Kurt F. Vote
Concentrating in Commercial and Business Litigation with an emphasis in Construction Dispute and Defect, Creditors’ Rights/Managed Assets, Partnership and Business Dissolutions, and Real Property Litigation.
Education
- Juris Doctor, 1992
University of Southern California Gould School of Law (Chair, Hale Moot Court Honors Program; Finalist and Best Brief, Hale Moot Court Honors Program; Director and Member, USC Law Center National Moot Court Competition Team) - Bachelor of Science, Civil Engineering, 1989
University of California at Irvine (magna cum laude)
(University of California Regents Scholar, Tau Beta Pi, Engineer of the Year)
Experience
- Wanger Jones Helsley PC – Fresno, CA
Shareholder - 2011 – present - McCormick Barstow, Sheppard, Wayte & Carruth LLP – Fresno, CA
Partner, 1998-2011, Associate – 1992-1997
Litigation Practice Group Chair – 2005-2011
Business Litigation Department Chair – 1999-2005
Mr. Vote has litigated numerous court and jury trials to verdict throughout the San Joaquin Valley and has successfully argued before the Fifth District Court of Appeal.
Mr. Vote’s civil engineering degree has made him well-suited to represent clients with a wide range of construction dispute and construction defect concerns, including: residential and commercial contract disputes; construction defect claims; stop notices; payment and performance bond claims; mechanic’s liens and Miller Act claims; architects’ and engineers’ malpractice; and construction delay and disruption disputes. He regularly participates in mediations, arbitrations, and trials of all types of construction claims.
Mr. Vote regularly represents creditors in state and federal courts, including the United States Bankruptcy Court. Mr. Vote is retained by private clients and commercial lenders in matters involving collection litigation; obtaining appointments of receivers; challenging dischargeability of claims; litigating disputes under the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (“PACA”); negotiating and documenting forbearance agreements, credit modifications, and workouts; real property and personal property foreclosures; negotiating and contesting proposed plans under Chapters 11, 12 and 13; enforcement of judgments; defense of preference actions; prosecution of fraudulent transfer claims; enforcement of guarantees; and other creditors’ remedies.
Professional Associations
Mr. Vote is admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court, all California state courts, and the United States District Court for the Northern, Eastern, and Southern Districts of California. He is a member of the American Bar Association and the Fresno County Bar Association. He is also a Fee Arbitrator as part of the Fresno County Bar Association’s Fee Arbitration program. In addition, he is a member of the Federal Bar Association and has been invited to attend the Eastern District Conference each year since 1995. Mr. Vote has been recognized numerous times as a “Super Lawyer” by Super Lawyers magazine.
Community Involvement
Mr. Vote is a member of the Board of Trustees of the California State Parks Foundation, a past member of the Board of Directors of the Fresno/Madera County Building Industry Association, and past President of the Board of Governors of the San Joaquin Valley Chapter of the Association of Business Trial Lawyers. Mr. Vote is the past Chair of the Board of Directors of the Fresno County Chapter of the American Diabetes Association and is past Chair of the Board of Directors of the Western Region of the American Diabetes Association. He is also the past Chair of the Board of Directors of the Infant of Prague Adoption Service.