Robert A. Shields is a partner at WTK and has been with the firm since 2000. His practice is focused on the representation of automobile, motorcycle, automotive component parts, and industrial equipment manufacturers who have been sued for damages in catastrophic injuries.  In addition, Rob supervises his firm’s representation of product manufacturers in a host of breach of warranty claims based on the Song-Beverly and Magnuson-Moss Warranty Acts, and consumer fraud statutes.

Rob has defended several cases that have been dismissed on summary judgment motions, including claims of negligence, design defect, breach of warranty, breach of contract, fraud, and misrepresentation.  Rob has been responsible for regional and statewide defense programs concerning consumer litigation, manufacture, design and warning defect claims.

He has consulted with manufacturers in the development of policies for product litigation management, product warranties, and compliance issues.  He has managed and defended complex toxic tort cases, including chemical exposures.  He has significant experience implementing strategies for clients involved in national litigation, managing statewide, regional and national caseloads, managing discovery, and conducting expert depositions.

He has successfully mediated well over a hundred cases to creative and successful conclusion.  He has successfully analyzed and prepared cases at the pleading stage to promote early resolution, mediation and dismissal based on lack of merit.  Since 2000, Rob’s team has taken approximately 2,500 cases to resolution.

Affiliations

• Board for the Arc of San Diego 
• Co-Founder of “A Night to Remember” Prom
• Defense Research Institute (“DRI”)
  • Program Chair of the Strictly Automotive Section (2007-2009)
  • Young Lawyers – Chair, Corporate Counsel Committee
  • Member, Product Liability Steering Committee
• Certified Mediator, Southern Illinois Alternative Dispute Resolution Clinic
• Law Clerk, Chief Judge Harris H. Agnew, Illinois 17th Judicial Circuit
• National Moot Court Competitions, Recipient of Numerous Awards
• San Diego Defense Lawyers
• Louis M. Welch, American Inns of Court
• San Diego County Bar Association
• Eastlake Little League Manager/Coach

Speaking & Publications

• “Warranty Litigation:  Updates, Pitfalls, and Best Practices” Nashville, November 2015
• “Hiring Counsel:  Thoughts from In-House Counsel” Moderated panel discussion with in-house counsel from Cummins, Pfizer and Hershey re:  their evaluation of counsel and alternative fee arrangements.  Las Vegas, February 2015
• “Corporations Have Feelings Too: Personalizing the Deep-Pocketed Defendant,” New Orleans, April 2011
• “Purposeful Client Communication” Chicago, December 2010
• Hosted a presentation on “Litigation Testing: How the Failure to Prepare for a Daubert Challenge Can Sink Your Case” San Diego, April 2009
• Moderated Panel of in-house attorneys from General Motors and Ford Motor Company re: “Industry Perspective on Event Data Recorders/Airbag Modules (on-board Blackboxes)”. Phoenix 2008
• Recruited and moderated presentations on computer animated accident reconstruction and the appeal of punitive damage awards, 2008
• “Preparing and Defending Corporate Witness for Deposition” New Orleans, 2007
• “Deal or No Deal? Effective Mediation Strategies” San Diego, June 2007
• “Preparing a Defense to Punitive Damage Allegations” Los Angeles, February 2005
• Recruited and moderated Panel of in-house lawyers from Kawasaki, John Deere and Nissan re: “Litigation Cost Control through Early Evaluation”. Miami, 2002

Representative Matters

• Successfully defended an automotive manufacturer in an action involving fraud-based and federal breach of warranty claims; obtained dismissal with a motion for summary judgment on the basis that plaintiff’s claims were barred by a prior class action settlement.  The motion was affirmed in an appellate decision Dagher v. Ford Motor Co., 2018 BL 307751, Cal. Ct. App., 4th Dist., No. D072436, (2018) (unpublished). 
• Obtained a defense verdict in a breach of warranty case for a large American automobile manufacturer in March 2014.  Plaintiffs claimed the transmission in their vehicle was defective and that the manufacturer and dealerships were unable to repair the vehicle after a reasonable number of opportunities to do so.  Despite a dealer having twice verified a delayed transmission engagement and a harsh shift, followed by a transmission overhaul, the jury agreed that there was no warranty nonconformity.
• After the close of evidence and just before closing argument, resolved a breach of warranty matter on very favorable terms, which included Plaintiff’s attorney agreeing to waive his right to recover fees and a nuisance value payment to Plaintiff.  Making this settlement favorable to the manufacturer were the numerous documents containing highly critical and negative comments about the vehicle.
• Secured a defense verdict in September 2010 in a product liability case in which Plaintiff suffered a career-ending injury to his feet.  Plaintiff alleged his motorcycle violently lurched on start-up causing him to lose control of the bike and crush his feet.  In addition to the defense verdict, the manufacturer was able to recover from Plaintiff its litigation costs totaling $250,000.
• Obtained a defense verdict in December 2008 arising out of claims that the electrical system in Plaintiff’s new vehicle was defective, resulting in numerous premature battery replacements and failures of her vehicle to start.  Presented engineering evidence that the dealer-installed entertainment system caused the electrical issues and argued that the dealer was not an authorized agent of the manufacturer.

Honors and Recognition

• Included in The Best Lawyers in America® for Product Liability Litigation - Defendants (2024)
• Awarded SDCBA Community Service Award (2020) 
• Named by San Diego Daily Transcript as one of San Diego's 50 Influential Leaders (2019)
• Named by San Diego Metro as one of San Diego's Top Attorneys (2019)
• Selected to the San Diego Super Lawyers List (2015 - 2016)
• In 2008, Mr. Shields was honored by San Diego Metropolitan Magazine as one of San Diego’s Top 40 Under 40, recognizing his professional and civic accomplishments.
• Awarded 10 News (ABC affiliate) Leadership Award
• Recognized with Chula Vista’s Community Service Award (2015)
• Honored in 2015 by the Defense Research Institute (DRI) with its Lifetime Community Service Award.