A native of Staten Island, New York, Bob Tyson is a Founding Partner of the firm.
Mr. Tyson is a trial lawyer and author of the #1 best-selling, first book written for the defense to limit exposure at trial, Nuclear Verdicts: Defending Justice for All. In this groundbreaking book, Mr. Tyson sets forth the specific methods to beat plaintiffs’ lawyers and achieve justice. The book is the culmination of an over 30-year legal career, during which he has successfully tried a variety of cases involving complex products liability, commercial and general civil litigation, professional malpractice, environmental, and employment law – representing individuals, corporations, public entities, professionals, and many other different types of businesses.
Mr. Tyson is especially known for his groundbreaking work on Howell v. Hamilton Meats, a case he argued and won before the California Supreme Court. Howell has since been hailed as the most significant insurance decision to come down in over 40 years – altering the way California interprets the collateral source rule and impacting the damages a plaintiffs may recover. Mr. Tyson successfully argued an injured plaintiff may only recover the much lower amount that is paid for medical expenses, not the full medical bills, as past medical damages. This difference between what is billed versus paid saves insurance companies and defendants over $10 billion dollars every year. The victory earned Mr. Tyson the California Lawyer of the Year (CLAY) award from the California Bar Magazine, among other awards.
Mr. Tyson is the co-founder of Schaefer City Technologies, an innovative insurtech disruptor developing artificial intelligence products specifically to stop Nuclear Verdicts®. Schaefer City Technologies is answering the #1 question from thousands of insurance professionals: “How do I spot a Nuclear Verdict® on my desk before it happens?”
Mr. Tyson earned his B.S. in finance from Villanova University in 1986 and his J.D. from Villanova University School of Law in 1989. Prior to founding Tyson & Mendes in 2002, he practiced law at some of Southern California’s largest defense firms, including Edwards, White & Sooy and Booth, Mitchel & Strange. Active in the community and legal profession, he frequently lectures on a variety of legal issues to business and professional organizations.
In his off time, he enjoys beating partner Pat Mendes at golf and spending time with his three children, Faith, Mary, and Bobby, and wife Jenny. His mantra: Justice for All. As a modern-day poet once said: “You only get one shot, do not miss your chance to blow. This opportunity comes once in a lifetime, yo!”
A San Diego native, Pat Mendes is a Founding Partner of Tyson & Mendes and works from the firm’s San Diego headquarters.
Over the course of his career, Mr. Mendes has developed a formidable track record in defending insurance companies and businesses, taking on high profile, high stakes litigation involving insurers, design professionals, contractors, homeowners associations, and real property disputes. His specific practice areas include construction litigation, personal injury, insurance coverage and professional liability.
An active member of the legal community, he is affiliated with a number of professional organizations, including the San Diego County Bar Association, the Claims and Litigation Management (CLM) Alliance, the San Diego Defense Lawyers and California Minority Counsel Program (CMCP). He presents regularly to professional groups on insurance and casualty law as well as other current legal issues.
In addition to his work with clients and leading the firm, Mr. Mendes is the Chief Legal Strategy Officer for Schaefer City Technologies, an innovative insurtech disruptor developing artificial intelligence products specifically to stop Nuclear Verdicts®. Schaefer City Technologies is answering the #1 question from thousands of insurance professionals: “How do I spot a Nuclear Verdict® on my desk before it happens?”
Previously a partner with Gordon & Rees – where he served as director of the construction and insurance groups – Mr. Mendes joined forces with Bob Tyson in 2002 to form Tyson & Mendes. In 1992, he graduated cum laude from the University of California, San Diego with a bachelor’s degree in History, and went on to earn his J.D., magna cum laude, from the University of San Diego School of Law in 1995. He is licensed to practice law in California.
In his off time, he enjoys beating partner Pat Mendes at golf and spending time with his three children, Faith, Mary, and Bobby, and wife Jenny. His mantra: Justice for All. As a modern-day poet once said: “You only get one shot, do not miss your chance to blow. This opportunity comes once in a lifetime, yo!”
Mr. Mendes enjoys running, playing golf and spending time with his wife, Lori, and three children, Matthew, Grace, and Kayla.
Life is messy. When things get uncomfortable or awkward you sometimes just need to embrace the awkward before you can reach a meaningful resolution.
Cayce E. Lynch is the National Managing Partner at Tyson & Mendes. In this capacity, she leads the firm’s strategic vision and execution across all offices, focusing on optimizing the firm’s performance and addressing challenges in the evolving insurance defense industry. As part of the firm’s executive leadership team, Ms. Lynch is passionate about fostering a culture centered on people while driving results, reflecting her belief that organizations thrive when they balance purpose with humanity.
Under Ms. Lynch’s leadership, the firm has more than quadrupled in size and strengthened its reputation as a leader in insurance defense. She is the founder of several transformative initiatives, including the Tyson & Mendes Women’s Initiative, Young Professionals Group, and Diversity & Inclusion Committee, which provide mentorship and support for the firm’s attorneys and staff as well as insurance professionals nationwide. She also established Tyson & Mendes University, the firm’s premier internal education program that delivers unparalleled training for attorneys to ensure excellence in legal practice and client service.
In her leadership, Ms. Lynch prioritizes work-life harmony over rigid concepts of “balance.” She is a vocal advocate for supporting working parents, empowering underrepresented groups, and encouraging individuals to fully embrace authenticity in their work. Her initiatives and approach aim to support employees in thriving personally and professionally.
An industry-recognized speaker and educator, Ms. Lynch regularly presents CE and MCLE updates on topics such as preventing Nuclear Verdicts® and social inflation. She also serves as faculty for the Nuclear Verdicts Defense Institute, helping train defense professionals to combat Nuclear Verdict® trends.
