Mark P. Iezza

Mark Patrick Iezza is a partner and trial attorney with Klein, Hockel, Iezza & Patel, P.C. ("KHIP") and specializes in civil litigation. Mark focuses on litigating employment, commercial, ADA/Unruh, and class action disputes. He also provides advice and counsel in all areas of labor and employment - he believes that staying ahead of the game is the best way to reduce the risk and exposure of litigation which is expensive and extremely distracting for businesses. Litigated matters include discrimination, harassment and retaliation claims under FEHA and Title VII, as well as alleged wage and hour, meal/rest break and other labor code violations. Mark also represents employers in responding to charges brought by current or former employees in from the the Department of Fair Employment and Housing, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, National Labor Relations Board and other state administrative agencies across the country. Mark has extensive experience defending class actions in both state and federal courts in labor and employment, disability access and false advertising matters.

Mark also specializes in representing victims who have suffered catastrophic injuries arising out of motor vehicle, pedestrian, bicycle and motorcycle accidents, and medical malpractice as well as injuries sustained on the premises of others and from defective products. His clients include wrongful death heirs and surviving family members.

Prior to joining KHIP, Mark was a partner at the McNamara, Ney, et al. firm in Walnut Creek, California, handling general litigation, personal injury and employment matters.

Mark has been recognized from 2011-2020 as a Super Lawyer - Young Rising Star, which is reserved for the top 2.5% of attorneys who are under 40 years old and in their first 10 years of practice who have attained a high-degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. In 2021, Mark was honored with a Super Lawyer designation.

Email MARK P. IEZZA for further information.

Education

University of California, Davis, 2002, Dean's List
Golden Gate University, School of Law, 2005, Cum Laude

admissions

Admitted to practice law before all state and federal courts in California, December 2005
Admitted pro hac vice in Illinois, Nebraska and Utah.

successes

Mark has handled employment matters, product liability cases for product manufacturers and retailers, wrongful death, personal injury, commercial liability, contract disputes and other civil matters.
He has multiple cases to verdict on his own. In 2012, he defended a claim of a traumatic brain injury with complicated excess insurance exposure issues, and a claim of $258,950 in medical special damages, which resulted in a total verdict of $3,398.24 awarded by the jury. Mark sought to recover over $62,000 in fees and costs for his client. Mark also tried a bench trial in the spring of 2013 to judgment. Prior to trying cases on his own, Mark second-chaired multiple trial.
Mark and partner, Thomas Hockel, recently tried a case involving cause of action for wrongful termination based on a disability and intentional infliction of emotional distress. Defendants made a CCP Section 998 offer for $1,000,000 which Plaintiff failed to accept prior to trial. Liability was already established in a prior trial. Plaintiff requested $18,000,000 in compensatory and general damages. Defendants asked the jury to issue a verdict for $295,000. The jury returned a verdict of $321,000. Following trial, Defendants file a motion to recover over $98,000 in costs incurred for Plaintiff's failure to accept the Section 998 offer and then failing to obtain a more favorable result at trial.
Defeated class certification in a case involving alleged false advertising in violation of the California Legal Remedies Act, False Advertising Law and Business and Profession Code Section 17200.
Mark has resolved hundreds of cases by way of mediation, court mandated settlement conferences and through arbitration.
He has deposed over 500 individuals including plaintiffs, corporate officers, police officers, percipient witnesses, treating physician, psychologists and expert witnesses.
Mark has appeared for and argued many motions in both state and federal courts.
His litigation practice has brought him all over the United States and he had the opportunity to travel to Dubai and India for depositions in 2010. He has been admitted pro hac vice in Utah, Nebraska, Nevada and New York.
In law school, Mark was a Judicial Extern to the Honorable Raymond Giordano, then judge in Sonoma County Superior Court.

presentations

San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association, August 19, 2014 - Discovery: Swords & Shields
RIMS - Golden Gate Chapter, March 16, 2017 - How to Fire Someone - Reducing the Risks of Termination
Why EPLI in California is a No Brainer - 2019 EPLI Claims Presentation

hobbies and interests

Family and friends, working out, skiing, domestic and international travel.
Mark is a Bay Area native. He and his wife enjoy living in Marin County.
Mark is a volunteer and provides pro bono advice and counseling to staff attorneys at Open Door Legal (formerly Bayview Hunters Point Community Legal), a non-profit entity that provides access to legal representation to those in San Francisco who can't afford it.