Atty. Domenico D. Spinelli
Domenic Spinelli has been practicing in the litigation field representing public entities for 32 years. Domenic’s current practice emphasizes complex civil litigation in the areas of defending public entities, largely school districts, specifically involving civil rights, Title IX, employment discrimination, special education discrimination, sexual abuse and serious injury cases in both state and federal trial and appellate courts.
Profile Summary
About Domenico D. Spinelli at a glance
Domenico D. Spinelli is an Of Counsel based in Sacramento, California, practicing at Spinelli | Donald | Nott. They have 39+ years of legal experience, licensed to practice since 1987. Their practice focuses on personal injury, employment, business, real estate, and product liability. Admitted to practice in California United States District Court, Eastern District of California United States District Court (1987). Educated at University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law (J.D., 1987) and University of California at Davis (B.A. Political, 1981). Recognitions include AV Preeminent. Active member of The State Bar of California Association of Defense Counsel of Northern California Sacramento County Bar Association American Bar Association. Serands clients in Sacramento, CA and the surrounding metropolitan area.
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About
- Domenic Spinelli has been practicing in the litigation field representing public entities for 32 years
- Domenic’s current practice emphasizes complex civil litigation in the areas of defending public entities, largely school districts, specifically involving civil rights, Title IX, employment discrimination, special education discrimination, sexual abuse and serious injury cases in both state and federal trial and appellate courts
- Domenic is very well versed in the Government Claims Act
- Domenic’s practice areas have resulted in many successful motions for summary judgment for his clients, trials and appellate victories over the years
- Domenic also assists clients in avoidance of claims and litigation and has been a presenter on multiple topics at various risk management conferences over the years
- Representative Matters • Saenz v
- Whitewater Voyages, Inc. (1990) 226 Cal.App.3d 758
- Ferrari v
- Grand Canyon Dories(1995) 32 Cal.App.4th 248
- cases involving waiver and assumption of the risk of severe whitewater rafting injuries. • Couch v
- San Juan Unified School District (1995) 33 Cal.App.4th 1491 – summary judgment granted in favor of district and personnel in action by former teacher alleging libel, invasion of privacy and infliction of emotional distress. • Rio Linda Unified School District v
- Superior Court (1997) 52 Cal.App.4th 732 – obtained writ of mandate granting summary judgment from Third District Court of Appeal in case alleging personal injury to special needs student due to dangerous condition of public property. • McMackins v
- Elk Grove Unified School District (ED Cal. 1998) 21 F.Supp 1201 – ADA, failure to accommodate and wrongful termination claims of former teacher defeated on summary judgment by establishing that plaintiff was not a qualified person under statutory scheme. • Knight v
- Hayward Unified School District (2005) 132 Cal.App.4th 121 – successful defense of school district’s employment benefits package that lacked medical coverage for in vitro fertilization
- In a case of first impression in California, the First District Court of Appeal agreed with the defense position that the group health benefit coverage for other forms of fertility treatment (which had failed in the case of the plaintiff) and that the coverage was the same for all participants, was not discriminatory for excluding IVF treatment. • Renda v
- Sacramento City Unified School District (Case No. C034629 – Third District Court of Appeals) – obtained summary judgment in favor of its client, the Sacramento City Unified School District, in a gender discrimination and retaliation claim brought under the Fair Employment and Housing Act
- The Third District Court of Appeal agreed with the trial cour\’s dismissal of plaintiff’s gender and sexual harassment claims because she failed to come forward with any admissible evidence to support her claims, she failed to comply with the statute of limitations and she could not establish a hostile work environment. • Ferrari v
- Grand Canyon Dories (1995) 32 Cal.App.4th 248 – represented the sponsor and conductor of a white water rafting trip that obtained summary judgment in the trial court by utilizing the primary assumption of risk defense
- The Third District Court of Appeal upheld the decision in favor of the clients by holding that the conduct of the sponsor did not increase the risks inherent in the white water rafting activity
- This case provided a substantial development in the primary assumption of the risk doctrine in the State of California. • Eaton v
- City of Grass Valley (Case No. 59522) – defended the City of Grass Valley in a case involving an alleged dangerous condition of public property
- The firm obtained a Motion for Summary Judgment in favor of the City in a case involving a line of sight issue and substantial personal injury to the plaintiff as a result of a motor vehicle accident at a corner
- The firm established a lack of causation between any condition for which the City was responsible and Plaintiffs substantial personal injury
- The ruling was upheld by the Third District Court of Appeal. • Yazel v
- Sacramento City Unified School District (2000) US App
- Lexis 33592 – represented the Sacramento City Unified School District and individual employees successfully in the District Court and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals by arguing that a plaintiff\’s discrimination claims until Title VII and FEHA failed to establish a prima facia case of discrimination, and wrong termination, in a reverse gender discrimination case. • In Lombardi vs Robinsons Taekwondo, Domenic Spinelli, representing the defendants, prevailed on a SJM based on the defense of Primary Assumption of the Risk
- Plaintiff, a candidate for black belt, suffered dental injuries while sparring with his instructor from a kick and sued the instructor and Robinsons
- Placer County superior court dismissed the action based on the PAR defense. • Sparks v
- City of Wheatland, et al. (Case No. C035782) – the Third District Court of Appeal affirmed the trial court’s order granting defendants’ demurrer in a case involving wrongful death and a police agency’s alleged failure to apprehend or prevent a drunk driver from operating a motor vehicle on public roads
- Affiliations and Engagements • Association of Defense Counsel, Northern California • Sacramento County Superior Court, Settlement, Judge pro tem • Placer County Superior Court, Settlement, Judge pro tem • El Dorado County Superior Court, Dispute Resolution Coordinator • Martindale-Hubbell “AV” Rated • Sacramento County Bar Association, member • Former liability claims representative and claims supervisor for a national insurance company (Aetna, 1981-1987)
Practice Areas Explained
Domenico D. Spinelli's Areas of Practice
Each practice area below reflects the types of cases Domenico D. Spinelli handles, with a brief overview of what that area of law covers.
Personal injury attorneys help accident victims recover compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and pain & suffering. Most work on contingency — no fee unless you win.
Domenico D. Spinelli is one of 264,852 personal injury attorneys indexed nationally. Browse personal injury attorneys in California →
Employment lawyers represent workers in wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment, wage & hour disputes, and severance negotiations.
Domenico D. Spinelli is one of 169,120 employment attorneys indexed nationally. Browse employment attorneys in California →
Business attorneys advise founders and growing companies on entity formation, contracts, financing, M&A, and dispute resolution.
Domenico D. Spinelli is one of 501,317 business attorneys indexed nationally. Browse business attorneys in California →
Real estate attorneys handle home purchases, sales, commercial transactions, title disputes, and landlord-tenant matters.
Domenico D. Spinelli is one of 316,149 real estate attorneys indexed nationally. Browse real estate attorneys in California →
Domenico D. Spinelli is one of 66,193 product liability attorneys indexed nationally. Browse product liability attorneys in California →
Jurisdictional Context
Why local counsel matters in California
Practicing law in California. Legal matters in California are governed by state-specific rules of civil and criminal procedure, statutes of limitations, and substantive law. Cases originating in Sacramento are typically filed in the local municipal court or the appropriate California state district court, depending on subject matter and amount in controversy. An attorney licensed in California brings working knowledge of local procedural deadlines, judicial practices in this andnue, and the substantive law that applies to cases brought here. Out-of-state attorneys generally cannot represent clients in California courts without local counsel or pro hac vice admission.
Looking for additional California attorneys? Browse all attorneys in Sacramento or all attorneys in California.
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