City Attorney, Jennifer McGrath
To provide the best representation to the City in all legal matters and before administrative bodies, and to provide excellent, effective legal counsel and services to the City Council and to all officers of the City, and provide superior representation for the City in court litigation and prosecutions on behalf of the people, violations of the City Charter and Municipal Code.
Responsibilities
The Office of the City Attorney represents and advises the City Council and all City officials in matters of law pertaining to the business of the City of Huntington Beach. Among other things, the City Attorney prepares and/or reviews all City ordinances, resolutions, contracts and other legal documents; attend City Council, Planning Commission, City Staff and other meetings. The City Attorney also prosecutes on behalf of the people criminal cases arising from violation of the provisions of the City Charter or Huntington Beach Municipal Code, and such state misdemeanors as the City has the power to prosecute. This office also administers the Administrative Citation Program, see Frequently Asked Questions.
Personnel
The City Attorney’s Office consists of an elected City Attorney, two Assistant City Attorneys, three Sr. Deputy City Attorneys, three Deputy City Attorneys, an Investigator, a Law Office Manager and six support staff. The City Attorney’s Office has two divisions: Litigation Services and Municipal Services.
Paul D'Alessandro
Practice Areas, Background and Experience
Mr. D'Alessandro presently serves as the Assistant City Attorney supervising the Advisory Division of the City Attorney's Office. He provides legal assistance on all areas of municipal law, including land use, redevelopment, affordable housing, public works, community services, public meetings (Brown Act), public records, elections, conflicts of interest, and business transactions.
Mr. D'Alessandro joined the City Attorney's Office as a Deputy City Attorney in 1988. As a Deputy City Attorney, Mr. D'Alessandro had an extensive litigation and transactional practice. He served as legal advisor to the Huntington Beach Planning Commission, and handled numerous trials, appeals, arbitrations and administrative hearings in virtually all areas of municipal litigation practice, including eminent domain, inverse condemnation, civil rights, tort defense, land use, labor, and criminal prosecutions.
Professional Affiliations
Mr. D'Alessandro is admitted to practice law in California and the District of Columbia, and before the United States District Courts for the Central and Southern Districts of California, and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeal.
Education
Mr. D'Alessandro is a graduate of Loyola Law School (J.D.), where he was a staff member on the Loyola of Los Angeles Law Review, and the University of California, Riverside (B.A., English and History).
Scott Field
Practice Areas, Background and Experience
Mr. Field presently serves as the Assistant City Attorney supervising the Litigation Division of the City Attorney's Office. The Litigation Division handles all phases of all civil litigation matters involving the City and Redevelopment Agency, including pre-trial discovery, law and motion, trial, and appeal.
Mr. Field joined the City Attorney's Office as a Deputy City Attorney in 1995. Prior to joining the City Attorney's Office, Mr. Field was a partner at Burke, Williams & Sorensen, a law firm specializing in the representation of public agencies throughout California, where he served as City Attorney for the Cities of Temecula (1989-94) and Mission Viejo (1988-90).
Professional Affiliations
Mr. Field is admitted to practice law in California, and before the United States District Courts for the Central and Southern Districts of California, and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeal.
Education
Mr. Field is a graduate of UCLA School of Law (J.D.), and the University of California, Berkeley (B.A., Economics).
John Fujii
Practice Areas, Background and Experience
Mr. Fujii presently serves as a Senior Deputy City Attorney in the Litigation Division of the City Attorney's Office. He primarily practices in state and federal trial and appellate courts, litigating cases involving civil rights, land use, torts, construction and environmental law.
Prior to joining the City Attorney's Office, Mr. Fujii was an associate at the law firms of Jeffer, Mangels, Butler & Marmaro in Century City and at Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison in San Francisco. From 2002 to 2005, Mr. Fujii taught legal research and writing as an adjunct professor at Chapman University School of Law.
Professional Affiliations
Mr. Fujii is admitted to practice law in California and before the United States District Courts for the Central and Northern Districts, and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeal.
Education
Mr. Fujii is a graduate of Boalt Hall School of Law at U.C. Berkeley (J.D.), and U.C. Davis (B.S., Animal Physiology).
Neal Moore
Practice Areas, Background and Experience
Mr. Moore presently serves as the Senior Deputy City Attorney in the Litigation Division of the City Attorney's Office. Mr. Moore is the senior trial attorney, and handles a wide range of civil litigation matters involving the City and Redevelopment Agency.
Mr. Moore joined the City Attorney's Office in 2004. From 1976 to 2004, Mr. Moore was in private practice, specializing in the defense of public entities and public employees. He has completed approximately 100 civil jury trials. From 1971 to 1976, Mr. Moore was employed by the County of Los Angeles as a Deputy County Counsel. He holds the rank of Advocate from the American Board of Trial Advocates, and is a member of the Executive Committee for the Litigation Section of the State Bar of California.
