Epsten, APC

Overview

Hannah Hughes focuses her practice on civil litigation matters. Hannah graduated California Western School of Law, Magna Cum Laude. Hannah then went on to practice in Family Law where she made multiple court appearances weekly, argued move away trials, and vigorously fought for and against Restraining Orders.

Hannah decided make the change to civil litigation to help more people, and she takes a very client centered approach to her cases. Before attending law school, Hannah worked at a Domestic Violence non-profit. There, she began to learn and utilize client-centered and trauma-based support mechanisms to help her clients.

Overview

Rhonda Goldblatt graduated from the George Washington University School of Law in 2013. While in law school, Rhonda served as Articles Editor of the Federal Communications Law Journal, a member of the Alternative Dispute Resolution Board, Chair of the Student Bar Association Diversity Committee, a member of the Domestic Violence Law Clinic and Vice President of the Law Association for Women. She received her B.A. in both Art History and English from the University of California, Berkeley. At UC Berkeley, Rhonda was awarded High Honors in the History of Art, and graduated as Valedictorian of the History of Art Department. She also graduated as a member of the Phi Beta Kappa honor society, and with Highest Honors in English. Rhonda additionally received the Maybelle Toombs Award for Scholarship.

Rhonda is a member of the State Bar of California and a former member of the Enright Inn of Court.

Overview

David Kline has been a member of the California State Bar since February 2006 and joined the firm’s transactional practice group in 2014.

David received his undergraduate education at San Diego State University, graduating in 1997 with a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree in political science and a minor in English. In 2000 he graduated from the University of Houston Law School with a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree. While at law school, he was a member of the Mock Trial team and received many awards for his contributions. Upon graduation, he worked as an enforcement specialist and staff attorney for the Fair Housing Council of San Diego, a private nonprofit organization. In that capacity, he investigated complaints of housing discrimination and trained attorneys, association managers, and other industry professionals to prevent liability from a risk management perspective.

Before joining Epsten, APC David spent 7 years representing community associations in litigation, assessment collection, and transactional matters. His extensive experience includes defending homeowners associations against claims of housing discrimination filed with the Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH); litigating matters involving violations of architectural restrictions, pet restrictions and senior occupancy violations; preparing amendments and restatements of governing documents; and advising boards of directors regarding their responsibilities under the Davis-Stirling Act and the governing documents.

Overview

Jillian Wright graduated, cum laude, from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law in 2012. She received her B.A. in both psychology and political science from University of Southern California, magna cum laude. While in law school, Jillian worked as a certified law student for Hastings Civil Justice Clinic where she successfully represented plaintiffs in a wage and hour bench trial. While at Hastings, Jillian served as the Executive Submissions and Acquisitions Editor for the Hastings Women’s Law Journal and competed in the ABA’s Law Student Division Client Counseling Competitions. In 2011, Jillian was awarded the California Bar Association’s Wiley Manuel Award for Outstanding Achievement in Pro Bono.

Jillian is a member of the State Bar of California, the San Diego County Bar Association, California Association of Community Managers (CACM), Community Associations Institute (CAI), Consumer Attorneys of California 2012-2016, and a former member of the Louis Welsh Inn of Court (2013-2014).

Overview

Pejman’s primary practice area is civil litigation, with a focus on common interest developments, governing document enforcement, contract disputes, directors and officers liability, general liability, construction, real property, and insurance defense. Pejman also provides counsel to corporations and common interest developments, including: contract review and negotiation, mediation and dispute resolution, corporate governance, and governing document interpretation. Prior to law school, Pejman was a certified community association manager and brings this insight to his representation of common interest developments.

Pejman graduated from James Madison University with a bachelor of business administration. He received his Juris Doctor from Thomas Jefferson School of Law, magna cum laude, and served as Notes Editor for the Thomas Jefferson Law Review. During law school he interned at the California Court of Appeal, the San Diego Superior Court, and the California Department of Justice. Pejman held a post-graduate judicial clerkship at the Superior Court for the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and assisted with matters before the U.S. District Court for the Northern Mariana Islands.

Pejman is admitted to practice in all California State Courts and the United States District Court for the Southern and Central Districts of California. Pejman is active with the San Diego chapter of Community Associations Institute. He has also served as an adjunct law professor at Thomas Jefferson School of Law.

Overview

Shareholder Bill Budd is a cum laude graduate of Thomas Jefferson School of Law. During law school, Bill was on the editorial staff of the law review, competed as an oral advocate in the American Bar Association moot court competition, and taught a writing seminar for first semester law students for three semesters.

Bill brings a wealth of hands-on experience to the practice of law. Prior to attending law school, Bill worked as a community association manager for over ten years, during which time he attended more than 800 board meetings. As a manager, he also earned the prestigious PCAM designation, demonstrating his commitment to the community association industry

Bill has extensive experience in all aspects of business and community association management, including construction, maintenance, finance, and personnel matters. Along with providing general business and transactional advice, Bill has represented many clients in litigation, including prevailing in six cases before the Court of Appeal; three of which resulted in published opinions that are now binding authority in California:

• SB Liberty, LLC v. Isla Verde Assn., Inc. (2013) 217 Cal.App.4th 272, 280
(Board’s right to exclude non-members from board meetings)

• Trilogy at Glen Ivy Maintenance Assn. v. Shea Home, Inc. (2015) 235 Cal.App.4th 361, 372
(Successful defeat of an Anti-Slapp motion brought by Shea Homes)

• Golden Eagle Land Investment, L.P. v. Rancho Santa Fe Assn. (2018) 19 Cal.App.5th 399
(Successful Anti-Slapp motion resulting complete dismissal of a lawsuit brought against the Association)

Bill has also testified in Superior Court as an expert witness on community association issues.

Overview

Vince Sincek is a native San Diegan. He received a B.A. in philosophy from the College of San Luis Rey in 1969. Vince’s early career was that of a Licensed Land Surveyor in the State of California. His strong aptitude for mathematics and trigonometry soon propelled him into civil engineering where his land use experience, the recommendations of others in the profession, and the successful completion of a State of California licensing examination earned him the professional designation Registered Civil Engineer. Vince spent fifteen years in the engineering and land use professions, including owning and managing his own firm.

In 1997, Vince earned his law degree cum laude from the University of San Diego School of Law. Joining Epsten, APC in the spring of 1998, his expertise in engineering and land use has enabled him to make valuable contributions to the firm’s real estate and construction law practice areas. Respectfully dubbed the “dirt expert” by his Epsten colleagues, Vince continues to be an important source of knowledge in legal matters involving litigated boundary disputes, drainage, land use and easement issues. He also represents homeowner associations in governance matters.