Atty. Robert J. Sullivan
Bob Sullivan is a senior litigator with significant trial and appellate experience. He focuses his practice on administrative, governmental, labor, and healthcare law.
Alternative Dispute Resolution & More Attorney · Serving Sacramento, CA · 59+ Years Experience
Profile Summary
About Robert J. Sullivan at a Glance
Robert J. Sullivan is an Of Counsel based in Sacramento, California, practicing at Rothschild Wishek And Sands Llp. They have 59+ years of legal experience, licensed to practice since 1967. Their practice focuses on ip, litigation, health care, and adr. Admitted to practice in California U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California (1967). Educated at University of California, Los Angeles School of Law (LL.B., 1966) and Stanford University (B.A., 1963). Recognitions include AV Preeminent. Serves clients in Sacramento, CA and the surrounding metropolitan area.
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About Robert J. Sullivan
- Bob Sullivan is a senior litigator with significant trial and appellate experience
- He focuses his practice on administrative, governmental, labor, and healthcare law
- He has represented clients before state and local government agencies since 1967, having tried approximately 300 contested adjudicatory hearings under the California Administrative Procedure Act
- Bob represents lawyers, real estate brokers, doctors, contractors, and engineers, as well as most other professionals who are regulated by the state
- He also counsels a variety of healthcare providers, including individual physicians, medical groups, ambulance companies, hospitals, and mental health clinics before state and federal agencies in the areas of malpractice suits, employment disputes, medical staff credentialing, licensing, and regulatory disputes
- He also is experienced as an arbitrator in healthcare law disputes
- Bob has been recognized by San Francisco magazine (2004 – 2017) as one of the Northern California “Super Lawyers” in healthcare and is also AV Preeminent® Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell
- Cases Skelly v
- California State Personnel Board
- As Chief Counsel of the California State Employees Association I represented Dr. Skelly in challenging the due process provisions of the State Civil Service Act
- The California Supreme Court ruled in favor of Dr. Skelly holding that state civil service employees were entitled to a pre-termination due process hearing and held that the post-termination hearing provisions of the Civil Service Act was an unconstitutional deprivation of due process
- Barber v
- State Personnel Board
- As a companion case of Skelly v
- State Personnel Board, the Supreme Court, following the Skelly decision, held that Mr. Barber was entitled to be paid until such time as he received a hearing on his appeal from termination of his employment
- Wood v
- Superior Court
- Board of Medical Quality Assurance issued administrative subpoenas for medical records pertaining to certain patients of two doctors who were suspected of prescribing medication under suspicious circumstances
- The doctors refused to comply and the board sought judicial enforcement of the subpoenas
- Court of Appeals granted a peremptory writ directing the trial court to set aside its judgments ordering compliance
- The court held that “good cause” must be demonstrated before government can compel disclosure of medical records
- Menefee & Son v
- Department of Food & Agriculture
- Growers brought action against the Department of Food and Agriculture challenging seizure of crops because of illegal application of poison
- Superior Court, Sacramento County entered judgment in favor of department, and growers appealed
- The Court of Appeal reversed the decision, holding that the seizure and the statute authorizing it were unconstitutional
- Armistead v
- California State Personnel Board
- Former civil service employee filed petition for writ of mandate, seeking to compel State Personnel Board to set aside his resignation
- Then Superior Court, Sacramento County dismissed petition, and employee appealed
- The Supreme Court reversed the decision
- This case defines underground regulations and its holding applies to all state agencies
- Antioch Park Medical Group v
- Dept. of Health Services
- Medical group successfully sued Department to invalidate an overpayment audit and finding of the department based solely on a statistical sample extrapolation
- The court found the use of such a statistical method is unreliable and unauthorized by California law
- The Department did not appeal and paid the plaintiff’s attorney fees and costs
- Vielehr v
- State Personnel Board
- Proceeding on petition for administrative mandamus to review decision of State Personnel Board discharging tax representative trainee in state Department of Human Resources Development
- Superior Court, Fresno County denied petition and petitioner appealed
- Court of Appeal held that petitioner’s conviction of possession of marijuana off the job, did not establish a sufficient probative nexus between the failure of good behavior of tax representative trainee in state Department of Human Resources Development and the finding of discredit to the agency or employment to justify disciplinary action
- The decision was reversed and remanded
- Professional Experience / Clients HealthCare Partners
- A diverse group of physicians whose purpose is to contract with HMOs to provide medical services to clients of the HMO on a capitation basis
- We do acquisitions, joint ventures, corporate structuring, employment issues, real estate leasing and litigation
- we are currently assisting in securing a “limited” Knox-Keene license
- Healthcare Professional Licensure
- Represented HMOs, hospitals, physicians, nurses and other healthcare professionals regarding professional licensing issues, e.g., application, suspension and revocation and reinstatement of licenses
- Plumbing Company
- Represented a large plumbing company in central California, which was accused of taking advantage of elderly customers in plumbing jobs and charging them outrageous fees
- The case received widespread publicity in both print and television
- The charges were resolved with a citation and fine after a lengthy settlement conference where it was demonstrated that the fees charged were standard in the industry for the work outlined and that there was no unnecessary work proposed by the contractor
