Caesar], 178 Cal.App.4th 1404 (2009)

▪ Ali v. Rogers, 780 F.3d 1229 (9th Cir. 2015)

▪ In re Hornblower Fleet, LLC 2019 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 104454 (S.D. Cal. June 21, 2019)

▪ In re Duquette, 2022 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 11028 (E.D. Cal. Jan. 20, 2022)

Professional Associations and Memberships

• The Maritime Association of the United States, Proctor in Admiralty, 1980

▪ American Attorneys for Justice (Maritime Section)

▪ Certified Legal Specialist in Admiralty and Maritime Law, State Bar of California

• Consumers Attorneys of California, Member

• San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association, Member

• Capital City Trial Lawyers Association, Member


"Our communication
with clients

is key
to their success."


Fonda Williams

Berschler Associates,
PC Senior Legal Assistant and Calendar Manager
  • Ms. Williams has been working with accident and wrongful death claims ever since 1997. She is very familiar with the concerns and needs of clients. 
  • Ms. Williams regularly interfaces with various court staffs and United States Coast Guard Administrative Law Judge offices throughout the United States in matters in litigation. She has responsibility for overseeing the firms master calendar.
  • Ms. Williams graduated the Empire College with a Specialized Associate Degree – Paralegal.


Nancy Leon

Berschler Associates,
Legal Assistant/Paralegal
  • Ms. Nancy Leon has been working as Legal Secretary for six years in Personal injury Law.
  • She has over 15 years in business management.
  • She worked 10 years as a billing specialist,
  • and 15 years in office management.
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