GRANT GARDNER

San Marcos, CA 92069 760-576-6533 jggard2013@gmail.com

SENIOR CERTIFIED PARALEGAL

Self-motivated, Certified Paralegal with proven track record of providing top quality assistance to general
counsel and clients in litigation practice. Possess resourceful analytical and legal investigation research expertise
with immense ability to discover and prepare for all phases of complex litigation and document production
support. Demonstrate practical application of procedural, administrative, case laws and regulatory issues while
harnessing proficiency in critical thinking, technology, and organizational skills.
AREAS OF EXPERTISE
Case File Management
Discovery Drafting / Pleadings
Document Review / Production
Settlement Negotiation / Mediation

Client Services Management

Investigation / Witness Interview
Team Management
Legal Research / Case Notes

Damage Claim Analysis

Record Keeping
Problem Solving
Task Prioritization

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
LAW OFFICES OF ALEXANDER SCHACK, San Diego, CA
04/2011 Present
Mass Tort/Litigation Paralegal
- Provide legal and administrative caseload support for busy litigation firm of 11 attorneys and legal
professionals; perform all elements of litigation case management, including case law research, file
management, document preparation, discovery / pleadings, trial / mediation activities, and case calendars.
Conduct research supporting attorneys cases, allowing them to represent clients fairly and efficiently.
- Review client intake material and independently determine next steps.
- Write responses to claim denial letters issued by insurance carriers in personal injury cases.
- Interact with outside entities including courts, government agencies, witnesses, corporations, vendors, and
other law firms to gather information or coordinate activities as needed in support of firm activities.
- Create and maintain extensive client contact lists for multiple client cases. Conduct data mining searches to
locate client information for actual and potential litigation.
- Assist in the design and development of marketing materials and compile comprehensive data for
marketing campaigns. Interact with commercial printers, newspapers, and periodicals for firm advertising.
Key Assignments:
Lead paralegal on 3-year, complex 2007 San Diego Wildfires damage case against San Diego Gas & Electric.
Note: Law Offices of Alexander Schack were original members of Plaintiffs Core Group-1 (PCG-1) selected by
Judge Richard Strauss, presiding judge for SD Fires cases. Scope of caseload support included:
- Managed all aspects of complicated case discovery and multiple client interviews to determine scope of
loss; collected and sorted relevant documents and data for over 100 clients with reported damages ranging
from the thousands to several million dollars.
- Performed initial client intakes and questioned clients thoroughly to ensure all fire related damages to
commercial, residential, and agricultural properties were accounted for.
- Conducted extensive insurance claim file analysis to determine insurance scope of loss in relation to overall
scope of loss.

Utilized estimating tools and interacted with construction experts to determine repair/rebuild costs for firedamaged residential and commercial buildings.
Consulted experts, interviewed clients, and conducted online research to determine accurate replacement
and fair market value costs of household items as well as rare, one-of-a-kind, and cherished personal
property.
Organized and compiled data into comprehensive settlement demand packets for mediation purposes.
Managed team of paralegals working on individual settlement demand packets. Oversaw work assignment
schedules, completion deadlines, reviewed progress, and proofread and edited work.
Compiled dashboard reports for attorneys for pre-mediation settlement negotiations. Attended several
formal mediations at JAMS and assisted attorneys with settlement negotiations.

Lead Paralegal for the 2011 Caughlin Fires damages case against Nevada Energy. Scope of caseload support
included:
- Traveled regularly to Reno, NV, to conduct client interviews, meet with potential clients, attend case status
meetings with partnering attorney, and conducted on-site property damage assessments.
- Managed 40 clients in various levels of emotional distress from initial intake through settlement.
- Analyzed insurance claim files to determine covered damages; isolated damages by category.
- Provided complex damage and total loss analysis for residential and commercial properties affected by
wildfires ranging from $500 to $5 million. Assisted arborists in performing on-site landscape assessments
to determine scope of losses.
- Performed online research to determine replacement costs for landscaping damage and calculated repair
costs. Incorporated online and expert resources to determine effects of smoke damage on dwellings.
- Compiled damage assessment figures with estimated repair / replacement costs to be included in mediation
demand packets.
Early Career Experience
Regional Key Account Manager, BUFFINI AND COMPANY, Carlsbad, CA 2008 2009
Account Manager, BORDER CONSTRUCTION SPECIALTIES, Phoenix, AZ 2007 - 2008
Account Manager, BRICKFORM, Rancho Cucamonga, CA 2005 2007
Account Manager, ARDEX ENGINEERED CEMENTS, Aliquippa, PA 1996 2005
EDUCATION & CERTIFICATIONS
Certified Paralegal, National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA) 2013
Associate of Arts Paralegal Studies, summa cum laude, NATIONAL PARALEGAL COLLEGE, Phoenix, AZ 2012
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
CA Notary Public
Member, National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA)
Member, San Diego Paralegal Association
Member, Consumer Attorneys of San Diego (2014 2015)
TECHNOLOGY SKILLS
Microsoft Office: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook
Adobe Acrobat, Adobe InDesign
Client Management Programs
EDDM Mass Mailings, B2B mailings