Mr. Steven E. Ernest – Partner

Steven E. Ernest joined Cooksey, Toolen, Gage, Duffy & Woog in 1998. He is a member of the business litigation practice group. His practice focuses on in the areas of commercial litigation, secured transactions and insolvency. Mr. Ernest represents clients in litigation involving secured transactions including recovery of collateral and compelling performance of contractual obligations. He has a portfolio of cases defending and prosecuting contract actions for financial institutions. He defends landowners in premises liability actions. Mr. Ernest has a great deal of courtroom experience representing lenders in breach of warranty, credit reporting act (both state and federal) and collection practices litigation, and businesses in trademark actions.

Mr. Ernest has extensive experience obtaining pre-judgment remedies such as prejudgment writs of possession, as well as in pursuing collections remedies before filing a lawsuit or after obtaining judgment. Mr. Ernest has lectured extensively on creditor’s rights and fair debt collection practices.

Mr. Ernest received his undergraduate degree from The American University in 1993 and his Juris Doctorate from the of Miami School of Law (cum laude) 1996. He was admitted to the State Bar of California in 1996 and is a member of the Bars of the Central, Southern, Northern and Eastern Districts of California. Mr. Ernest served as an extern in the chambers of the Honorable James N. Barr, U.S. Bankruptcy Court in 1992. He was the Judge Advocate of Dana West Yacht Club from 2002 through 2008, the secretary of the Beneteau First 36.7 North American Class from 2004 through 2009, and has been the Judge Advocate of PHRF of Southern California since 2006. He is a competitive sailboat racer, and an avid long distance runner.