KazanLaw: Helping Asbestos Victims Since 1974
Francis E. Fernandez Partner
Admitted
  • California Bar (1975)
Education
  • Boalt Hall  School of Law, University of California at Berkeley (J.D., 1975),
  • San Francisco State University (B.S., 1971.)
After graduating from law school I worked for several years as a labor lawyer for the California Agricultural Labor Relations Board, United Farm Workers of America, AFL-CIO, and the California Department of Occupational Health & Safety (Cal-OSHA.)

After that I represented the most powerless and unorganized segment of our community. For six years I represented criminal defendants in dozens of trials.

At the Firm I represent workers who are seriously ill as a result of exposure to asbestos and other toxins. I advocate for persons against powerful defendants who refuse to compensate our clients for injuring them. My labor, occupational health and safety experience, and trial skills help me obtain substantial recoveries for our clients.

One of the trial verdicts about which I am most proud involved an 80 year old widower who was diagnosed with mesothelioma. We were able to resolve his case before trial with all defendants except one. We did not have a strong, triable case against this defendant and offered to dismiss it in exchange for a waiver of costs. The company stubbornly refused our offer. I therefore tried the case, rallying together the best evidence that I could. The jury awarded my client damages of $905,000.

I am a member of the Hispanic National Bar Association, the American Association for Justice, the Alameda-Contra Costa Trial Lawyers Association, Consumer Attorneys of California, the San Francisco Bar Association, San Francisco La Raza Lawyers Association and the State Bar of California. From 1990 and 1994 I was a member of the Legal Services Trust Fund Commission of the California State Bar. I am admitted to practice in all federal courts in California.

