George A. Otstott

George A. Otstott is a partner in Demler’s San Francisco office. For 30 years he’s represented individuals, companies and public entities in civil defense litigation and coverage. He manages clients in multi-million-dollar litigation, catastrophic injury cases, traumatic brain injuries, neurostimulator implant surgeries, amputations and other lifelong care cases.

He also defends property and business claims, landslides and economic losses, public entity cases, CPRA responses, including Fire Districts, inverse condemnation claims, dangerous conditions of public property and complex products and premises liability. He also represents general contractors, subs and manufacturers in construction defect, delay, and personal injury/death cases, and extensive auto, motorcycle and trucking clients. He worked in asbestos defense for many years and defended doctors, nurses and facilities in medical malpractice and Elder Abuse lawsuits. He also defends property owners, landlords and property managers in habitability and PI complaints.

Mr. Otstott manages clients from pre-lit through litigation, binding arbitration, trial and appeal, and has argued before the California Court of Appeal. Every case has unique claims of liability and damages, requiring specific experts. Mr. Otstott manages expert recommendations and retentions, interviews, workup, and trial preparation.  

Mr. Otstott lives in San Francisco with his wife Carla and enjoys SCUBA and racing his Yamaha R6 at Sonoma Raceway, Thunderhill Raceway and Laguna Seca.

OTHER ACCOLADES AND EXPERIENCE

Association of Defense Counsel of Northern California and Nevada (ADC) – Board of Directors, 2025-Present

The Board leads and directs the ADC, the only organization in Northern California and Nevada devoted exclusively to representing the interests of attorneys engaged in the defense of civil litigation. The ADC provides its members a range of support and services geared specifically for their practice. It offers State Bar accredited educational programs specifically focused on subjects relevant to California and Nevada civil defense trial and appellate lawyers, and regular interaction with the Judiciary (Judicial Council, trial and appellate courts) on issues of State or local interest to defense practitioners.

ADC – Editor-In-Chief, ADC’s Legal Magazine The Comment – 2023 – Present

We prepare and publish the Magazine three times per year for the ADC Membership with articles concerning important events, legal, legislative and caselaw updates, trends, concerns, recommendations and interests relevant to the entire Defense Bar, and the CA Judiciary.

SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS

Presented courses and lectures for attorneys and claims professionals in the areas of construction defect, indemnity claims, auto cases, and general liability.

EXTERNSHIPS

San Francisco Superior Court, Law & Motion Department, Judicial Extern for Honorable William Cahill 1994.

EDUCATION

• University of San Francisco School of Law, JD 1995
• Comments Editor, USF Law Review
• Academic Honors
• Moot Court Best Brief
• Southern Methodist University, BBA 1991

BAR INFORMATION

• California State Bar, 1996
• Texas State Bar, 2009
• United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
• United States District Court, Northern District of California

BAR ASSOCIATIONS

• Bar Association of San Francisco (BASF)
• Association of Defense Counsel, Northern California and Nevada (ADC)
• Defense Research Institute (DRI)