Team

Consult With a Team of Experienced Lawyers

Nathan Benjamin

Nathan Benjamin

I have been practicing law in the Santa Cruz area since 1998. I earned my J.D., magna cum laude, from Hamline University in St. Paul, Minnesota, Minnesota’s first university. I have an M.A. from California State University, Humboldt and a B.A. from Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida.

Nathan Benjamin

I have been practicing law in the Santa Cruz area since 1998. I earned my J.D., magna cum laude, from Hamline University in St. Paul, Minnesota, Minnesota’s first university. I have an M.A. from California State University, Humboldt and a B.A. from Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida.

I have always maintained a diverse practice on behalf of a wide range of long-standing clients. I have a broad understanding of legal practice and procedure in my community.

I am deeply rooted in both the legal community and the greater Santa Cruz business community and culture. I serve on the Board of Directors for the Santa Cruz County Bar Association, as the secretary of the Board for the Santa Cruz County Youth Resource Bank, and as a director of Santa Cruz Community Television and am a member of the Santa Cruz County Trial Lawyers Association.

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Courtney Leibrock

Courtney Leibrock

I represent clients in a broad range of matters with an emphasis on business and real property transactions and litigation. I have successfully resolved matters involving easement, trespass, nuisance, construction defects, partition, residential disclosure obligations, and homeowner’s association issues.

Courtney Leibrock

I represent clients in a broad range of matters with an emphasis on business and real property transactions and litigation. I have successfully resolved matters involving easement, trespass, nuisance, construction defects, partition, residential disclosure obligations, and homeowner’s association issues. I assist clients in finding effective and efficient means of resolving a variety of conflicts including breaches of fiduciary duties, personal injury and tort claims, employment law disputes, claims of toxic mold in a residential rental property, and breach of CC&Rs against board association members.

I was admitted to the California Bar in 2006 after obtaining my juris doctor from McGeorge School of Law in Sacramento. I graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from the University of California, Santa Barbara in 2002.

As an active member of the Santa Cruz Community since moving here in 2008, I have served on the Board of Directors of The Women Lawyers of Santa Cruz County for the past three years and am currently serving as the president-elect. I am also serving as the president of the Advocates, a section of the Santa Cruz County Bar Association; and am an active member of the Sunrise Rotary Club of Santa Cruz. I previously served on the Board of Directors of Special Parents Information Network (SPIN), and participated in Leadership Santa Cruz.

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Amandanew

Amanda Bermudes

I am a paralegal and earned a BA from CSUMB, MA from San Jose State University. In addition to being a licensed paralegal I am a licensed Santa Cruz County Process Server and a Notary Public. I have worked in the legal field since 1993, including 15 years with Nathan Benjamin. My hobbies include my son, dance and enjoying all that Santa Cruz has to offer.

NOTABLE CASES AND PRESS

  • Brown v. Caltrans

    321 F.3d 1217 (9th Cir. 2003), 260 F.Supp. 959 (N.D.Ca 2003): Lead counsel in First Amendment case, District Court enjoined Caltrans from removing clients' antiwar political commentary from highway overpasses while allowing pro-war commentary to remain. Affirmed by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.

  • Jacobs Farm v. Western Farm Service

    190 Cal. App. 4th 1502 (2010): Client, an international organic farming enterprise, sued the defendant Western Farm Service, alleging pesticides applied to fields near client's farm migrated to client's land, contaminating crops and rendered the crops unmarketable. A jury found the defendant liable in negligence, trespass, and nuisance and awarded plaintiff $1,000,000.00, plus attorney’s fees. Jury verdict upheld on appeal, affirming damages and the right of private action for contamination.

  • Butler v. Taser

    (Santa Cruz County Superior Court): Co-counsel on case in which client was permanently injured after being shocked several times with a Taser. Following a $2.85 million settlement, established a conservatorship and Special Needs Trust, approved by the Court, assuring ongoing care and management for the injured client.

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