| 2004 VOTE Devaney carries insider baggage in city attorney fight San Diego Union Tribune By Greg Moran October 8, 2004 In 1992, after seven years of working her way through the San Diego City Attorney's Office, Leslie Devaney decided it was time for a change. To the shock of some of her colleagues, she took a job as a senior litigator for insurance giant American Insurance Group. Four years later, following a lunch with the new city attorney, Casey Gwinn, Devaney concluded it was time for a change. She returned to the office she had left, this time to be Gwinn's top assistant. Now, eight years after that lunch, Devaney is attempting one more change: moving up from No. 2 in the office to the top slot... But in a year when City Hall has been rocked by revelations about its debt-ridden pension fund and federal investigations into financial disclosure practices, Devaney is faced with an unusual challenge... But at the same time, she has to fend off attacks from her opponent, Mike Aguirre, a securities lawyer in private practice, that she is part of the City Hall culture that is responsible for the city's current predicament. "Devaney's biggest problem is she is too associated with the Gwinn faction," said Carl Luna, a political science professor at Mesa College. "With all this bad news coming down, it makes everyone in City Hall look bad." Education: Bachelor's degree in political science from the University of California San Diego; law degree from the University of San Diego. Experience: Executive assistant city attorney (on unpaid leave for campaign); former deputy city attorney; senior litigator for American Insurance Group. Personal: Married to Frank Devaney; two daughters, Kaitlin, 16, and Brenna, 14... She is endorsed by Gwinn and a list of other organizations – such as the Lincoln Club, a Republican business group, and the association representing state deputy attorneys general. Devaney has raised $314,881 in cash for her campaign, including a personal loan of $31,000. Devaney, whose husband, Frank, is also a lawyer in the City Attorney's Office, said she left the office in 1992 in large part because she felt she was being shut out of the bigger, more interesting cases. She had begun working there in 1985, concentrating on cases of alleged police excessive force and dangerous road conditions... Recruited by AIG to establish a corporate office here, she jumped at the chance. "It was a whole new world," she said. "There is a whole other mentality in private practice – the work ethic, other things. You always have to be constantly learning." But after four years, she got a call from Gwinn asking her to lunch. He was about to succeed John Witt as city attorney and wanted to discuss ideas he had for the office, she said. At the end of the lunch, Gwinn offered her the job as second in command. "I thought it would be a great challenge," she said of her decision to return. "And as the second in charge, I could help shape it into what I thought the office could become." ...Devaney bristles at Aguirre's efforts to hold her responsible for a series of ills – from the pension debacle to the Chargers' ticket guarantee and the $100 million verdict against the city in the Roque de la Fuente II case. The huge verdict came in a suit where de la Fuente said the actions of city officials devalued an Otay Mesa business park he developed. She tells audiences she expects Aguirre to next blame her for global warming. But the task of touting her experience in the office while trying to distance herself from the office's controversial actions is tricky. "She is trying hard to present herself as a capable administrator," Luna said. "The problem is, that does not gibe with things not going very well lately."... If she is elected, her husband would leave the City Attorney's Office to avoid potential conflicts of interest, Devaney said. She and her husband have two teenage daughters... |
167.230.38.115
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Stutz, Artiano Shinoff & Holtz partner Leslie Devaney, during 1992-99, worked for the San
Diego office of NY-based “American International Group” insurance company which was
represented by the law firm Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard and Smith.
“In 1992, Devaney left the city attorney’s office to become the senior litigator for New York-
based American International Group, a high-risk insurer, which was establishing a staff counsel
office in San Diego. She assisted in managing the San Diego office, and was responsible for
litigating about 75 cases.”
Judge Joan Lewis (then Joan Danielsen), until late 1998 was a partner at San Diego office of
Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith. It is also a question whether Joan Lewis (her maiden name)
is related to Robert Lewis, one of the firm's founders.
“No stranger to multi-million dollar litigation, attorney Robert Lewis represents professionals in
claims against them for professional liability. American International Group of Companies
(AIG), National Union Fire Insurance Company of Pittsburgh and the City of Los Angeles have
trusted him to help sort out their legal woes. Insurance coverage, securities litigation and legal
malpractice are all within Lewis' specialty. — Lawdragon, March 2006 “
Mark Thomas Brisebois now has his office inside the offices of Stutz, Artiano Shinoff & Holtz:
Law Ofc Mark T Brisebois
2488 Historic Decatur Rd #200
San Diego, CA 92106
Undergraduate School San Jose State Univ
Law School Univ of San Diego SOL
12/3/1982 Admitted to The State Bar of California
Diego office of NY-based “American International Group” insurance company which was
represented by the law firm Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard and Smith.
“In 1992, Devaney left the city attorney’s office to become the senior litigator for New York-
based American International Group, a high-risk insurer, which was establishing a staff counsel
office in San Diego. She assisted in managing the San Diego office, and was responsible for
litigating about 75 cases.”
Judge Joan Lewis (then Joan Danielsen), until late 1998 was a partner at San Diego office of
Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith. It is also a question whether Joan Lewis (her maiden name)
is related to Robert Lewis, one of the firm's founders.
“No stranger to multi-million dollar litigation, attorney Robert Lewis represents professionals in
claims against them for professional liability. American International Group of Companies
(AIG), National Union Fire Insurance Company of Pittsburgh and the City of Los Angeles have
trusted him to help sort out their legal woes. Insurance coverage, securities litigation and legal
malpractice are all within Lewis' specialty. — Lawdragon, March 2006 “
Mark Thomas Brisebois now has his office inside the offices of Stutz, Artiano Shinoff & Holtz:
Law Ofc Mark T Brisebois
2488 Historic Decatur Rd #200
San Diego, CA 92106
Undergraduate School San Jose State Univ
Law School Univ of San Diego SOL
12/3/1982 Admitted to The State Bar of California