In addition to my work at the Firm, I serve on the Board of a number of non-profit community organizations in the San Francisco Bay Area which help people who are having difficulty obtaining food, shelter, clothing and basic human rights.
Reported Cases
Reported cases:
1.  Ward v. Westinghouse Canada, Inc., 807 F.Supp. 91 (N.D.Cal., Sep 23, 1992) (NO.
C913242BAC)
2.  George Arakelian Farms, Inc. v. Agricultural Labor Relations Bd., 40 Cal.3d 654, 710 P.2d 288,
221 Cal.Rptr. 488 (Cal., Dec 30, 1985) (NO. L.A. 31894)
3.  Taylor v. Superior Court, 168 Cal.App.3d 1217, 215 Cal.Rptr. 73 (Cal.App. 1 Dist., Jun 07, 1985)
(NO. A029639)
4.  Lafline & Laflin v. Agricultural Labor Relations Bd., 166 Cal.App.3d 368, 212 Cal.Rptr. 415
(Cal.App. 4 Dist., Mar 28, 1985) (NO. CIVIL 20242, E001496)
5.  Karahadian Ranches, Inc. v. Agricultural Labor Relations Bd., 38 Cal.3d 1, 694 P.2d 770, 210
Cal.Rptr. 657 (Cal., Feb 11, 1985) (NO. L.A. 31885)
6.  Carian v. Agricultural Labor Relations Bd., 36 Cal.3d 654, 685 P.2d 701, 205 Cal.Rptr. 657 (Cal.,
Aug 27, 1984) (NO. L.A. 31828, L.A. 31829)
7.  McAnally Enterprises, Inc. v. Agricultural Labor Relations Bd., 152 Cal.App.3d 179, 199 Cal.Rptr.
397, Ordered Not Published, (Cal. Rules of Court, Rule 976),  (Cal.App. 4 Dist., Feb 22, 1984) (NO.
CIV. 19624)
8. Harry Carian Sales v. Agricultural Labor Relations Bd., 151 Cal.App.3d 197, 198 Cal.Rptr. 658
(Cal.App. 4 Dist., Jan 25, 1984) (NO. CIV. 25169)
9.  Karahadian Ranches, Inc. v. Agricultural Labor Relations Bd., 150 Cal.App.3d 720, 197 Cal.Rptr.
901 (Cal.App. 4 Dist., Jan 10, 1984) (NO. CIV. 21406)
10. George Arakelian Farms, Inc. v. Agricultural Labor Relations Bd., 150 Cal.App.3d 664, 198
Cal.Rptr. 194, 107 Lab.Cas.  P 55,827 (Cal.App. 4 Dist., Jan 09, 1984) (NO. CIV. 20469)
11. Triple E Produce Corp. v. Agricultural Labor Relations Bd., 35 Cal.3d 42, 671 P.2d 1260, 196
Cal.Rptr. 518, 118 Lab.Cas.  P 56,537 (Cal., Nov 21, 1983) (NO. S.F. 24414)
12. Rivcom Corp. v. Agricultural Labor Relations Bd., 34 Cal.3d 743, 670 P.2d 305, 195 Cal.Rptr.
651, 100 Lab.Cas.  P 55,458  (Cal., Oct 17, 1983) (NO. S.F. 24520)
13. Laflin & Laflin v. Agricultural Labor Relations Bd., 147 Cal.App.3d 1039, 195 Cal.Rptr. 711, 101
Lab.Cas.  P 55,470 (Cal.App. 4 Dist., Oct 12, 1983) (NO. CIV. 20242)
14. Carian v. Agricultural Labor Relations Bd., 145 Cal.App.3d 508, 193 Cal.Rptr. 434 (Cal.App. 4
Dist., Jul 27, 1983) (NO. CIV. 20243)
15. Tex-Cal Land Management, Inc. v. Agricultural Labor Relations Bd., 135 Cal.App.3d 906, 185
Cal.Rptr. 588 (Cal.App. 5 Dist., Sep 16, 1982) (NO. CIV. 6510)
16. Kaufman v. Court of Appeal, 31 Cal.3d 933, 647 P.2d 1081, 184 Cal.Rptr. 302 (Cal., Jul 19,
1982) (NO. L. A. 31421)
17. Agricultural Labor Relations Bd. v. California Coastal Farms, Inc., 31 Cal.3d 469, 645 P.2d 739,
183 Cal.Rptr. 231, 97 Lab.Cas.  P 55,391 (Cal., May 27, 1982) (NO. S.F. 24324)
18. Banales v. Municipal Court, 132 Cal.App.3d 67, 183 Cal.Rptr. 7 (Cal.App. 2 Dist., May 24, 1982)
(NO. CIV. 57554)
19. Triple E Produce Corp. v. Agricultural Labor Relations Bd., 127 Cal.App.3d 404, 179 Cal.Rptr.
565 (Cal.App. 3 Dist., Jan 04, 1982) (NO. CIV. 20008)
20. Highland Ranch v. Agricultural Labor Relations Bd., 29 Cal.3d 848, 633 P.2d 949, 176 Cal.Rptr.
753, 95 Lab.Cas.  P 55,372  (Cal., Sep 10, 1981) (NO. L.A. 31359)
21. San Clemente Ranch, Ltd. v. Agricultural Labor Relations Bd.,  29 Cal.3d 874, 633 P.2d 964,
176 Cal.Rptr. 768, 95 Lab.Cas.  P 55,373 (Cal., Sep 10, 1981) (NO. L.A. 31316)
