Andrew T. Caulfield

Mr. Caulfield is the Owner and Managing Attorney of Caulfield Law Firm. Experienced in all phases of litigation, Mr. Caulfield has successfully resolved cases for clients as lead counsel in both federal and state courts at the pleading stage, through mediation, summary judgment, at trial (bench and jury), and on appeal. Mr. Caulfield has been named to the list of 2024 Northern California Super Lawyers for Civil Litigation: Defense, as well as Sacramento Magazine’s list of Top Lawyers in 2022 and 2023 in the field of General Litigation.

Throughout the years, Mr. Caulfield has developed an extensive public entity defense practice. He has successfully defended public entities and public employees in cases involving the following claims, among others: civil rights under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 (e.g., police officer excessive force, wrongful arrest, malicious prosecution, CPS cases); dangerous conditions of public property; real property disputes (e.g., trespass, nuisance, landslides, construction defect, easement issues); motor vehicle accidents; torts; employment and public contract issues; claims presentation issues; ADA claims; and suits brought by and against public officials. Mr. Caulfield’s practice has also required him to prosecute civil actions on behalf of public entities and public officials.

“Andy is an exceptional attorney and works extremely hard and is a fierce advocate for my public entity clients. At the present time, he has 5 open files with me. I would recommend him to anyone with a state or federal court case.” John Tucker, Senior Claims Adjuster at York Risk Services Group, Inc.*

Mr. Caulfield also has substantial experience representing corporate clients in a wide variety of business litigation matters including breach of contract disputes, business torts, unfair competition, breach of fiduciary duty, fraud and negligent misrepresentation, products liability, insurance coverage, consumer finance, loan priority disputes and toxic torts.

Mr. Caulfield began his legal career as a summer associate, and then associate, at Barger & Wolen, LLP in San Francisco (now Hinshaw & Culberston). He was then hired as an associate in the commercial litigation department at Holland & Knight in San Francisco, a national, 1,000 + lawyer firm. Moving back to his native, Sacramento area in 2009, Mr. Caulfield became a non-equity partner at Caulfield, Davies & Donahue, LLP, where he practiced from 2009 to May 2012.
In June 2012, he founded Caulfield Law Firm in El Dorado Hills, California.

“Andrew Caulfield is a rising star in the Northern California litigation arena. His diligence, litigation acumen and thoughtful attention to the work product and adhering to the clients overall goals and strategies yields positive results at a great value.” Timothy D. Patterson, Assistant General Counsel, American General Finance, Inc. (now Springleaf Financial Services, Inc.)*

Mr. Caulfield obtained his J.D. from U.C. Davis School of Law in 2005. During law school, Mr. Caulfield was an Editor of the U.C. Davis Law Review, and member of the Jessup Moot Court Team. He obtained his undergraduate from the University of Oregon, where he also received scholar athlete awards in football.

Mr. Caulfield is a member of the Sacramento County Bar Association, El Dorado County Bar Association, Federal Bar Association, and Association of Defense Counsel of Northern California and Nevada. He is admitted to practice in all state courts in California, as well as the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, and the U.S. District Courts for the Eastern, Northern, and Central Districts of California.

Outside of his practice and managing the Firm, Mr. Caulfield enjoys volunteering as a youth soccer and baseball coach in El Dorado Hills.

Significant Matters:**

• Defense jury verdict in negligence and trespass action against County employee.
• Obtained jury verdict in excess of six figures for public entity in landslide repair case after 18 days of trial.
• Obtained summary judgment in favor of public entity in breach of contract action and attorney fee award of $65,000 based on finding that action was frivolous under CCP § 1038. California’s Third District Court of Appeal affirmed the trial court’s decision in full in its first published decision addressing CCP § 1038 since 1996 and in the first appellate decision of any kind applying 1038 in a case involving public contracting requirements and promissory estoppel. Public entity was awarded in excess of $36,000 in appellate fees and costs. With interest added, public entity ultimately recovered $120,000 from plaintiff.
• In flood case involving various torts, obtained special jury verdict at trial in favor of public entity client. After only 40 minutes of deliberation, jury found plaintiff failed to present a Government Claim to the public entity prior to filing suit despite testimony to the contrary from plaintiff and her licensed process server. Jury verdict resulted in entry of directed verdict in favor or public entity on all claims brought under the Government Claims Act. Court awarded public entity $121,837.50 in attorneys’ fees under CCP § 1038, along with costs in the amount of $11,637.85. Fee award was affirmed on appeal and petition to CA Supreme Court, and public entity was awarded an additional $59,197.50 in fees to defend against the appeal.
• Bench trial resulted in permanent injunction and fines and penalties of nearly $600,000 against two defendants operating business unlawfully.
• After full evidentiary hearing, federal court granted motion for terminating sanctions in favor of public entity and deputies in 42 U.S.C. § 1983 excessive force case based on Plaintiff’s repeated perjury.
• Bench trial in breach of contract action resulted in negligible award to Plaintiff and costs to public entity after Plaintiff failed to accept early CCP § 998 offer.
• Represented community hospital in $20 million commercial litigation matter involving complex conduit financing transaction; second-chaired successful federal bench trial; recovered significant attorneys’ fees and prevailed on appeal.
• After full evidentiary hearing, Obtained $118,000 judgment in favor of public entity and 18 officials and employees in action brought to strike false liens filed against officials, obtaining maximum civil penalty and attorneys’ fees.
• Dismissal of malicious prosecution action against public entity, and award of attorneys’ fees under Anti-Slapp statute.
• Dismissal of loan priority dispute, including recovery of attorneys’ fees.
• Successful summary judgment and Rule 12(b)(6) motions in multiple 42 U.S.C. § 1983 cases in federal court.
• Multiple federal trial court orders affirmed on appeal to the Ninth Circuit.
• Lead counsel for client involved in $20 million solar financing dispute.
• Early dismissal for construction client in wrongful death claim based on construction site accident.

Publications:

• Spring 2018 – ADC Defense Comment by Andrew T. Caulfield

Speaking Engagements:

• 2021 Public Agency Risk Management Association (PARMA) Annual Conference: Effective Strategies to Combat Frivolous Lawsuits Against Public Entities.

*This testimonial or endorsement does not constitute a guarantee, warranty, or prediction regarding the outcome of your legal matter.

**By identifying past results, Caulfield Law Firm in no way implies or guarantees that any prospective client will receive a similar result, or for that matter, will prevail in any particular matter handled by Caulfield Law Firm.