Attorneys
Firm Partners | Associates | Of Counsel
 Rey S. Yang is a Partner in the law firm of Poole and Shaffery, LLP. He manages the firm’s Toxic Tort Department in the Los Angeles office. Mr. Yang obtained a B.A. in Quantitative Economics and Decision Science from the University of California, San Diego, in 1993. He then received a scholarship to attend the University of Mississippi School of Law, and in 1996, obtained a Juris Doctorate degree from Ole Miss Law School.
Mr. Yang oversees the defense of claims relating to occupational exposures to toxic chemicals, such as benzene, and claims relating to exposures to respiratory irritants such as silica, asbestos, and metal particulates. He has litigated cases involving Proposition 65 (the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986), and the federal and California Hazard Communication Standard.
Aside from his management of toxic tort claims, Mr. Yang has considerable experience in civil litigation defense, including claims of wrongful death, products liability, catastrophic injuries, premises liability, asbestos litigation, class actions, automobile collisions, wrongful termination, employment discrimination, business disputes, medical malpractice, legal malpractice, breach of contract, indemnity, insurance coverage, and assorted other insured liabilities.
Mr. Yang also has extensive law and motion and appellate experience and has argued before the California Court of Appeal on numerous occasions. Notable published decisions involving Mr. Yang include Stadish v. Superior Court (Southern California Gas Company) (1999) 71 Cal.App.4th 1130, regarding the trial court’s responsibilities in identifying trade secret information in a benzene-related toxic tort action.
Mr. Yang is a member of the Taiwanese American Lawyers Association, and the Southern California Chinese Lawyers Association. At law school, he was a member of the Mississippi Law Journal, served on the advisory board for the Journal of National Security, and was an officer of the Mississippi Moot Court Board, serving as the Bench Memorandum Chairperson.
- State Bar of California
- United States District Court (Central District)
- Obtained a de minimis settlement on behalf of a solvent manufacturer after filing a motion for summary judgment on the lack of general causation. In the personal injury action, plaintiff alleged that he sustained acute myelogeous leukemia as result of exposure to benzene-containing products he used in a variety of workplace settings.
- Obtained an order sustaining a demurrer without leave to amend in a wrongful death action where plaintiffs alleged a painter sustained pancreatic cancer as a result of exposure to purported carcinogens in various painting-related chemical products. Mr. Yang argued that although plaintiffs’ claims relied upon common law theories for recovery, their action was premised upon Proposition 65 (the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986), and that plaintiffs failed to comply with the pre-litigation requirements of Proposition 65. The matter is currently on appeal.
- Successfully obtained a dismissal recently for a waiver of costs on behalf of a manufacturer of piping products in a personal injury action where plaintiff alleged that she sustained interstitial lung disease from exposure to metal particles created from soldering, brazing, or welding activities in her workplace. Plaintiff agreed to dismiss the action after Mr. Yang filed a motion for summary judgment on the grounds that plaintiff had no evidence that she was exposed to any metal products at her job.
- Obtained a dismissal for a waiver of costs on behalf of a manufacturer of aerosol acrylic resin coating used to insulate circuit boards in a wrongful death action. Plaintiffs alleged that decedent sustained Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma as a result of occupational exposure to chemical products that contained organic solvents.
- Successfully obtained a de minimis settlement on in a personal injury action after filing a motion for summary judgment on the lack of general causation. Plaintiff alleged that he sustained chronic myelogenous leukemia from exposure to benzene-containing products used in his job at a wheel manufacturing plant. Mr. Yang argued that plaintiff’s experts could not show causation as there were no scientific studies showing a causal link between benzene exposure and the specific genetic abnormality (Philadelphia chromosome) associated with plaintiff’s illness.
- Obtained an order dismissing an action on behalf of manufacturer of a fuel additive on the grounds that plaintiff’s action was barred by the statute of limitations.
ryang@pooleshaffery.com
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