Public experience- San Diego City Attorney’s Office

Deputy City Attorney Prosecutor-

Mr. Mesich, was undefeated in DUI jury trials for the City of San Diego. Responsibilities also included an issuing rotation where prosecutors review thousands of police reports in a four month period determining whether reports and investigations warranted prosecution.  Daily assignments also included representation in the San Diego downtown Superior Court requiring the ability to argue legal and factual issues after a brief review of a case.  Mr. Mesich worked closely with prosecuting investigators, City and County laboratory drug and alcohol experts, contracted private laboratory experts, and police (from San Diego, Poway, Del Mar, Harbor Patrol, CHP and others). Through his experience, Mr. Mesich knows law enforcement, how the prosecution builds a case, and San Diego courts inside and out.

Civil Division - Mr. Mesich advised the Transportation and Engineering Design Division (TEDD) of the Engineering and Capital Projects Department. TEDD covers all consulting and construction contracts involving transportation in the City of San Diego- sidewalks, roads, bridges, and highways. TEDD has the highest volume of actions before the City Council. This process involved drafting City Council resolutions and ordinances- including the high profile solutions to the natural disasters that afflicted the City including wildfires, landslides and floods.  Simultaneously, Mr. Mesich was the legal adviser for the San Diego Utilities Undergrounding project charged with undergrounding utility lines throughout San Diego.  Again, Mr. Mesich knows the public agency contracting process from the inside.

San Diego County, Public Works Department, Environmental Services Unit

Mr. Mesich’s primary assignment was to review grading permits over 200 sq. yards for environmental law compliance (CEQA, NEPA, ESA, CWA, CAA, etc.) Projects ranged from retaining walls or driveways, to multi-million dollar housing projects. Negotiations were performed with non-complying developers, landscape architects and attorneys to devise financially and environmentally feasible solutions. Upon resolution, Mr. Mesich would draft CEQA/NEPA documents on behalf of permit applicants.

Mr. Mesich also advised the County FEMA/floodwater compliance program. Special projects included managing private consultants drafting the Buckman Springs decomposed granite Surface Mine and Reclamation Act fifty year mediation plan. Mr. Mesich was awarded the Department of Public Works Customer Service Award for his mediation, negotiation and customer service skills.

Private Law Firm Experience

Mr. Mesich served as a plaintiff’s construction defect complex litigation associate for multiple cases representing hundreds of clients. This process involved taking and defending over 200 homeowner, expert, and subcontractor depositions and multiple ex-parte court appearances.

Environmental Attorney

With other San Diego attorneys, Mr. Mesich drafted and edited pleadings for the non-profit NEPA lawsuit against the border fence with Mexico. This included federal court hearings and negotiating with Washington, D.C. Department of Justice attorneys. Mr. Mesich also advised public and private clients on the impacts of environmental and land use law on various development and improvement projects.

Finally, Mr. Mesich’s extensive eduction is augmented by numerous distinguished internships including the New Hampshire Office of State Planning (Land Use Policy Intern); the private firm McNeil, Leddy and Sheahan in Burlington, Vermont (Environmental/Litigation Intern); the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office Tort Litigation Section (Civil Litigation Intern); and the White House Council on Environmental Quality (White House Intern).