Firm Profile
Silldorf | Levine, LLP is a medium-sized, full service law firm headquartered in San Diego, California. We concentrate our efforts and resources on Construction Defect Litigation, Community Association General Counsel and Employment Law.
Our lawyers have extensive litigation and trial experience in these areas and draw upon this experience for the representation of our clients.
At Silldorf | Levine, LLP we treat our clients with Integrity. We know that our clients retain us because they have exhausted their own avenues for resolving oftentimes very complex legal problems.
We use our unique backgrounds to supplement our legal Ability to handle each case with a specific emphasis on achieving the individual goals of each client.
We utilize cutting edge technology for case management and add the vast Knowledge and experience of our Attorneys and Staff to achieve your individual goals. This allows us to provide you with the highest quality of legal services. Rapport with our Clients is a key factor in understanding their specific needs and goals. Communication during a case allows us to effectively control case costs and to resolve cases in a timely manner.
Silldorf | Levine, LLP handles cases throughout the State of California. We are equipped to provide you with the same superior service wherever your case is located within the State.
At Silldorf | Levine, LLP, client satisfaction is first and foremost.
Partner Biographies
Mr. Levine graduated from the University of California at Santa Barbara where he majored in Business-Economics with an emphasis on Accounting. Mr. Levine graduated from California Western School of Law in 1991. Mr. Levine is licensed to practice before all Courts in the State of California. He is a member of the State Bar of California; the American Bar Association (Forum on Franchising and Business Law Sections); the Association of American Trial Lawyers; Consumer Attorneys of California (Member of the Board of Governors 2003-); and the Consumer Attorneys of San Diego (Vice-President 2008; Member of the Board of Directors (2000-2004); and a member of its Executive Committee (2004-). Mr. Levine was the Tort Law Editor of the Trial Bar News (1999-2003) and the Legislative Column Editor of the Trial Bar News (2003-2007).
In 2002, Mr. Levine co-negotiated California's new Construction Defect Law (SB 800, Civil Code Section 895) and was given the 2002 Legislative Champion Award by the Consumer Attorneys of California. Mr. Levine has written articles and taught seminars about the new law. In 2003, Mr. Levine worked on further revisions to SB 800 and negotiated with the BIA and others regarding other proposed changes to the law.
In 2004, Mr. Levine received the Consumer Advocate of the Year Award from the Consumer Attorneys of San Diego for his work in defending the rights of California’s homeowners.
Mr. Levine has represented homeowners and associations in many construction defect cases resulting in large settlements. Most recently Mr. Levine successfully settled what is likely the largest window settlement in the State of California (on an amount per house basis) days before trial was set to begin.
Mr. Levine focuses his practice on the areas of construction defect litigation, employment law, franchise law and litigation, business/commercial law and litigation, and business litigation.
Mr. Silldorf graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from the University of California at San Diego, a Masters in City Planning from San Diego State University and a Juris Doctor from California Western School of Law. Mr. Silldorf was one of the founding partners of Silldorf, Burdman, Duignan & Eisenberg, APLC. Mr. Silldorf has been representing homeowners’ associations throughout Southern California since 1982. In the landmark case of Alcala v. Uptown District Homeowners Association 57 CAL.RPTR 2d 349 (1996), Mr. Silldorf created a unique settlement structure to maximize recovery for the association. Mr. Silldorf has been an active member of Consumer Attorneys of California’s legislative council and assisted in drafting Civil Code §1375, the "Calderon Statute". Mr. Silldorf has recovered more than $150 million in over 50 cases throughout his career.
Mr. Silldorf has been recognized as one of the top Construction Defect Attorneys by San Diego Magazine. Mr. Silldorf has taught numerous courses on condominium ownership, construction design deficiency and employment law for the California Association of Community Managers, Community Associations Institute, and the University of California at San Diego Extension Studies. Mr. Silldorf has been a member of the Board of Governors for the Consumer Attorneys of San Diego (CASD) and the Consumer Attorneys of California (CAOC) and the Chairman of the CAOC Legislative Committee on Construction Defects.
Mr. Silldorf is a member of the San Diego County Bar Association; State Bar of California; Consumer Attorneys of San Diego; California Association of Community Managers; and is admitted to the Supreme Court of the United States.
Mr. Silldorf focuses his practice on the areas of community association general counsel, construction defect litigation, employment law, land use and real estate law and litigation.
