“What happens to one happens to us all. … All flourishing is mutual.”

Robin Wall Kimmerer, Braiding Sweetgrass

Curtis Carll ยท San Diego Attorney

Civil litigation support for solo lawyers and small firms.

A critical motion. A complex brief. An upcoming trial. Curtis Carll helps you turn difficult legal issues into clear, persuasive arguments.

About

A San Diego litigator.

He has practiced in San Diego his entire career, starting at Latham & Watkins, then a boutique trial firm and Solomon Ward, before opening his own firm here in 2016. For five years, he ran a solo practice representing employees and some small businesses. For the last five years, he has worked primarily behind the scenes for other firms, preparing motions and briefs, helping with trial preparation, and advising on strategy. Along the way, he has continued to take on select clients of his own.

Curtis also represents employees in select matters.

And he takes on pro bono cases involving causes he cares deeply about.

Track record

Results.

Counsel of record

  1. Mackey v. Bank of America, N.A.
    California Court of Appeal · No. D071039 · 2017

    As sole appellate counsel for a homeowner, reversed the dismissal of her case against the bank, reviving her claims on appeal.

  2. Confidential arbitration
    JAMS · Rule 18 · 2018

    Defended an individual against an investor’s contract claim, winning summary disposition on the threshold issues under JAMS Rule 18 and defeating a claim for a substantial sum without a full hearing.

  3. A student’s special-education case
    Cal. Office of Administrative Hearings · pro bono · 2019

    For a family taking on their school district, secured the services their child needed and waived the fees the district would otherwise have owed.

  4. Koehler v. Dexcom, Inc.
    San Diego Superior Court · No. 37-2018-00028454-CU-WT-CTL · 2020

    For a terminated employee, defeated the employer’s motion for summary judgment; the case then resolved.

  5. Employees, paid before suit
    Confidential settlements · 2018–2021

    Secured settlements for employees in disputes with their employers, each resolved before any lawsuit was filed.

Behind the scenes

Brought in by other firms to help on high-stakes matters.

  1. Post-trial motions
    California Superior Court · 2025

    Helped defend a jury verdict for an individual, opposing the post-trial motions that sought to overturn it.

  2. Homeowners v. their HOA
    California Superior Court · 2026

    Contributed to defeating the HOA’s motion for summary judgment.

  3. A high-stakes business dispute
    California Superior Court · 2024–2025

    Worked with the trial team to defeat the opposing party’s motion for summary judgment, and suggested the anti-SLAPP motion the client brought and won.

  4. Employment & harassment matters
    Pre-trial motions · 2022–2026

    Assisted a plaintiffs’ class-action firm with the dispositive and in-limine motions on its employment and harassment matters; the cases settled on the eve of trial.

Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome; every matter turns on its own facts.

Curtis Carll and his family among the redwoods at Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park
Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park

How I practice

Nearly twenty years of civil litigation have taught me that advocacy can be forceful and still be honorable. The work calls for thorough preparation, clear arguments, and the judgment to know when to press hard and when to listen. It also calls for respect for the people across the table, even when the disagreement is fierce. The law should serve everyone who turns to it. In my work with firms and solo practitioners, I’ve found that approach isn’t just the decent one. It’s been the effective one.

What happens to one happens to us all. …

All flourishing is mutual.

Robin Wall Kimmerer
Braiding Sweetgrass