Nichole Mendoza graduated from San Diego State University in 2008 with a double major in Political Science and History. In 2010, she graduated from California Western School of Law and was admitted to the California Bar in June of 2011. Ms. Mendoza brings 14 years of experience serving low-income people with disabilities to Auto Fraud Legal Center. Her past achievements include obtaining a reversal and remand from the Ninth Circuit without need for oral argument in a case disputing the Social Security Administration’s denial of her client’s public benefits; and, representing people with disabilities in class actions and other impact litigation to advance the rights of unhoused people and tenants with disabilities in San Diego and across California.

Associate attorney Michelle A. Cook received her undergraduate degree from California State University, Fullerton (B.A., cum laude, Business Administration, 2014), where she was recognized on the Dean’s List. She received her law degree from California Western School of Law (J.D., magna cum laude, 2017), where she was recognized on the Dean’s List and as a Student of Distinction. During law school, she worked as a research assistant to Professors Leslie P. Culver and Arthur W. Campbell. Ms. Cook is a member of the California State Bar.

Samantha Greene, a founding partner of Sevens Legal and native of California, is a Certified Criminal Law Specialist with over 20 years of experience defending clients in complex and high-stakes criminal cases. As an award-winning San Diego criminal defense attorney, she has successfully handled thousands of cases, earning a reputation as a compassionate leader and skilled advocate for justice.

Jeffrey Spencer founded the Spencer Law Firm in 2000 with the goal of helping individuals who need legal representation in complex litigation against large corporations and insurance companies. Since that time the Spencer Law Firm has recovered over $120 Million for clients and class members in cases ranging from employment and consumer class action litigation to individual personal injury cases. Mr. Spencer is an experienced litigator and has tried several cases to verdict. He argues frequently before the Court of Appeals and has published opinions from the California State Court of Appeal and the Federal 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. Mr. Spencer has had great success litigating difficult high damages cases against some of the largest corporations and law firms in the country. At the same time he has maintained a small firm environment where clients always have an open channel of communication with the attorney directly responsible for their case. As a testament to the firm’s success, over 90% of the Spencer Law Firm’s cases come from client referrals. Mr. Spencer also receives frequent referrals of class action and civil litigation cases from other attorneys and is regularly consulted by other law firms regarding class action, personal injury, employment, consumer and business matters. Mr. Spencer is a member of the California State Bar and handles cases throughout the State of California and is admitted to the United States District Court for the State of California, Northern, Central , Southern and Eastern Districts and the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. Mr. Spencer is currently handling numerous class actions and individual actions throughout the State of California in State and Federal Court. Education:

Proudly taking accident & injury and real estate cases out of Los Angeles and the surrounding areas.

John R. Ternieden is a member of our Mass Tort and Fire Litigation practice groups. Before joining Singleton Schreiber, he spent several years working for one of the nation’s largest firms in its complex business and commercial litigation practice. He has successfully represented clients in all stages of litigation, including discovery, prejudgment remedies, dispositive motions, mediation, arbitration, and trial. Mr. Ternieden graduated from the J. Reuben Clark Law School at Brigham Young University, where he was involved with the Law Review and, as a member of the National Moot Court Team, represented BYU in New York City, Washington, and Portland. As a law student, he worked on criminal appeals with the Utah Attorney General’s Office and served as a research assistant for several professors. Before attending law school, Mr. Ternieden earned a bachelor’s degree in public relations and business management from BYU, graduating in the top of his class. He is currently admitted to practice in both California and Utah state courts as well as the U.S. District Courts for the Northern District of California and the District of Utah. Mr. Ternieden enjoys spending his free time in the mountains, on the golf course, and at the local ice rink.

