Donald F. Drummond (Member)

Practice Concentration and Experience Summary

Mr. Drummond specializes in general commercial counseling and litigation, including breach of contract, creditor-debtor relations, trade secrets, unfair competition, bankruptcy and environmental litigation.

His practice includes extensive experience in the areas of real estate development, banking and finance, agriculture, environmental litigation and securities fraud.

Mr. Drummond is a contributing editor to Commercial Lender Litigation News/Lender Liability News. He was co-counsel inKruse v. Bank of America ($48 million jury verdict) andConlan v. Wells Fargo Bank ($60 million jury verdict).

Counsel or co-counsel for litigants in the reported appellate decisions of:

  • Frazier Nuts, Inc., et al. v. American Ag Credit (2006) 141 Cal.App.4th 1263
  • G.L. Mezzetta v. Superior Court (City of American Canyon) (2000) 78 Cal.App.4th 1087
  • Sabek, Inc. v. Engelhard Corp. , 65 Cal.App.4th 992 (1998)
  • Sabek, Inc. v. Union Bank, [unpublished]
  • Kalt v. Hunter, 66 F.3d 1002 (9th Cir. 1995)
  • Johnson Farms v. Comet Rice, Inc., 1995 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 8315 (Counsel for plaintiff; settled in plaintiff's favor prior to trial)
  • Johnson Farms v. Comet Rice, Inc., 1995 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 8314
  • Siam Numhong Products Co. v. Eastinpex, 866 F.Supp. 445 (N.D.Cal. 1994)
  • Pacific Landmark Hotel, Ltd. v. Marriott Hotels, Inc., 19 Cal.App.4th 615 (1993)
  • Sun Village v. The Bowery Savings Bank, 735 F.Supp. 945(D.Ariz.1990)
  • Mid-Cal Bank v. Bank of Stockton, 590 F.2d 761 (9th Cir. 1979), concerning the duty of care owed by banks inter se
  • Pezzola v. Pezzola, 112 Cal.App.3d 752 (1980)
  • Systron Donner Corp. v. Tipton, 99 Cal.App.3d 501 (1979)
  • In re Nady/Solomon v. Security Pacific Bank Nevada, 138 B.R. 608 (D.Nev. 1992)
  • In re Meadowbrook Estates: Meadowbrook Estates v. McElvany 246 B.R. 898 (2000)
  • S&P Partners v. HomFed Savings and Loan, ($60 million settlement)
  • Flavor Dry v. Kal Lines, 799 F.2d 1258 (9th Cir. Cal.)
  • Clay v. ABT, Inc. [unpublished]
  • Wrote the trial court opinion adopted in Sutton v. Warner, 12 Cal.App.4th 415 (1993)

Significant trials

  • Kruse v. Bank of America, 202 Cal.App.3d 38 ($48 million jury verdict)
  • Conlan v. Wells Fargo Bank [citation omitted], ($60 million jury verdict)
  • ZPP -Van Ness, Inc. v. BPP/Van Ness, LLP, San Francisco Superior Court Action No.301822 ($2.8 million fraud recovery against publicly traded REIT)

General Background

Education

Mr. Drummond attended Claremont Men's College, majoring in philosophy, and received his B.A. degree in 1968. He received his J.D. degree from Hastings College of the Law in 1971.

Professional

Mr. Drummond presently serves as a judge pro tem of the San Francisco Superior Court , Member of the California, San Francisco and Marin Bars, the Federal and American Bar Associations (member, Litigation Section), the San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association (member, Board of Directors, 1975-1978) and has been admitted to practice before the United States District Courts for all districts of California, Oregon, the Central District of Arizona, and the District of Columbia. He is the former Chairman of the Board of Sequoia National Bank.