About Mr. Dudensing

As the founder and lead counsel at Dudensing Law, Edward P. Dudensing specializes in representing plaintiffs in elder abuse cases, with a particular focus on neglect and abuse that takes place in skilled nursing facilities, assisted living facilities, acute hospitals, home health agencies, and hospice agencies. He is widely recognized as one of the nation’s most successful and knowledgeable elder abuse attorneys.

Based in California, Mr. Dudensing serves clients across the state, including Sacramento, the San Francisco Bay Area, Central California, Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, and San Diego.

His ability to navigate the intricacies of elder law and his relentless pursuit of justice have solidified his standing as a leader in the field. During his 23+ year career dedicated to compassionately representing victims of elder abuse and their families, Mr. Dudensing has successfully brought cases against some of California’s largest assisted living facilities, nursing homes, and healthcare conglomerates, securing well over $250+ million in recoveries on behalf of his clients.

He has achieved multiple significant elder abuse jury verdicts, including a $29.1 million verdict in 2010, a $42.5 million verdict in 2019, and a $30.9 million verdict in 2023. In March 2026, a Sacramento County jury awarded $110 million against Colony Capital, the publicly traded Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT), and Formation Capital, a private equity investment firm that oversaw Greenhaven Estates. The verdict is the largest elder abuse verdict against an assisted living facility in United States history. The case involved Mildred Hernandez, a 100-year-old woman with Alzheimer’s dementia who wandered from the facility in the middle of the night and died of hypothermia.

Also in 2026, Dudensing Law (lead counsel Matt Chisholm) secured a $15.75 million jury verdict in a case involving a senior named Ruby Evans who suffered severe neglect at Windsor Vallejo Care Center and developed pressure sores as a result.

Additionally, Mr. Dudensing has served as lead counsel in appellate cases that have established significant legal precedents in elder law. This includes Valentine v. Plum Healthcare Group, 37 Cal. App. 5th 1076 (2019), Hutcheson v. Eskaton Fountainwood Lodge, 17 Cal. App. 5th 937 (2017), and Goldman v. Sunbridge Healthcare, 220 Cal. App. 4th 1160 (2013).

In 2025, Mr. Dudensing was named to the Consumer Attorneys of California (CAOC) Board of Directors, where he is helping shape policy, guide advocacy efforts, and advance CAOC’s mission to protect the rights of consumers and vulnerable communities.

Mr. Dudensing is the sole author of The Rutter Group’s Elder Abuse Litigation treatise. The “Rutter Group” is the most widely relied upon secondary source for guidance on legal matters by judges and practitioners alike.

He is also a frequent speaker at the American Association for Justice Nursing Home Litigation Group, Consumer Attorneys of California, and California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform (CANHR), the state’s largest nursing home advocacy organization.

He is an adjunct professor at the UC Law San Francisco (formerly Hastings), where he teaches law students about elder abuse litigation.

As a member of the National Consumer Voice for Long-Term Care, CANHR, CAOC, the American Association of Justice’s Nursing Home Litigation Group, the San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association, the Capitol City Trial Lawyers Association, and the State Bar of California, Mr. Dudensing is actively engaged in the legal and advocacy communities.

His legal expertise extends beyond the courtroom, where he has earned a reputation for his tenacious advocacy and has a deep understanding of the complexities surrounding elder abuse cases. Mr. Dudensing is a vocal advocate for policy reform and better enforcement of elder care regulations. His expertise has also made him a trusted source for state and national media, including The New York Times, The Hill, The Los Angeles Times, The Sacramento Bee, The Mercury News, ABC7 San Francisco, CalMatters, Healthcare Dive, Fierce Healthcare, Daily Journal, where his commentary and op-eds have helped elevate public understanding of long-term care accountability and the consequences of deregulation. He frequently publishes blogs for attorneys and clients on his website, ensuring consistent and valuable information reaches the legal community and those seeking answers for family members.

