Mitchell D. Dean

Mitchell D. Dean is a partner in California who focuses on civil litigation for public entities, insurers, and other clients facing complex defense matters. He handles public entity liability, civil rights and police liability, employment litigation, insurance defense, and inverse condemnation matters involving flooding, bluff collapse, and landslides. Clients rely on his trial experience when disputes require practical strategy and careful courtroom preparation.

Mr. Dean earned his J.D. from the University of San Diego School of Law in 1986 and his B.A. in Psychology from the University of California, San Diego in 1982. During law school, he served as a staff writer for the California Regulatory Law Reporter. His academic background supports his ability to analyze public entity claims, evaluate factual records, and prepare litigation strategies for state and federal court matters.

Mr. Dean has successfully tried numerous cases in state and federal courts. His experience includes defense work for cities and public entities in landslide, wrongful death, police liability, employment discrimination, FEHA retaliation, patent infringement, false advertising, and civil rights matters. He has also served as a Judge Pro Tem in San Diego courts, an arbitrator, and a member of judicial settlement conference panels.

Mitchell D. Dean is AV Preeminent Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell and a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates. He has been selected as a Top Lawyer for Civil Litigation by San Diego Magazine and has served on the Board of Directors for the North County Bar Association. His work reflects steady trial judgment, public entity defense experience, and a practical approach to resolving complex disputes.

Law Office Affiliations

• Co-Founder, Dean Gazzo Roistacher LLP
• Member, The State Bar of California
• Member, San Diego Defense Lawyers
• Member, American Board of Trial Advocates
• Member, San Diego County Bar Association
• Member, North County Bar Association
• Board of Directors, North County Bar Association (2000-2002)

Licensed State

• California

Education

• University of San Diego School of Law
  Juris Doctor (JD)
• University of California
  B.A. in Psychology

Awards & Badges