Bernadette C. Brouses

Headshot of Bernadette Brouses
Bernadette is married to Robert, a professional engineer, contractor, and business owner, and they have two children. Bernadette and Robert both played competitive soccer, and now enjoy cheering on their boys on the competitive club soccer field. Bernadette also enjoys traveling and exercising, particularly attending Yoga Sculpt and HIIT classes.

BERNADETTE C. BROUSES

Partner / Owner

Practice Areas
Trial Attorney and Civil Litigator, including jury trials, court trials, arbitrations, general civil litigation in California state and federal court, and appellate practice. Torts, including personal injury, catastrophic injury, wrongful death, survival, premises liability, commercial, homeowner, condominium association, and automobile liability, products liability, animal liability, defamation, and assault and battery; Business; Contracts; Construction; Real Estate; and Insurance, including coverage, “bad faith” litigation, and uninsured/underinsured motorist claims.
Biography

Bernadette is a founding partner of Schonbuch Hallissy LLP.  She is trial attorney and civil litigator in California state and federal court. Her litigation and trial practice focuses on providing a comprehensive and authentic presentation in order to educate the trier of fact and evoke fairness and equal justice under the law. As a first-generation college graduate with a family history of displacement to Mexico as part of the Mexican Repatriation of the 1930s, Bernadette believes deeply in overcoming any obstacle.

Bernadette started her legal career as a summer law clerk with Daniels, Fine, Israel, Schonbuch & Lebovits, LLP, ultimately achieving Partner status. As such, Bernadette has been mentored for decades by the highest caliber of civil, professional, and ethical trial attorneys and litigators. Bernadette blends what she has learned from her mentors with her own style, skill, and background. Bernadette is devoted to achieving her clients’ objectives and providing efficient and effective legal representation.

  • Madrid v. Whang, et al., Los Angeles Superior Court: Defended business owners at trial as sole trial counsel in a personal injury action. Plaintiff demanded seven figures without compromise, and the jury returned a defense favorable verdict well below the demand and the owners’ insurance, including a finding of comparative fault of Plaintiff.
  • Jafari v. Hayslett, et al. Orange County Superior Court: Defended a motorist at trial as sole trial counsel in a personal injury action. Obtained a defense verdict for the motorist after an approximately two-week jury trial.
  • MDA US Systems, LLC v. Motiv Space Systems, Inc. et al., Los Angeles Superior Court: Defended a manufacturer and designer of composite structures for spacecraft in a multi-million-dollar business dispute. Obtained a dismissal of the action against the client and a good faith settlement order, which were affirmed on appeal.
  • Kenne v. Community Corporation of Santa Monica, et al., Los Angeles Superior Court: Defended a non-profit organization that provides low-income housing, as well as its various employees, from an attorney representing herself in pro per. Following several defense favorable law and motion rulings, the court issued terminating sanctions against plaintiff and entered judgment of dismissal in favor of defendants.
  • Reyes v. Tooker, et al., San Diego Superior Court: Defended a homeowner in a multi-million dollar personal injury case involving complex coastal engineering, title, and recreational use immunity issues. Following the trial court’s defense favored ruling on law and motion, plaintiff compromised his claims, settling for less than one percent of his original settlement demand.
  • Mercado v. Imperial Roofing, et al., Los Angeles Superior Court: Defended a homeowners’ association from claims by various homeowners for negligence in connection with a fire at the premises. Obtained summary judgment in favor of the association.
  • Following extensive, post-litigation fact investigation confirming plaintiff’s fraud, obtained a dismissal with prejudice of plaintiff’s bad faith lawsuit against his insurer in exchange for a waiver of costs.
  • Obtained a dismissal on demurrer of a collection case filed against a business client by its former insurer for unpaid insurance premiums, which was affirmed on appeal.
  • Defended a limited liability company and its members from fraud allegations involving a real estate transaction and obtained a dismissal with prejudice of the clients before trial following law and motion.

  • Association of Southern California Defense Counsel
Education

J.D. Loyola Law School, Los Angeles, California
B.A. The Catholic University of America, Washington D.C., Cum Laude

Bar Admissions

State Bar of California