In recognition of his work, Mr. Dudensing has been selected as a Super Lawyer from 2011 to 2026. In 2026, he was individually ranked Band 3 in the Litigation: Mainly Plaintiffs category for California by the USA Chambers Guide, and the firm was ranked Band 3 in the Litigation: Mainly Plaintiffs category for California in 2025 and 2026. Also, in 2026, he has been named an “Attorney of the Year” Finalist for Law.com’s 2026 California Legal Awards, named to Lawdragon’s 2026 500 Leading Lawyers in America guide, and named to Lawdragon’s 2026 100 Managing Partners You Need to Know guide. In 2025, he was selected as a Top 100 Lawyer by the Daily Journal, received the William F. Taylor Memorial Award from the California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform, received the Mentorship Award from the Law.com/ALM California Legal Awards, was named a finalist for SFGate’s Best Attorneys and Best Personal Injury Attorney in the Bay Area, and was a named a finalist for “Sacramento’s Favorites” by The Sacramento Bee. Dudensing Law was recognized with several prestigious awards in 2024, including being named among the Top Boutique Law Firms by the Daily Journal, acknowledged as Top Lawyers in Sacramento by Sactown Magazine, and honored with the Distinguished Leader Award by The Recorder and Law.com. In 2023, he was awarded Advocate of the Year by the Capital City Trial Attorneys.

After graduating from law school and passing the bar in 1994, Mr. Dudensing clerked for the Honorable Robert C. Broomfield, Chief Judge of the Federal District Court in Arizona, for two years. From 1996 to 1999, he was a litigation associate at the international law firm Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe. From 1999 to 2003, Mr. Dudensing was a Deputy District Attorney in Sacramento County. In that role, Mr. Dudensing first-chaired more than 50 trials to verdict. As a prosecutor, Mr. Dudensing tried cases of murder, attempted murder, rape, child molestation, and gang crimes, among many others. He also handled financial elder abuse cases, which sparked his passion for advocating for this vulnerable population.

At the University of California, Berkeley, Mr. Dudensing earned his undergraduate degree in political science, then attended law school at the University of California, Davis School of Law. At UC Davis School of Law, Mr. Dudensing graduated in the top 3% of his class and was inducted into the Order of the Coif for academic excellence. Mr. Dudensing also served as the Executive Editor of the UC Davis Law Review. Mr. Dudensing was also elected to the Order of the Barrister for his skills in oral advocacy, which included his membership on the law school’s traveling mock trial team. Following graduation, Mr. Dudensing coached the UC Davis traveling mock trial teams for many years.

Education

• University of California Davis School of Law, Juris Doctorate
• University of California, Berkeley, Bachelor of Arts, Political Science

Bar and Court Admissions

• California

Practice Areas

• Elder Law
• Health Care Law

Honors and Awards

• Morton Friedman Humanitarian Award for passion as a trial lawyer in service to the community, Capitol City Trial Lawyers Association (CCTLA), 2026
• Ed Dudensing: Litigation: Mainly Plaintiffs (Band 3) in California, USA Chambers Guide, 2026
• Dudensing Law: Litigation: Mainly Plaintiffs (Band 3) in California, USA Chambers Guide, 2025-2026
• Attorney of the Year Finalist, Law.com California Legal Awards, 2026
• 100 Managing Partners You Need to Know, Lawdragon, 2026
• 500 Leading Lawyers in America, Lawdragon, 2026
• Northern California, Super Lawyers, 2011-2012, 2014-2026
• William F. Taylor Memorial Award, for lifetime achievement in the field of elder abuse, California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform, 2025
• Top 100 Lawyers, Daily Journal, 2025
• California Legal Awards 2025 Mentorship Award Winner, ALM/Law.com, 2025
• Best Attorney and Best Personal Injury Attorney in the Bay Area Finalist, SFGate, 2025
• “Sacramento’s Favorites” Finalist, The Sacramento Bee, 2025
• Top Boutique Law Firms, Daily Journal, 2024
• Top Lawyers in Sacramento, Sactown Magazine, 2024
• Distinguished Leader Award, The Recorder, Law.com, 2024
• Advocate of the Year, Capitol City Trial Lawyers Association, 2023
• Order of the Barrister for Excellence in Oral Advocacy, University of California Davis Law School
• Order of Coif for Academic Excellence, University of California Davis Law School

