Lecturer Bios
Sigrid Asmundson, Esq.
Sigrid Asmundson is an attorney in the Municipal Law Practice Group of Best Best & Krieger LLP. Ms. Asmundson advises clients with regard to a variety of topics, with an emphasis on initiatives and referendums, special and general taxes, state mandates, community redevelopment law, and ethics. Her recent publication, “AB 1234: The Rise of the Unfunded Mandate” (2006) Vol. 29, No. 2 Public L. J. 9, evaluates the process by which the California Legislature may adopt new legislation that bypasses the requirements of a reimbursable state mandate. She serves as the assistant general counsel for the Cosumnes Community Services District and as the assistant city attorney for the cities of Woodland and Williams. Ms. Asmundson received her J.D. degree from the University of California, Davis, School of Law, where she served as a senior notes and comments editor on the U.C. Davis Law Review. Prior to attending law school, she worked on multiple campaigns at the local and state level in various areas, including election campaigns for school board, city council, California assembly candidates, general and special taxes measures, bond measures and initiatives. She also has experience working for both the local and state government. Ms. Asmundson graduated from the University of California, Davis, with B.A. degrees in both political science and communications. She belongs to the State Bar of California, the Sacramento County Bar Association and Women Lawyers of Sacramento.
Kevin T. Collins, Esq.
Kevin T. Collins is a partner in the Litigation Practice Group of Best Best & Krieger LLP. Mr. Collins’ civil litigation practice has an emphasis on public law, First Amendment and election law. He has represented cities in defense of their adult-oriented business ordinances and entertainment permits. Mr. Collins regularly defends and advocates for cities in challenges to election procedures, including referendum and initiatives. His experience includes all phases of litigation, such as writ proceedings, jury and court trials, and appeals. Mr. Collins has published two articles: “Blight Removal Makes Strange Bedfellows: Unfair Competition Law and Abating Substandard Commercial Property” and “Court-Appointed Receivers: A Viable ‘Long Bomb’ Option Against Substandard Housing” in the California Land Use Law & Policy Reporter. He is the general counsel for the Cosumnes Community Services District. Mr. Collins belongs to the American Bar Association, the State Bar of California, the Riverside County Bar Association and the Sacramento County Bar Association. He is also an active member of the League of California Cities and the Sacramento Chapter of the California Receivers Forum. Mr. Collins received his J.D. degree from the University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law, where he served as staff writer for the Legislative Law Review (Volume 26) and received highest honors in both moot court and trial advocacy. He received a B.A. degree, cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa, in liberal arts and also obtained his teaching credential in social studies from the University of Redlands.
Richard C. Miadich, Esq.
Richard C. Miadich is an attorney with the law firm of Olson, Hagel & Fishburn, LLP, and a member of the firm’s Litigation Unit. Mr. Miadich’s practice focuses on litigation involving constitutional law, government law, municipal law, and elections and campaign finance. His litigation experience includes law and motion, written discovery, depositions and development of case strategy. Mr. Miadich also has significant experience handling civil writs and appeals in state and federal court. He is admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court, the U.S. Courts of Appeals for the 7th and 9th Circuits, and the U.S. District Courts for the Northern and Eastern Districts of California. In 2006 Mr. Miadich was appointed by the board of governors to serve as a member of the executive committee of the Public Law Section of the state bar. In that capacity, he currently serves as the assistant editor to the Public Law Journal and authors the journal’s “Litigation and Caselaw Update” and “Legislation Update.” He recently co-authored the article” When to Run, Walk or Crawl to the Courthouse: Proper Timing of Legal Challenges to Initiative Measures,” which was published in the Spring 2007 Public Law Journal. Mr. Miadich received his law degree from the University of California, Davis, where he served as a member of the U.C. Davis Law Review and externed with the California State Assembly Committee on Judiciary. He earned his undergraduate degrees in political science and history from the University of California, Los Angeles, where he was nominated for the Melville-Elliot Research Writing Award.
Rebecca J. Olson, Esq.
Rebecca J. Olson, an attorney with Olson, Hagel & Fishburn, LLP, is a member of the firm’s Political Counseling Unit. Ms. Olson counsels clients on compliance with state and federal campaign and election laws. During law school, she authored an article titled “Proposition 62: Voter’s Choice Open Primary Act for the California Initiative Review,” a nonpartisan, objective Internet publication that provides independent analyses of California ballot initiatives. Prior to attending law school, Ms. Olson was a paralegal at a Bay area law firm, where she prepared both federal and state campaign reports for political action committees, candidates and major donors. She also served in the finance department for a congressional campaign in California’s 10th congressional district. Ms. Olson earned her B.A. degree in political science with an emphasis on American political processes and institutions from Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana, and her law degree from the University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law. While at McGeorge, she received a certificate in international legal studies from Salzburg University in Austria, where she studied under Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy. Ms. Olson is admitted to practice in California and is a member of the California Political Attorneys Association and Women Lawyers of Sacramento.
