Attorneys Jeffrey E. Estes and Alton J. Smith have been litigating personal injury cases on behalf of California residents for almost 30 years. Over the years, Estes and Smith have developed a reputation for tough litigation and a strategy for winning substantial settlements and verdicts for their clients. The firm serves all residents across the Great State of California and strives to deliver exemplary, client-focused legal advice and representation.

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.

Keith J. Stone always wanted a career where one of the benefits was to help others. Attorney Keith J. Stone consistently had an interest in medicine, and science. Keith has among his family members, cancer specialists, blood specialists, emergency room physicians, ENT (ears, nose, throat) surgeon, family counselor, and colon and rectal surgeon. In other words, Keith growing up, was exposed to arena of medical perspectives and rather than being a doctor himself, he decided to dedicate his life to helping others involved in personal injury cases. A personal injury case is where you are physically hurt or a loved one is hurt due to someone else's negligence.

Before joining Singleton Schreiber as a Partner, Mark Slaughter was one of the founding members of Slaughter & Slaughter, a premier personal injury firm. He is a zealous legal advocate who aggressively represents his clients in catastrophic personal injury cases. Mr. Slaughter has used his tremendous advocacy and negotiating skills to obtain numerous six- and seven-figure settlements for a multitude of clients who have been injured in motor vehicle, trucking, motorcycle, bicycle, and pedestrian accidents. Mr. Slaughter earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology at the University of Missouri and his Juris Doctorate, cum laude, from Thomas Jefferson School of Law in San Diego.

Matthew Clendenin is a senior trial attorney and the Director of the Pre-Litigation Team in our Personal Injury and Wrongful Death practice group. His litigation skills have earned significant results for his clients and the recognition of his peers. Mr. Clendenin began his career as a paralegal for several large law firms. He then attended the Santa Clara University School of Law, where he received many awards and accolades, including “Best Oral Advocate” in the Moot Court Competition. During law school, he was trained in oral argument by barristers at the Honourable Society of Gray’s Inn of Court in London, England, and studied at Magdalen College, Oxford. Mr. Clendenin is deeply involved in the San Diego Trial Lawyer Community, currently serving at the President-Elect for Consumer Attorneys of San Diego. Mr. Clendenin is also the former President of the Irish American Bar Association and former President of the Del Mar Professionals Association. Mr. Clendenin has repeatedly been recognized as a top-tier trial attorney. In 2025, Consumer Attorneys of San Diego awarded Mr. Clendenin the “Outstanding Trial Lawyer” award for his $13.7 million dollar verdict in Muhlbach v. Kemper Ins. The verdict was the 45th largest verdict of 2025 in California. In 2022, Mr. Clendenin received the “Street Fighter” trial lawyer award which specifically honors lawyers who take difficult cases to trial. He and his wife Marta Clendenin have been married for nearly 20 years, and have two daughters, Noemi and Lucie. Outside of work, Mr. Clendenin’s passions include darts, cycling, board games, good whisky, and good company.

Jack B. Winters, Jr. is of counsel to Singleton Schreiber’s Insurance Recovery and Bad Faith practice group. He has over 46 years of experience in all areas of civil litigation, with a particular expertise in insurance bad faith and coverage litigation. The recipient of the San Diego Trial Lawyers Award for Outstanding Trial Lawyer, Mr. Winters has successfully prosecuted bad faith cases to trial and verdict against Farmers Insurance Company, State Farm Insurance Company, Transamerica Insurance Company, CalFarm Insurance Company, and New Hampshire Insurance Company, among others. His 1991 award against Transamerica Insurance Company was the largest award against an insurer on an individual policy in the history of the State. After his recent experience as lead counsel in the landmark case of McHugh v. Protective Life, Mr. Winters is considered the foremost expert in California on issues regarding life insurance policies. In another landmark case decided in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, Mr. Winters became one of the few attorneys to successfully litigate a multi- million dollar ERISA class action case in California. Mr. Winters is a former insurance defense counsel and one of the founders of the San Diego Defense Lawyers. He was trained in all forms of insurance litigation through his association and then partnership in the firm of McCormick and Royce. He founded his own firm in 1984, focusing on insurance coverage and insurance bad faith litigation. Mr. Winters also consults as an expert witness. He has qualified as an expert on issues related to insurance coverage, interpretation of insurance coverage, and areas of the law related to insurance litigation. Mr. Winters holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of California, Los Angeles, and earned his law degree at the University of San Diego School of Law. He is admitted to practice in California state and federal courts.

Jonna Lothyan is a member of our Motions, Writs, & Appeals practice group. An accomplished litigator and appellate attorney, she began her practice with one of the nation’s largest defense firms. This experience gave her valuable insight into defense strategies and informs the effective arguments she develops on behalf of her clients at Singleton Schreiber, where she is passionate about fighting for the compensation her clients deserve.

Cassandra Griffith is an Associate Attorney at Singleton Schreiber’s San Diego office, where she focuses on personal injury. With more than six years of experience representing plaintiffs in personal injury cases, Cassandra brings comprehensive litigation skills and a deep commitment to advocating for clients who have been injured through the negligence of others. Fluent in Spanish, she is able to serve the diverse communities of San Diego with cultural understanding and accessibility. Cassandra manages a substantial caseload of personal injury matters, guiding clients through every stage of the litigation process. Her experience includes drafting demand packages, conducting settlement negotiations, initiating lawsuits, managing discovery, taking and defending depositions, and preparing cases for mediation and trial. She consults with medical and accident reconstruction experts to build strong cases and ensure her clients receive the compensation they deserve. Her approach combines strategic legal thinking with genuine empathy for those she represents. Before joining Singleton Schreiber, Cassandra served as Head of the Pre-Litigation Department at a prominent San Diego law firm, where she managed more than 200 plaintiff personal injury cases. Earlier in her career, she gained valuable experience as a Certified Legal Intern at the San Diego City Attorney's Office, where she second-chaired multiple trials, and as a Legal Intern at the Legal Aid Society of San Diego, where her service earned her both the Outstanding Service Award and the prestigious Wiley W. Manuel Award. Cassandra also served as a Judicial Extern for Justice Terry O'Rourke at the California Court of Appeal, Fourth Appellate District, Division One. Cassandra earned her Juris Doctor from California Western School of Law, where she was a Diversity Scholarship recipient and member of the Pro Bono Honor Society. She graduated cum laude from Chestnut Hill College with a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature and minors in Spanish and International Business. She is admitted to practice in California. She is a member of the San Diego County Bar Association, Consumer Attorneys of San Diego, and the San Diego Lawyers Club. A native San Diegan who grew up in the Chula Vista area, Cassandra is married with two young children and two dogs. She enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, baking, gardening, and staying active.

Shannon Whitaker is an attorney in our Personal Injury, Wrongful Death, and Medical Malpractice practice groups. Ms. Whitaker has over a decade of experience in the legal field, having worked as a legal assistant in complex business litigation and workers' compensation firms before earning her law degree – giving her a well-rounded foundation and a client-centered approach to every case. Ms. Whitaker earned her J.D. from the University of San Diego School of Law. During law school, she externed for the Honorable Andrew G. Schopler of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California. She holds a B.A. in Political Science from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. She is actively involved in the legal community. Ms. Whitaker serves as co-chair of the Trial Advocacy Committee for Lawyers Club of San Diego and as the Education Chair for the New Lawyers Division of the Consumer Attorneys of California. She is a proud member of the Consumer Attorneys of San Diego, American Association for Justice, Attorneys Information Exchange Group, Society of Women Trial Lawyers, and Lawyers Club of San Diego. Ms. Whitaker is admitted to practice in the state of California. In her spare time, Ms. Whitaker can often be found hiking up a mountain or painting – sometimes at the same time. She also loves traveling, practicing calligraphy, and experimenting with new recipes.

Karlie Ruder is an Associate Attorney on Singleton Schreiber’s Personal Injury team, where she is dedicated to advocating for individuals and families and is committed to ensuring justice for her clients. With a diverse legal background, she brings valuable experience to her role, having worked on personal injury, consumer protection, and criminal law cases during her legal career. Karlie earned her J.D. from the University of Kansas School of Law in 2024. While in law school, she worked with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, focusing on personal injury cases; the University of San Diego Civil Clinic, where she contributed to consumer protection efforts; and the Saline County Attorney’s Office in Kansas, where she gained experience in criminal law. Before law school, Karlie earned her bachelor’s degree and developed her skills in public speaking, research, and critical analysis, preparing her for the complexities of legal practice. Outside of her legal work, Karlie enjoys playing the violin, singing, and exploring her creative side through drawing and painting. She also loves spending time outdoors paddleboarding, reading, or enjoying the natural beauty of San Diego. Karlie lives with her husband, Jacob, and their two cats, Alice and Benny.