Robert D. Goldberg

Rob is one of the original members of Clark, Goldberg & Madruga. In his 20 years as a litigator, his clients have come to know him as a tenacious and highly effective trial attorney. During his academic studies and his practice of law, Rob has shown the ability to excel at all levels.

Rob graduated with highest honors from Pitzer College, where he wrote an honors thesis entitled, "The American Sense of Mission in United States Foreign Policy." At Northeastern Law School, Rob taught legal writing and research to first year law students. He also clerked with the Honorable Charles E. Stewart, a District Court judge in the United States District Court, Southern District of New York.

Following his graduation from law school, Rob served two years as the judicial law clerk to the Honorable Volney V. Brown, Jr., at the United States District Court House in Los Angeles.

Professional Experience

Clark, Goldberg & Madruga: Los Angeles, California (1992-present)

• Civil, Employment and Business Litigation
• With the firm since its inception in 1992; responsible for handling all aspects of litigation for the firm's complex litigation practice.  Matters include business contract disputes, complex aviation cases, employment discrimination, real property disputes, trademark, copyright, insurance bad faith, and products liability litigation. 
• Serve as first and second chair trial attorney
• Represented businesses and individuals in employment litigation and business disputes.  Plan and conduct depositions, conduct investigations, interview and prepare for trial percipient and expert witnesses, evaluate and analyze litigation strategy, advise clients regarding legal options, supervise associate attorneys, analyze case liability and damage exposure, assess settlement value of claims, represent clients at mediations and arbitrations.

United States District Court, Central District of California: Los Angeles, California (August 1988-August 1990)

• Federal Judicial Clerkship
• Served under Chief Magistrate Judge Volney V. Brown, Jr. writing bench opinions, reports and recommendations, review of civil rights petitions, and review administration law judge decisions.  

Education

Northeastern University School of Law:   Boston, Massachusetts (1988)

• Doctor of Jurisprudence
• Assistant Instructor - Research and Writing
• New York Attorney General Environmental Protection
• Law Clerk, Judge Charles Stewert, U.S. District Court, S.D., New York
• Public Advocates, Inc., Civil Rights Impact Litigation 

Pitzer College of the Claremont Colleges, Claremont, California (1984)

• Bachelor of Arts in History/Political Science
• Graduated with honors in political studies/history
• Editor of The Other Side campus newspaper 

Admissions to the Bar

California State Bar (1988)

Admitted pro hac vice in Arizona and Pennsylvania

United States District Court for the Central District of California

United States District Court for the Southern District of California

United States District Court for the Northern District of California

Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals

Professional Organizations

Los Angeles County Bar Association

Association of Trial Lawyers of America

American Bar Association

State Bar of California - Litigation and Employment Sections

Community Service

Founder, President and Board Member - Manhattan Beach Sand & Surf Soccer Club

Commissioner AYSO Region 18, Girls Under 10

Staff Member - Voter registration campaign, Tulare, Visalia and Delano, California

Representative Cases

• Achieved a defense verdict on behalf of a cable television operator against claims arising out of the use of the company's public access studio. 
• Successfully defended an insurance firm against a multimillion-dollar liability claim arising out of a trucking accident.
• Defeated multi-million dollar contract and fraud claims by installation contractor against employer, and secured attorney's fee award and cost judgment on behalf of client for over $200,000.00.
• Prevailed before the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals on appeal concerning contract interpretation of commercial finance lease.
• Successfully represented an employer against claims of racial discrimination under 42 U.S.C. Section 1981, and FEHA.
• Received over a quarter of a million dollars in attorney's fee award after defeating contract and fraud claim brought by a contractor against a cable television operator.
• Obtained summary judgment in a legal malpractice action on behalf of an attorney in a multi million dollar lawsuit brought by beneficiaries of his client's estate.