Overview

Dr. Shannon Petersen is an experienced trial attorney who assists clients in complex disputes including class action defense. He also regularly advises clients on consumer compliance. 

Areas of Practice

Shannon has successfully represented clients in claims involving:

  • Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA)
  • Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) and California Rosenthal Act
  • Fair Credit Reporting Acting (FCRA) and California Consumer Credit Reporting Agencies Act (CCRAA)
  • California's Unfair Competition Law (UCL)
  • California’s Consumers Legal Remedies Act (CLRA)
  • California’s Automatic Renewal Law (ARL)
  • Privacy and call recording statutes
  • Automobile Sales Finance Act (ASFA or Rees-Levering)
  • Truth in Lending Act (TILA)
  • Other business claims, including breach of contract, breach of lease agreements, misappropriation of trade secrets, defamation, unfair business practices, false advertising, fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, negligence, wrongful foreclosure or repossession, unfair debt collection, unfair credit reporting, quiet title, unjust enrichment, etc.

Shannon represents clients in a variety of industries, including healthcare, financial services, real estate and property management, retail, and others.

Experience

Experience

Representative Clients

  • Kaiser
  • HelloFresh
  • San Diego County Credit Union
  • National University
  • Cotiviti

Recent Litigation Successes

  • $10 million victory following arbitration in complex breach of contract dispute.
  • Defeated motion for class certification.
  • Won several motions for summary judgement.
  • Dismissals of many TCPA privacy class actions following motions.
  • Obtained nearly $8 million in settlement for a plaintiff business in a misappropriation of trade secrets case.
  • Obtained terminating sanctions and default judgment against a defendant in a defamation case for destroying evidence.
  • Defeated class certification and obtained outright dismissal in late fee class action.
  • Compelled arbitration and enforced a class action waiver in many cases.

Honors

Honors

2019-2021, Recommended by The Legal 500 US for Cyber Law

2013, Certificate Of Recognition for Pro Bono Services from the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California

2008, Recognized as a "Top Young Attorney" in San Diego by The Daily Transcript

2007, 2003, and 2002, California Bar Association Wiley Manuel Award for Pro Bono Legal Services

2003, Nominee, California Bar Association President's Pro Bono Service Award, Recently Admitted Category

2002-2003, San Diego Volunteer Lawyer Program Distinguished Service Award

1992, Honorable Discharge, U.S. Navy, Russian linguist

Insights

Articles

Books

  • Author, Acting for Endangered Species: The Statutory Ark, Development of Western Resources Series, Kansas University Press, 2002 (hardcover), and 2007 (paperback). Favorably reviewed by The Journal of American History (June 2003); History: Reviews of New Books (Summer 2003); Perspectives on Political Science (Summer 2003); Environmental History (April 2003); Stanford Environmental Law Journal (January 2003); Animal Keeper's Forum (2003); and Choice (December 2002)
  • Contributor, Dictionary of American History, Third Edition, Charles Scribner's Sons, 2002. Contributed essays on the Clean Air Act of 1990, the Clean Water Act of 1987, the Occupational Safety and Health Act, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Sierra Club and the Highway Beautification Act
  • Co-author, The Endangered Species Act, Stanford University Press, 2001

Speaking Engagements

  • Presenter, “A Deep Dive Into The TCPA,” MCLE presentation, October 11, 2023
  • Co-Presenter, “TCPA and CAN-SPAM Act: Understanding and Mitigating Risks in the Healthcare Setting,” MCLE presentation, August 2, 2022
  • Presenter, “Alcoholism and the Legal Profession,” various groups including the Association of Corporate Counsel, Virtual, Spring and Summer 2021
  • Presenter, “Company Killers: Trends in Class Action Risk Factors and How to Mitigate,” National Apartment Association Legal Symposium, Virtual, November 18, 2020
  • Presenter, “What You Need To Know About Attorney Client Privilege,” Dallas, TX, October 2019
  • Presenter, “The Telephone Consumer Protection Act,” Long Beach, CA, September, 2016
  • Presenter, “What Does The Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) Mean For Financial Institutions?” Long Beach, CA, January, 2016
  • Presenter, "Effective Arbitration," The Association of Business Trial Lawyers, San Diego, CA, September 2014
  • Organizer and Presenter, Association of Business Trial Lawyers Trial Skills Seminar, San Diego, CA, October 2012, 2010, and 2008
  • Speaker, Continuing Legal Education Presentation on Receiverships, San Diego, CA, August 2008
  • Shannon has taught courses at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and the University of Montana, Missoula

Events

Memberships

Memberships

American Financial Services Association

Pro Se Panel of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California

Association of Business Trial Lawyers, San Diego (former member of Board of Governors)

Editorial Board of the Association of Business Trial Lawyers Report, San Diego (former)

Barrister, Louis M. Welsh Chapter of the American Inns of Court (former)

State Bar of California and San Diego County Bar Association

Digital Media

Education

Ph.D., University of Wisconsin, 2000

J.D., Stanford Law School, 2000, with distinction

M.A., University of Montana, 1995

Fulbright Fellow, Université de Saint-Louis, Sénégal, 1994

B.A., University of Montana, 1993, with high honors

Defense Language Institute, 1991, Top Graduate (Russian)

Admissions

  • California
  • U.S. District Courts for the Southern, Central, Northern and Eastern Districts of California

Languages

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