Joanna Ryan Poerstel

Joanna Ryan Poerstel specializes in defending medical malpractice, professional liability, and general litigation cases throughout all stages, including trials. Her background has focused on medical and dental malpractice defense on behalf of physicians and hospital entities, as well as the defense of medical and dental board matters, general civil litigation for both plaintiff and defense, and plaintiffs’ personal injury litigation. Joanna has successfully briefed and argued cases before the California Court of Appeal, Fourth Appellate District, Division One. She also has the unique distinction of having successfully defended a certified California state-wide class action case through a defense verdict at trial in a consumer protection/false advertising matter alleging violations of the Unfair Competition Law (UCL), Consumer Legal Remedies Act (CLRA), and False Advertising Law (FAL).

Joanna was a legal assistant and paralegal for several years before attending law school. During her time in law school, she worked as a law clerk in the fields of criminal defense as well as plaintiffs’ personal injury litigation. She also attended the University of San Diego School of Law’s Institute on International and Comparative Law study abroad program at Syracuse University in Florence, Italy.

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