Enter legal issue and location
Vincent David Slavens - San Diego, CA
8880 Rio San Diego Drive8th floor San Diego, CA 92108
Benink & Slavens, LLP
San Diego Customer/Stockbroker FINRA Arbitration Lawyer
Overview
Mr. Slavens is a litigation attorney practicing in the areas of municipal, securities, business/contracts, and consumer litigation. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Corporate Finance from San Diego State University in 1994 and graduated with honors (magna cum laude) from California Western School of Law in 2001. Prior to law school, he worked as an investment broker for several of years. Mr. Slavens was a member of the California Western School of Law, Law Review. After passing the California Bar in 2001, he joined Krause & Kalfayan as an associate attorney and has put his securities experience to use in securities litigation, including arbitration matters with the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD), now FINRA. In 2005, he became a partner in the firm, which was renamed Krause Kalfayan Benink & Slavens, LLP. In 2019, the firm name was renamed to Benink & Slavens, LLP.
Over the past several years, Mr. Slavens has successfully represented investors, businesses, ratepayers and consumers in a variety of matters ranging from individual actions to complex class actions. He successfully defended individuals and corporations against multi-million dollar claims involving complex issues. Through his creative litigation and trial tactics, Mr. Slavens has participated in the recovery of tens of millions of dollars for the benefit of his clients and class members. He has extensive experience litigating individual and class actions in federal and state court, and arbitrating claims before AAA, FINRA and other arbitration forums. In addition, he is an experienced appellate advocate. Some of Mr. Slavens’ successes include obtaining a jury verdict exonerating his clients of all liability in a complex multimillion dollar case alleging fraud and negligence. After a 25-day jury trial and four days of deliberations, the jury returned a unanimous verdict in favor of Mr. Slavens’ clients. He further represented his clients in their successful defense of the verdict on appeal.
Mr. Slavens has acted as counsel in securities class actions such as Glea F. Bobbs v. Southern Pacific Equities, LLC, involving a multi-million Ponzi scheme. He also handled an arbitration on behalf of nearly 20 investors in Larner, et al v. Wedbush Morgan Securities, et al (alleging misrepresentations and violation of securities laws). He has also represented ratepayers and taxpayers in cases alleging illegal utility fees and taxes imposed by local government in violation of Proposition 218 and Proposition 26.
About Vincent David Slavens
Current Employment Position(s)
- Partner
Languages
- English
Practice Areas
- Customer/Stockbroker FINRA Arbitration 30%
- Customer/ Investment Advisor Disputes 30%
- Shareholder litigation- Class Actions/ Derivative Actions 20%
- Consumer Fraud Actions 10%
- General Commercial and Public Entity Litigation 10%
- Corporate Governance
- Directors' & Officers' Liability
- Shareholders' Rights
- Arbitration
- Mediation
- Deceptive Trade Practices
- Unfair Competition
- Wage & Hour Laws--Employee
- Complex Litigation
- Federal Appellate Practice
- Federal Trial Practice
- Multidistrict Litigation
- State Appellate Practice
- State Trial Practice
- US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
- Other Professionals Malpractice
- Securities Fraud & Insider Trading
- Municipal Liability
- State Government
- Medical Products & Devices
- Recreational Products
Litigation
- 100%
Representative Cases
- Hobbs, et al. v. Modesto, Stanislaus Superior Court Case No. 2019186 (appointed co-lead counsel in class action alleging illegal taxes disguised as electric rates)
- Mahon, et al. v. City of San Diego, San Diego Superior Court Case No. 37-2015-00014540 (appointed co-lead counsel in class action alleging illegal taxes disguised as electric franchise fees)
- Eck v. City of Los Angeles, Los Angeles Superior Court, Case No. BC557082 (appointed co-lead counsel in class action securing $52 million in electric ratepayer refunds and $243 million in injunctive relief)
- Rooney v. City of Pasadena, Los Angeles Superior Court Case No. BS145352 (alleging transfer of utility revenue to City’s general fund in violation of Proposition 218 (settled restoring $7.2 million)
