Experience

Richard Capella is a partner in the Westlake Village office of Musick, Peeler & Garrett LLP. His trial experience includes defending private and public entities in tort liability claims. The primary focus of Mr. Capella’s practice includes complex civil litigation; professional liability; and construction law, including defending the construction industry in episodic losses involving substantial injuries, loss of life and extensive property damage; contract and defect claims; contract analysis, risk management and mechanics lien law.

Mr. Capella acted as counsel in the following reported cases: Sanchez v. Swinerton & Walberg, Co., 47 Cal.App. 4th 1461; 55 Cal.Rptr. 2d 415 (1996) and First Nationwide Bank v. Mountain Cascade, Inc., 77 Cal.App. 4th 871, 92 Cal.Rptr. 2d 145 (2000).

Mr. Capella is admitted to practice before all California state courts, as well as the United States District Courts for the Central, Eastern, Northern and Southern Districts of California and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.

Mr. Capella is a member of the Los Angeles County Bar Association and the American Bar Association. He has also participated in the following seminars:

• Panelist on the subject of “Rebuilding California’s Infrastructure: The Impacts for Civil Engineers”, at the Civil Engineers’ Summit and Expo, in Universal City, Ca., on April 21, 2009.
   
• Panelist on the subject of "Construction Issues & Delay Claims," at the MC Consultants 7th Annual Seminar at Squaw Creek, June 6-7, 2003, Squaw Valley/Lake Tahoe, CA.
   
• Panelist on the subject of "Conflict Prevention and Avoidance in Construction Contract Management," at the Avoiding and Resolving Construction Claims for the Construction Industry Professionals and Attorneys seminar, presented by the Los Angeles County Bar Association in Los Angeles, California, December, 2002.
   
• Panelist on the subject of  "Construction Management/Design-Build in California," hosted by Lorman Education Services, in Santa Monica, California, November, 2002.

Education

• California State University, San Francisco, B.A., cum laude, 1980
• San Fernando Valley College of Law, J.D., 1986

Bar Admissions

• State Bar of California