David A. Peck

Managing Partner

Managing Partner David A. Peck

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Practice Areas:

  • Litigation
  • Personal Injury
  • Employment Law
  • Real Estate

No man is worth his salt who is not ready at all times to risk his well-being, to risk his body, to risk his life, in a great cause.
— Theodore Roosevelt

Biography

Coast Law Group Partner Dave Peck lets his track record speak for itself. A state and federal court litigator for over a quarter century, Dave has delivered a remarkable string of jury trial victories. Known for both his tenacity and disarming sense of humor, Dave relishes the opportunity to win for his clients. In 2010 the San Diego Daily Transcript recognized Dave as one of the top attorneys in San Diego County. Dave is also an eight time San Diego “Super Lawyers” honoree (2011, 2014 – 2020). In 2014 Los Angeles Magazine named Dave to its prestigious list of Top Attorneys in Southern California.

A third-generation Southern Californian, Dave is a graduate of the University of Southern California (USC) and Loyola Law School. He has been a member of the California Bar since 1994 and is admitted to practice in numerous United States Federal Court districts.

In addition to serving as head of the firm’s personal injury and litigation teams, Dave represents clients in variety of legal disputes including:

  • Complex business / contract issues
  • Real estate matters including agent / broker liability
  • Employment matters
  • Intellectual property and trade secrets
  • Childhood sexual abuse
  • Insurance coverage and bad faith
  • Professional negligence

As a plaintiff’s attorney, Dave has recovered tens of millions of dollars for his clients.

Recent case results include*:

  • Seven figure settlement paid by a publicly traded company in a trade secret lawsuit
  • Seven figure settlement paid following auto vs. pedestrian accident
  • Seven figure settlement paid for an off-road injury involving complex assumption of risk issues
  • Seven figure settlement paid to resolve a reckless driving claim
  • Seven figure judgment in a sexual assault case involving school district defendants


On the defense side, Dave’s clients have run the gamut from individuals and small businesses to nationwide retailers, restaurant chains and landmark amusement parks. Dave has successfully defended such clients at trial against multi-million dollar claims.

In 2013 Dave was honored to serve as lead trial counsel for non-profit association YES! (Yoga for Encinitas Students) in a widely publicized case involving a public school district’s yoga program. Representing over 100 students on a pro bono basis, Dave and co-defense counsel successfully defended the program against claims that it violated the United States and California Constitutions.

While his numerous trial victories garner the most attention, Dave is equally proud of those difficult cases in which he has been able to achieve his client’s goal without protracted litigation. Quoting from Sun-Tzu’s The Art of War, Dave notes with a smile, “The best victory is when the opponent surrenders of its own accord before there are any actual hostilities . . . It is best to win without fighting.”

Dave has been a lecturer on emerging litigation trends and has been a featured speaker at the annual conferences of the International Association of Special Investigation Units (IASIU) and the Southern California Fraud Investigator’s Association (SCFIA). Dave has also served as legal counsel for the San Diego and Los Angeles chapters of IASIU.

Many of Dave’s trial victories have been featured in statewide legal publications including the Los Angeles Daily Journal, Trials Digest and Verdicts & Settlements. A 2013 win earned Dave the much coveted “Featured Verdict” as highlighted on the cover of Verdict Search California

When not representing his clients Dave is an active father, dog owner and member of our local community. He is proud to serve on the board of directors of Encinitas 101, the local Downtown Mainstreet Association.

*These case results are illustrative only and do not constitute a guarantee, warranty, or prediction regarding the outcome of your legal matter. Each case is unique.



Education

  • Loyola Law School, Los Angeles, California
    • J.D.
  • University of Southern California (USC)

Bar Admission

  • California
  • U.S. District Court Central District of California
  • U.S. District Court Southern District of California

Published Works

Representative Cases

Honors

  • San Diego Daily Transcript - One of the Top Attorneys in San Diego County, 2010
  • San Diego "Super Lawyers" Honoree, 2011 and 2014
  • San Diego “Super Lawyers” honoree
  • Top Attorneys in Southern California, Los Angeles Magazine, 2014

Classes & Seminars

Pro-Bono Activities

Representative Clients

References

Past Positions

Languages

Ancillary Businesses

Fraternities or Sororities

Professional Associations

  • California Bar, Member, 1994 to Present

Certified Legal Specialties