Ray Hartman
Ray has delivered successful outcomes for his clients at all stages of litigation, including numerous bench trials, jury trials, and arbitrations. He focuses his practice on commercial litigation, including product liability and environmental and real estate litigation.
In recent representations, Ray Hartman obtained a favorable settlement in a $400 million environmental case involving a multi-purpose stadium in San Diego and a complete defense verdict in a breach of contract action for an agricultural chemical company. He also obtained the reversal of a $100 million judgment against a major pipeline company, and the dismissal, with prejudice, of a breach of contract action brought against a major real estate company. Ray also obtained the complete dismissal of numerous groundwater contamination cases filed by California municipalities and water districts.
Ray has served as an adjunct professor at the University of San Diego School of Law, teaching a course on litigation and trial advocacy. He also is active in pro bono matters.
Areas of focus
Education & Credentials
Education
- University of California, College of the Law, San Francisco, J.D.
- University of Southern California, M.A., Political Science, Law and Public Policy
- University of San Diego, B.A., cum laude
Bar and Court Admissions
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California
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California
- U.S. District Court for the Central District of California
Impact
Professional Leadership
- California Bar Foundation, Board Member and Director, 2009-2012
- San Diego Volunteer Lawyers
- San Diego Rotary Club
- UC Hastings Alumni Board of Governors, Director, 2009-2012
- Asian Business Association, San Diego Chapter
- Filipino American Lawyers of San Diego, Director, 2004-2008
News
Professional Experience
Commercial Litigation and Product Liability
- Representing government contractor in product liability and negligence wrongful death matter.
- Representing major appliance manufacturer in product liability warranty and fraud putative class action.
- Representing major technology company in product liability and fraud matter.
- Major REIT in a breach of purchase and sale agreement for a medical office building.*
- Prevailed at trial in a multimillion-dollar breach of contract action for an agricultural processing company.*
- Winery in an ownership dispute related to sale of a wine brand, intellectual property and real estate assets.*
- Major Southern California luxury hotel in a partnership dispute related to corporate structure and transactions of its partner.*
- Agricultural chemical manufacturer in a series of product liability actions brought by landscapers and maintenance workers concerning exposure to toxic chemicals.*
- Chemical manufacturer in personal injury, toxic exposure matters arising out of alleged exposure to agricultural chemical products.*
- Dismissal for a manufacturer of satellite telecommunications equipment in an action involving a plaintiff burned in a tractor-trailer fire.*
- Achieved a complete victory in a multimillion-dollar family law dispute after a week-long bench trial.*
- Successfully obtained a complete defense verdict after a two-week bench trial in a multimillion-dollar breach of contract matter for an agricultural company.*
- Represented a major insurance company in a bad faith breach of contract action regarding the company's refusal to pay life insurance benefits and obtained a complete defense verdict after a one-week jury trial.*
- Obtained a multimillion-dollar settlement of breach of contract and fraud claims resulting in a verdict for a startup technology company after a six-week jury trial.*
- Prevailed in "claim" arbitrations on behalf of two individual pro bono plaintiffs in an unfair business practices action stemming from illegal foreclosures and mortgage-brokering practices regarding low-income residential property.*
*Prior experience
Environmental Litigation & Counseling
- Representing major refinery in Clear Air Act litigation.
- Representing major pipeline company in environmental wrongful death mass tort.
- Prevailed in an arbitration for a major aerospace manufacturer enforcing a settlement agreement regarding environmental claims brought by a real estate developer.*
- Defense of administrative environmental actions regarding soil and groundwater contamination.*
- Summary judgment in an administrative writ proceeding regarding NPDES discharge permits.*
- Large agricultural chemical company against allegations of contaminating groundwater in numerous California cities.*
- Leading manufacturer of thermostat controls against allegations of contaminating an industrial facility.*
- Large agricultural chemical company against toxic exposure claims.*
- Major chemical company against claims involving alleged soil and groundwater contamination at Superfund site.*
- Mining company with international holdings regarding development agreement and environmental issues.*
- Favorable settlement on behalf of Family Trust in a Polanco Act action by a municipal redevelopment agency and other governmental entities.*
- Extensive experience with CERCLA, CLRRA, RCRA, Proposition 65, Polanco Act, UST statutes, and other environmental provisions.*
- Worked on cases involving contamination and remediation involving nitrates, petroleum hydrocarbons, chlorinated solvents, heavy metals, burn ash, and pesticide.*
- Experience with environmental due diligence efforts related to real estate transactions and mergers and acquisitions.*
*Prior experience
Real Estate
- Representing a major restaurant and food services company in breach of contract and interference action.
- Representing a major retailer in numerous real property lease disputes.
- Represented a major pipeline company in matters involving a rental rate dispute with a freight-hauling railroad; a series of easement disputes with a freight-hauling railroad; and alleged real estate damages involving a multi-purpose stadium. *
- Represented a leading technology company in a multimillion-dollar dispute regarding facility rent reassessments that resulted in a favorable settlement.*
- Represented an agricultural company in easement litigation that threatened to derail the development of an industrial facility that resulted in a favorable settlement.*
- Prevailed on a motion to dismiss in a breach of contract action pending in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Southern District of New York for a real estate holding company.*
- International franchisor, in an action regarding the alleged breach of a ground lease for a gasoline station and fast food restaurant.*
*Prior experience