Curated News
By: NewsRamp Editorial Staff
September 05, 2026
Six Attorneys Named Finalists for 2026 Consumer Attorney of the Year
TLDR
- Six Stebner Gertler & Guadagni attorneys are finalists for CAOC's 2026 Consumer Attorney of the Year, showcasing their legal prowess.
- The firm's litigation exposed elder neglect via witness testimony and spoliation evidence, leading to legal reforms and an award nomination.
- Holding facilities accountable for elder neglect protects vulnerable seniors and advances their rights, making tomorrow safer for all.
- A landmark case involving an 85-year-old's death led to new California laws and a prestigious award nomination for the attorneys.
Impact - Why it Matters
This recognition underscores the critical importance of holding elder care facilities accountable for neglect. The case not only achieved justice for Theresa Donahue but also spurred legal reforms that strengthen protections for all California elders, making it harder for facilities to impose forced arbitration and increasing accountability for abuse. For families considering long-term care, this news highlights the need for vigilance and the potential for legal recourse when facilities fail to provide adequate care.
Summary
Stebner Gertler & Guadagni, a San Francisco-based elder abuse litigation firm, has announced that six of its attorneys have been named finalists for the 2026 Consumer Attorney of the Year award by Consumer Attorneys of California (CAOC). The recognition stems from their successful litigation in Tennier, et al. v. MBK Senior Living LLC, where they held a Petaluma facility accountable for elder neglect and death. The finalist attorneys include Karman M. Guadagni, Kelsey S. Craven, Kirsten M. Fish, Kathryn A. Stebner, Deena K. Zacharin, and Valerie T. McGinty. Doug Saeltzer, president of CAOC, announced the finalists on August 18. The award honors a CAOC member who significantly advanced the rights or safety of California consumers through a noteworthy case result. Winners will be selected by secret ballot of the CAOC board on September 10 and announced November 14 at the Annual Installation and Awards Dinner during CAOC's 65th Annual Convention in San Francisco.
The case involved Theresa Donahue, an 85-year-old resident of MuirWoods Memory Care, a residential care facility for the elderly in Petaluma. Staff knew she was at risk for falls and needed assistance due to dementia and other conditions but repeatedly failed to meet her needs, leading to four falls and weeks of untreated scabies before a hip fracture in 2021 caused her decline and death. The Stebner Gertler & Guadagni team built its case around the facility's purposeful understaffing to protect profits. When the defense destroyed staffing records, the attorneys proved understaffing through witness testimony and admissions. After a hung jury in the first trial, the team retried and won. The case led to two significant legal changes: a published decision denying the defense's motion to compel arbitration, creating favorable law for elders fighting long-term-care arbitration agreements, and evidence of spoliation that helped drive passage of Assembly Bill 251 (Kalra), revising the California Elder Abuse Act to better protect elders. Founded in 1991, Stebner Gertler & Guadagni has more than 35 years of combined experience holding nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and hospitals accountable, representing elders in cases of neglect, abuse, and wrongful death.
Source Statement
This curated news summary relied on content distributed by Newsworthy.ai. Read the original source here, Six Attorneys Named Finalists for 2026 Consumer Attorney of the Year
