James R. Donahue

James R. Donahue is Of Counsel to Dreyer, Babich, Buccola, Wood, Campora LLP, bringing more than four decades of civil litigation and trial experience to the representation of injured individuals and their families. His background encompasses personal injury, motor vehicle and premises liability matters, professional liability, insurance coverage, and complex business and construction disputes.

Jim spent much of his career representing defendants, including individuals, businesses, and professional practices in civil litigation. That experience developed a practical understanding of how defendants and insurance companies evaluate claims, develop defenses, and approach settlement and trial. He brings that perspective to his work on behalf of injured clients, helping identify disputed issues and anticipate the challenges a case may present.

In 1984, Jim co-founded Caulfield, Davies & Donahue, the firm that later became Donahue Davies LLP, where he served as managing partner. His practice included an extensive range of liability and coverage matters, including professional liability claims involving attorneys, accountants, and real estate professionals. He has also served as an arbitrator and mediator in Sacramento, Solano, and El Dorado Counties and as a settlement conference judge pro tem in Sacramento and El Dorado Counties.

Jim earned his Bachelor of Science from Saint Mary's College of California in 1979 and his Juris Doctor from the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law in 1982. He went on to earn a Master of Laws in Taxation from McGeorge in 1984, adding a financial perspective to his work in professional liability and commercial disputes.

A member of the American Board of Trial Advocates since 1999, Jim is also AV Preeminent® peer-review rated by Martindale-Hubbell®. He has presented seminars on liability claims handling, professional risk management, and developments in case law. His experience in litigation and dispute resolution informs his work with the firm in pursuing compensation for people whose lives have been affected by serious injuries.

Jim has taken more than 40 cases to jury verdict throughout 13 different counties in Northern California. and has handled dozens of Court trials and binding Arbitrations over the past several decades.

Areas Of Practice

• Personal injury litigation
• Automobile, motorcycle, and trucking accident litigation
• Premises liability
• Professional liability
• Insurance coverage and related litigation
• Complex civil litigation

Professional Associations and Service

• American Board of Trial Advocates, Member since 1999
• State Bar of California, Member
• State Bar of Nevada, Member
• Northern California Association of Defense Counsel, Former Board Member
• Ongoing service as an arbitrator, mediator, and settlement conference judge pro tem

Education

• University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law LL.M. in Taxation, 1984
  Juris Doctor, 1982
• Saint Mary's College of California
  B.S. in Accounting, 1979

Bar Admissions

• California, 1982
• Nevada, 2018
• U.S. District Courts for the Northern, Eastern, and Central Districts of California
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit