About the Authors
ALICE L. AKAWIE, A.B., 1975, University of California, Berkeley; J.D., 1979, University of California College of the Law, San Francisco. Ms. Akawie is a principal at Marshall Akawie & La Piedra, P.C., Oakland.
OSCAR H. BEASLEY, B.A., 1949, University of Omaha; J.D., 1950, University of Iowa. Mr. Beasley is Senior Vice President and Senior Title Counsel with First American Title Insurance Company, Santa Ana.
MARJORIE FLOYD BURCHETT, B.A., 1981, University of California, San Diego; J.D., 1985, University of California College of the Law, San Francisco. Ms. Burchett is a partner at Luce, Forward, Hamilton & Scripps, San Diego.
DENA M. CRUZ, B.A., 1979, University of California, Santa Barbara; J.D., 1985, Santa Barbara College of Law. Ms. Cruz is senior counsel with Bryan Cave LLP, San Francisco.
PAUL E. FLORES, B.A., University of California, Santa Barbara; J.D., 1978, University of Southern California Gould School of Law. Mr. Flores is vice president and underwriting counsel for the Fidelity National Title Group (FNTG) of title insurers and the Fidelity National Title Insurance, Chicago Title Insurance, and Commonwealth Land Title Insurance companies. He also serves as the National e-Recording Legal Counsel for the Fidelity National family of title insurers. Mr. Flores has served as senior claims counsel and as an underwriter since 1982. He manages Fidelity’s Underwriting Office in Irvine and is an underwriter covering Fidelity’s title operations in Arizona, California, and Nevada. He is Chairperson of the Forms Section of the California Land Title Association (CLTA) Forms and Practices Committee. He has also been featured as a panelist at seminars sponsored by CLTA, CEB, and FNTG.
THEODORE R. FORREST, JR., B.S., 1973, Northeastern State College; J.D., 1977, San Joaquin College of the Law. Mr. Forrest practiced with Forrest & McLaughlin, Fresno.
CHARLES A. HANSEN, B.A., 1973, University of California, Los Angeles; J.D., 1977, University of California, Berkeley, School of Law. Mr. Hansen is a partner with Wendel, Rosen, Black & Dean, Oakland.
REBECCA U. LITTENEKER, B.S., 1979, University of Utah; J.D., 1983, University of California College of the Law, San Francisco. Ms. Litteneker is Special Counsel with Severson & Werson, San Francisco.
ROD PASION, B.A., 1978, San Jose State University; J.D., 1981, Santa Clara University. Mr. Pasion is Vice President and Associate Regional Counsel with Chicago Title Company, San Francisco.
EDWARD S. RUSKY, B.A., 1968, University of California, Los Angeles; J.D., 1971, University of California, Berkeley, School of Law. Mr. Rusky is Vice President and Associate Regional Counsel with Chicago Title Company, San Francisco.
JAMES T. STRAW, B.A., 1973, University of California, Los Angeles; J.D., 1977, Southwestern University. Mr. Straw is a partner with Bardellini, Straw & Cavin, San Ramon.
TIMOTHY R. SULLIVAN, B.A., 1983, and J.D., 1986, University of Missouri, Columbia. Mr. Sullivan is a partner with McLaughlin Sullivan LLP, Fresno.
DAVID V. WESTCOTT, B.S., 1974, Pacific Union College; J.D., 1977, University of California, Berkeley, School of Law. Mr. Westcott is Vice President and Regional Counsel with First American Title Insurance Company, Sacramento.
About the 2023 Update Authors
GERALD W. CHALMERS, update author of chapters 5, 8A, and 9, is Vice-President and Assistant General Counsel with Placer Title Company and Mother Lode Holding Company in Roseville. With a background in title insurance underwriting and escrow, he is a 30-year veteran in the industry.
DENA M. CRUZ, an original author and update author of chapters 6–8, is an associate senior underwriter at Stewart Title Guaranty Company, San Francisco. Ms. Cruz worked for over 15 years in the title insurance industry, and her practice is primarily focused on transactional real estate matters. She is a former partner at Berding Weil LLP, Walnut Creek, a former Chair of the International Law Section of the California State Bar, a former Chair of the Council of State Bar Sections, and a former Vice Chair of the Real Property Section of the State Bar. She is also a former president of Commercial Real Estate Women of San Francisco (CREWSF), and a former Regent of the American College of Mortgage Attorneys, where she was the editor of its biannual journal. Ms. Cruz received her B.A. from the University of California, Santa Barbara, in 1979 and her J.D. from Santa Barbara College of Law in 1985.
STEPHANIE GOLDSTEIN, update co-author of chapters 1–4, is a partner at Schorr Law, APC in Los Angeles. Ms. Goldstein is a seasoned litigator with Schorr Law’s real estate litigation team and also acts as general counsel for a homeowner’s association. She obtained her B.A. in Psychology from the University of Southern California, and her J.D. from Loyola Law School, Los Angeles, where she was a member of the International Law Review.
ZACHARY D. SCHORR, update co-author of chapters 1–4, is the founder and lead trial attorney at Schorr Law, APC in Los Angeles. Mr. Schorr is known as one of the top real estate attorneys the United States, with numerous national publications and speaking engagements to his name. He earned his B.A. in Political Science, cum laude, from the University of California, Los Angeles, and his J.D. from the University of California, Davis, School of Law. Mr. Schorr is frequently called on for his expertise in real estate litigation matters throughout California.
TIMOTHY R. SULLIVAN, an original author and update author of chapters 11–14, is a partner with McCormick, Barstow LLP, Fresno. Mr. Sullivan is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA), was President of the Fresno County Bar Association (2011), and served on its Board of Directors from 2005 to 2012. He served on the Executive Committee of the State Bar of California’s Real Property Law Section from 2007 to 2010. Mr. Sullivan received the “Spirit of CEB” Award in 2011 and is a co-author of chapters regarding insurance coverage and bad faith litigation for five other CEB publications. He received his B.A. and J.D. from the University of Missouri at Columbia.
