Andre E. Jardini
Andre E. Jardini
Knapp, Petersen & Clarke
Glendale, CA
(818) 547-5000
aej@kpclegal.com
www.kpclegal.com
Professional Qualifications & Experience
Practicing lawyer, principally as a litigation attorney, in California since 1976.
B.A. Degree University of Notre Dame 1973; J.D. degree Hasting College of Law 1976; admitted to the State Bar December 1976.
Clerkship in 1977 and 1978 in United States District Court in Los Angeles with Judge Robert Firth.
Admitted to practice in all courts in the State of California, including four United States district courts and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.
Partner at Knapp, Petersen & Clarke, a law firm providing litigation and transactional services to its clients.
Founder and president of KPC Legal Audit Services, Inc.
Trial and arbitration of numerous cases in which the predominant issue was the reasonableness of attorney's fees and costs.
Has personally audited the billings of a large proportion of the major law firms of this state since 1986. More than 1,000 audits performed.
Has audited billings exceeding cumulatively $1 billion.
Has been under contract to the State of California (Cal PERS, California Lottery, Attorney General's Office) regarding audit services.
Under contract to the City of Los Angeles regarding audit services.
Arbitrator in the Los Angeles County Bar Association Dispute Resolution Services Program regarding attorney/client disputes over legal billings.
Qualified as an expert witiness with regard to reasonablness of attorney's fee issues in superior court.
Testimony as an expert witness in arbitrations concerning attorney fee disputes.
Experience as attorney for litigants in matters concerning attorney fee disputes.
Practice consists predominantly of trial work. More than 50 jury trials conducted, each with exposure or value in the six to seven-figure range.
Member, American Board of Trial Advocates. (Advocate status)
Articles written, seminars conducted and speaking engagements on the subject of reasonableness of attorney's fees and auditing practices.
"AV" rated by Martindale-Hubbell.
Represented cases on appeal:
Simon v. San Paolo U.S. Holdings Co., Inc. (2005) 35 Cal. 4th 1159
California Supreme Court case establishing Constitutional limits on punitive damages.
Blanchard v. State Farm (1991) 2 Cal. App. 4th 345
Case finding no entitlement to independent counsel in construction defect case.
Kliger v. Superior Court (1990) 52 Cal. 3d 65
California Supreme Court case establishing parameters for suits for employer conduct in violation of public policy.
Trope v. Katz (1995) 11 Cal. 4th 274
Trial testimony in case establishing that attorneys cannot recover fees representing themselves in a fee collection action.
Lance Camper v. Republic Indemnity (2001) 90 Cal App. 4th 1151
Trial testimony concerning Brandt fees in insurance bad faith case.