Phil Ward
Prior to joining Hassard Bonnington LLP, Mr. Ward spent 14 years in the San Francisco City Attorney’s Office. He served as the Chief Trial Deputy, Chief Deputy City Attorney and Acting City Attorney. Mr. Ward represented all city departments and had extensive background in complex civil service, civil rights and employment discrimination litigation.
Since joining the firm, Mr. Ward has handled numerous toxic tort, professional negligence, product liability and civil rights/employment discrimination lawsuits.
Mr. Ward has successfully tried more than 20 cases to defense jury verdicts during his career. He was nominated for and elected to membership in the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA). Mr. Ward has also been named a “Super Lawyer” in products liability and negligence cases. He has extensive experience managing the presentation of and challenge to expert witness testimony involving science and medicine, professional liability, manufacturing processes and state-of-the-art defenses. His trials have included issues of standard of care, state-of-the-art, carcinogenesis of materials, risk of cancer, causation and epidemiology.
- HASSARD BONNINGTON LLP, San Francisco, CA
Partner, 1989-Present
Associate, 1986-1989 - OFFICE OF THE CITY ATTORNEY, San Francisco, CA
Deputy City Attorney, 1972-1986
- Alleged personal injury due to asbestos exposure, 2008. A living mesothelioma case by a plumber who claimed exposure to asbestos-containing drywall products contributed to the causation of his cancer. The jury returned a defense verdict on causation.
- Alleged legal malpractice, 1995. The plaintiff retained the defendant’s professional services in underlying litigation. Thereafter, Mr. Ward was retained to prosecute a legal malpractice action against the defendant law firm, and he secured a jury verdict in excess of $1 million in the plaintiff’s favor.
- Alleged insurance malpractice, 1995. The plaintiff accused its former insurance brokers of malpractice. Representing the defendant broker, Mr. Ward obtained a defense verdict on issues of causation.
- Alleged personal injury due to asbestos exposure, 1990s. Plaintiff claimed his mesothelioma was caused by occupational exposure to asbestos. The jury returned a defense verdict based upon a disputed issue of causation.
- Alleged personal injury due to asbestos exposure, 1989.The plaintiff was a career pipefitter in San Francisco Bay Area naval shipyards. He alleged that he had contracted asbestosis as a result of occupational exposure. The jury returned a defense verdict on the issue of medical causation.
- Alleged personal injury due to asbestos exposure, 1988.The plaintiff, a World War II welder, alleged she had contracted asbestosis due to inhaling asbestos fibers. The jury returned a verdict for all defendants.
- Alleged personal injury due to asbestos exposure, 1987.The plaintiff claimed to have developed asbestosis based on occupational exposure to asbestos-containing products. The jury returned a unanimous defense verdict.
- Mr. Ward has also represented clients in over thirty appellate matters, twice appearing before the California Supreme Court. See Van Atta v. Scott, 27 Cal.3d 424 (1980) and San Francisco v. United Association, 42 Cal.3d 810 (1986). He successfully defended the applicability of Proposition 51 to strict liability cases, Wilson v. John Crane Inc., 81 Cal.App.4th 847 (2000), and secured appellate approval for including the U.S. Navy on the verdict form in asbestos cases, Taylor v. John Crane Inc., 113 Cal.App.4th 1063 (2003). His two most recent appeals were Panoutsopoulos v. Chambliss, 157 Cal.App.4th 297 (2007) and Jones v. John Crane Inc. (unpublished), 2013.
Mr. Ward has extensive experience with preparing and presenting dispositive motions to resolve cases without the need for trial. These motions include scores of summary judgment and summary adjudication motions, anti-SLAPP motions, demurrers and motions to strike.
Mr. Ward has deposed, presented and cross-examined a wide variety of expert witnesses over the course of the last forty years. Included are physicians (pathologists, epidemiologists, internists, pulmonary specialists and cardiologists), material scientists, industrial hygienists, economists, attorneys and other witnesses offering opinion testimony.
EH v. UC Regents - Gender Affirming Care to Minor: Plaintiff, father of the youth, sued alleging the child was provided with a hormonal implant without his consent. Through two motions to dismiss in federal court, all of plaintiff's claims were eliminated. The appeal is pending. Lead attorney handling all aspects of case and coordinating strategy with co-defendants -2024.
