When your case is heard in trial court the judge or jury weighs the evidence presented, and assesses the credibility of witnesses. As the case reaches the appellate court, factual issues and witness credibility are usually no longer considered. With limited exception, the arguments that are made in the court of appeal, must also have been addressed in the trial court. The appeal focuses primarily on the law and its correct interpretation and application. For this reason, an appeal must make a compelling case that the trial court made an error of law and that the law is on your side.

It is important that trial counsel also be experienced in appellate litigation, and that your appellate lawyer has a full grasp of the legal issues involved.  Your appellate lawyer must comprehensively understand the law so thoroughly that he or she will be able to present new and subtle nuances within the law as clear and forceful arguments in your favor.

The attorneys at Kassouni Law also provide practical assistance in determining whether an appeal has merit, and the likelihood of success.  We take pride in providing clients with an objective analysis.  In some instances, the likelihood of success in overturning an adverse trial court judgment is minimal, and not worth the expense of an appeal.  In other instances the trial court made an obvious error of law which maximizes the likelihood of success in the court of appeal. 

At Kassouni Law we have a team of research attorneys with a thorough command of the law. Our appeal lawyers have extensive experience representing clients at all appellate court levels, and also have comprehensive trial court experience. If you or your business suffered an adverse trial court ruling, or received a favorable trial court ruling which you want to uphold on appeal, please consider calling us for a consultation. You can count on the appeal lawyers at Kassouni Law to listen to your legal concerns, give an honest assessment of your case’s legal merits, and deliver unparalleled personalized legal representation.  Initial evaluations can be provided for a flat fee.

Serving clients throughout the jurisdiction of California, the Federal Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the United States Supreme Court:

Results / Experience

Timothy Kassouni at Kassouni Law has extensive appellate experience including the following published opinions:

City of West Hollywood v. Beverly Towers, California Supreme Court [amicus curiae briefing and oral argument];

Long Beach Equities, Inc. v. County of Ventura, California Court of Appeal [amicus curiae briefing];

Golden Gate Water Ski Club v. County of Contra Costa, California Court of Appeal [lead counsel]

Leroy Land Development v. Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, Ninth Circuit Federal Court of Appeals [amicus curiae briefing and oral argument]

Lucas v. South Carolina Coastal Council [amicus curiae briefing before the South Carolina Supreme Court. The United States Supreme Court granted certiorari of this decision, which led to the landmark Fifth Amendment decision outlining the parameters of a categorical inverse condemnation taking].