Trial lawyer · Call & Jensen

The lawyer you call when it is going to be tried.

Most civil cases settle. This practice exists for the rest. David Sugden is brought into cases on the eve of trial, and tries them, for plaintiffs and for defendants.

Bring him in on a case See the results

Admitted in California, New York and Texas. Trials in state and federal court across the country.

$47.4M

Jury verdict, trade secrets

12–0

Defense verdict, Nov 2025

ABOTA

American Board of
Trial Advocates

Top 50

Super Lawyers,
Orange County

Results

Verdicts for plaintiffs. Verdicts for defendants.

He tries cases on both sides of the caption, so he walks into every trial knowing how the other side will try it. Newest first.

For plaintiffs

Verdicts and settlements

Jury verdicts, and a settlement reached weeks before trial.

Sep 2026 · Orange County
Zandi v. Calvary Chapel of Costa Mesa, et al.
Two years of intense litigation that settled weeks before trial.
$12,000,000Settlement
Jun 2025 · Orange County
Sexual harassment, gender discrimination and retaliation
Liability on all claims.
$8,685,192Jury verdict
May 2024 · Orange County
Ten-X: fraud and breach of contract
Two-week trial over a rigged online property auction.
$6,700,000Jury verdict
Sep 2022 · Los Angeles
Breach of contract
The clients prevailed on all claims.
$9,000,000Jury verdict

Earlier

Federal court · San Diego
Trade secret misappropriation and copyright infringement
Three-week trial. Unanimous jury.
$47,400,000Jury verdict
Orange County
Trade secret misappropriation
Three-week trial.
$2,230,000Jury verdict

For defendants

Defense verdicts

Verdicts for the defense at trial.

Nov 2025 · Beverly Hills
Alleged partnership dispute
Plaintiff advanced a damages model reaching $100 million.
Defense verdictUnanimous, 12–0
Feb 2025 · Orange County
loanDepot
Three-week trial on sexual harassment and constructive discharge.
Defense verdictComplete · unanimous

Earlier

San Bernardino
National fitness chain: wrongful termination
Plaintiff sought $2.9 million.
Defense verdictComplete
Private university
Medical leave claims
Plaintiff sought more than $1.18 million plus punitive damages.
Defense verdictComplete · unanimous
University
Harassment and discrimination
Three-week trial. Plaintiff sought more than $3 million.
Defense verdictComplete
Oil company
Toxic tort
Three-week trial. Plaintiff sought at least $8 million.
Defense verdictComplete
Clothing retailer
Harassment
The jury deliberated for under two hours.
Defense verdictComplete

Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

On air · Fox News

National television asks him what juries do, and why.

What happened inside the Clancy jury room?

A mistrial in a murder case, and why twelve people could not agree. The Will Cain Show.

Online outrage and the Cornell case

No criminal charges, a verdict on social media anyway, and where criticism becomes defamation. The Will Cain Show.

Who tries the case

David Sugden

A shareholder at Call & Jensen in Newport Beach, David Sugden tries business, employment, harassment, institutional abuse and intellectual property cases nationally. He is often brought in on the eve of trial by the lawyers who litigated the case, and works beside them through verdict.

He also teaches what that work has taught him, to other trial lawyers.

Full biography at Call & Jensen

Practice: Business, employment, harassment, institutional abuse and intellectual property trials, nationally
Bar: Admitted in California, New York and Texas
Fellowship: Member, American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA)
Recognition: Top 50 Super Lawyers in Orange County
Recognition: Trial Lawyer of the Year, The Trial Lawyers · Daily Journal Top 20 Attorneys Under 40
Books: Picked to Win (2026)

Where to go next

The practice, the teaching, the software and the book.

Each one has its own home.

Trial counsel

Call & Jensen

Have a trial date? Bring David Sugden in on the case. Biography, practice and contact details at the firm.

calljensen.comGo →

Teaching

Evidence at Trial

Know the rule. Then know what to do with it. Four courses on evidence, depositions, experts and taking a business case to verdict. Sixteen California MCLE credits.

evidenceattrial.comGo →

Software