QB v. SBH - Birth Injury with Brain Injuries Case: Patient, a twin, alleged significant birth injuries due to a prolapsed umbilical cord. Strategic low value settlement was achieved at mediation. Co-defendant proceeded to trial with large 8-figure verdict. Lead attorney handling all aspects of case and coordinating strategy with co-defendants through resolution -2024.
JD v. MESR - Alleged Sexual Assault at Massage Therapy Franchise: Patient alleged she was assaulted at a massage clinic. Discovery revealed no therapist matched the description of the alleged assailant and the case was dismissed for a nominal amount - Lead attorney handling all aspects of case through resolution - 2024.
MP v. SH - Alleged Failure to Diagnose Bladder Cancer: Plaintiff alleged defendants failed to properly diagnose a kidney cyst as renal cell carcinoma. With a motion for summary judgment pending, plaintiffs agreed to dismiss SH for a waiver of costs at mediation. Lead attorney handling all aspects of case through dismissal - 2023.
XC v. The Regents - Alleged Breach of Contract and Conversion of IVF Embryos: Plaintiff alleged The Regents wrongfully retained her embryos and refused to transfer them to another facility. Plaintiff's case was dismissed on demurrer. Following a successful appeal, plaintiff's case was again dismissed following a motion for terminating sanctions. Lead attorney handling all aspects of case through dismissal - 2023.
MM v. The Regents – Premises Liability/Design Defect: Patient alleged she slipped and fell while a patient on the maternity ward due to a defective design. Complex motion for summary judgment granted based on governmental immunities – 2021
PL v. The Regents – Alleged Delay in Transfer of Stroke Patient: Patient was taken to a local hospital for signs of a stroke. The case was filed in federal court including allegations of violation of EMTALA, medical malpractice, NIED, dependent adult abuse, wrongful death and intentional misconduct. Contested motion to dismiss was granted in its entirety, ending the case. Lead attorney handling all aspects of case through dismissal – 2021.
KRB v. SHC – Wrongful Life/Wrongful Birth Case: Plaintiffs alleged negligent genetic counseling failed to identify that plaintiff child’s parents were both sickle cell anemia carriers. Plaintiff child was born with sickle cell anemia. Discovery revealed plaintiff mother’s knowledge of her status as a carrier of sickle cell anemia. Thereafter, the case resolved for nuisance value. Lead attorney handling all aspects of case through resolution – 2020.
AS v. SH - Wrongful Life/Wrongful Birth Case: Plaintiff alleged defendant lab failed to identify the genetic marker for cystic fibrosis during prenatal testing, resulting in the birth of a child with severe cystic fibrosis. Plaintiff required very costly medication for life, had significant care needs and a relatively long life expectancy given advances in treatment for cystic fibrosis. Initial demand for $50 million. Experts were disclosed, key depositions taken and case was resolved for an amount in the low seven figures, a significant victory for the defense. Lead attorney handling all aspects of case through resolution – 2020.
CM v. SH - Wrongful Death – Failure to Diagnose Malaria: Plaintiff alleged defendant hospital and physician failed to diagnose malaria, leading to his discharge from the emergency department and death. Plaintiff sought and obtained a significant settlement from the treating emergency physician and proceeded with the case against the hospital. Days before trial, the case settled for nuisance value. Lead attorney handling all aspects of case through resolution – 2019.
GS v. SH - Severely Brain-Injured Child: Plaintiff mom and plaintiff child alleged medical negligence related to care and treatment plaintiff child received in the NICU. Plaintiff child had a PICC line placed for nutrition and medication administration. The PICC line migrated and caused a pericardial effusion. Plaintiff child’s heart stopped and he underwent a prolonged resuscitation until the pericardial effusion was identified and tapped. Plaintiff mom was brought up to the NICU while the code was in process and brought an NIED claim. The NIED claim was eliminated with a motion for summary adjudication. The plaintiff child had profound neurological injuries but also a significantly long life expectancy. A favorable settlement was reached following development of causation arguments related to placental pathology. Lead attorney handling all aspects of case through resolution – 2019.
EG v. The Regents: Plaintiff alleged negligent attempted placement of an epidural catheter prior to hernia surgery, leading to an epidural hematoma and lower extremity paralysis. Plaintiff was a high wage earner with no ability to work and a significant remaining work-life expectancy. Prior to trial, the case was presented to two mock juries, with opening statements, a few witness presentations and closing arguments presented to the mock juries. Expert depositions were underway when plaintiff passed away from unrelated causes. Co-lead attorney handling causation and damages experts – 2018.
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