- Spencer v. City of Burbank, Los Angeles Superior Court Case No. BS145021 (alleging transfer of utility revenue to City’s general fund in violation of Proposition 218 (settled restoring $1.5 million)
- Wilson v. City of Anaheim, Orange County Superior Court Case No. 30-2012-00614517 (alleging transfer of utility revenue to City’s general fund in violation of Proposition 218 (settled restoring $3 million)
- Palmer v. City of Anaheim, Orange County Superior Court Case No. 30-2017-00938646 (alleging City’s electric utility rates impose a tax in violation of Proposition 26)
- Green v. City of Palo Alto, Santa Clara County Superior Court Case No. 16CV300760 (appointed co-lead counsel in case alleging City’s electric utility rates impose a tax in violation of Proposition 26)
- Wyatt v. City of Sacramento, Sacramento County Superior Court Case No. 16CV300760 (obtain judgment that City’s utility rates are invalid and its transfer of funds from its utility funds to its general fund violates Proposition 218; City is appealing)
- Komesar v. City of Pasadena, Los Angeles Superior Court Case No. BC677632 (alleging City’s electric utility rates impose a tax in violation of Proposition 26)
- Pearson v. Rodeo Hercules Fire Protection Dist., Contra Costa Superior Court Case No. MSN14-1137 (challenged legality of fire assessments - settled)
Qualifications
Bar Admissions
- California, 2001
- U.S. District Court Southern District of California
- U.S. District Court Central District of California
- U.S. District Court Northern District of California
- U.S. Court of Appeals 9th Circuit
Other Affiliations
- San Diego County Bar Association, 2001 - 2011 (Member)
- Consumer Attorneys of San Diego (Member)
- Public Investors Arbitration Bar Association (PIABA), 2005 - 2011 (Member)
Classes and Seminars
- Presenter- Securities Law, USD School of Law, 2010 - Present
- Tenants in Common (TIC) The Crossroads Between Real Estate and Securities Law, San Diego County Bar Association, 2010 - Present
Pro Bono Activities
- Volunteer Lawyers Program of San Diego
Past Positions
- Krause Kalfayan Benink & Slavens, LLP, Partner, 2005 - 2019
- Krause & Kalfayan, Associate Attorney, 2001 - 2005
Education
- California Western School of Law, San Diego, California, 2001
J.D.
Honors: magna cum laude
Law Review: California Western School of Law, 2000 - 2001 - San Diego State University, San Diego, California, 1994
B.S.
Major: Corporate Finance
Articles
Published Works
- "They Heard It Through The Grapevine", Trial Bar News
Office Information
Address
8880 Rio San Diego Drive8th floor San Diego, CA 92108
Phone
Fax
- 619-369-5253
When viewing a listing, consider the state advertising restrictions to which lawyers and law firms must adhere, as well as our FindLaw.com Legal Directory disclaimer. Some lawyers publish comparative information regarding the services that they provide which may be subject to specific comparative communications restrictions.
Write Your Review
Fields marked with an * are required
Map Location
How do I choose a lawyer?
Consider the following:
- Comfort Level
- - Are you comfortable telling the lawyer personal information? Does the lawyer seem interested in solving your problem?
- Credentials
- - How long has the lawyer been in practice? Has the lawyer worked on other cases similar to yours?
- Cost
- - How are the lawyer's fees structured - hourly or flat fee? Can the lawyer estimate the cost of your case?
- City
- - Is the lawyer's office conveniently located?
Not sure what questions to ask a lawyer?
Here are a few to get you started:
- How long have you been in practice?
- How many cases like mine have you handled?
- How often do you settle cases out of court?
- What are your fees and costs?
- What are the next steps?
Want to check lawyer discipline?
It is always a good idea to research your lawyer prior to hiring. Every state has a disciplinary organization that monitors attorneys, their licenses, and consumer complaints. By researching lawyer discipline you can:
- Ensure the attorney is currently licensed to practice in your state
- Gain an understanding of his or her historical disciplinary record, if any.
- Determine the seriousness of complaints/issues which could range from late bar fees to more serious issues requiring disciplinary action.