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Peter J. Van Zandt

Partner

Peter J. Van Zandt, a partner of the firm, has built a stellar reputation as a versatile, sophisticated trial lawyer. He has tried more than 60 civil cases over a career spanning three decades. His practice focuses primarily on defending products and general liability lawsuits, as well as consumer financial lending matters. Leading insurers and corporations call upon him to defend commercial business disputes, catastrophic personal injury and death cases, earth subsidence, construction defect  and complex adjoining property owner disputes. Mr. Van Zandt also has a depth of experience defending consumer warranty, products liability, aviation, trucking, RV, bus and automobile litigation.

Mr. Van Zandt also defends the financial services industry faced with aggressive consumer class and individual actions involving claims arising under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), Federal Fair Debt Collection Act (FDCPA), the California Rosenthal Act, the Rees-Levering Act, the California Homeowners Bill of Rights (HBOR) and claims under California Business and Professions Code 17200 (UCL). He also has experience representing companies faced with consumer claims under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) related to the use of automatic dialing devices and claims related to the recording of consumer telephone calls (PC 632).

  • Education

    • PAMI Institute, University of Hawaii Manoa, Completed Program in Asian Business and Finance, 1982
    • Pitzer College, Claremont, CA, B.A. in Political Studies, 1985
    • San Francisco School of Law, J.D., 1990

  • Admissions

    • State Bar of California
    • United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
    • United States District Court for the Northern District of California
    • United States District Court for the Southern District of California
    • United States District Court for the Central District of California
    • United States District Court for the Eastern District of California

  • Affiliations

    • American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA)
    • Association of Defense Counsel
    • Mortgage Banker’s Association
    • American Bar Association: Member Litigation Section
    • San Francisco Superior Court: Temporary Judge Program
    • Bar Association of San Francisco
    • Los Angeles County Bar Association

  • Representative Cases

    Souch v. Redwood Credit Union- Sonoma County Superior Court (2023)

    Alleged violations of California Homeowners Bill of Rights.  Obtained judgement in favor of defendant.

    Bowser v. Ford Motor Company- Riverside Superior Court (2019)

    Song-Beverly Act warranty, fraud and CLRA claims.  Obtained favorable verdict for defendant after 21 day jury trial.

    Benny v. Mercedes Benz USA- Los Angeles Superior Court (2018)

    Song-Beverly warranty claim.  Obtained favorable verdict for defendant following 7 day jury trial.

    Dias v. PNC Bank- Sacramento Superior Court (2016)

    Wrongful foreclosure claim against national bank.  Obtained defense verdict following 10 day jury trial.

    Affinity Dental Products v. Liverite- Contra Costa Superior Court (2011)

    Breach of Contract and Lanham Act claims arising from sales of nutritional supplements.  Case dismissed following 17 days of jury trial following favorable evidentiary ruling.

    Digital Signage v. Norwegian Cruise Lines- San Francisco Superior Court (2008)

    Delay damages claim for repair of cruise ship, obtained a defense verdict on cross complaint in favor of client after 17 day jury trial.

    Doe v. Zaret- Marin Superior Court (2006)

    Alleged molestation of minor by adult, obtained defense verdict for defendant accused of enabling the alleged molestation after 28 day jury trial.

    Published Decisions

    Monterossa v. Superior Court (2015) 237 Cal. App. 4th 747

    Determined when attorney’s fees are available when seeking an injunction against a trustee’s sale.

    Ernie Altman, et al. v. PNC Mortgage; Rushmore Loan Management, et al. 850 F.Supp.2d 1057 (2012)

    Motion to Dismiss granted in favor of a mortgage servicer for failure to state a claim on a wrongful foreclosure action.

    Solomon v. Onyx Acceptance Corp. 222 F.R.D. 418 (2004)

    Court found counsel’s actions in continuing to prosecute an FDCPA action post-Rule 68 offer were unreasonable and thus awarding counsel only pre-offer attorney’s fees.

     

     

  • Speaking Engagements

    • Preparation and Defense of PMK/PMQ and 30(b)(6) Corporate Witnesses” Association of Defense Counsel of Northern California and Nevada, Basic Training Series, September 22, 2020.
    • “Upcoming Changes to CA and NV Homeowner Bill of Rights, Sunsetting and Changing Provisions for 2018” ACI 29th Annual Forum on Consumer Class Actions and Litigation, Chicago IL, July 24-25, 2017.
    • “Examining Key State Nuances and Developments in Hotbed Jurisdictions such as California, Florida, New York, Illinois, Texas and Nevada” ACI’s 14th National Forum on Residential Mortgage Litigation & Regulatory Enforcement, Washington D.C., April 24-25, 2014.
    • “A Focus on Trials: Aggressively Defending Consumer Finance Cases, Stemming the Tide of Litigation and Empowering Lenders to go Back into the Courtroom” Post-Conference Master Class on Trial Strategy, ACI’s 16th National Conference on Consumer Finance Class Actions and Litigation, Chicago IL, July 30, 2013.

  • Recognitions

    • Presidential Appointment to United States Selective Service Board, 2013-Present
    • Recognized by Law and Politics magazine as a Northern California Super Lawyer in Civil Litigation Defense, 2013-2023
    • One of America’s Top 100 Civil Litigators, Northern California