Our People
Jack R. Leer
Firm Member
Jack R. Leer is a shareholder of the firm in the Litigation Department. His practice encompasses a broad range of commercial litigation, with an emphasis on real estate matters, contract disputes, and business torts.
Education Background
Mr. Leer received his B.A. from the University of California, Los Angeles in 1993. He earned his law degree from the University of San Diego School of Law in 1996.
Employment Background
Prior to joining Seltzer Caplan McMahon Vitek, Mr. Leer was a Lieutenant in the U.S. Navy, Judge Advocate General’s Corps, where he served first as defense counsel, then as a prosecutor, and finally as Special Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia.
Representative Matters
- Mr. Leer represents clients in all manner of contract disputes, from complex international business litigation to simple commercial actions and arbitrations
- Mr. Leer routinely represents owners, developers, lenders, and contractors in a wide range of real estate disputes and litigation, including:
- Judicial and non-judicial foreclosure actions and proceedings
- Mechanic’s lien, public works, and Miller Act actions
- Specific performance actions to enforce purchase and sale agreements
- Lease disputes and commercial unlawful detainer actions
- Mr. Leer also regularly represents clients in partnership and corporate disputes, including:
- Corporate management and/or shareholder disputes
- Partnership and corporate dissolution and accounting actions
- Shareholder direct and derivative actions
- Examples of Representative Matters:
- Obtained defense verdict in jury trial of $9 million defamation and interference with prospective economic advantage action
- Obtained defense verdict after court trial in specific performance action relating to agricultural property in Madera, California
- Obtained summary judgment for defendant in highway condemnation action, resulting in full payment of client’s attorney’s fees and litigation costs by California Department of Transportation
- Prosecuted civil actions and arbitrations against unlicensed contractors, obtaining settlements and arbitration awards providing for return of all payments made by clients to such contractors
- Defended ten separate homeowners’ associations and their joint landscape and recreation committee in discriminatory housing administrative proceedings relating to 1000+ unit beachfront condominium project
- Defended real property specific performance action to settlement on the eve of trial, which provided for dismissal of the action and plaintiff’s payment of client’s attorneys’ fees
- Defended manufacturer of casino and poker room tracking systems in trade defamation action
- Obtained stipulated judgment in client’s favor during trial of multi-million dollar action for fraud and rescission of prior settlement agreement
- Defended hedge fund manager in civil SEC action, investors’ fraud actions, and assisted in the defense of client’s subsequent criminal prosecution
- Defended art gallery in action filed by artist for conversion of multi-million dollar sculptures
Professional Affiliations & Admissions
- State Bar of California
- U.S. District Courts for the Southern, Central and Northern Districts of California and the Eastern District of Virginia
- San Diego County Bar Association
- Federal Bar Association
- American Inns of Court, Louis M. Welsh San Diego Chapter (Associate 2000-2001; Barrister 2006-2008)
- Association of Business Trial Lawyers, San Diego Chapter (Board of Governors 2008-Present; Programs Chair 2010-2011)
- San Diego County Bar Association’s Legal Ethics Committee (Member 2008-Present)
Community Affiliations
- San Diego County Law Enforcement Foundation (Board of Directors 2001-Present; President 2008-2010)
- Peninsula Soccer League, volunteer coach
- Peninsula Youth Softball Association, volunteer coach
Publications & Speaking Engagements
- Speaker at San Diego County Legal Secretaries Association seminar “Ethics: Confidentiality Rules”
- Contributor to San Diego County Bar Association’s “Ethics in Brief” Column
- Panel Member for Welsh Inns of Court Presentation on Attorney-Client Relationships
