• Cruelty
• Dangerous dog defense and evaluation
• Animal hoarding
• Dog bite litigation and defense
• Exotic and wild animal issues
• Farmed animals
• Biomedical research
• Complex animal injury cases
• Animal ownership
• Veterinary malpractice
• Pet custody
• Animals in entertainment
• International animal law
• Wild horse protection litigation
• Horse slaughter issues

Mr. Wagman has a nationwide practice and represents many animal protection groups, as well as individual clients. He is the author of Animal Law: Cases and Materials, the first casebook used in law schools on the subject, currently in its fourth edition. In 2011, he was the lead author of A Worldview of Animal Law, a first-of-its-kind survey of the legal and cultural treatment of animals internationally. Mr. Wagman's animal law practice is featured in a section of the book Careers in Animal Law: Welfare, Protection, and Advocacy (American Bar Association, 2011).

Experience

Mr. Wagman's illustrative representations include:

• National Meat Association v. Brown
• Toni Penrod v. Robertson County, Kentucky
• Animal Legal Defense Fund v. Veneman
• Animal Legal Defense Fund v. Woodley
• Chesley Morton et al. v. Georgia Department of Agriculture
• California Veterinary Medical Association v. City of West Hollywood
• Chimps, Inc. v. Primarily Primates - Two sanctuaries fought for and obtained permanent homes for nine gibbons and two chimpanzees who had been taken from a situation where they were exposed to daily neglect and cruelty.
• Cavel International, Inc. v. Madigan, 500 F.3d 551 (7th Cir. 2007) - Horse slaughter company sued to strike down an Illinois law banning horse slaughter for human consumption. Schiff Hardin represented amicus who briefed the case to a successful result in the Seventh Circuit, against arguments of preemption and commerce clause violations.
• A Dog's Life Rescue v. County of Los Angeles - Animal rescue group sued Los Angeles for repeated violations of state law requiring the provision of veterinary care and a pre-euthanasia holding period for animals surrendered to county-run shelters. The case was settled very favorably, with the county agreeing to change all relevant policies and practices and continued monitoring by plaintiff.
• Earlier in his career, Mr. Wagman argued and prevailed for defendants in an asbestos action before the Alaska Supreme Court. The court adopted the arguments made in Mr. Wagman's brief, and awarded attorneys' fees to defendants.
• Animal Legal Defense Fund et al. v. Sidney Jay Yost

Publications

"Don’t Just Complain — Educate and Explain: Drafting The Complaint; Telling Their Story," ABA Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Committee Newsletter (Winter-Spring 2012)

"Creative Discovery in Animal Cases – Use of the Inspection Tool to Expose Abuse," ABA Animal Law Committee Newsletter (Fall 2011)

"Give Me Back My Dog! – A Practical Guide To Helping Clients Obtain Or Keep Custody Of Their Pets," (co-author) ABA Animal Law Committee Newsletter (Summer 2011)

A Worldview of Animal Law, (co-author) Carolina Academic Press (April 2011)

"Running the Gauntlet of Dangerous Dog Litigation – A Guide to Getting Good Dogs Off of Death Row: Part II," (co-author) ABA Animal Law Committee Newsletter (Winter 2011)

"A National Injustice: The Federal Government's Systematic Removal and Eradication of an American Icon," (co-author) Ecology Law Currents, Vol. 37, No. 3 (February 2011)

"Growing Up with Animal Law: From Courtrooms to Casebooks," Journal of Legal Education (November 2010)

"Running The Gauntlet Of Dangerous Dog Litigation - A Guide To Getting Good Dogs Off Of Death Row: PART I," (co-author) ABA Animal Law Committee Newsletter (Summer 2010)

"Managing Emotions in Animal Cases," (co-author) ABA Animal Law Committee Newsletter (Winter 2010)

"Levine v. Vilsack: When 'Likely' Actually Means 'Definitely'," (co-author) 37 Ecology Law Currents 10 (March 2010)

Animal Law: Cases and Materials, Fourth Edition (co-author), Carolina Academic Press (2010) — the first casebook for animal law courses in law schools, first published in 2000.

"Actions Involving Injuries to Animals," American Jurisprudence Proof of Facts, Volume 90, Third Series (2006)

"Advancing Tribal Sovereign Immunity as a Pathway to Power," 27 University of San Francisco Law Review 419 (1993)

"Second Bites at the Jurisdictional Apple: A Proposal for Preventing False Assertions of Diversity of Citizenship," 41 Hastings Law Journal 1417 (1990)

Speeches and Presentations

Mr. Wagman lectures across the country on animal law issues on a regular basis.

Pro Bono Activities

Mr. Wagman does a significant amount of pro bono work in the animal protection field, including the A Dog's Life Rescue and Cavel v. Madigan cases discussed above.

Mr. Wagman is also a member of the board of directors of three animal protection organizations and two exotic animal sanctuaries.

Previous Experience

Mr. Wagman was an operating room nurse at the University of California, San Francisco Hospitals and Clinics where he specialized in cardiac and general surgery.

Awards and Honors

American Jurisprudence Awards - Torts, Property, Contracts, Civil Procedure, Federal Courts

Martindale-Hubbell — A/V Rated

Northern California Super Lawyers, Personal Injury Defense/Products