Professional Affiliations

• Board of Directors, Consumer Attorneys of California
• Member, California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform (CANHR)
• Member, American Association of Justice Nursing Home Litigation Group
• Member, The National Consumer Voice for Long-Term Care
• Member, San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association
• Member, Sacramento Trial Lawyers Association
• Adjunct Professor, UC Law San Francisco

Published Works and Professional Teaching

• The Rutter Group Civil Litigation Series, Author, Elder Abuse Litigation, 2024-present
• The University of California College of the Law, San Francisco (formerly Hastings), Adjunct Professor, 2023-present
• The University of California Davis Law Review, Executive Editor

Notable Lawsuits

• Hernandez v. Colony Capital, Inc., et al.: Jury verdict of $110 million, 2026
• Evans v. Windsor Vallejo Care Center, LLC: Jury verdict of $15.75 million, 2026
• Sam Rios, Jr., et al. v. Pine Creek Care Center, Plum Healthcare Group LLC, et al.: Jury verdict of $30.9 million, 2023
• Barbara Lovenstein, et al. v. Eskaton Fountainwood Lodge, et al.: Jury verdict of $42.5 million, largest elder abuse verdict against an assisted living facility in the history of Sacramento County, 2019
• Family and Estate of Frances Tanner v. Horizon West Healthcare, Inc. and Colonial Healthcare, Inc.: Jury verdict of $29.1 million, the largest nursing home verdict in the history of Sacramento County., 2010

Lead Appellate Counsel Work

• Valentine v. Plum Healthcare Group, LLC, 37 Cal. App. 5th 1076 (2019)
• Goldman v. Sunbridge Healthcare, LLC, 220 Cal. App. 4th 1160 (2013)
• Hutcheson v. Eskaton Fountainwood Lodge, 17 Cal. App. 5th 937 (2017)

In the Media

• Attorney of the Year Finalist: Ed Dudensing, Dudensing Law – Law.com/The Recorder – 2026-06-23 
• Ensign: The Nursing Home Empire Built on Fatal Neglect – Hunterbrook Media – 2026-06-08
• Real estate investors are buying up long-term care facilities. Residents can suffer – NPR – 2026-04-19
• Why loosening sedative rules in nursing homes would put vulnerable patients at serious risk – The Daily Journal – 2026-04-13
• Inside A $110 million Verdict: Private Equity, Assisted Living, and the Hidden Risk for Rehab, Risking Old Age in America by Harry Margolis (podcast) – 2026-03-23
• Asset manager, private equity firm must pay $110M in assisted living wrongful death judgment – McKnights Senior Living – 2026-03-09
• Family awarded $110M after dementia patient died outside Sacramento care home – The Sacramento Bee – 2026-03-06
• Litigator of the Week Runners-Up and Shout-Outs – Law.com – 2026-03-06
• Jury Delivers $110M Verdict Over Death of 100-Year-Old Resident at Sacramento Facility– Law.com/The Recorder – 2026-03-06

• Jury awards $110M in death of 100-year-old at Sacramento assisted living facility – ABC10 – 2026-03-05
• Former owners of Sacramento senior living facility Greenhaven Estates hit with $110M verdict – Sacramento Business Journal – 2026-03-05
• Family awarded $110M following death of 100-year-old grandmother left wandering outside her senior care facility – California Post – 2026-03-04
• Jury hits private equity, REIT owners with $110 M verdict in assisted living death – Daily Journal – 2026-03-04
• How I Founded a Law Firm: ‘Take Your Time to Build Foundational Skills,’ Says Edward Dudensing of Dudensing Law – Law.com – 2026-01-30
• Familia demanda hogar de ancianos por negligencia mortal – Univision Sacramento – 2026-1-20

