The Civil Division provides legal advice and services to the City Council, City staff, boards and commissions, and related City entities and enterprises, including the preparation of ordinances, resolutions, contracts, and legal opinions relating to land use, redevelopment, public utilities, public safety and other municipal law matters. The Division represents the City, its officers, and employees in civil litigation matters and oversees the legal services provided by outside legal counsel.
Civil Division Personnel
The Civil Division of the City Attorney’s Office consists of one Senior Assistant City Attorney, five Assistant City Attorneys, four Deputy City Attorneys, and a Paralegal.
Mark S. Gordon
Practice Areas, Background and Experience
Mr. Gordon is an Assistant City Attorney and presently serves as the City's legal advisor to the Anaheim Planning Commission and his practice is focused primarily on land use and planning law. Prior to his current position, Mr. Gordon served as a civil litigator for the City for 15 years handling both state and federal trial and appellate court practice.
Education
Mr. Gordon is a graduate of Western State University College of Law (J.D.), and Chapman University (B.S. Government).
Moses W. Johnson, IV
Practice Areas, Background and Experience
Mr. Johnson presently serves as an Assistant City Attorney handling all phases of civil litigation matters involving the City including pre-trial discovery, law and motion, trial and appeal. He primarily practices in state and federal trial and appellate courts, litigating cases involving civil rights, land use, torts and construction law.
Education
Mr. Johnson is a graduate of University of San Diego School of Law (J.D.), and California State University, Long Beach (B.S. Accounting).
Alison M. Kott
Practice Areas, Background and Experience
Ms. Kott is an Assistant City Attorney, primarily representing the City of Anaheim’s Public Utilities Department in transactional, administrative, and regulatory matters. In that capacity she advises the Public Utilities’ Water, Electric, Finance, and Joint Services Divisions. Prior to joining the City Attorney’s Office, she was an in-house litigator for the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. Ms. Kott is admitted to practice law in California, the United States District Court for the Northern, Southern, Eastern, and Southern Districts of California, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeal, and the United States Supreme Court.
Education
Ms. Kott is a graduate of Western State University College of Law (J.D.) and the University of the Pacific (B.A. Pre-Law / Psychology).
Kristin A. Pelletier
Practice Areas, Background and Experience
Ms. Pelletier is an Assistant City Attorney who specializes in labor and employment law, constitutional law, and civil rights litigation. She serves as the advisor to the Human Resources and Police Departments and also supervises litigation matters.
Education
Ms. Pelletier is a graduate of the University of Southern California (J.D.) and the University of California Los Angeles (B.A.).
Theodore J. Reynolds
Practice Areas, Background and Experience
Mr. Reynolds presently serves as an Assistant City Attorney, specializing in redevelopment, affordable housing and real estate matters. He formerly served as an Assistant City Attorney for the cities of Orange, Pasadena and Burbank and their respective redevelopment agencies, and was directly involved in redevelopment, affordable housing, real estate, community facilities districts, public works contract issues, land use and planning matters (including the Subdivision Map Act and compliance with CEQA), and general public agency issues such as the Brown Act, the Public Records Act and conflict of interest questions.
Education
Mr. Reynolds is a graduate of Southwestern University School of Law (J.D.) and California State Polytechnic University, Pomona (B.S., Urban Planning).
Gregg M. Audet
Practice Areas, Background and Experience
Mr. Audet currently serves as a Deputy City Attorney handling all phases of civil litigation pending against the City. His practice includes civil rights, torts, and employment matters in state and federal trial and appellate courts.
Education
Mr. Audet received his law degree from the University of Michigan Law School, and a B.A. from the College of the Holy Cross.
Daniel A. Ballin
Practice Areas, Background and Experience
Mr. Ballin presently serves as a Deputy City Attorney in the Civil Division of the City Attorney's Office. Mr. Ballin primarily assists the Public Utilities Department with a wide range of advisory issues.
Mr. Ballin joined the City Attorney's Office in 2010. Since 2000, Mr. Ballin has assisted other cities and special districts with the Brown Act, the Public Records Act, the California Environmental Quality Act, conflict of interest laws, rates and fees, land use, public works, and telecommunications.
Education
Mr. Ballin is a graduate of University of California, Davis School of Law (J.D.), and the University of California, Berkeley (B.A., History).
Mark S. Facer
Practice Areas, Background and Experience
Mr. Facer presently serves as an Deputy City Attorney handling all phases of civil litigation matters involving the City including pre-trial discovery, law and motion, trial and appeal. He primarily practices in state and federal trial and appellate courts, litigating cases involving civil rights, land use, torts and construction law. Mr. Facer also represents the City in Code Enforcement cases.
Education
Mr. Facer is a graduate of the Brigham Young University, J. Reuben Clark School of Law (J.D.), and Brigham Young University (B.S. Psychology).
Bryn M. Morley
Practice Areas, Background and Experience
Ms. Morley presently serves as a Deputy City Attorney in the Civil Division. She serves as legal advisor to several departments in the City including Public Works, Community Services and City Clerk. She also serves as legal advisor to two JPA’s for the Fire Department -OCCHMERA and Metro Cities. She provides legal assistance on such issues as land use, environmental law, public contracting, public records act, open meeting laws and conflict of interest.
Education
Ms. Morley is a graduate of Thomas Jefferson School of Law, San Diego (J.D.) and the University of California, Santa Barbara (B.A. Law and Society).
Melissa M. Merrill
Practice Areas, Background and Experience
Melissa Merrill provides litigation and transactional paralegal support for the attorneys in the City Attorney’s office. She has experience assisting in all phases of civil litigation from the claim stage to appeals in both state and federal court.
Education
Ms. Merrill received her paralegal certificate from the UCLA Attorney Assistant Training Program.