Zachary Pangares is an Associate Attorney at Singleton Schreiber, where he focuses on Fire Litigation and complex civil matters. A skilled trial lawyer, Zachary brings a strategic, client-centered approach to litigation, drawing from a diverse professional background and a commitment to justice. He has successfully represented clients in both federal and state courts, including high-profile and precedent-setting cases. Before entering the legal field, Zachary served as a healthcare administrator for one of the nation's largest healthcare systems, where he concentrated on strategy, system transformation, and behavioral health. He leverages this experience to deliver pragmatic legal strategies and effective client advocacy, particularly in cases involving personal injury, medical malpractice, and civil rights. Zachary began his legal career as a judicial extern for the Honorable Benjamin H. Settle in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington, where he gained valuable judicial insight in a fast-paced federal courtroom. He then joined a boutique litigation firm focused on the representation of survivors of sexual abuse and other violent crimes, helping secure substantial awards for his clients. Notable cases include the largest settlement in Oregon history involving a public school district for the sexual abuse of a student, as well as an eight-figure settlement with the U.S. government for the abuse of Native American children by an IHS pediatrician—achieved under a novel breach of treaty theory. Zachary earned his Juris Doctor, cum laude, from Seattle University School of Law, where he served as the Managing Editor of the Seattle University Law Review. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Public Health from Oregon State University. Zachary is admitted to practice in Oregon, the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon, and the U.S. Court of Federal Claims.

Mark Fleming is a partner in Singleton Schreiber’s San Diego office and a member of our Mass Tort and Civil Rights practice groups. Known for complex trials, Mr. Fleming is one of the few attorneys in the country to have tried over 100 cases before federal juries. He is a frequent presenter at advanced trial skills seminars. In March 2022, Mr. Fleming and his co-counsel, Timothy Scott, represented the family of a young man killed by the San Diego Sheriffs Department. A federal jury returned an $85 million verdict for the family. It is the largest civil rights wrongful death verdict in history. The results achieved in this case, Estate of Phounsy v. County of San Diego, et al., earned recognition as one of the Top 10 Verdicts in California for 2022 on TopVerdicts.com In February 2020, after a seven-month RICO murder trial, a Las Vegas federal jury acquitted Mr. Fleming’s client, the International President of the Vagos Motorcycle Club, of all charges, including conspiracy to commit murder. In 2006, Mr. Fleming represented Barry Mills, the lead defendant in the largest RICO federal death penalty trial in U.S. history. After an eleven-month trial, the jury rejected the death penalty sought by the government in favor of a life sentence for Mr. Mills, who was accused of ordering 32 murders in United States v. Barry Mills, et. al. Mr. Fleming started his career as a trial attorney at Federal Defenders of San Diego in 1993. After honing his trial and appellate skills there for five years, he returned to his home state to serve as a trial attorney with New York County Defender Services in Manhattan. In 2000, Mr. Fleming was recruited back to Federal Defenders of San Diego, where he supervised a trial team of ten attorneys. In 2004, he started his own practice devoted to complex civil and criminal federal litigation. Each year since 2008, Mr. Fleming has been selected for inclusion in Super Lawyers of San Diego, a peer-recognition honor reserved for the top 5% of San Diego lawyers. And for the past seven years, Mr. Fleming has been recognized as a top litigator in Best Lawyers in Southern California Magazine. In his free time, Mr. Fleming enjoys snowboarding, playing guitar, and spending time with his family.

Philip C. Cifarelli handles a variety of matters including a number of medical malpractice and medical mistake cases and elder abuse matters. Mr. Cifarelli has been with the firm for nearly twenty years and has established himself as a tough, innovative and skillful negotiator and accomplished trial attorney, having tried numerous cases to verdict including serving as lead and co-counsel on several seven figure trials. Some of his cases have been covered by several newspapers. He has received several six and seven figure settlements and verdicts in a variety of major personal injury, consumer fraud, medical malpractice and elder abuse matters. Mr. Cifarelli is a graduate of the Arizona State University and Western State University School of Law and is an active member of the Orange County Trial Lawyers Association, He is a supporter and contributor to consumer rights and fund-raising efforts. Mr. Cifarelli has been named to Who’s Who in America for 2001.