Frederick M. Heiser is Managing Shareholder of Klinedinst PC’s office in Orange County, California.

Mr. Heiser has extensive courtroom experience representing corporations, business owners, and individuals in high-exposure litigation cases against claims of wrongful death and catastrophic personal injury, including traumatic brain injuries, spinal injuries, and chronic pain.  Mr. Heiser is regularly called on by local businesses, national retailers, restaurants, and commercial transportation providers to protect their interests against high-stakes claims and meritless lawsuits.

Mr. Heiser’s keen ability to protect his clients has been recognized nationally by Super Lawyers and by Martindale-Hubbell, where he has achieved its highest AV®-Preeminent™ rating for legal distinction and ethical standards.  Handling every case with great personal attention, Mr. Heiser provides legal counsel that is tailored to meet the specific needs and priorities of each matter. His clients consistently rely on him to accurately gauge and limit any potential exposure, and to proactively maximize their potential for success. He has litigated hundreds of cases to completion and has successfully handled jury trials, dispositive motions, and mediations to achieve results for his clients inside and outside the courtroom.

In addition to litigation, Mr. Heiser is often a featured speaker at legal conferences across the country where he provides tactical advice to industry leaders on a broad range of topics, including case-winning insight on proven approaches to discovery and trial in personal injury cases.  Mr. Heiser has also served on various boards inside and outside of the legal profession, including the USLAW NETWORK and the Opera League of Los Angeles, a nonprofit organization that provides educational programs designed to build appreciation for opera and expand opera programming across Southern California. He is a former President of Washington and Lee University’s Los Angeles Alumni Chapter, and remains an active member of the Chapter in Los Angeles and Orange County.

Education

• Washington and Lee University School of Law (J.D., 2004)
• Washington and Lee University (B.S., magna cum laude, 2001)

Representative Matters

• Defended business client at trial in a premises liability case. The plaintiff refused to discuss settlement and insisted on going to trial. Mr. Heiser accurately assessed his client’s potential exposure and the plaintiff ultimately relinquished all of his claims against Mr. Heiser’s client in exchange for a waiver of costs after the jury returned a verdict below Mr. Heiser’s strategically set statutory 998 offer to compromise–which entitled Mr. Heiser’s client to recoup significant fees and expenses against the plaintiff.
• Represented Fortune 500 Company at trial in personal injury case. A mistrial was declared for opposing counsel’s misconduct. Interviews with the released jurors confirmed that Mr. Heiser’s client was doing very well in the trial. Plaintiff and his counsel agreed to dismiss the case in exchange for a waiver of costs and any sanctions.
• Defended a premises liability case on behalf of a prominent Los Angeles business and real estate owner. Plaintiff sought damages against Mr. Heiser’s client for injuries stemming from a slip and fall accident. Mr. Heiser obtained summary judgment after establishing his client’s lack of actual or constructive notice of a dangerous condition. The costs and expenses associated with trial were avoided.
• Represented client in premises liability case. Mediation highlighting the client’s lack of notice of a purported dangerous condition, along with pending summary-judgment motion detailing these arguments led to nominal settlement of case.
• Defended client in high-stakes personal injury case. Plaintiff lost his right eye after being hit by a Roman candle firework and sought significant recovery against Mr. Heiser’s client. Plaintiff quickly settled his case after Mr. Heiser filed a brief that established a total defense for his client.
• Successfully compelled arbitration in labor and employment case involving a former employee’s claims of sexual harassment, discrimination, and wrongful termination against corporate client. Ruling led to abrupt and favorable settlement.
• Defended high-profile personal trainer client and his gym against a plaintiff’s claim that she sustained various injuries in one of her training sessions. Mr. Heiser’s summary-judgment motion, based on plaintiff’s primary assumption of risk and execution of a liability release, led to a swift, nominal settlement and eliminated the client’s potential exposure in the earlier stage of litigation.