Missy M. Cornejo - San Jose, CA

Missy joined the firm in 2016 and was elected shareholder in 2021. She has experience in all aspects of civil litigation, including case evaluation, pleadings, legal research and analysis, motion practice, discovery preparation, alternative dispute resolution, and trial. She has represented a sweeping array of clients, including individuals, business entities, commercial developers, real estate buyers and sellers, real estate brokers and agents and commercial landlords and tenants.

Missy grew up in Cupertino and is a Bay Area native. She completed her B.S. in political science at Santa Clara University in 2008, then graduated from SCU’s School of Law in 2011.

Notable Litigation

ASNM, LLC, et al. v. Jane Sun, et al. (Santa Clara County Case No. 19CV360605)

Missy served as counsel in a suit brought on behalf of Plaintiffs who were commercial tenants at a property owned by Defendant landlords. Plaintiffs’ claims were for breach of lease and intentional interference with prospective economic advantage, arising out of Defendants’ unreasonable refusal and delay in consenting to certain subleases. The jury found unanimously in favor of our clients after the 2.5 week trial, awarding them damages of $2,664,000 after less than three hours of deliberation. The jury also awarded punitive damages of $9,000,000 after less than forty minutes of deliberation.

Jewell v. Phillipps, et al. (Santa Cruz County Case No. 21CV00986)

Missy represented two homeowners in Boulder Creek against neighboring property owners who had sued our clients for breach of an easement agreement for ingress and egress over the neighboring property. Our clients maintained a cross-claim for harassment, elder abuse, invasion of privacy, and assault. After a five-day jury trial, the jury found in favor of our clients, awarding them damages of $165,000 for pure emotional distress, and also made a finding that our clients were entitled to punitive damages. Before the bifurcated punitive damages phase began, the parties settled on confidential terms.

Liu v. Wong, et al. (Santa Clara County Case No. 20CV367132)

Missy represented a borrower in a complicated claim of usury law violations against a private lender. The defense claimed that the subject loan was made or arranged by a licensed real estate broker as an exemption to usury. This defense was rejected by the judge and our client prevailed after a one week bench trial.