Mr. Morton is a Partner in the Orange County Office and is a specialist in business and tort litigation, having tried more than 75 jury trials. He is rated AV by Martindale Hubbell. Mr. Morton's practice includes employment matters, contract litigation, healthcare litigation, product litigation and general business issues. He has represented agricultural businesses in litigation involving crop loss, labor contracts, as well as pesticide issues, trying many cases arising out of pesticide overspray, misapplication of pesticides and herbicides. He has represented feed and milling companies in cases arising out of adulterated feed, and contract issues. He has represented manufacturers in Ephedra litigation.
In the healthcare field, Mr. Morton has represented hospitals on WARN act issues and general contract matters. He has represented physicians in administrative matters, including Peer Review Mandamus hearings, and has presented cases in defense of physicians before BMQA. He also assists physicians in litigation matters involving issues of capitation payments and contract breaches. He has handled professional liability matters pertaining to accountants, insurance agents and brokers, directors and officers, attorneys and medical professionals. His trials have included insurance bad faith, product liability, construction, employment law and intentional torts, as well as real estate matters.
On the general business front, he represents businesses in contract litigation that arises in many areas, such as unfair competition, collection matters, Lanham Act issues, purchase and sale, and employment issues. He has represented public utility water companies, appearing before regional water control boards, as well as PUC hearings on various issues involving water and sewer districts.
Mr. Morton has been an invited seminar lecturer at several Insurance Company programs on subjects of Land Subsidence Liability, Bad Faith Claim Handling and Medical Liens in addition to lecturing numerous employers on employment law. He has published articles in California Defense Magazine titled Legal Fees In Agricultural Litigation and Toxic Tort Dilemna. Recently, Mr. Morton was selected by San Francisco magazine as well as Northern California Super Lawyers magazine as a 2006 Northern California Super Lawyer.
Mr. Morton earned his B.A. from California State University, Fullerton, in 1965 and his J.D. from Pepperdine University School of Law in 1972. He is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA); the Kern County Bar Association; Los Angeles County Bar Association, Intellectual Property Committee; Orange County Bar Association; Defense Research Institute; American Bar Association; California Building Industry Association; Kern County Water Agency; and the Southern California Water Committee. He is admitted before all United States District Courts in California as well as U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth District.
