Sandra C. Stewart is a partner in the Litigation Department and Co-Chair of the Development Risk Management Practice Group at Cox, Castle & Nicholson LLP. Ms. Stewart represents owners, developers, investors, homebuilders, lenders and others in claim risk management and complex construction and business litigation matters.

Ms. Stewart has extensive experience in assisting clients in avoiding and minimizing risks of design and construction defect and related claims, including acquisition due diligence risk assessment, structuring and implementing quality control, warranty and customer service programs, and developing pre-litigation strategies in response to threatened claims and litigation, including anti-solicitation strategies.

Ms. Stewart has been actively involved in legislative activities, including major legislation affecting the homebuilding industry (The Calderon Act and Title 7 – Right to Repair Act), and testifying before the California Assembly Judiciary Committee on construction defect reform.

SELECTED EDUCATIONAL SEMINARS/SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS:

• Urban Land Institute – Advanced Residential Development: “Managing Risk in Challenging Times” (June 2011)
• National Association of Home Builders: “Legal Tips for Weathering the Downtown” (January 2009)
• Building Industry Association Los Angeles/Ventura Chapter Seminar: “Acoustics: New Technologies, New Strategies for Managing Risk” (May 2008)
• Builder 100 Conference: “Managing Your Liabilities” (May 2007)
• Pacific Coast Builder’s Conference: “Risk/Reward: Protecting Your Assets and Brand Integrity” (May 2005)
• Presidential Seminar: "Advanced Strategies: Maximizing Insurance Coverage, Minimizing Residual Risks" (February 2003)
• Customer Service Builders Council: “SB 800: New Customer Service Challenges” (January 2003)
• National Association of Home Builders International Building Show: “Risky Business” (January 2003)
• Pacific Property Consultants 7th Annual Construction Seminar: "Non-Insurance Risk Management Strategies: Your Company's Key to Success" (September 2002)
• Southern California Building Industry Association Annual Real Estate and Economic Conference: “Development Risk Management – New Laws/Legislation Update” (March 2001)
• National Association of Homebuilders High Production Homebuilder’s Council: “Preventing and Defending Against Soil/Concrete Claims” (April 2000)
• Fifth Annual Construction Defect Seminar: “Comprehensive, Integrated Risk Management: The Odds Are Against You Without It” (March 2000)

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS:

• “Think You Can Send Lawsuits Against Your Company To You Insurer and Forget About Them? Think Again” CCN Client Alert (October 2010)
• “California “Right to Repair Act” Decision Allows Builders to Sue Manufacturers for Equitable Indemnity Absent a Showing of Resultant Property Damage” CCN Client Alert (January 2009)
• “Contractual Predispute Jury Trial Waivers a Thing of the Past” CCN Client Alert (September 2005)
• “Be Quiet! (Or I’ll Sue)” Builder Digest of California (January 2005)
• “S.B.800 Client Alert” CCN Perspectives (May 2004)
• “Builders’ Right to Disclaim Implied Warranties Upheld in California” CCN Client Alert (February 2004)
• “Quiet Time” Residential Architect (September 2004)
• “Home Buyer Dispute Resolutions Assailed. Two Wrongs Ignore a Right” Builder Digest of California
• “New Options for Addressing Construction Defects” Builder & Developer (December 2002)
• “California’s New Right to Repair Law: A Very Mixed Bag” Daily Pacific Builder (October 2002)
• “Reducing the Risk of Soil Sulfate Claims” CCN Perspectives on Risk Management (Summer 1998)
• “Nevada's High Court Opens Door To Strict Liability For Builders” CCN Perspectives on Risk Management (Summer 1997)
• “How Orandorff v. Christiana Community Builders Affects the Measure of Damages in Construction Defect Litigation” Los Angeles Lawyer (January 1991)

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