22. Martori Brothers Distributors v. Agricultural Labor Relations Bd., 29 Cal.3d 721, 631 P.2d 60, 175
Cal.Rptr. 626, 95 Lab.Cas.  P 55,371 (Cal., Jul 27, 1981) (NO. L.A. 31310)
23. Eto v. Agricultural Labor Relations Bd., 122 Cal.App.3d 41, 175 Cal.Rptr. 792, Ordered Not
Published, (Cal. Rules of Court, Rule 976), (Cal.App. 5 Dist., Jul 27, 1981) (NO. CIV. 5658)
24. Montebello Rose Co. v. Agricultural Labor Relations Bd., 119 Cal.App.3d 1, 173 Cal.Rptr. 856
(Cal.App. 5 Dist., May 12, 1981) (NO. 2 CIV. 5266)
25. Agricultural Labor Relations Bd. v. California Coastal Farms, Inc., 117 Cal.App.3d 971, 173
Cal.Rptr. 215  (Cal.App. 1 Dist., Apr 14, 1981) (NO. CIV. 47320)
26. California Coastal Farms, Inc. v. Doctoroff, 117 Cal.App.3d 156, 172 Cal.Rptr. 552 (Cal.App. 4
Dist., Mar 20, 1981) (NO. CIV. 22607)
27. Vista Verde Farms v. Agricultural Labor Relations Bd., 29 Cal.3d 307, 625 P.2d 263, 172
Cal.Rptr. 720, 93 Lab.Cas. P 55,338 (Cal., Mar 20, 1981) (NO. S.F. 24098)
28. Andrews v. Agricultural Labor Relations Bd., 28 Cal.3d 781, 623 P.2d 151, 171 Cal.Rptr. 590, 93
Lab.Cas.  P 55,331 (Cal., Jan 29, 1981) (NO. L.A. 31237)
29. M. B. Zaninovich, Inc. v. Agrigultural Labor Relations Bd., 114 Cal.App.3d 665, 171 Cal.Rptr. 55,
94 Lab.Cas.  P 55,344 (Cal.App. 5 Dist., Jan 15, 1981) (NO. CIV. 4472)
30. Jasmine Vineyards, Inc. v. Agricultural Labor Relations Bd., 113 Cal.App.3d 968, 170 Cal.Rptr.
510, 94 Lab.Cas.  P 55,345 (Cal.App. 5 Dist., Dec 22, 1980) (NO. CIV. 3670)
31. Merrill Farms v. Agricultural Labor Relations Bd., 113 Cal.App.3d 176, 169 Cal.Rptr. 774, 94
Lab.Cas.  P 55,346 (Cal.App. 1 Dist., Dec 12, 1980) (NO. CIV. 48018)
32. George Arakelian Farms, Inc. v. Agricultural Labor Relations Bd., 111 Cal.App.3d 258, 168
Cal.Rptr. 537 (Cal.App. 4 Dist., Oct 21, 1980) (NO. CIV. 21097)
33. San Clemente Ranch, Ltd. v. Agricultural Labor Relations Bd., 107 Cal.App.3d 632, 166
Cal.Rptr. 375 (Cal.App. 2 Dist., Jun 27, 1980) (NO. CIV. 57298, CIV. 57728)
34. Abatti Farms, Inc. v. Agricultural Labor Relations Bd., 107 Cal.App.3d 317, 165 Cal.Rptr. 887
(Cal.App. 4 Dist., Jun 24, 1980) (NO. CIV. 18961)
35. Kawano, Inc. v. Agricultural Labor Relations Bd., 106 Cal.App.3d 937, 165 Cal.Rptr. 492
(Cal.App. 4 Dist., Jun 12, 1980) (NO. CIV. 18732)
36. Mario Saikhon, Inc. v. United Farm Workers of America, AFL CIO, 104 Cal.App.3d 1, 163
Cal.Rptr. 488 (Cal.App. 4 Dist., Mar 31, 1980) (NO. CIV. 18874)
37. Dan Tudor & Sons v. Agricultural Labor Relations Bd., 102 Cal.App.3d 805, 163 Cal.Rptr. 152,
Ordered Not Published, (Cal. Rules of Court, Rule 976),  (Cal.App. 5 Dist., Feb 26, 1980) (NO. CIV.
3669)
38. Royal Packing Co. v. Agricultural Labor Relations Bd., 101 Cal.App.3d 826, 161 Cal.Rptr. 870,
90 Lab.Cas.  P 55,279 (Cal.App. 4 Dist., Feb 04, 1980) (NO. CIV. 18956)
39. Andrews v. Agricultural Labor Relations Bd., 101 Cal.App.3d 395, 102 Cal.App.3d 668, 161
Cal.Rptr. 617, 88 Lab.Cas.  P 55,252 (Cal.App. 2 Dist., Jan 24, 1980) (NO. CIV. 51483)
40. Dan Tudor & Sons v. Agricultural Labor Relations Bd., 100 Cal.App.3d 621, 161 Cal.Rptr. 124,
89 Lab.Cas.  P 55,276 (Cal.App. 5 Dist., Dec 31, 1979) (NO. CIV. 3669)
41. Pandol & Sons v. Agricultural Labor Relations Bd., 98 Cal.App.3d 580, 159 Cal.Rptr. 584, 88
Lab.Cas.  P 55,259 (Cal.App. 5 Dist., Nov 09, 1979) (NO. 5 CIV. 3446)
42. Vista Verde Farms v. Agricultural Labor Relations Bd., 96 Cal.App.3d 658, 158 Cal.Rptr. 20, 88
Lab.Cas.  P 55,253 (Cal.App. 3 Dist., Aug 15, 1979) (NO. CIV. 17464).
Francis E. Fernandez



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