Significant Cases
  • $10,000,000:
    Death of Father, Product Liability
  • $7,750,000:
    Unsafe Lane Change By Semi-Tractor
  • $5,769,000:
    Defective Seat Belt
  • $5,250,000:
    Death of Husband and Father, Mismatched Car and Trailer
  • $5,000,000:
    Mismanagement of Anesthesia
  • $4,100,000:
    Death of a Child, Medical Malpractice
  • $3,000,000:
    Jury Verdict, Death of an Adult Child, Medical Malpractice
  • $3,000,000:
    Death of Husband, Auto Crash
  • View Case Results

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415.658.9310

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About Us Table of Contents
Spencer Pahlke 
San Francisco, California,
phone 415-992-5819
888-799-3968
fax 415-391-6965
email Email Me
Email Me
Email Me

Spencer's practice focuses on catastrophic personal injury and wrongful death cases involving defective medical devices, vehicular collisions, dangerous conditions of public and private property, and medical malpractice.

Outside of his practice at Walkup, he also serves at the University of California-Berkeley Law School (Boalt Hall) as a lecturer in trial advocacy. In addition to his teaching, he directs Berkeley Law's external trial competition program, and coaches three trial advocacy teams. Spencer has also provided ongoing legal education, including developing and co-chairing programs produced in conjunction with Berkeley Law, with a special focus on providing training to young attorneys. He has also co-chaired a presentation on governmental liability and design immunity.

Before going to law school, Spencer received his B.A. from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 2004, graduating in the Honors Program and with Highest Distinction. He double-majored in Economics and Psychology, with a double-minor in English and Communications. While at the University of Nebraska, he also competed nationally in intercollegiate debate and mock trial.

Spencer then attended law school at Berkeley Law, receiving his J.D. in 2007. At Berkeley, Spencer was a member of the California Law Review as well as an associate editor for Ecology Law Quarterly. Academically, he won Prosser Awards in Legal Ethics and in Environmental Law.

Spencer's main interest in law school was trial advocacy, both in Berkeley Law's competitive trial advocacy program and its clinical programs. Clinically, he tried cases before Oakland's Citizen's Police Review Board. There, his responsibilities included representing people claiming violations of their constitutional rights at the hands of the Oakland Police Department. He successfully competed on several trial teams. He won the Bay Area trial competition held by the San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association. Additionally, in the National Trial Competition, his three-person team was a regional finalist, and he won two top advocate awards.

Spencer joined the Walkup firm as an associate in 2007, and practices all types of personal injury litigation in all courts within the State of California.

Verdicts & Settlements

Pedestrian v. City and County of San Francisco Public Transit Negligence $3,250,000 Settlement

Cable Car Passenger v. City and County of San Francisco Negligent Operation of Cable Car $2,026,000 Settlement

Chu v. Bay Area Community Services, Inc. Premises Liability - Negligent Supervision $996,000 Verdict

Insured v. Major Insurance Company Insurance Bad Faith $975,000 Settlement

Cyclist v. Driver's Employer Vehicular Negligence $750,000 Settlement

Pedestrian v. Driver Vehicular Negligence - Underinsured Motorist $555,000

Family v. HMO Medical Negligence - Surgical Error - Wrongful Death $475,000 Settlement

Grandparent v. Youth Camp Premises Liability $400,000 Settlement

Motorcyclist v. Driver Vehicular Negligence $350,000 Settlement

Passenger v. Driver Vehicular Negligence - Read-End Collision $325,000 Settlement

Passenger v. Cab Company Vehicular Negligence - Common Carrier $300,000

Pedestrian v. San Diego Mass Transit Public Transit Negligence $300,000

Cyclist v. SUV Driver Vehicular Negligence $300,000 Settlement

Pedestrian v. CCSF Dangerous Condition of Public Property $270,000

Driver v. Driver Vehicular Negligence - Underinsured Motorist $250,000

Bicyclist v. Driver Vehicular Negligence $250,000 Settlement

Passenger v. Airport Shuttle Company Vehicular Negligence $225,000 Settlement

Driver v. Driver Vehicular Negligence $210,000 Settlement

Pedestrian v. Landowner Premise Liability $185,000

Customer v. Store Owner Premises Liability - Slip and Fall $153,00 Settlement

Areas of Practice:
Personal Injury
Education:
University of California at Berkeley, Boalt Hall School of Law, Berkeley, California, 2007
J.D.
Law Review: California Law Review, Member
Law Review: Ecology Law Quarterly, Associate Editor


University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2004
B.A.
Honors: Highest Distinction
Major:  Economics and Psychology
Minor:  English and Communications



Sponsored by Walkup, Melodia, Kelly & Schoenberger. Please contact us or visit one of our sites below for more information about our practice.