A 1979 graduate of Loyola Law School of Los Angeles, Steve Parminter began his legal practice that year and has been a partner in Wilson Elser Moskowitz Edelman & Dicker since 1986. He has extensive experience in insurance defense litigation in state and federal courts throughout California. Steve has represented clients in the defense of accountants, lawyers, insurers, agents and brokers, and other professionals and has also defended both basketball and hockey professional sports franchises as well as Southern California ski resorts. Steve has been involved in the defense of accountants, attorneys and financial professionals since 1982.
In 1985, he began supervising all accountants liability litigation in the firms Los Angeles office. When the firm was chosen as primary defense counsel by a major casualty and indemnity company to defend claims against southern California accountants and other financial professionals during the period the company underwrote the insurance program for the California Society of Certified Public Accountants (CSCPA), Steve defended or supervised the defense of as many as 165 concurrently active accountants liability actions. In the appellate decision of Carden v. Getzoff (1987) 190 Cal. App. 3d 907, Steve helped establish the principle that an accountant testifying as a forensic expert at trial is entitled to the protection of privilege under California Civil Code section 47.
Steve has handled literally hundreds of accountants and financial professionals liability matters. Significant matters include actuarial and financial planning practice; tax shelters to tax audits; compiled, reviewed and audited financial statements; forensic accounting services; business combinations and dissolutions; estate planning and estate tax issues; investment analysis and advice; and general business management and financial consulting practices. The latter areas, along with the representation of some general business clients, have included litigated matters in the areas of alleged securities violations, trade secret violations, unfair competition and unfair business practices as well as the sale of an NBA franchise.
Steve was an invited member of the 1990 California Society of CSCPA Task Force on Accountability, assembled to determine the areas of accountants greatest professional liability exposure and to arrive at possible alternative responses by the accounting community, including legislative actions, modifications to practice and review standards, amicus curiae briefs and modifications to jury instructions. Membership was extended only to persons recognized within the industry as being expert in the issues of accountants liability.