- A citation and fine is not license discipline
- Electrical Contractor
- Successfully negotiated a settlement with the Contractors State License Board of California for a statewide emergency electrical contractor accused of fraudulent advertising and performing unnecessary work
- The company changed its advertising and its practices in how it performed job estimates and the company retained its license
- Pool Contractor
- Represented a large pool contractor whose business failed leaving numerous homeowners with dry holes
- The majority shareholders were unaware that the responsible managing employee of the company had looted it
- We convinced the District Attorney that our client had been a victim of embezzlement and felony criminal charges were filed against the responsible managing employee and his wife
- The corporate license of the pool company was surrendered, but other licenses of the majority shareholders, who were not involved in the management of the pool company, and whose companies operated distinctly separate from the pool company were preserved
- Speaking Engagements Speaker, “Admissibility of Evidence of Retaliation or Discrimination,” California Society of Healthcare Attorneys’ Hearing Officer Update Program, Sacramento, CA, 11.07.2019 Speaker, “Show and Tell Time for the MBC: The Use of Demonstrative Evidence in Obtaining Favorable Settlements and Winning Cases,” California Academy of Attorneys for Healthcare Professionals 2018 Fall Conference, Manhattan Beach, CA, 09.30.2018 Speaker, “Evidence in the Hearing,” California Society for Healthcare Attorneys 2010 Fall Seminar & Hearing Officer Program, San Francisco, CA, 11.13.2010 Speaker, “Medical Board of California Enforcement Process,” Northern California Physicians Council (NORCAP) Educational Forum, San Francisco, CA, 12.02.2006 Speaker, “Clinical Dilemmas from the View Points of a Clinician and a Defense Attorney,” California Medical Association (CMA) Pain Management Conference, Anaheim, CA, 12.01.2006 Speaker, “Representation of Physicians Before the Medical Board of California,” Association of Defense Counsel of Northern California and Nevada, 09.13.2006 Speaker, “California Medical Association and California Medical Association Foundation’s Pain Management Conference,” Physicians’ Rights & Responsibilities Under California Law, 09.08.2006 Honors & Recognitions AV Preeminent® Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell
- Selected to the Northern California Super Lawyers list, 2004-2018 Member California Society for Healthcare Attorneys
- California Academy of Attorneys for Health Care Professionals
- Sacramento County Bar Association
Practice Areas Explained
Robert J. Sullivan's Areas of Legal Practice
Each practice area below reflects the types of cases Robert J. Sullivan handles, with a practical overview of what that area of law involves and how it may apply to your situation in Sacramento.
Intellectual Property in Sacramento
IP attorneys protect inventions, brands, and creative work through patent prosecution, trademark registration, copyright, and trade-secret enforcement.
Robert J. Sullivan is one of 105,285 ip attorneys indexed nationally. Browse ip attorneys in California →
Civil Litigation in Sacramento
Civil litigation attorneys for breach of contract, business disputes, civil rights, and class action lawsuits.
Robert J. Sullivan is one of 450,750 litigation attorneys indexed nationally. Browse litigation attorneys in California →
Health Care Law in Sacramento
Health care attorneys for HIPAA, Medicare, Medicaid, regulatory compliance, and medical licensing matters.
Robert J. Sullivan is one of 66,157 health care attorneys indexed nationally. Browse health care attorneys in California →
Mediation & Arbitration in Sacramento
Mediators and arbitrators for civil, commercial, family, and employment dispute resolution.
Robert J. Sullivan is one of 73,315 adr attorneys indexed nationally. Browse adr attorneys in California →
Jurisdictional Context
Why Local Counsel Matters in Sacramento
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 venue, 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.
Sacramento Courts and Legal Process
Choosing a Sacramento-based attorney means your counsel already knows the local docketing timelines, preferred filing formats, and how individual judges typically rule on procedural motions — details that only come from practicing in this jurisdiction day after day. That local familiarity can translate to better strategy, faster filings, and fewer costly surprises.
Looking for additional California attorneys? Browse all attorneys in Sacramento or all attorneys in California.
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Professional Profile
Why Clients in Sacramento Choose Robert J. Sullivan
Selecting an attorney is one of the most consequential decisions you can make when a legal matter arises. Below are the core qualities that distinguish Robert J. Sullivan's practice in the field of ip, litigation, health care, and adr.
Decade-Tested Legal Experience
Robert J. Sullivan brings 59+ years of hands-on legal practice — enough to have navigated the recurring fact patterns, procedural traps, and negotiation dynamics that shape case outcomes.
Broad Practice Area Coverage
Covering ip, litigation, and health care, Robert J. Sullivan can address the full spectrum of a client's legal needs without requiring referrals to separate specialists for each issue.
Local Presence in Sacramento
A Sacramento-based practice means Robert J. Sullivan attends hearings in the same courthouses, knows the local clerks, and understands the unwritten scheduling norms that affect every case filed here.
Case Types
Common Legal Issues Robert J. Sullivan Handles in Sacramento
Below is a representative sample of the types of matters Robert J. Sullivan has experience with under California law. If your situation involves one of these case categories, this attorney may be well positioned to help you understand your options.
This list is illustrative, not exhaustive. Contact Robert J. Sullivan directly to discuss the specifics of your situation.
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How People Find Robert J. Sullivan Online
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Robert J. Sullivan's Practice Areas & Specializations
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