Douglas S.  Saelzter

Bio Español

After graduating from the University of California at Los Angeles, Mr.  Saeltzer attended the University of California at Hastings College of the Law.  While in law school he worked for both plaintiff personal injury firms, as well as a large Bay Area insurance defense firm.  In law school, Mr.  Saeltzer was appointed to the Constitutional Law Quarterly.  After graduating law school Mr.  Saeltzer accepted a direct commission into the United States Army Judge Advocate General Corps, and spent three years assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division prosecuting criminal cases ranging from minor drug offenses to arson, rape and attempted murder.  After one year as a trial counsel his Commander appointed him Senior Trial Counsel responsible for overseeing all other 82nd Airborne Division prosecutors.  Mr.  Saeltzer's military achievements include receiving the Meritorious Service Medal for his work as a prosecuting attorney.

In January 1998 Mr.  Saeltzer completed his military service and brought his extensive trial experience to Walkup, Melodia, Kelly & Schoenberger.  Mr.  Saeltzer represents clients in civil cases throughout California and in Federal District Courts.  Mr.  Saeltzer is currently an assistant professor at the University of California at Hastings College of the Law, where he teaches personal injury litigation.  He also serves on the faculty of the National Institute of Trial Advocacy and is a frequent lecturer for the Continuing Education of the Bar where he instructs other attorneys in trial strategies and techniques.  He is a member of the American Trial Lawyers Association, Consumer Attorneys of California and the San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association.

Mr.  Saeltzer recently achieved a confidential seven figure settlement in a fuel fed-fire case where a vehicle exploded causing severe second and third degree burns to an innocent bystander.  He was instrumental in obtaining a confidential seven figure settlement for a man electrocuted, and has worked on numerous residential fire cases involving inadequate smoke detectors, a furnace that exploded, and numerous other building code violations.  Mr.  Saeltzer also obtained a confidential six figure settlement against a product manufacturer for chemical burns suffered by a woman using a common household cleaning product who suffered full thickness burns to both knees.  His practice focuses on burn injury cases, product liability, wrongful death and catastrophic personal injury cases against government entities.  He remains dedicated to obtaining justice and fair compensation on behalf of all burn injury victims and their families.

Douglas S.  Saeltzer is rated "AV" (highest rating) by Martindale-Hubbell, the authoritative resource for information on the worldwide legal profession.