Professional Affiliations
Mr. Moore is admitted to practice law in California, and before the United States District Court for the Central District of California, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeal, and the United States Supreme Court.
Education
Mr. Moore is a graduate of University Southern of California School of Law (J.D.), and the University of Southern California (B.A., History).
Leonie Mulvihill
Practice Areas, Background and Experience
Ms. Mulvihill presently serves as the Senior Deputy City Attorney in the Advisory Division of the City Attorney's Office. She primarily practices in the area of land use and redevelopment law and advises the Planning and Economic Development Departments of the City on issues relating to zoning, planning, real estate, housing, municipal finance, redevelopment, and environmental law. She negotiates complex financial transactions on behalf of the City and Redevelopment Agency. She also currently serves as legal counsel to the Huntington Beach Planning Commission. Prior to her assignment to the Advisory Division, Ms. Mulvihill represented the City in numerous complex civil litigation matters.
Prior to joining the Huntington Beach City Attorney's office in 2001, Ms. Mulvihill was a senior associate at a law firm specializing in the representation of public school districts and water agencies throughout California. Ms. Mulvihill was also previously employed by the City of Austin, Texas as an Assistant City Attorney, where she prosecuted criminal matters including zoning compliance and environmental violations.
Professional Affiliations
Ms. Mulvihill is admitted to practice law in the states of California and Texas, and the United States District Court for the Central District of California.
Education
Ms. Mulvihill is a graduate of California Western School of Law (J.D.) and the University of California, San Diego (B.A., Economics).
Mike Vigliotta
Practice Areas, Background and Experience
Mr. Vigliotta presently serves as a Deputy City Attorney in the Advisory Division of the City Attorney's Office. He primarily practices in the area of labor and employment law and advises all city departments on issues relating to employee discipline, discrimination, harassment, wages and hours, family and medical leave, disability, and labor law. He is responsible for prosecuting employee disciplinary appeals on behalf of the City before the Personnel Board and representing the City before the Unemployment Appeals Board. He also participates in the negotiation of memorandums of understanding with employee unions, as well as the drafting of employee contracts, city resolutions, ordinances, processes and policies. He provides training on various employment related issues to city management and staff.
Prior to joining the City Attorney's office in 2005, Mr. Vigliotta was employed by the City of Santa Ana a Deputy City Attorney. In Santa Ana, Mr. Vigliotta provided general counsel to various city departments on such issues as utility user and hotel visitor tax and fees, election matters, open meeting laws, conflict of interest and ethics regulations. In addition, Mr. Vigliotta prosecuted code enforcement matters and provided litigation support regarding law and motion for specialized litigation matters.
Professional Affiliations
Mr. Vigliotta is admitted to practice law in California and before the United States District Court for the Central District of California, and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeal.
Education
Mr. Vigliotta is a graduate of the Chapman University School of Law (J.D.), and Gannon University (B.A., Political Science).
Sarah Sutton
Practice Areas, Background and Experience
Ms. Sutton presently serves as a Deputy City Attorney in the Litigation Division of the City Attorney's Office. She primarily practices in the area of tort defense and has taken to verdict over 50 jury trials. Prior to her assignment to the Litigation Division, Ms. Sutton was assigned to the Advisory Division, where she served as the City's police legal advisor. She has also practiced in the areas of land use, public works, public records, public meetings (Brown Act), and conflict of interest law.
Prior to joining the Huntington City Attorney's office in 1989, Ms. Sutton was a Deputy City Prosecutor for the City of Long Beach.
Professional Affiliations
Ms. Sutton is admitted to practice law in the state of California, and before the United States District Court for the Central District of California.
Education
Ms. Sutton is a graduate of the University of San Francisco School of Law (J.D.) and the University of California, Berkeley (B.A., Political Science); and is also certified in Mexican law from the Universidad Pano Americana in Mexico City, Mexico.
Daniel K. Ohl
Practice Areas, Background and Experience
Mr. Ohl presently serves as a Deputy City Attorney in the advisory division of the City Attorney’s Office. He practices primarily in the areas of police legal advisor, “Pitchess” motions, code enforcement, building and public works, and public records. Mr. Ohl also prosecutes violations of the City’s municipal code.
Prior to joining the City Attorney’s Office, Mr. Ohl was a Deputy City Attorney with the City of Newport Beach from 1994-2007. He handled all phases of civil litigation, including pre-trial discovery, law and motion, trial and appeal. He provided advisory services to the police and fire departments, city lifeguards, code enforcement, building, planning, community services and general services departments.
Professional Affiliations
Mr. Ohl is admitted to practice law in California, the United States District Courts for the Southern, Central, Eastern and Northern Districts, and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeal.
Education
Mr. Ohl is a graduate of McGeorge School of Law (J.D.) and California State University at Long Beach (B.A.Political Science).
P.O. Box 190
2000 Main Street
Huntington Beach, California 92648
Telephone (714) 536-5555 Fax (714) 374-1590