Douglas S. Saelzter

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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. He represents clients in civil cases throughout California and in Federal District Courts. Mr. Saeltzer is currently an assistant professor on the faculty 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. He has also been invited to lecture for the Continuing Education of the State Bar of California in law and motion practice, and the annual review of recent developments in personal injury law. His areas of practice include a variety of serious injury and death cases in the fields of vehicular negligence, products liability, construction site injuries, elder abuse, medical negligence and government liability. He is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates, American Association for Justice, Consumer Attorneys of California and the San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association. He has also been voted as one of The Best Lawyers in America by his peers, as well as a Northern California Super Lawyer.

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.