Quality Legal Counsel At Reasonable Rates
Bruce A. Kilday
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Biography
Mr. Kilday represents public entities and public employees in all types of cases including ADA litigation, dangerous conditions, and matters affecting school districts and teachers. A large percentage of Mr. Kilday's practice is focused on the representation of law enforcement personnel; from street level officers to elected officials in cases involving false arrest, excessive force, shootings, pursuit and everything in between. He creatively explores early resolution of cases and has been successful in getting a number of cases dismissed with a minimum of expense to the client. He has a fondness for humor which enhances his ability to communicate, and helps build effective rapport with clients, judges and juries. His associates respect his ability to communicate complicated issues in an approachable manner and address difficult situations with humor and empathy.
Prior to moving into civil practice, Mr. Kilday was in the District Attorney's Office for five years trying criminal cases including cases of robbery, rape, arson and the first consumer fraud case to go to trial. He has taught CEB courses for over 25 years (Depositions, Effective Direct & Cross-Exam) and has been the POST (Peace Officer Standards and Training) instructor for the Officer Involved Shootings course for Northern California for over 15 years. He has also been on the faculty of the Hastings College of Advocacy, a guest lecturer in the trial advocacy program and in civil rights classes at local law schools and several times a year is asked to speak at seminars and conferences, often in the area of police liability. Mr. Kilday was also elected to the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) in 2010.
In addition to Angelo, Kilday & Kilduff surviving years with Bruce as Managing Partner, he is most proud of his children, Elisabeth (who he says runs the Smithsonian) and Patrick (who is in a surgical practice in Sacramento), and his wife, Sue (a retired teacher with boundless patience). Mr. Kilday was relieved to finish a 4-day hike along the Inca Trail into Machu Picchu with his family in June, 2011.
Practice Areas:
- Civil Rights Litigation
- Police Liability Defense
- Employment Litigation
- Public Entity Defense
- Torts
Bar Admissions
- California, 1975
- U.S. Supreme Court, 1984
- U.S. Court of Appeals 9th Circuit, 1983
- U.S. District Court Eastern District of California
- U.S. District Court Northern District of California, 1995
Past Positions
- Bolling, Walter & Gawthrop, Partner, 1980 to 1997
- Sacramento County District Attorney, Deputy District Attorney, 1975 to 1980
- Sacramento Superior Court, Judges Robert Cole and Elvin Sheehy, Law Clerk, 1974 to 1975
Education
- McGeorge School of Law, University of the Pacific, Sacramento, California
- J.D., Doctor of Jurisprudence - 1975
- University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, California
- B.A., Bachelor of Arts - 1972
- Major: Economics
Honors
- Martindale-Hubbell Rating “AV” since 1996
- Named as one of Northern California’s “Super Lawyers” in the field of Constitutional Law – 2005, 2011-2020
- National Award for Program from American Inns of Court in 2012, 2005, 2001, and 1997
- Traynor Honor Society and Moot Court Honors Board
- ABOTA – elected to membership in 2010
- Jim Gilwee Civility Award for Exemplary Professionalism and Conduct in the Practice of Civil Law, 2017
Classes & Seminars
- Presenter on Police Practices at NCCSIF Police Chiefs Seminar, “You Can’t Make This Stuff Up: How to Assess Lawsuit Allegations, Defend the Case, and Live to Tell About It” Presenter for the California Association of Joint Powers Authorities, 2018
- Presenter at PARMA Annual Conference: “Officer Involved Shootings”, 2015
- Consultant with Calif. Dept. of Justice (P.O.S.T.) teaching legal portions of Officer Involved Shootings course, 1994 to Present
- Lecturer and Moderator for Calif. Continuing Education of the Bar (CEB) on Depositions and Effective Direct and Cross-Examination, 1983 to Present
- Presenter at PARMA Annual Conference on Interpreters and Law Enforcement: “New Obligations and Liability Risks”, 2006
- Consultant with California Peace Officers Association teaching legal portions of Officer Involved Shooting course, 2005
- Speaker at California State Sheriff’s Association – Correctional Facilities Administrator Seminar on Language Issues in the Correctional Setting and Recent Developments, 2005
- Speaker at Placer County Law Enforcement Association Retreat on Civil Liabilities: Present and Future Considerations, 2005
- Speaker at U.S. Attorney Law Enforcement Summit on Enforcement of Executive Order 13166, 2004
- Panelist at Litigation Avoidance and Risk Management Symposium for California Department of Corrections, 2003
- Panelist for Police Liability in California seminar for Lorman Education Services, 2002, 2004, 2011, & 2012
- Lecturer in Dealing with Informants course for Calif. Dept. of Justice (P.O.S.T.) and Lecturer on Sexual Harassment for Calif. Association of Work Experience Educators, 1999
- Taught Civil Liability, Sexual Harassment, and Employment Discrimination to Sacramento Police Department Supervisors, 1995
- Panelist on Labor Law Workshop sponsored by the Elk Grove Unified School District, 1994
- Taught course on Civil Liability in Advanced Officer Training to Sacramento Police Department, Placerville Police Department, and West Sacramento Police Department, 1991
- Faculty of Hastings College of Advocacy, San Francisco, CA, 1988 – 1989
Published Works
- To Test Breath or Blood, That Is the Question
- The Importance of Immediacy: A Discussion of the Narrow Set of Circumstances that Could Support the Warrantless Removal of a Child
- Current Case Law on Use of Tasers
Representative Cases
- Moreno v. City of Galt (2017) Sacramento Superior Court Case No. 34-2014-00163760
- Haught v. City of Anderson (E.D. Cal. 2017) 11-CV-01653 — Settlement
- Ballard et. al v. City of West Sacramento et. al (E.D. Cal. 2016) — Settlement
- Biscotti v. City of Yuba, et al. (E.D Cal. May 2013) 2:11-CV-01347— Summary Judgment
- Gutierrez v. County of Yolo (2012) Eastern District of California No. 2:10-cv-01142 — Trial
- Moua v. Chico et al (E.D. Cal. 2004) 324 F. Supp. 2d 1132 — Summary Judgment
- Ford v. Ramirez-Palmer et al (9th Cir. 2002) 301 F. 3d 1043 — Summary Judgment
- Davis v. City of Sacramento (3d DCA1994) 24 Cal. App. 4th 393 — Trial
- Orozco v. Yolo et al (E.D. CA 1993) 814 F. Supp. 885 — Settlement
- Sullivan v. Sacramento (3d DCA 1987,) 190 Cal. App. 3d 1070 — Demurrer, Affirmed on Appeal
Professional Associations and Memberships
- Sacramento Bar Association, Member
- State Bar of California, Member
- American Bar Association – Litigation Section; Civil Rights Litigation Committee
- American Inns of Court, Member
- Defense Research Institute, Member
- California Continuing Education of the Bar, Lecturer, 1983 to 1993
- Anthony M. Kennedy American Inns of Court – Master of the Bench since 1992
- American Board of Trial Advocates