Associate Biographies
Theresa M. Filicia has a diverse background that enables her to successfully resolve complex legal matters. Ms. Filicia has participated in multi-million dollar settlements on behalf of Homeowner Associations and individual homeowners with respect to their construction defect claims. She has also successfully resolved personal injury and wrongful death claims relating to construction defects and mold. Ms. Filicia also has experience in pursing SB 800 claims against builders and contractors. She has represented and advised homeowner associations on business matters and community association law.
Ms. Filicia has a Bachelor of Science in Biology from LeMoyne College, Syracuse, New York, and a Juris Doctor, Cum Laude, from California Western School of Law. She received the American Jurisprudence Award in Real Property, Trial Practice and New York Civil Procedure.
Ms. Filicia is also an Adjunct Professor at California Western School of Law where she teaches the course on Construction Defect Litigation.
Professional Associations: San Diego County Bar Association, St. Thomas Moore Society, State Bar of California.
Jean-Claude Lapuyade is an associate at Silldorf | Levine, LLP. Mr. Lapuyade is licensed to practice before all California State Courts and the United States District Court, Southern District of California. Mr. Lapuyade focuses his practice on the areas of construction defect litigation, general business litigation, employment and franchise law/litigation.
Mr. Lapuyade received his Juris Doctor in 2006 from California Western School of Law where he earned the honor of Distinguished Advocate for outstanding oral advocacy and was the recipient of the Dean's Merit Scholarship. While in Law School, Mr. Lapuyade served as a law clerk for the Law Offices of Steven D. Kupferberg in Washington D.C., and for Branton & Wilson, APC here in San Diego. He completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Arizona, where in 2001 he graduated with a B.A. in History.
Mr. Lapuyade is a member of the State Bar of California, the San Diego County Bar Association, the American Bar Association and the Consumer Attorneys of San Diego.
Christopher B. Carneal is an associate at Silldorf | Levine, LLP. Mr. Carneal is licensed to practice before all California State Courts and the United States District Court for the Southern District of California. Mr. Carneal focuses his practice on the areas of construction defect litigation and employment law.
Christopher B. Carneal earned his Juris Doctor with cum laude honors in 2005, from California Western School of Law. In 2001, Mr. Carneal graduated from the University of Washington with a B.A. in International Studies and a concentration in International Political Economy.
While in law school, Mr. Carneal served on Law Review as an associate writer/editor, earned an American Jurisprudence Award in Legal Research & Writing, and spent a semester abroad interning for the Office of the Public Defender in Santiago, Chile.
Following law school, Mr. Carneal worked as an Associate Attorney at the law firm of Guerrero, Jacobs & Schlesinger, LLP. There, Mr. Carneal gained litigation and appellate-work experience representing clients in human rights and immigration-related matters before the San Diego Immigration Court, Board of Immigration Appeals, and Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.
Mr. Carneal is an active member of the State Bar of California.
Staff Biographies
Cherie Calvin received her Paralegal Assistant certificate from Continental Technical Institute in Los Angeles. She also holds a mediation certificate from San Diego Mediation and a writing certificate from The Writers Institute of Literature. Cherie is the past Bar Liaison for the San Diego Paralegal Association.
Cherie has been working in the legal field since 1976 specializing in civil litigation and construction defect. She has given numerous seminars to Paralegals and Legal Secretaries in both San Diego and Orange Counties, including the Orange County Annual Convention, on trial preparation and procedures as well as the discovery process. Cherie is on the reviewing staff for Paralegal textbooks with numerous publishing companies and was a committee member to establish an advanced seminar curriculum for the Institute for Paralegal Education. Cherie is a former member of the American Trial Lawyers Association – Paralegal Division and the Clark County Organization of Legal Assistants (Las Vegas, Nevada).
Elina Chaplik graduated Magna cum Laude from California State University, San Marcos in April 2003 where she majored in Psychology. She received her Paralegal Certificate from UCSD Extension in December 2005. She concentrates her efforts on construction defect, personal injury and employment law cases. She also gained experience in reviewing contracts and negotiating them. Elina also has 8 years of experience in the Human Resources arena and can contribute a great deal of knowledge in the field. She is also a member of UCSD Alumni Paralegal program.
Sarah Moore graduated from the University of California, Berkeley in 2002 where she majored in English with an emphasis on Rhetoric and Writing. She graduated with high honors and was a scholarship recipient throughout her university career.
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