Attorneys
William D. Hughes
Partner
- Practice Areas
- Admiralty Law
- Employment Practices
- Insurance Coverage
- Products Liability
- Qui Tam/False Claims Act
- Real Estate
- Bar Admissions
- California
- Massachusetts
- Court Admissions
- All California Federal and State Courts
- All Massachusetts Federal and State Courts
- First Circuit Court of Appeal
- Ninth Circuit Court of Appeal
- United States Supreme Court
- Education
- Boston College Law School (JD 1973)
- Boston College (BS 1970)
- Memberships
- Member of the Maritime Law Association of the United States (Proctor in Admiralty)
- San Diego Defense Lawyers
- San Diego County Bar Association
- Taxpayers Against Fraud
- Contact
- whughes@hughesnunn.com
Mr. Hughes began his legal career serving as a government prosecutor at Naval Station Treasure Island, San Francisco while on active duty as a Lieutenant with Navy JAG from 1973 through 1977. While at NAVSTA San Francisco, Mr. Hughes worked with the Department of Justice on cases involving fraud against the United States, Federal Tort Claims and Admiralty matters.
Mr. Hughes has held Martindale Hubbell Law Directory's highest rating, "AV," since 1982. His practice includes counseling and dispute resolution (litigation, arbitration and mediation) for foreign and domestic clients, particularly in the maritime and insurance industries, in a variety of matters, such as general commercial, employment, intellectual property and risk management.
Mr. Hughes’ representation of the London Insurance Market, and the domestic market includes insurance coverage analysis and dispute resolution in matters involving construction, transportation, maritime and other casualties. He also handles bad faith and other disputes between insurers and insureds.
Mr. Hughes has served as a San Diego Superior Court Judge Pro Tem (trial and settlement conference judge) and an arbitrator on the panels of the San Diego County Superior Court and American Arbitration Association.
Randall M. Nunn
Partner
- Practice Areas
- Insurance Bad Faith
- Insurance Coverage
- Insurance Agent Errors & Omissions
- Business Litigation
- ADR
- Bar Admissons
- California
- Court Admissions
- All California State Courts
- All California Federal Dist. Courts
- Ninth Circuit Court of Appeal
- United States Supreme Court
- Education
- UC Davis, School of Law (JD 1983)
- UCLA (BA 1980)
- Memberships
- Board of Directors of San Diego Defense Lawyers
- Member of the Defense Research Institute
- Association of Southern California Defense Counsel
- San Diego County Bar Association
- Contact
- rnunn@hughesnunn.com
Randy Nunn has been a litigation and trial attorney since graduating from law school in 1983. He joined our predecessor firm, Hughes & Campbell, in 1987 after practicing in Los Angeles for a few years. In 1991, he and Bill Hughes established Hughes & Nunn and together have developed a successful niche in San Diego and Southern California.
Mr. Nunn leads our insurance litigation practice and oversees the entire caseload. He also manages the attorneys and support team on those cases. His expertise in the field of complex business and insurance litigation includes first and third party coverage, bad faith, agent liability, breach of contract and product liability.
Mr. Nunn has successfully defended hundreds of cases for several major insurance companies doing business in California. He has acted as lead trial counsel on dozens of cases all concluding with outstanding results for our clients. Mr. Nunn is also a trained mediator. He has successfully resolved numerous cases through mediation and arbitration.
Mr. Nunn administers his case load with discipline, precision and structure which lead to efficient case management. He dissects cases into a series of individual hurdles to conquer individually. He masterfully arranges timelines and meets deadlines to deliver favorable outcomes while avoiding unnecessary expenses.