• The promise and peril of private equity – McKnights – 2025-12-16
• Elder abuse attorney: PE, REITs driving decline in SNF quality – McKnights – 2025-12-16
• He built a nursing home empire despite state investigations. Now, lawsuits are piling up – CalMatters – 2025-11-20
• Preparing for C-TAPP Phase 2: What California lawyers need to know – Daily Journal – 2025-10-09
• Fall River fire fuels calls for federal assisted living legislation – The Hill – 2025-07-17
• Biden administration’s nursing home staffing requirements vacated by federal judge – Fierce Healthcare – 2025-04-08
• Top prosecutor joins Dudensing Law in Sacramento, expanding elder abuse team – Daily Journal – 2025-03-20
• Dr. Oz questioned over Medicaid cuts, promises Medicare Advantage scrutiny – Fierce Healthcare – 2025-03-13
• Elder care during the Trump administration: what’s at stake (op-ed) – Daily Journal – 2025-02-18
• Top Lawyers 2024 – Sactown Magazine – 2024-11-1
• Top Boutiques 2024 – The Daily Journal – 2024-10-30
• Meet the Winners of the 2024 California Legal Awards –The Recorder – 2024-10-16
• Why litigation is necessary to hold private equity accountable for elder abuse (op-ed) – Daily Journal – 2024-09-19
• Elder Abuse Law Firm Comes to LA – LA Business Journal – 2024-09-09
• Elder abuse specialist Dudensing Law expands to Los Angeles – Daily Journal – Doug Saunder – 2024-09-05
• Local rehab center facing lawsuit over woman’s death (print edition) – Lodi News-Sentinel – Wes Bowers – 2024-08-24
• The Senate can protect the elderly by supporting nursing home staffing regulations – not overturning them (op-ed) – Healthcare Dive – 2024-07-29
• Oakland man dies from ‘reckless overmedication’ after escaping from nursing home, complaint alleges – ABC San Francisco – Stephanie Sierra – 2024-07-26
• Nursing home ‘drugged up’ 64-year-old so he couldn’t wander, CA suit says. He died – The Sacramento Bee, et. al.- Julia Marnin – 2024-07-11
• As some nursing homes cry poverty, what can be done about increased staffing requirements? – LA Times – Steve Lopez – 2024-04-28
• California needs to take ‘walkaway deaths’ and senior care oversight more seriously (op-ed) – CalMatters – 2024-03-25
• Oakland nursing home faces lawsuit alleging rape, neglect and fraud after ‘hiding problems’ – ABC San Francisco – Stephanie Sierra – 2024-03-12
• Roseville’s Pine Creek Care Center ordered to pay $30.9 million in wrongful death, elder neglect suit – Sacramento Business Journal – Emily Hamman – 2024-01-27
• Keys to a $30M, $29.1M, and $42.5M Elder Care Verdict w/ Ed Dudensing – Lawyer Minds – The Jury Thinks What? Podcast – 2023-09-01
• Securing Pre-Death Pain and Suffering in Elder Abuse Cases – The Current State of the Law (analysis) – California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform – Fall 2023
• He stayed at a Northern California nursing home then died. Why jury awarded huge verdict – Sacramento Bee – Sam Stanton – 2023-01-25
• Over 350 COVID-19 deaths expose California assisted-living homes (op-ed) – Mercury News – 2020-06-17
• Newsom: I have a responsibility to do better – CalMatters – Emily Hoeven – 2020-04-06
• The eldercare industrial complex: favoring corporations over care (op-ed) – American Society on Aging – 2020-03
• California is Facing an Elder Abuse Crisis (op-ed) – Fizz Law – No date
• California hospices face lax oversight and few rules. The sick and dying pay the price – Sacramento Bee – Elaine Chen – 2019-08-28
• Many view assisted living as just housing, not health care. That’s dangerous (op-ed) – Sacramento Bee – Ed Dudensing & Anthony Chicotel – 2019-08-21
• Eskaton prepares to challenge $42.5 million wrongful death verdict – Sacramento Business Journal – Felicia Alvarez – 2019-05-02
• Elder care giant’s CEO on $42.5 million verdict in elder abuse lawsuit: ‘Eskaton will survive’ – Sacramento Bee – Sam Stanton – 2019-04-26
• Best of the Bar honorees: Here’s the fifth group – Sacramento Business Journal – 2017-09-12
• Part 2: Who owns California’s nursing homes? – Sacramento Bee – Marjie Lundstrom & Phillip Reese – 2014-11-12
• Falsified patient records are untold story of California nursing home care – Sacramento Bee – Marjie Lundstrom – 2014-10-08
• Medicare Star Ratings Allow Nursing Homes to Game the System – New York Times – Katie Thomas – 2014-08-14
• $29 million verdict upheld against Rocklin nursing home firm (archived) – Sacramento Bee – Cynthia Hubert – 2010-07-14
• Jury orders Auburn nursing home company to pay $28 million in death (archived) – Sacramento Bee – Cynthia Hubert – 2010-05-14
• Jury awards $29.1 million in nursing home death – Associated Press – 2010-05-13
• Auburn nursing home again under scrutiny in civil trial over death (archived) – Sacramento Bee – Cynthia Hubert – 2010-05-12
• Feds grade nursing homes; New Rating System Called One Tool in Selecting a Facility (archived) – Sacramento Bee – Bobby Caina Calvan – 2008-12-19
• CPS investigation: Abuse case overwhelmed novice social worker (archived) – Sacramento Bee – Marjie Lundstrom – 2008-06-22
• CPS investigation: Despite changes, abused kids still die in Sacramento County system (archived) – Sacramento Bee – Marjie Lundstrom – 2008-06-22
• KB Home suit back on track; Appellate court sends it back for trial (archived) – Monterrey County Herald – Sukhjit Purewal – 2006-09-21
• Former CDF firefighter faces trial in arson case (archived) – Sacramento Bee – Peter Hecht – 2002-03-14
• Sacramento property manager sentenced in hate crime case (archived) – Associated Press – 2001-06-09

