Casper, Meadows, Schwartz & Cook

05/18/2026

When police investigate their own, the truth doesn’t always come easy. What looked like an “unavoidable tragedy” unraveled through strategic discovery—revealing distracted driving, missing evidence, and investigative bias. This is why we push harder. Dig deeper. And refuse to accept the first version of the story. Because accountability starts where assumptions end.

Managing partner, Adam Carlson, had the honor and privilege to be featured in the May 2026 issue of Trial Magazine by the American Association for Justice. Adam’s article, “When Police Investigate Their Own,” discusses the challenges of officer-involved investigations, the importance of early discovery, and strategies for uncovering the truth when internal narratives begin to harden before the evidence does.

The full article is linked in our bio!

05/11/2026

CMS Law is proud to congratulate our partner, Larry Cook, on being named a finalist for the San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association 2026 Trial Lawyer of the Year award!

Larry's dedication to advocating for injured clients, commitment to justice, and outstanding trial work continue to make a meaningful impact both inside and outside the courtroom. We are honored to celebrate this recognition alongside his esteemed co-counsel at Walkup, Melodia, Kelly & Schoenberger.

Congratulations Larry, on this well-deserved honor! This recognition reflects not only the significance of the case, but the extraordinary commitment Larry brings to every client he represents.

05/04/2026

We are proud to share that our managing partner, Adam Carlson, has been named a finalist for the Mentorship Award at the 2026 California Legal Awards!

Adam’s recognition reflects a deep and ongoing commitment to mentorship — not as a passive concept, but as an active, structured, and impactful part of the legal profession.

Through his leadership with the Earl Warren Inn of Court, Adam designed and implemented a comprehensive mentorship program that brings together experienced attorneys, judges, and newer members of the profession in a meaningful way. By creating clear structure, thoughtful discussion frameworks, and accountability through a mentorship “challenge,” the program has fostered lasting professional relationships and a high level of engagement across participants.

Adam’s mentorship efforts also extend to young aspiring members of the profession, including high school and college students exploring a future in law.

Adam also believes the legal profession gets stronger when experience is shared, not guarded. Adam has guest lectured for negotiations classes at UC Berkeley Law and has hosted a variety of CLE courses with the Contra Costa County Bar Association , such as the three-day experiential Trial Course Practicum, Zoom Depositions, and supports many more.

Congratulations, Adam! This recognition is well earned!

You can find the full list of finalists here! https://www.law.com/therecorder/2026/04/27/announcing-the-finalists-for-the-2026-california-legal-awards/?slreturn=20260504152134

04/09/2026

Our partners, Andy Schwartz and Adam Carlson, had the pleasure of presenting a CLE program on the strategic considerations of remote and in person depositions for the Beverly Hills Bar Association and the Contra Costa County Bar Association

It was a wonderful program and we hope it was insightful and informative, especially for the next generation of attorneys navigating the legal field and the ever-changing developments in litigation!

Thank you to all of the participants and to BHBA and CCCBA for helping facilitate!

03/31/2026

Our very own managing partner, Adam Carlson, and founding partner, Andy Schwartz, will be talking all things zoom depositions on Monday, April 6th at 12:30PM Pacific via Zoom! There is still time to register, so check out the link in our bio! This program is in collaboration with the Beverly Hills Bar Association and the Contra Costa County Bar Association. This CLE will cover (1) the efficiencies and advantages of Zoom depositions; (2) key challenges; and (3) emerging best practices and ethical considerations.

We highly recommend new attorneys to learn from these seasoned trial lawyers as they give us the inside scoop on deposition practice, whether it is in person or virtual!

Link to register here: https://tr.ee/EUbaJICbl7

03/19/2026

This past year of 2025 marked a period of meaningful growth and hard-fought results for our firm. At its core, our work remains the same: standing with people whose lives were permanently altered by negligence, misconduct, or dangerous conditions—and holding powerful defendants accountable when it matters most. But this year also reflected an expansion of our capacity to take on even more complex, high-stakes cases while staying true to that mission.

As we reflect on this last year, we have had many successes advocating for our clients and if you are curious, check out our blog post here!

Read post "Year in Review: Advocating for the Seriously Injured, Expanding Our Fight" by Casper, Meadows, Schwartz & Cook. Contact our Walnut Creek attorneys for more information.

03/03/2026

We are proud to announce that our managing partner, Adam Carlson, has been formally recognized by the City of Lancaster for his exceptional advocacy and trial performance. CMS Law sincerely appreciates the recognition that is celebrated when victims receive justice. In our field, we often receive appreciation from clients and recognition from peers, but this recognition from an official civic institution is a recognition that carries special significance in our field, and we are humbly honored that the City of Lancaster reached out to us to honor Adam’s hard work!

Adam is recognized by the City of Lancaster as he successfully settled a complex matter in the Fresno County Superior Court involving claims against a public entity and individual defendant. Specifically, he is commended for his exceptional achievement in securing a $3,250,000 settlement in the personal injury case for his client.

This recognition highlights what we prioritize as a firm, fearless advocacy and unwavering commitment to our clients.

Congratulations to Adam on this well-deserved honor. We are proud to have trial lawyers who set the standard for excellence and deliver meaningful results for the people we represent.

02/17/2026

Concede, But Also Spin!

Adam Carlson was honorably invited as a guest lecturer for Professor Jonathan Lee’s experiential learning negotiations class at UC Berkeley Law where he spoke to second and third year law students about the art of negotiations.

Adam shared with the students that “negotiation is something that should be studied more by lawyers. They often take continuing education courses on depositions, recent developments in the law, or other issues required by the state bar. But when the success of a case is so often defined by the outcome of a negotiation, it’s imperative lawyers master that skill.” - Adam Carlson

To watch his lecture, check out this link! https://vimeo.com/1164178310/907fe33e13?share=copy&fl=sv&fe=ci

02/13/2026

When you purchase a defective product, who must bear the responsibility?

CMS Law recently filed a lawsuit against Amazon because they sold a defective pressure cooker that severely injured our client.

Law360, a legal news service that serves as a crucial resource to stay informed on critical legal developments, reported on this lawsuit against Amazon and inquired from managing partner, Adam Carlson, how CMS plans to attack Amazon.

In the article, Adam Carlson explains how Amazon, and other large corporations, profit from the sale of defective products. Yet, Adam contends that Amazon has an obligation to ensure that when making a profit off of products, that they do so responsibly.

02/01/2026

If you didn't already know, managing partner Nick Casper had the great privilege of being the guest editor of Volume 2025, No. 6, of the Contra Costa Lawyer Magazine, titled The Litigation Issue. Click the link to read Nick's opening remarks and be sure to check out the rest of the articles!

01/29/2026

In case you missed it, our very own managing partner Adam Carlson was featured in the most widespread and well-renowned legal publication, The Daily Journal, that was published last Wednesday, January 21st of 2026.

In his Op-Ed, Adam Carlson talks all things Zoom Depositions in civil litigation and how to navigate these unsettled waters. Check it out here!