Reported Cases
- Kramer v. State Farm Fire and Casualty Company, 76 Cal.App.4th 332 (1999)
- Afrasiabi v. State Farm Fire and Casualty Company, 73 Cal.App.4th 1183 (1999)
- Winans v. State Farm Fire and Casualty Company, 968 F.2d 884 (9th Cir. 1992)
E. Kenneth Purviance
Partner
- Practice Areas
- Insurance Bad Faith
- Insurance Coverage
- Admiralty Law
- Product Liability
- Directors and Officers' Liability
- Employment Practices
- Construction Defect
- Real Estate
- Bar Admissions
- California
- Court Admissions
- All California State Courts
- All California Federal Dist. Courts
- Ninth Circuit Court of Appeal
- United States Supreme Court
- Education
- McGeorge School of Law (JD 1986) with distinction
- UC Riverside (BA 1983)
- Memberships
- San Diego Defense Lawyers
- San Diego County Bar Association
- Contact
- kpurviance@hughesnunn.com
Mr. Purviance has been a litigation attorney since 1986. He joined the Hughes & Nunn team in 1991 after practicing at Post, Kirby, Noonan & Sweat. He has been a partner of our firm since 1999.
Mr. Purviance’s practice and expertise incorporates a variety of business and insurance litigation areas including first and third party coverage, insurance bad faith, agent errors and omissions, breach of contract, product liability, admiralty, real estate, construction defect and personal injury.
Mr. Purviance is the firm’s primary research and writing attorney. He oversees and executes the majority of our comprehensive research and writing assignments. He is analytical, objective and logical. His formidable talents in this arena have proven crucial to our firm’s successful law and motion practice.
Additionally, his steady and imperturbable demeanor lends itself to amenable relationships with colleagues, clients and opponents alike.
Reported Cases
- Kramer v. State Farm Fire and Casualty Company, 76 Cal.App.4th 332 (1999)
Melissa K. Mixer
Associate
- Practice Areas
- Insurance Bad Faith
- Insurance Coverage
- Agent Liability
- Admiralty Law
- Product Liability
- Construction Defect
- Bar Admissions
- California
- Court Admissions
- All California State Courts
- All California Federal Dist. Courts
- First Circuit Court of Appeal
- Ninth Circuit Court of Appeal
- Education
- USD School of Law (JD 1993)
- Smith College (BA 1988)
- Memberships
- Member San Diego Defense Lawyers
- San Diego County Bar Association
- San Diego Chapter of the Smith College Alumnae Association
- Contact
- mmixer@hughesnunn.com
Ms. Mixer has been a litigation and trial lawyer since graduating from law school in 1993. She joined the Hughes & Nunn team in 1996 and is now our most senior associate.
Ms. Mixer has spent her tenure at Hughes & Nunn practicing complex insurance litigation including first and third party coverage, bad faith, agent liability, breach of contract, as well as, product liability and maritime matters.
Ms. Mixer is an astute legal writer. She has a talent for organization and attention to detail. She is able to gather, organize and summarize vast amounts of information and then present it in an accessible format. Melissa also has an aptitude for strategic thinking. She is able to accurately evaluate potential obstacles and avoid them for our clients. These skills have proven instrumental in litigating our complex case load.
In the courtroom, Ms. Mixer is articulate, poised and experienced. She is a tremendous asset to our firm, and of course, to our clients.
John D. Culver, Jr.
Associate
- Practice Areas
- Insurance Bad Faith
- Insurance Coverage
- Product Liability
- Directors and Officers' Liability
- Construction Defect
- Real Estate
- Bar Admissions
- California
- Court Admissions
- All California State Courts
- Southern Fed. District Court of CA
- Education
- Western State University of Law (JD 1993)
- National University (BA 1983)
- Memberships
- Member San Diego Defense Lawyers
- San Diego County Bar Association
- Contact
- jculver@hughesnunn.com
John has been a trial attorney since 1995. He joined the Hughes & Nunn team in 2005. Before coming to work with us, he worked for a major insurance company in claims, management and corporate law. His extensive experience in the insurance industry compliments and enhances our firm perfectly.
John’s practice and expertise include a variety of business, insurance litigation and related fields including first and third party coverage, insurance bad faith, claims handling, directors and officers liability, premises liability, uninsured and underinsured motorist, products liability, breach of contract, real estate non-disclosure and construction defect issues.
One of John’s most obvious strengths is his interpersonal skills. John employs his energy and optimism in his practice everyday with clients, colleagues and in the courtroom. John’s strengths are especially accentuated when preparing our witnesses for depositions and trial.
John volunteers as a Court Appointed Special Advocate for children through the non-profit organization Voices for Children.