Speaking Engagements

• American Association of Justice (AAJ) – “Proving Punitive Damages in Your Elder Abuse Cases” – 2026-07-25 
• CANHR – “Financials 101 for Elder Abuse Lawyers” – 2026-06-30 
• NHLG – “Commanding The Courtroom: Persuasion Techniques That Win” – 2026-03-20
• CANHR Annual Conference – “Elder Abuse Litigation: Updates/Stuff You Should Know” – 2025-11-21
• CAOC Annual Conference – “Corporate Liability: Four models of long-term care ownership, what to know about them, and how to attack them” – 2025-11-14
• Consumer Voice Annual Conference (50 Year) – “Efforts to avoid liability: Strategies for assessing corporate structure and financial viability” – 2025-11-5
• CANHR Conclave – “Hidden Games And Scary Pitfalls” – 2025-03-06
• CANHR Conclave – “CC 3345 & Punitive Damage Denominator Issues” – 2024-03-06
• CANHR Annual Conference – “Post-Mortem On Rios Trial” – 2023-11-17
• CANHR Annual Conference – “Limitations On Punitive Damages” – 2023-10-29
• Consumer Attorneys of California (CAOC) Annual Conference – “Securing Punitive Damages” – 2023-10-29
• Capitol City Trial Lawyers Association (CCTLA) – “Document Requests & Methods to Combat Defense Concealment Tactics” – 2023-08-16
• CANHR – “LRS Training Series” – 2022-03-25
• AAJ – “Champions of the Courtroom: Winning Techniques for Nursing Home Litigation Seminar” – 2019-10-25
• CAOC Annual Conference – “Getting DPH Violations Admitted” – 2020-10-25
• CANHR – “AB 1629 – Bad Deal, Bad Care” – 2019-10
• Justice.org – “Nursing Home Verdicts” – 2019-09-25
• American Association for Justice (AAJ) Nursing Home Litigation Group – “Post-Mortem on Tanner Trial” – 2014
• Debate Re Arbitration (Kim Stone as moderator)
• CAOC Annual Convention – “Effectively Using DPH Records to Prove Recklessness in Nursing Home Litigation” – 2012-11
• Kaiser, CAOC/ San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association (SFTLA) – “Choosing Between Arbitration & Trial, and Challenging Kaiser’s Arbitration Agreements” – 2011-09-19
• AAJ – “Litigating Nursing Home Cases Seminar: Proving Systemic Corporate Neglect” – 2010-09-24 to 2010-09-25

Experience

Matt Chisholm brings more than two decades of courtroom experience — and a lifelong commitment to justice — to Dudensing Law.

