Attorney Profile

Alternative Dispute Resolution Experience: Court Appointed Judicial Arbitrator for the San Francisco County Superior Court. Arbitrated more than 20 Superior Court cases.

Community Service: Michael Freedman has appeared on KALW 91.7 FM "Call a Lawyer Night" hosted by Chuck Finney. Michael Freedman is participant in the Law Academy Mentoring Program sponsored by the BASF. Michael has presented an innovative, one-hour course on U. S. Courts, the law, and reading a Supreme Court Case to students at San Francisco Public High Schools, Middle Schools, and Elementary Schools. Freedman Law firm offers pro bono and low fee estate planning and trusts and estates legal advice to qualifying employees of San Francisco businesses. Michael Freedman is a donor to the California AIDS ride, Environment California, The San Francisco Symphony.

Pro Bono: Estate of LaToya Brown, a minor, San Francisco County Superior Court. Michael Freedman represented the Guardian of the Estate of LaToya Brown, a minor in protecting her governmental benefits from waste, and administering her estate.

Kindred Nursing Centers West, LLC, dba Nob Hill Health Center v. Judith Davis, San Francisco County Superior Court, Case Number CGC-04-434772. Michael Freedman represented Judith Davis, a senior on limited and fixed income against Nob Hill Health Center in litigation for nursing facility charges.

Noteworthy Cases:

In Re: The John J. Curran Survivor's Trust, Alameda County Superior Court, Case Number VP 07-314009

Freedman Law Firm represented Thomas G. Curran brother of John J. Curran, Jr. John J. Curran, Jr. had left an unsigned trust naming Thomas G. Curran Trustee and sole beneficiary. The previous signed trust named a nephew of John J. Curran, Jr. as sole beneficiary. The matter was settled before trial and distribution made to Thomas G. Curran.

In the Matter of the Gusti and Dorothy Rossi Trust, Napa County Superior Court, Case Number 26-25651

Freedman Law Firm represented the daughter of Gusti and Dorothy Rossi who is a trust beneficiary of the Gusti and Dorothy Rossi Trust. Dorothy Rossi filed a Safe Harbor Application to avoid the No-Contest clause of the Gusti and Dorothy Rossi Irrevocable Trust. Petitioner proposed to commence a Petition for Reformation of the Trust on the grounds of mistake of fact or law, and sought to modify the Trust substantially changing distribution to the daughter. Prior to trial the matter was settled and distribution was made to the daughter.

Estate of Melvin Ward, San Francisco County Superior Court, Case Number PES-00-281052

Law Offices of Michael E. Freedman represented trust beneficiaries of the Trust of Elizabeth Ward. The beneficiaries made a claim under Probate Code Section 850 to set aside and cancel a Grant Deed, drafted and executed by the son of Elizabeth Ward, transferring to himself the trust real property. Prior to trial, the parties settled, and the Deed was set aside.

Estate of Lorenzo Ferneil, Superior Court of California, County of Alameda, Case Number: 234724-4

Law Offices of Michael E. Freedman represented John Taylor, Jr. in a will contest trial which commenced on April 8, 1991. Rosie Lee Williams, the sister of the decedent, Lorenzo Ferneil, was the proponent of a will which left the estate of over $227,000.00 to her. Mr. Taylor proved that the will was presumed revoke, and that Mr. Taylor was the stepchild of Lorenzo Ferneil. Judgment was in favor of Mr. Taylor entitling him to inherit the estate of Lorenzo Ferneil by intestate succession.

Year Joined Organization

• 1987

Areas of Practice

• Estate Administration
• Estate Litigation
• Estate Planning
• Trust Litigation
• Trust Administration
• Elder Law

Bar Admissions

• Pennsylvania, 1984
• California, 1986
• U.S. District Court Northern District of California, 1986

Education

• Temple University School of Law, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1984
  
  
• State University of New York, Buffalo, New York, 1979
  B.A.
  Honors: Magna Cum Laude
  Honors: Phi Beta Kappa
  
  

Published Works

• "Solar Access: An Issue for Local Governments", (Co-Author With Susan Perretta), OUTLOOK ENVIRONMENTAL JOURNAL, vol. 1,, 1982
• "Experts, Laws and Audio Tape", SANTA CLARA TRIAL LAWYERS ASSOCIATION, Times & Trials, October, 1991

Representative Cases

• Kindred Nursing Centers West, LLC, dba Nob Hill Health Center v. Judith Davis, CGC-04-434772 (San Francisco County Superior Court)
• In Re: The John J. Curran Survivor's Trust, VP 07-314009 (Alameda County Superior Court)

Honors and Awards

• AV by Martindale Hubble Peer Review Rating

Professional Associations and Memberships

• State Bar Trusts and Estates Section
  
  
• Bar Association of San Francisco
  
  
• BASF Probate Experience Panel
  
  
• BASF Estate Planning Trust and Probate Section
  
  

Past Employment Positions

• Green & Freedman, Partner, 1998 - 2003
• U.S. Nursing Corporation, General Counsel
• Fastaff Incorporated, General Counsel

Birth Information

• November 1, 1957, Buffalo, New York, United States of America