Mark J. Hilliard
Mark is an associate and trial attorney in HPTY's San Francisco office. Civil litigation has been the primary focus of Mark’s legal career, and he has extensive experience handling high-stakes cases involving:
- Complex product and premises liability;
- Toxic tort causes of action and asbestos;
- Mass transit tort litigation; and
- Commercial and business matters.
Through hard work, precise and detailed case management, and the implementation of result-oriented yet cost-effective defense strategy, Mark has consistently achieved favorable results for his clients, including Fortune 500 companies and small businesses alike. In particular, Mark has succeeded on both the state and federal levels, and in California and throughout the country in the following areas:
Product & Premises Liability
Mark has experience representing the suppliers and manufacturers of allegedly defective consumer products, including vehicles and vehicle components, tires, sporting goods, and medical products, among others. He has also represented clients involved in premises liability lawsuits and in warranty litigation. Mark’s experience includes preparing for and assisting in trying multi-million dollar personal injury and catastrophic wrongful death cases, many involving punitive damages allegations. He is also responsible for advising clients on economically prudent, docket-wide case handling strategies.
Toxic Tort & Asbestos-Related Litigation
Mark has successfully defended numerous automotive, friction, construction, naval, and industrial machinery suppliers and manufacturers in mesothelioma and cancer cases, many of which are made more challenging by expedited trial dates. Mark’s achievements include winning summary judgment, discovery, evidentiary, expert, jurisdictional, and procedural motions. Mark has also obtained early, no-pay dismissals in contested liability cases by using creative and pointed discovery, deposition, and litigation tactics. On several occasions, and on the behalves of several clients, Mark has earned monetary sanctions against opposing counsel for abusive discovery tactics. Overall, Mark has a well-earned reputation as an ethical, aggressive litigator of both personal injury and wrongful death toxic tort cases.
Mass Transit Tort Litigation
Mark assisted in coordinating, defending, and resolving litigation arising from the 2002 train accident that occurred in Placentia, California when a Metrolink commuter train and a BNSF freight train collided head-on. While working on these high profile cases, Mark gained valuable experience defending cases with psychological damages allegations.
Business Litigation
Mark has represented and advised clients in contract disputes and general liability cases. He has assisted in developing global case handling policies for regional and nation-wide litigation dockets, always while emphasizing the importance of overall lawsuit prevention. Throughout his career, Mark has forged strong relationships and team alliances with his clients and their national counsel to ensure client satisfaction and optimal results.
Professional affiliations
- State Bar of California (2007-present)
- United States District Court for the Central District of California (2007-present)
- American Bar Association (2007-present)
- San Francisco Bar Association (2011-present)
- Los Angeles Bar Association (2007-2011)
- Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce (2010-2011)
Articles and publications
Practice areas
Education
J.D., University of Dayton School of Law, 2006
- University of Dayton Law Review
- Member, Sports & Entertainment Law Society
- Volunteer, Student Lawyer Project
- Volunteer, Voluntary Income Tax Assistance Program
B.S., Business Administration, Saint Louis University, 2002
Bar admissions
- California
Courts
- All California State and Superior Courts
- United States District Court for the Central District of California