Before joining the firm, Matt spent 20 years as a Principal Attorney with the Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office, where he handled some of the county’s most serious criminal cases. Over the course of his career, he successfully took more than 70 jury trials to verdict, ranging from domestic violence to elder abuse, and 16 of which were homicide cases.

Matt’s deep trial experience, strategic approach, and relentless advocacy for victims earned him widespread recognition. In 2013, he received the Outstanding Victim Service Award for his work protecting vulnerable seniors in the Elder Abuse division. For the last seven years of his tenure with the District Attorney’s Office, Matt’s focus was prosecuting homicide cases — work that earned him the prestigious Prosecutor of the Year award in 2022. Matt was also featured on CBS’s 48 Hours for his extensive work on the Ray Wright abduction and murder case — the first successful “no body” homicide jury trial in Sacramento County in over 20 years.

This experience has also helped Matt excel beyond the courtroom, as shown through his active involvement in the legal community. Matt served on the Board and as President of the Sacramento County Attorneys Association from 2015-2025, where he led and settled the first labor action in Union history since 2006 and negotiated labor contracts on behalf of over 300 county lawyers. Additionally, he is a Barrister for the Anthony M. Kennedy American Inn of Court. Matt shared his expertise with others as an Adjunct Professor at the Sacramento Public Safety Training Center in the Los Rios Community College District, where he taught criminal law concepts to law enforcement cadets enrolled in the academy.

Matt received his law degree in 2005 from the McGeorge School of Law at the University of the Pacific and received his undergraduate degree at Cornell University.

Matt and his wife have three children together. Outside of work, Matt coaches youth basketball and enjoys participating in outdoor activities such as snow skiing and backpacking with his family.

Memberships

• Board Member and President, Sacramento County Attorney’s Association (2015 – 2025)
• Adjunct Professor, Sacramento Public Safety Training Center, Los Rios Community College District (2015 – 2025)
• Barrister, Anthony M. Kennedy American Inn of Court (2022 – Present)
• Cornell Student Responsibility Committee, Member (1996 – 1997)
• Sigma Nu Fraternity

Awards and Professional Engagement

• Sacramento Prosecutor of the Year (2022)
• Outstanding Victim Service Award (2013)

Education

• University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law – Juris Doctorate and Certificate in Trial Advocacy, 2005
• Cornell University – Bachelor of Science in Animal Science and Certificate in International Business, 1998

Matt in the News

• Who Took Our Dad? The Abduction of Ray Wright – CBS 48 Hours. 2.9.24
• Sacramento County lawyers pause strike in hope of new contract – Sacramento Bee. Sharon Bernstein. 9.6.24
• Sacramento County deputy DAs, public defenders strike over fair compensation – Courthouse News Service. Alan Riquelmy. 9.26.24
• The Plot: A years-long revenge gambit involving a meth dealer, a burglar and a member of the Aryan Brotherhood comes to light – Medium. Scott Thomas Anderson. 11.17.24

An aggressive litigator with a passion for protecting our elderly, Jay P. Renneisen has successfully handled scores of elder abuse and neglect cases, particularly against nursing homes and assisted living facilities, as well as numerous catastrophic personal injury and wrongful death claims.  Mr. Renneisen has obtained a multitude of seven figure results for his clients over the years and acted as trial co-counsel on the largest assisted living facility elder abuse verdict in the United States and the largest nursing home elder abuse verdict in the history of Sacramento County. 

Mr. Renneisen graduated magna cum laude from St. Mary’s College with an undergraduate degree in Business Administration and English in 1991 and he received his JD from the University of California Davis Law School in 1994. Thereafter, Mr. Renneisen started his legal career as an attorney with a premier San Francisco Bay Area litigation firm, Bowles & Verna, LLP, and continued with that firm for over seven years primarily representing Fortune 500 companies, local municipalities and large insurance companies. 

