Kristi Blackwell is the Managing Partner of Tyson & Mendes’ San Diego office and leads the firm’s Retail, Restaurant, and Hospitality practice group. Her practice focuses primarily on general liability, professional liability, personal injury, products liability, premises liability, coverage, and complex litigation. Ms. Blackwell has wide-ranging litigation experience representing a diverse group of individuals and businesses in California state and federal district courts.
Ms. Blackwell is an experienced litigator in all pre-trial and trial phases. Her personal injury trial experience includes a defense verdict and jury verdicts substantially below plaintiffs’ settlement demands prior to trial. She has also successfully settled numerous cases and disposed of cases via motion in the early stages of litigation.
Ms. Blackwell assisted in preparing the petition and opening brief in the landmark California Supreme Court case Howell v. Hamilton Meats (2011) 52 Cal.4th 541, wherein the Court held personal injury plaintiffs can only recover the amount of medical expenses paid and accepted in full by the healthcare provider, not the higher billed amount.
Ms. Blackwell earned her J.D. cum laude in 2007 from California Western School of Law, where she served as Senior Editor for the International Law Journal. Ms. Blackwell is a member of the San Diego Defense Lawyers and was listed among San Diego Business Journal’s “Women of Influence in Law” in 2021.
In her free time, Ms. Blackwell enjoys spending time with her family. She loves all things sports and enjoys both watching and participating in a variety of sporting activities.
Recent Posts
On November 4, 2021, the Second District Court of Appeal, Division 2, ruled against establishing tort liability for insurers who paid less than what the hospital believed to be the “reasonable and customary value.” This partially published opinion is based on the underlying suit between plaintiffs Long Beach Memorial Medical Center and Orange Coast Memorial Medical Center (collectively “the hospitals”) and defendant Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc. (“Kaiser”) stemming from alleged underpayment by Kaiser for emergency medical services rendered at the hospitals.
San Diego Business Journal – July 19, 2021
Kristi Blackwell Selected as Finalist for SDBJ’s 40 Under 40.
San Diego Business Journal – June 28, 2021
Cayce Lynch and Kristi Blackwell Selected for Women of Influence in Law for 2021 by SDBJ
Attorney at Law Magazine – February 18, 2021
Nationwide civil litigation defense firm Tyson & Mendes LLP announced today the promotion of two women to equity partner: Kristi Blackwell and Lynn Allen. With three men and five women equity partners, the firm is now nearly two-thirds women-owned.
Law360 – February 8, 2021
Civil defense firm Tyson & Mendes LLP, which reached gender parity among equity partners back in June, has promoted two more women to equity partner, making the firm more than 60% female-owned.
SAN DIEGO (February 5, 2021) – Less than a year after reaching gender parity in equity partnership – already a rarity in the legal industry – nationwide civil litigation defense firm Tyson & Mendes LLP announced today the promotion of two more women to equity partner: Kristi Blackwell and Lynn Allen. With three men and five women equity partners, the firm is now nearly two-thirds women-owned. Additional equity partners include Robert Tyson, Patrick Mendes, Mina Miserlis, James Sell, Susan Oliver, and Cayce Lynch.
SD Metro – August 27, 2019
SD Metro has selected Kristi Blackwell for their 40 Under 40 award.
The Daily Transcript – May 15, 2019
The Daily Transcript selects Kristi Blackwell for their Top 40 Under 40.
RIVERSIDE, Calif. (April 17, 2019) – Following a three-week trial, a San Bernardino County jury on April 10, 2019, found Chino Hills Ford not liable for a serious car accident which allegedly caused seizures to a child. Tyson & Mendes LLP attorneys Kristi Blackwell and Christopher Schon represented Chino Hills Ford and secured a full defense verdict in which the injured plaintiff sought more than $7.4 million in damages.
Kristi Blackwell is a Partner in Tyson & Mendes’ San Diego office and leads the firm’s Retail, Restaurant, and Hospitality practice group. Kristi was the third partner for the firm (after Bob and Pat), and played a key role in preparing the petition and opening brief for Howell v. Hamilton Meats, one of the firm’s most significant wins. Kristi’s practice focuses primarily on general liability, personal injury, premises liability, and complex litigation.