Ms. Walter is a litigation partner in the firm’s Business Litigation and Government & Regulatory Law Sections. Her practice includes the representation of businesses as well as cities and school districts, primarily in complex litigation matters.
Ms. Walter is co-chair of Rutan’s Unfair Competition/Class Action Defense Group. She has experience defending state and national class action litigation. Ms. Walter has worked on various high-profile, high-stakes cases alleging violations of California’s Unfair Competition Law (Business and Professions Code §17200) and Consumer Legal Remedies Act (Civil Code §1750) including:
- Class action litigation over toner cartridge page-yield disclosures in which Rutan’s clients obtained a dismissal at the pleading stage in four actions and the denial of class certification in another;
- Class action litigation over invoicing and sales tax practices at a major automotive repair services chain in which Rutan’s client obtained a voluntary dismissal after briefing class certification;
- Class action litigation over security deposit refunds, rental application screening fees and tenant utility charges in which Rutan’s clients obtained favorable settlements;
- Serving as defense liaison counsel in the UCL lawsuits filed by the Trevor Law Group that led to the enactment of Proposition 64.
Ms. Walter also has extensive experience defending client cities in lawsuits alleging inverse condemnation, nuisance and tort claims arising out of landslides. She has successfully moved for summary judgment in such matters and defended favorable trial court verdicts on appeal. Ms. Walter also represents public agencies in disputes over the untimely or defective completion of public works construction projects. She has experience with both administrative proceedings and litigation under the Surface Mining and Reclamation Act.
Ms. Walter graduated from Stanford University in 1993 with honors and distinction in her major, Comparative Literature. As an undergraduate, Ms. Walter was the recipient of the Stanford President’s Award for Academic Excellence. She tutored disadvantaged youth through the national Upward Bound program. Ms. Walter’s undergraduate education included academic quarters spent in Tours, France and Salamanca, Spain.
Ms. Walter also attended law school at Stanford University, receiving her J.D. in 1996. Her studies included advanced course work in local government law, constitutional law and the Americans with Disabilities Act. She joined Rutan & Tucker, LLP immediately after graduation and has been practicing in Orange County ever since.
Ms. Walter is a leader in local bar association activities. From 1999-2002, Ms. Walter served on the Board of Directors of the Orange County Bar Association. She is presently co-chair of the OCBA’s Lawyer Referral and Information Services Committee. In 1998, Ms. Walter served as the founding Chair of the Orange County Bar Association’s Young Lawyers’ Division.
Ms. Walter is also involved in charitable and educational activities. Ms. Walter has participated for many years as a volunteer scorer and attorney coach for the Constitutional Rights Foundation of Orange County’s high school mock trial competition. She also serves on CRF-OC’s Board of Directors and Executive Committee. Ms. Walter has represented pro bono clients seeking reinstatement of disability benefits for their minor children through the Orange County Public Law Center. She also volunteers at Human Options, providing assistance to victims of domestic violence. Ms. Walter has served as a guest lecturer on the UCL at Chapman Law School and civil rights litigation at Whittier Law School. She has also presented continuing legal education courses on the UCL.
Ms. Walter enjoys collecting cookbooks and antique china. She is a member of the National Birman Fanciers’ Association.
Areas of Expertise
- Unfair Business Practices/False Advertising
- Class Action Defense
- Land Subsidence Litigation
- Inverse Condemnation
- Appeals
Community/Affiliations
- Co-Chair, Lawyer Referral and Information Services Committee of the Orange County Bar Association
- Board of Directors, Constitutional Rights Foundation of Orange County
- Board of Directors, California State Bar Foundation
- President, Stanford Alumni Association of Orange County