After leaving Bowles & Verna, Mr. Renneisen started his own practice in 2001 and soon found his passion in representing victims of elder abuse.  In 2004, he co-founded the Nursing Home & Elder Abuse Law Center (www.NoElderAbuse.com) where he developed a particular expertise in plaintiff’s nursing home and assisted living cases.  

Mr. Renneisen currently is a member of the Nursing Home Litigation Group of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America and the Elder Law Section of the Contra Costa County Bar Association. Mr. Renneisen has also previously served as a board member of multiple non-profits, including Contra Costa Senior Legal Services, which is a California State Bar funded non-profit organization that serves the legal needs of elderly persons.  From 2015 to the present, Mr. Renneisen has been recognized as a top-rated attorney as evaluated by other lawyers and published on www.SuperLawyers.com.

Experience

Stephanie Johnson is an attorney based in Central California who brings a decade of dedicated legal experience to Dudensing Law. Throughout her career, Stephanie has been committed to seeking justice for vulnerable individuals and their families, handling cases with skill, empathy, and determination.

Prior to joining Dudensing Law, Stephanie was a partner at Johnson Moore Trial Attorneys, where she focused on cases involving elder abuse, neglect, and violations of resident rights. Her comprehensive legal approach covers every stage of litigation, from initial investigation through resolution, whether by settlement or trial. Stephanie is known for her excellent communication skills, which help her connect with clients, opposing counsel, and members of the judiciary.

Stephanie’s passion for the law is reflected in her active role within the legal community. She is the Immediate Past President of the Ventura County Trial Lawyers Association, and has held leadership positions since 2018. She also served as a Board Member of the Ventura County Bar Association and has volunteered her legal services with the Legal Aid Foundation of Santa Barbara.

Stephanie earned her Juris Doctorate from Santa Barbara College of Law, where she was awarded the Witkin Highest Honors in Professional Responsibility. Stephanie takes pride in being a local attorney dedicated to serving her longtime community and delivering justice to those around her. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with an emphasis in International Relations from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and a Paralegal Certificate from the same institution.

In her free time, Stephanie enjoys traveling, watching sports, cooking, and spending time with her dog.

Memberships

• Member, State Bar of California
• President, Ventura County Trial Lawyers Association (2023 – 2024)
• Board Member, Ventura County Trial Lawyers Association (2018 – Present)
• Board Member, Ventura County Bar Association (2019 – 2023)
• Volunteer Attorney, Legal Aid Foundation of Santa Barbara (2014 – 2015)
• Board Member, Santa Barbara County Bar Foundation (2014 – 2015)
• Member, Santa Barbara County Bar Association, SB Women Lawyers (2014)
• Delta Theta Phi Law Fraternity

Awards and Professional Engagement

• Witkin Highest Honors in Professional Responsibility (2014)
• Santa Barbara Inns of Court Participant (2013)

Education

• Santa Barbara College of Law – Juris Doctorate, 2014
• University of California, Santa Barbara – Paralegal Certificate, 2010
• University of California, Santa Barbara – Bachelor of Arts, Political Science with an emphasis in International Relations, 2007

Connor James is an Associate Attorney at Dudensing Law, based out of the firm’s Sacramento office. His work includes supporting the firm’s trial teams through legal research, drafting complaints and motions, and aiding in all phases of trial preparation.

Connor earned his J.D. from UC Law San Francisco in 2025, where he developed an interest in elder abuse litigation while taking Elder Abuse Litigation, a course taught by Ed Dudensing. His curiosity and commitment to understanding the nuances of elder neglect law led to an invitation from Ed to interview and ultimately join the firm. During law school, Connor served as a Staff Editor for the UC Law Constitutional Quarterly Law Journal. In 2025, Connor passed the bar exam and was officially sworn in as an attorney.

Before joining Dudensing Law, Connor gained hands-on experience in complex plaintiff litigation while working for a Philadelphia-based injury firm. There, he assisted with large-scale product liability, medical malpractice, and mass tort cases, including work on national litigation involving the Roundup weed killer.

Connor is originally from Lake Elsinore, California, and he completed his undergraduate studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara.

Kari joined Dudensing Law in 2011 and brings more than three decades of high-level litigation and office management experience to the firm.

