Michael A. Schaps

Associate

621 Capitol Mall
18th Floor
Sacramento, CA 95814

Areas of Law:

Litigation

Admitted to Practice in:

California

Mr. Schaps practices in Downey Brand’s litigation department, where he focuses on commercial disputes. He has significant experience representing clients before state and federal courts at both the trial and appellate levels. 

Experience

Represented real estate developers accused of breaching an alleged oral joint venture agreement with another real estate developer. Obtained complete defense jury verdict for clients.

Represented agricultural client before California Court of Appeal. Obtained affirmance after briefing and oral argument. 

Represented software company in federal breach of contract and trade secret misappropriation action against competitor, public official and public entity. Obtained favorable settlement after successful motion practice.

Represented agricultural client in contract dispute against real estate development concern.  Prevailed in arbitration.

General

Adjunct Professor (Lecturer at Law), University of California-Davis School of Law

Law Clerk to Judge Pamela Ann Rymer of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, Pasadena, California

Law Clerk to Chief Judge David F. Levi of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California, Sacramento, California

MEMBERSHIPS

United States District Court, Eastern, Central and Northern Districts of California, Admitted to Practice

United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, Admitted to Practice

Federal Bar Association, Programs Committee

EDUCATION

University of California, Berkeley School of Law (Boalt Hall) (J.D., Order of the Coif, 2006)

Stanford University (B.A. & M.A.)

PUBLICATIONS

Findlaw.com, The Proposal to End Gubernatorial Appointment of Replacement Senators: Reform in This Area May Be Needed, But The Feingold Constitutional Amendment Needs More Thought, 2009, Co-Author with Vikram D. Amar

Vagueness as a Virtue: Why the Supreme Court Decided the Ten Commandments Cases Inexactly Right, 94 Cal. L. Rev. 1243 (2006), Author