Michele M. Betti, Attorney
Michele M. Betti, Esq.
Committed to seeking truth and justice for all victims of childhood sexual abuse
Michele M. Betti was born in Chicago, Illinois. She attended Thomas Jefferson School of Law in San Diego where she received a J.D. Degree. As a prosecutor in the United States Air Force, Ms. Betti served as a Captain and prosecuted both misdemeanor and felony cases. She is admitted to practice law in California and New York State.
After her service, Ms. Betti relocated to San Francisco where she worked with some of the country’s most reputable civil defense law firms. Ms. Betti represented a diverse range of clients including Lloyd’s of London and AIG. Her practice consisted of complex litigation including professional liability, products liability, toxic torts, maritime law, securities and broker/dealer liability, insurance bad faith and coverage issues.
In 2007, Ms. Betti relocated to Southern California to represent victims of child sexual abuse against the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and the Dioceses of San Diego, San Bernardino, Dubuque, and New Mexico. Ms. Betti represented victims in both bankruptcy and state court.
Settlements for Clergy and Non-Clergy Sex Abuse Survivors:
• Catholic Foreign Mission Society of America, Inc., aka Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers; Maryknoll Fathers’ Mission Society, Inc.
• Roman Catholic Church in the State of Hawaii, aka The Roman Catholic Diocese of Honolulu, Hawaii.
• The Diocese of Buffalo, New York.
• Southern Tier Catholic School aka Archbishop Walsh Academy.
• Children and Youth Services, Inc., West Ridge Academy, Utah Boys Ranch.
• Archdiocese of Los Angeles for $660 million on behalf of more than 122 of the 508 survivors.
• Dioceses of San Diego and San Bernardino in excess of $198 million on behalf of some 144 victims.
• $750,000 settlement in addition to the $1.37 million global settlement the client received for being sexually abused by a priest in the confessional who was knowingly transferred from one Diocese to another.
• State of Delaware – Single Perpetrator Settlement $650,000. Perpetrator affiliated with Big Brothers of America, Inc.
Some of the cases Ms. Betti is currently prosecuting on behalf of her clients:
New York City Department of Education; City of New York; The Child Center of New York, Inc.; New Covenant Christian School, The New Covenant Christian Education Association, Inc., Bronx, New York; Archdiocese of New York; Archdiocese of Atlanta, Diocese of Paterson, New Jersey; The Diocese of Rockville Centre, Long Island, New York; St. Joseph Catholic School; St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church; Saint Anthony’s High School; Franciscan Brothers of Brooklyn; The Diocese of Buffalo, New York; The Diocese of Rochester, New York; The Diocese of San Bernardino, California; The Boy Scouts of America; Archdiocese of Newark; Capuchin Franciscan Friars; Covenant House; Diocese of Wilmington, Delaware.
Ms. Betti is an advocate for victims of clergy and non-clergy sex crimes and is committed to seeking truth and justice for all victims of childhood sexual abuse.
Bar Admissions
State Bar of California
State Bar of New York
Reciprocity with the following States:
Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Connecticut, Colorado, District of Columbia, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming.
Many states allow for a lawyer to be admitted to practice Pro Hac Vice pursuant to certain rules in each jurisdiction. Ms. Betti has been admitted pro hac vice in Delaware and Hawaii. Please call to see if your state qualifies for reciprocity or pro hac vice status.
Education
Thomas Jefferson School of Law, J.D., 1999
University of San Diego School of Law; Institute on International and Comparative Law, Paris, France, 1997
California State University, Chico, B.A., International Relations, 1993
Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI, Political Science, 1990
Court Admissions
Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York First Judicial Department; United States District Court for the Southern District of New York; United States District Court for the Western District of New York
United States District Court for the Southern, Central, Northern District of California
California Supreme Court
U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
Professional Memberships
California Bar Association
New York State Bar Association
New York County Lawyers Association
Women’s Bar Association of the State of New York
Alpha Chi Omega
Trinity High School Bar Association
Publications
“How to present non-physical injuries and damages,” May 2011 edition of Journal of Consumer Attorneys Associations For Southern California The Advocate, Perspective From The Bench
Presentations
“Ethics” Minot Air Force Base 2001
“Sexual Harassment in the Workplace” 2007
Languages
Italian and French
Awards & Distinctions
Captain, USAF, Judge Advocate General
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon
Trustee Scholarship for Academic Achievement
National Dean’s List
Ms. Betti is committed to seeking truth and justice for all victims of childhood sexual abuse.
Ruben P. Ruiz, Attorney
Ruben P. Ruiz, Attorney
Ruben P. Ruiz grew up in Orange County, California, where he attended Catholic elementary and high schools. He is an alumnus of Loyola-Marymount University and the University of Oregon, where he completed undergraduate and graduate degrees. Mr. Ruiz was the recipient of the Walter and Nance Kidd Tutorial Fellowship, and Graduate Teaching Fellowship. Mr. Ruiz was a Fulbright Scholar in 1999. He graduated from Santa Clara University School of Law in 2003.
Mr. Ruiz began his legal career as a clerk for the United States Department of Justice, and thereafter entered private practice with several large law firms in the San Francisco Bay Area. Mr. Ruiz has extensive experience in personal injury and commercial law. He has represented clients in multimillion-dollar cases involving injuries sustained from chemical and oil exposure, asbestos, automotive defects, and environmental contamination.
Mr. Ruiz now focuses his time on helping victims of sexual abuse in gaining compensation for their injuries and finding the justice they deserve. He continues to live in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Bar Admissions
State Bar of California
Education
Santa Clara University School of Law, J.D., 2003; Symposium Editor; Law Faculty Scholarship; Moot Court Oral Advocacy Award; High Technology Law Certificate
J. William Fulbright Scholar, The Netherlands, 1999-2000
University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, Master of Fine Arts, Composition and Writing, 1998
Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles, California, B.A., 1992
Court Admissions
United States District Court for the Northern, Central, Eastern District of California
U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
Bar Admissions
State Bar of California
Professional Memberships
California Bar Association
Languages
Dutch and Spanish
Awards & Distinctions
Fulbright Grant 1999-2000
Gregory A. Ferren, Esq.
Gregory A. Ferren specializes in intellectual property law, general commercial litigation, and business formation and transactions. Mr. Ferren has practiced law since obtaining his law degree from the University of Hawaii in 1995. In 2003, he obtained an LL.M. in Intellectual Property from Santa Clara University. He is currently a member of the Bars of California and Hawaii.
Mr. Ferren’s experience has encompassed a broad range of areas of law including intellectual property, general commercial litigation, real estate, financial regulatory law, bankruptcy, antitrust, administrative law, general business practice, alternative dispute resolution, appellate advocacy, and child sexual abuse.
Mr. Ferren has worked with some of this country’s most prestigious law firms, including Bingham McCutchen, Jones Day, and Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati. Mr. Ferren has represented a diverse range of clients, from small, family-owned businesses and individuals, to large multi-national corporations including Yahoo!, Apple, and Oracle.
Bar Admissions
State Bar of California
State Bar of Hawaii
Education
University of Hawaii School of Law, J.D., 1995
Santa Clara University School of Law, LL.M., 2003
University of Colorado, B.S. Journalism, 1991
Court Admissions
United States District Court, District of Hawaii
Hawaii Supreme Court
California Supreme Court
Professional Memberships
California Bar Association
Hawaii State Bar Association
