Courtney L. Baird
Associate
Duane Morris LLP
Suite 2900
750 B Street
San Diego, CA 92101-4681
USA
Phone: +1 619 744 2285
Fax: +1 619 923 3115
Email:
CLBaird@duanemorris.com
Las Vegas Address
Duane Morris LLP
100 North City Parkway, Suite 1560
Las Vegas, NV 89106-4617
Phone: 702.868.2600
Fax: 702.385.6862
Courtney L. Baird focuses her practice on general commercial and complex litigation. Ms. Baird has extensive experience representing clients before state and federal courts, in arbitration hearings and mediations. She is licensed to practice in California and Nevada. Ms. Baird was recently recognized as one of the Best Young Attorneys in San Diego County.
Ms. Baird has successfully represented and counseled clients in a wide variety of legal matters including products liability, class actions, contract disputes, consumer claims, unfair business practices, tort claims, banking, corporate and partnership governance, and other complex litigation matters. Her experience, as well as her ability to effectively manage cases, has led to her representation of businesses across a broad variety of industries.
Ms. Baird graduated from the University of San Diego School of Law in 2004 with Honors. While in law school, Ms. Baird received the Best Oral and Written Advocate Combined Award, served as an editor of the San Diego International Law Journal and participated in legal clinics in which she provided free legal services to San Diego residents in need. She was also appointed and served as an Academic Support Leader for first-year law students in the area of Federal Civil Procedure, which included instructing weekly classes on Federal Civil Procedure. Prior to law school, Ms. Baird worked for the San Diego County District Attorney's office.
Ms. Baird is active in several community organizations, including Lawyer's Club, Inns of Court, Association of Business Trial Lawyers and the San Diego County Bar Association. Ms. Baird is dedicated to providing pro bono legal services for those in need and regularly participates in continuing legal education programs. She completed the San Diego Inn of Court Trial Practice Program and served as a judge for the University of San Diego Law School's Mock Trial Competitions.
Representative Matters
- Defended manufacturer of welding rods in complex products liability and toxic tort litigation involving allegations of negligence, strict liability, failure to warn, design defect and fraudulent concealment. Obtained settlement that client found favorable and dismissal of action with prejudice through the filing of a motion for summary judgment on the issue of general causation.
- Represented scientific clinical-development services corporation in action arising out of clinical drug trials involving causes of action for breach of contract, common counts, unjust enrichment and conversion. Negotiated settlement that client found favorable and dismissal of action.
- Defended private institution in class action by consumers, involving causes of action for fraud, unfair business practices, violation of California's Consumer Legal Remedies Act and breach of contract. Defeated class certification by demonstrating that individual issues predominated over common issues and that the class mechanism was not superior to individual claims.
- Obtained dismissal, with prejudice, of an action brought against a bank by a former customer who alleged that the bank violated the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, the Fair Credit Reporting Act, and California debt-collection and credit-reporting laws by refusing to stop an automated clearing house debit, reporting her account to a collection agency and not notifying the collection agency that the account was in dispute.
- Defended healthcare organization in federal court action brought by former employee alleging wrongful termination. Obtained dismissal of the action through a motion to dismiss by demonstrating that the statute of limitations barred all of plaintiff's claims.
- Represented corporation in complex shareholders' dispute action in federal court involving claims and counterclaims for breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, securities fraud and fraud. Negotiated settlement that client found favorable and dismissal of the action.
Professional Activities
- American Inns of Court
- American Bar Association
- San Diego County Bar Association
- Association of Business Trial Lawyers
- Lawyers Club
Admissions
- California
- Nevada
- U.S. District Courts for the Northern, Central, Eastern, and Southern Districts of California
Education
- University of San Diego School of Law, J.D., with Honors, 2004
- San Diego State University, B.A., with Distinctions, 2000
Experience
- Duane Morris LLP
- Associate, 2006-present - Cozen O'Connor
- Associate, 2004-2006
Selected Publications
- Co-author, "Class Action Waivers Declared Enforceable by the U.S. Supreme Court," Duane Morris Alert, April 29, 2011
