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OLIVER W. WANGER

Attorney

OLIVER W.
WANGER

Hon. Oliver W. Wanger (Ret.) is a former United States District Judge (1991-2011); sat by designation as United States Court of Appeal (9th Circuit) Judge; and former Pro Tem Trial and Settlement Judge, Superior Court of California, Fresno County. He is a co-founder, former Dean, Chair of the Board of Trustees, President and Adjunct Professor of Law at San Joaquin College of Law, Fresno, California (1970-1994, 2011). United States Marine Corps Reserve (1960-1967).

Oliver W. Wanger

REPRESENTATIVE MATTERS

  • As a judge, Mr. Wanger’s caseload included state diversity and federal complex business and commercial disputes and trials, all nature of employment cases, termination and discrimination, insurance coverage and bad faith, water law, environmental law, copyright, patent, and trademark cases, financial institution, labor and employment cases, securities, and constitutional torts cases and class actions. Mr. Wanger has managed, heard and decided antitrust, construction defects, intellectual property, agri-business PACA and AMAA cases, and class actions in labor and employment, civil rights, mass torts, as well as creditor’s and debtor’s rights and bankruptcy appeals.
  • White collar crime experience includes career criminal enterprises, money laundering, securities fraud, Racketeering Influenced Corrupt Organization (RICO) crimes, public corruption, internet fraud, organized criminal groups, bank, mail, and wire fraud; conspiracies, and violent crimes, among others.
  • Mr. Wanger has tried or presided over more than 600 jury trials to verdict in State and Federal Courts. He has heard and decided myriad cases involving: water rights and drainage entitlements; environmental law, including cases under CERCLA, the ESA, NEPA, RCRA, and the Clean Air & Clean Water Acts, as well as government tort claims arising out of lawsuits among the U.S. Department of the Interior, its Bureau of Reclamation; the California Department of Water Resources; water districts; private and municipal and industrial water users; power generators; other federal and state water contractors; and environmental groups litigating the allocation and use of federal and state contracted water. Many of these decisions have been reviewed in the Court of Appeals and some in the United States Supreme Court.

Admissions

Education

  • Colorado School of Mines
  • University of Southern California B.S.
  • University of California (Boalt Hall) LLB
  • Former San Joaquin College of Law Adjunct Professor of Law:  Trial Practice, Civil Procedure, Criminal Trial and Criminal Procedure, Constitutional Torts, Federal Courts, Remedies, Real Property

HONORS & PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS

Mr. Wanger’s achievements as a trial lawyer have gained him:

  • Fellowship in the American College of Trial Lawyers;
  • Fellowship in the International Academy of Trial Lawyers;
  • American Board of Trial Advocates (President of San Joaquin Valley Chapter and a National Director);
  • Litigation Counsel of America (rank of Centurion) (Emeritus);
  • Founder Diplomat of the American Board of Professional Liability Attorneys;
  • A former Certified Civil Trial Specialist by the National Board of Trial Advocacy;
  • Founder and first President of San Joaquin Valley Inns of Court;
  • National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals;
  • Teacher of the Year, San Joaquin College of Law.

 

AWARDS:

  • U.S. Congressional Tribute (2011);
  • American Board of Trial Advocates Civility Award for Integrity, Professionalism and Civility (2018);
  • Top 100 Lawyers 2016-2021, Top 100 Registry, multi-practice law;
  • Los Angeles Daily Journal Top 100 Lawyers (2008);
  • Northern California Super Lawyers and Top 100 (2012-Present);
  • Marquis Who’s Who Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award for Career Longevity and Demonstrated Unwavering Excellence (2018);
  • Humanitarian Award (2019)
  • Benchmark Litigation California, Litigation Star; Environmental/Land Use/Water Rights, Noted Star (2018-2020)
  • Top 100 Registry Business Leaders and Professionals; 2020 Professional of the Year; 2019 Attorney of the Year; 2018 Professional of the Year in Recognition of Outstanding Efforts and Achievements; 2019 Lifetime Achievement Award in Recognition of Exemplary Accomplishments and Contributions in the Field of Law;
  • America’s Most Honored Professionals Top 1% (2016-2021);
  • America’s Top 100 Attorneys Lifetime Achievement Northern California 2017;
  • Teacher of the Year Award, San Joaquin College of Law, Fresno, where he served as Dean of the Law School (1980-82);
  • President and Chair of Board of Trustees (1983-1995);
  • NAACP Image Award (2005);
  • Central California Legal Services Champion of Justice (2006);
  • FCBA Witkin Lifetime Achievement Award (2012);
  • Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent 5.0/5.0 legal competence/integrity;
  • Beta Gamma Sigma (Business Honorary Society); and
  • Phi Alpha Delta Legal Society (Honorary Member).