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Donald W. Detisch
detischlaw@sbcglobal.net
Donald W. Detisch has practiced law for over thirty-four (34)
years. He is “AV” rated, and is cited as a Preeminent Attorney in the United States
by Martindale-Hubbell. He graduated from Pennsylvania State
University in 1963 and
from Hastings College of Law in 1970. After graduation from Penn State
and prior to attending law school, Mr. Detisch worked as a claims adjuster
with Liberty Mutual Insurance Company (Los Angeles);
thereafter, he served as a United States Naval Officer with two Vietnam
tours. Mr. Detisch’s practice is primarily devoted to real estate, land
use, eminent domain, property damage cases, and general civil litigation.
Mr. Detisch served as a Deputy City Attorney for the City of San Diego from 1971 to
1983. After serving as a prosecutor for approximately one year, Mr.
Detisch transferred to the City Attorney’s Civil Litigation Division.
He worked in the Civil Litigation Division until he entered private practice
in 1983. While he was with the City, Mr. Detisch handled almost all of
the City’s eminent domain cases. He also handled numerous real estate
property damage cases, including land subsidence and major water
damage. He was the Deputy City Attorney who handled the Ektelon
v. City of San Diego case.
Mr. Detisch is experienced in all phases of municipal law, real
estate (with an emphasis on eminent domain), and all areas of civil
litigation. Mr. Detisch was trial counsel for the agency in CDC
of National City v. Asaro, 212 Cal.App.3d 1297(1989), which was the
second appellate case rendered in California
regarding loss of business goodwill. In the environmental area, Mr.
Detisch tried The City of San Diego v. San Diego County LAFCO,
81 Cal.3d 464, 146 Cal Rptr. 400 (1978). In addition to the numerous
cases he tried as a Deputy City Attorney, Mr. Detisch has tried over thirty
(30) civil jury cases to a verdict. He has also tried numerous criminal
and bench trials.
Mr. Detisch is currently handling eminent domain matters for the
Redevelopment Agency for the City of San Diego (CCDC), and the Community
Development Commission for the City of National
City for its Harbor Redevelopment Project. Mr.
Detisch has represented redevelopment agencies, cities, and other public
entities including the City of San Diego, City of Rancho Mirage, City of San
Marcos, City of National City, the San Diego County Water Authority, Helix
Water District, the San Diego Unified Port District, the City of Oceanside,
the City of San Diego Housing Commission, Sweetwater Authority, and the City
of Poway. He has also represented various private parties, including National
Steel and Shipbuilding.
Mr. Detisch has been Chairman of the Eminent Domain Section of
the San Diego County Bar Association on seven (7) occasions, and is currently
the Chairman. He also served as the Chairman of the Eminent Domain
Section of the Land Use Committee of the National Institute of Municipal
Legal Offices (NIMLO). He served as Chairman of the Eminent Domain
Section of the Land Use Committee of the Continuing Legal Education of the
Bar (C.E.B.), for whom he has lectured on flood damage, land subsidence and
environmental law. Mr. Detisch served as an adjunct faculty member at Cal. Western
Law School
in environmental law, and as an instructor at the San Diego Inns of
Court. In June 1998 and 2000, Mr. Detisch was a CLE International and
Lorman Lecturer in Eminent Domain. Mr. Detisch has acted as an
arbitrator for the American Arbitration Association, and is presently a San
Diego County Superior Court mediator and arbitrator. Mr. Detisch has
been cited in the Use of Land, a task force report
sponsored by the Rockefeller Brothers Education Fund (1973).
Don’s hobbies include all types of sports. He particularly
enjoys flyfishing, and is also a music enthusiast.
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