Attorney Profiles

Gary L. Gebler

Prior to forming Gebler & Weiss, PC with Jerrie S. Weiss, since 2000, Mr. Gebler was the senior trial attorney for the firm of Berglund & Johnson, a firm specializing in Personal Injury, Products Liability and Elder Abuse in Woodland Hills.  Previously, he was the principal trial attorney for the Gebler Firm, a business litigation firm he established in Orange County in 1992, after having practiced with the Newport Beach law firm of Woolsey Angelo and Thatcher since 1980.

Mr. Gebler has been acknowledged by his peers to be one of the foremost trial lawyers in the State of California, having successfully tried dozens of cases in both State and Federal Courts throughout California for the past thirty years, in a variety of Nursing Home Neglect, Insurance Bad Faith, Medical Malpractice, Products Liability and Personal Injury matters as well as Complex Business Litigation.

He has also successfully handled numerous appellate matters throughout the California Courts of Appeals including the Supreme Court for the State of California, involving landmark cases pertaining to issues relating to Elder Abuse, Medical Malpractice, Products Liability, Unfair Competition and Fiduciary Duty including Hovinga v. Placentia Linda Hospital, (Medical Malpractice); Mitchell vs. KellerIndustries, Inc. (Products Liability); and Bakonis vs. Allstate Insurance Company (Unfair Competition).

Mr. Gebler, a native of Orange County, graduated with a Bachelors degree in History from California State University Fullerton in 1976 and obtained his Juris Doctorate degree from Pepperdine University School of Law in 1979.

A committed Christian, Gary has a heart for people, and will tirelessly fight to protect them. When not practicing law Gary is involved in numerous activities at The Church at Rocky Peak, having previously served as Chairman of the Board at Coastland Community Church in Orange County.  He is an avid outdoors man who enjoys wing-shooting and the training of bird dogs.

Jerrie S. Weiss

Jerrie S. Weiss has practiced in the Medical Malpractice/Elder Abuse arena for over 32 years.  For the first 22 years of her practice, she defended doctors in malpractice cases. For the last 10 years she has been representing injured parties in Medical Malpractice and Elder Abuse cases.  Her experience in litigating these cases from both sides gives her a unique understanding about how the other side thinks. Although, Jerrie has no regrets about the years she spent defending health care providers, she feels that she is finally actually able to make a difference with her law degree.  The work she does not only helps her injured clients, but also sends a message to nursing homes, hospitals and health care providers that unless they change their ways and alleviate serious problems such as understaffing and poor infection control, the monetary pressures imposed by lawsuits will continue.  Every successful outcome potentially benefits not only the current client, but also future patients of the facilities or practitioners involved.

Jerrie has authored and argued over 50 appeals, several of which resulted in landmark published opinions in the Medical Malpractice and Elder Abuse arena.  One noteworthy decision is Benun v. Superior Court, 123 Cal.App.4th 113 (2004), in which the Court recognized a two rather than one year statute of limitations in elder abuse cases, thus allowing tolling of the statute for victims of neglect or abuse who suffer from mental infirmities and/or dementia which often prevents them from seeking timely assistance of counsel.

When Jerrie isn’t working, she enjoys spending time with her two grown sons, Jason & Nicholas, playing with her dogs, participating in church and community activities and skiing.  She has earned advanced degrees in psychology, which enables her to better understand and empathize with the complicated dynamics surrounding the injured and their families.

Jerrie was a United States National Diving Champion and a member of two United States Olympic Teams. She believes that the discipline and hard work which contributed to her success in diving have been instrumental in her success as an attorney.  “You have to love what you do to be the best you can be and you have to surround yourself with a caring and supportive staff.  Our team at Gebler & Weiss is absolutely the best. Each and every one of our team members gives their heart and soul to our cases and our clients, with the goal of holding accountable those who have neglected them and consciously disregarded their health, safety and welfare.  It is a joy to come to work each day and a privilege to represent such vulnerable and often ignored members of our society.”

Glenna M. Francis

Glenna M. Francis began her legal career at a large commercial law firm, representing the interests of Fortune 500 corporations.  Something was missing.  In Glenna’s own words:

“I wanted my professional career to be about more than making wealthy people wealthier.  Here at Gebler & Weiss, PC, I found my true calling.  Every day, I am given the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of our clients, one person at a time. We are in the trenches every day, fighting a legal battle to improve the quality of healthcare available to everyone who enters a long-term care facility in California.  I love my job.”

Glenna recently argued Birl v. Heritage Care LLC, 172 Cal.App.4th 1313 (2009) before the Second District Court of Appeal, regarding the applicability of CCP §1281.2(c) within the context of an elder abuse/neglect action. In its opinion, the Court upheld the trial court’s denial of a petition to compel arbitration on grounds of joinder, finding: (1) an abuse/ neglect action filed against doctor defendants may arise out of the same transaction as that which  involves a care facility, (2) services provided at one facility and separated in time from the services provided at another facility may still be “related transactions,” and (3) plaintiffs may themselves qualify as third parties as to their individual causes of action.

Glenna attended law school at the University of California at Berkeley, Boalt Hall, and simultaneously plunged into the world of plaintiff-side litigation.  She also volunteered as a mediator in a victim-offender reconciliation program, specializing in youth offenders referred by the Oakland Probation Department.  Glenna believes that this experience taught her many valuable skills that she applies daily, including her ability to empathize and connect with people on a personal level, and to reach resolution even under extremely difficult and emotional circumstances.

When not in the office. Glenna tries to keep pace with her mom (a vibrant and active 82-year- old) and her son (a vibrant and active teenager).