SUMMARY
Sydney Elizabeth Price is a trial attorney in the firm’s San Diego office. Ms. Price’s practice focuses on complex civil litigation, public entity liability, legal and professional malpractice, general business litigation, insurance defense, and professional liability matters. Ms. Price’s professional liability practice includes representation of architects, engineers, and other professionals.
Ms. Price has established a strong track record in law and motion practice throughout California’s state and federal courts. Her recent successes include obtaining judgment on a motion to dismiss for lack of personal jurisdiction in federal court, successfully arguing multiple motions for judgment on the pleadings and demurrers in complex AB 218 childhood sexual abuse cases, and securing favorable outcomes through strategic motion practice in professional malpractice disputes.
Ms. Price received her Juris Doctor and Master of Dispute Resolution from Pepperdine University in 2021 and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and History from the University of Colorado Boulder in 2018. While in law school, Ms. Price participated in International Moot Court competition in London and earned a certificate from the Palmer Center for Entrepreneurship in Intellectual Property, Entertainment & Technology. She is admitted to practice in California and Colorado and maintains federal court admissions in both the Central and Northern Districts of California.
EXPERIENCE
Judgment in Motion to Dismiss for Lack of Personal Jurisdiction in Federal Court: Ms. Price represented attorneys from the Netherlands in an insurance defense matter involving parallel litigation. The Court dismissed the claims against Defendants without prejudice and entered judgment against Plaintiff. Ms. Price handled the matter through the appeals period, wherein Plaintiff never filed an amended Complaint.
First Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings in AB 218 Matter: Ms. Price represented a public entity defending against civil rights claims arising from alleged sexual abuse at a juvenile detention facility in 1975 and 1978. Ms. Price successfully obtained judgment on the pleadings without leave to amend on negligence claims and with leave to amend on Section 1983 and Monell claims.
Second Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings in AB 218 Matter: In the same matter as above, following Plaintiffs’ amendments, Ms. Price successfully obtained a second judgment on the pleadings without leave to amend as to Section 1983 and Monell claims, arguing that the claim accrued at the time of injury rather than upon Plaintiffs’ 2022 discovery of the governmental entity’s alleged customs and policies. The Court agreed, and the matter was dismissed in its entirety.
Motion to Compel Arbitration in Legal Malpractice Matter: Ms. Price represented a family law firm and its principal attorney in a legal malpractice action brought by a self-represented Plaintiff. Ms. Price successfully moved to compel binding arbitration, overcoming challenges based on alleged waiver, rescission, and unconscionability, with the Court staying the action pending completion of arbitration. Plaintiff’s subsequent petition for writ of mandate to the Fourth Appellate District, Division 3, was denied within two weeks of filing. Ms. Price continues successfully defended against Plaintiff’s Motion to Vacate Order Compelling Arbitration, resulting in the Court denying Plaintiff’s Motion to Vacate Order Compelling Arbitration. Ms. Price will continue to successfully defend against further motions brought by Plaintiff.
Demurrer and Motion to Strike in AB 218 Matter: Ms. Price represented a public entity defending against claims of direct and vicarious liability for sexual abuse allegedly occurring after the County placed Plaintiff with her foster father. Ms. Price successfully sustained a demurrer to Plaintiff’s direct liability theory and obtained an order striking portions of the Complaint.
Motion to Compel Deposition and Settlement in AB 218 Matter: In the same matter as above, Ms. Price obtained a court order compelling Plaintiff’s deposition and mandatory sanctions against Plaintiff and her counsel after Plaintiff failed to appear for two properly noticed depositions. Ms. Price leveraged the sanctions order and imminent compelled deposition to negotiate a dismissal with prejudice and a full waiver of costs and fees while expressly preserving the sanctions award. The matter was resolved on favorable terms.
Settlement in Legal Malpractice Dispute: Ms. Price represented a family law attorney in a legal malpractice action. Ms. Price handled the matter until the parties reached an amicable settlement, resulting in Plaintiff filing a request for dismissal of the entire action with prejudice.
Settlement in Attorney Fee Dispute: Ms. Price represented a family law firm in a legal malpractice action. Ms. Price handled the matter until the parties reached an amicable settlement, resulting in the release of all claims against the firm related to the dispute before Plaintiff formally filed suit.
Demurrer and Motion to Strike in Architectural Services Dispute: Ms. Price represents Defendants, an architectural firm and its principals, defending against multiple causes of action arising from an alleged commercial rooftop renovation dispute. Ms. Price successfully sustained demurrers without leave to amend as to two of the causes of action and obtained orders striking improper joint and several liability allegations with leave to amend at present. Ms. Price continues to defend Defendants against the remaining claims through Plaintiffs’ future submitted amended Complaints.
Settlement on Eve of Trial in Architectural Services Dispute: Ms. Price represented Defendants, an architecture firm and its principals, against contractual disputes and professional negligence allegations arising from an alleged residential construction delay. Ms. Price prepared the matter through the eve of trial, including jury instructions, a special verdict form, motions in limine, expert witness designations, and deposition preparation. The matter was amicably settled just before the final status conference and the case has since been dismissed with prejudice.