With deep expertise in civil procedure, calendaring and docketing, and the procedural rules governing all levels of court, Kari has handled every phase of case development—from intake through trial and post-trial motions. Her early work with renowned civil rights attorney Mark Merin instilled a deep-rooted sense of advocacy that continues to fuel her dedication to defending the rights of elders and their families with compassion and rigor.

Kari is a California Certified Legal Secretary (CCLS) and an active member of both NALS and Legal Secretaries, Inc. (LSI). Her leadership contributions include serving on the CCLS Certifying Board and holding multiple executive board roles—President, Vice President, Governor, and Secretary—within the Capitol City Legal Professionals Association, a former LSI chapter.

A strong believer in professional development, Kari maintains her certification through regular participation in legal education seminars, study groups, and industry events. The CCLS credential reflects proficiency in core areas of California legal practice including civil litigation, real estate, family law, probate and estate planning, and corporate law—as well as legal ethics, office administration, and effective communication.

Kari is known not just for her technical expertise, but also for her ability to build and lead high-performing teams. She plays an integral role in driving the operational efficiency of the firm and is committed to mentoring the next generation of legal professionals.

Margaret Mallough joined the Dudensing Law Team in March 2020. Margaret’s job at the firm is to assist in managing the cases, from opening new cases to being sure documents are correctly saved and reviewed, to filing documents with the court and assisting in trial preparation. She has been a litigation secretary for over 30 years, with the last 20 years related to nursing home litigation. Margaret is happy to be part of a great team doing good for our clients, and helping them during the process. In her free time, Margaret enjoys spending time with family, and loves camping and traveling.

Shane joined Dudensing Law in 2018.  He has over 15 years of experience as a litigation secretary and paralegal in federal, state and appellate courts.  After receiving his AA Degree in Paralegal Studies in 2004 from MTI College of Business and Technology, he has worked for both plaintiff and defense firms in all aspects of complex civil litigation matters including medical malpractice, elder abuse and general civil litigation fields.  Shane takes special pride in helping families who have been victims of elder abuse. 

Kai Hermann joined Dudensing Law in 2016, bringing more than 20 years of experience as a litigation paralegal. Based in Sacramento, Kai has worked for both plaintiff and defense firms, handling matters ranging from product liability to medical malpractice. He now focuses exclusively on advocating for victims of elder neglect and abuse, work he finds deeply meaningful, engaging, and rewarding.

At Dudensing Law, Kai leads the firm’s discovery practice. He manages written discovery from start to finish, drafting and responding to requests, preparing meet-and-confer letters, and drafting motions to compel when facilities fail to comply. He plays an active role in trial preparation, ensuring that discovery responses align with trial strategy to hold nursing homes and corporate operators accountable. Kai is also helping the firm integrate AI tools into discovery review to improve efficiency and accuracy.

One case that was especially powerful for Kai was a case against Eskaton Fountainwood Lodge, which achieved a jury verdict of $42.5 million, the largest elder abuse verdict against an assisted living facility in the history of Sacramento County. Kai took a hands-on role in the litigation and used the experience he gained as a foundation to mentor others at the firm.

Kai is a Sacramento native with a strong commitment to his community. He is a veteran of the U.S. Navy, served as a Parks Commissioner for Sacramento, and is a past President of the Land Park Pacific Little League. Outside the office, he enjoys coaching his daughter’s softball team, traveling, attending live shows, and golfing with colleagues and friends.

Mona joined Dudensing Law in July 2021. She has over 29 years of experience as a paralegal in legal practices ranging from Trust and Estate Planning to family law to plaintiff personal injury and insurance defense. At Dudensing Law, Mona is the first person a new client tells their story to, and she requests the necessary records to evaluate the case. Mona has worked in various types of legal firms from boutique, to Biglaw, to the legal department for the State of California, and was an adjunct professor at MTI College. However, the most rewarding legal practice has been assisting those harmed in skilled nursing facilities. Mona enjoys hiking, traveling, watching the Las Vegas Golden Knights and spending time with her grandchildren in person and video chats.