Ms. Lynch has been recognized with numerous awards, including San Diego Business Journal’s “Business Women of the Year” Award (2017), “Top 40 Under 40” by both San Diego Metro and San Diego Business Journal (2018, 2019), and CLM’s inaugural “Phenoms Under 40” (2022). She has also been listed as a “Woman of Influence in Law” (2021-2023) and a “Leader of Influence in Law” (2023) by San Diego Business Journal.
Ms. Lynch earned her J.D., cum laude, in 2011 from the William S. Richardson School of Law, University of Hawaii at Manoa, where she served as the Outside Articles Editor for the University of Hawaii Law Review. After graduation, she clerked for Associate Justice James Duffy at the Hawaii Supreme Court. She is licensed to practice law in California and Colorado.
Outside the office, Ms. Lynch enjoys spending time with her husband and two daughters, embracing outdoor adventures, visiting her family in Colorado, mastering Italian recipes, and crocheting. She is perpetually in search of the best Surf-and-Turf burrito in Southern California.
Ashley Paige Fetyko is a Partner and the Head of Growth & Client Engagement. Ms. Fetyko is based in the Denver and San Diego offices but serves all offices across the firm. Her practice focuses on research, education, and thought leadership surrounding Nuclear Verdicts® and their causes, trends, and solutions. With a focus on client need and industry trends and concerns, Ms. Fetyko leverages her deep trial experience to develop industry-leading innovation, consultation, and education services. Leading a multi-disciplinary team, her efforts focus on preparing the firm’s attorneys to deliver excellence for clients, cultivating industry relationships, and guiding the strategic growth of innovation within the firm and beyond. Ms Fetyko conceptualized The Apex after leading the research and analysis of 100 Nuclear Verdicts® for the forthcoming book, Nuclear Verdicts®: The Apex – Break the Pattern, as a blueprint for the defense to stop Nuclear Verdicts® using the trial-tested and data-backed Tyson & Mendes strategies. In addition to being a sought-after speaker known for her dynamic and entertaining delivery, she oversees the creation of all internal and external educational programming,and serves as faculty for the Nuclear Verdicts Defense Institute.
Prior to joining Tyson & Mendes, Ms. Fetyko was a prosecutor, serving as both a deputy district attorney and as Chief Trial Deputy District Attorney. She has extensive trial experience after serving as first chair in over 90 jury trials (both criminal and civil). As a prosecutor, she handled all manner of criminal offenses, including high-profile murder, sexual assault, and crimes against children cases, and trained law enforcement, including agents with the FBI. Ms. Fetyko was the recipient of the 2018 Champion of Children Award in recognition of her work securing convictions against perpetrators of the most serious offenses against children. Before becoming a prosecutor, Ms. Fetyko was a litigator for a national employment defense firm, representing employers at all stages of litigation, including in mediation, and securing settlements before agencies such as the EEOC and CRD.
Ms. Fetyko received her J.D. from Southwestern Law School, where she was a member of the Trial Advocacy Honors Program, competing in and winning national mock trial competitions as well as serving on the Board of Governors. She was also an editor of the Biederman Entertainment Law Journal and served on the Board of Governors for the Women’s Law Association. Ms. Fetyko received her B.A. from Emerson College, graduating with awards and honors in writing and political communication. Ms. Fetyko is a member of the Colorado Bar Association, the Colorado Women’s Bar Association (on the Judicial Committee and as a Mentor in the CWBA LIFT! Mentorship Program), Denver MAMAS (Mother Attorneys Mentoring Association), the Weld County Bar Association, and the Colorado Defense Lawyers Association. She is an associate fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America as well as a member of the Trial Law Institute, and she coaches high school mock trial.
Outside of work, Ms. Fetyko can be found relishing time with her husband and two young children, dabbling in photography, and enjoying the Colorado sunshine.
Mina Miserlis is the Chair of Complex Trials at Tyson & Mendes and a driving force behind the firm’s trial success and proven defense strategies. Based in the firm’s San Diego office, she brings over 25 years of litigation and trial experience to leading the firmwide Complex Trial Team. As one of the firm’s top trial attorneys, no case proceeds to trial without her involvement, evaluation, and guidance. She is instrumental in developing the innovative strategies that have shaped Tyson & Mendes’ reputation as the leader in stopping Nuclear Verdicts®.
Ms. Miserlis focuses her practice on complex personal injury matters, including catastrophic injuries and high-stakes litigation. She has successfully tried numerous cases throughout California, including alleged traumatic brain injury and multi-million-dollar claims. Notably, Ms. Miserlis partnered with Bob Tyson to secure a $26,000 verdict in a personal injury case alleging brain damage and lost earning capacity where the plaintiff sought over $30 million in damages. Her ability to distill complex issues and present compelling narratives has also led to multiple defense verdicts in high-exposure matters.
Ms. Fetyko received her J.D. from Southwestern Law School, where she was a member of the Trial Advocacy Honors Program, competing in and winning national mock trial competitions as well as serving on the Board of Governors. She was also an editor of the Biederman Entertainment Law Journal and served on the Board of Governors for the Women’s Law Association. Ms. Fetyko received her B.A. from Emerson College, graduating with awards and honors in writing and political communication. Ms. Fetyko is a member of the Colorado Bar Association, the Colorado Women’s Bar Association (on the Judicial Committee and as a Mentor in the CWBA LIFT! Mentorship Program), Denver MAMAS (Mother Attorneys Mentoring Association), the Weld County Bar Association, and the Colorado Defense Lawyers Association. She is an associate fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America as well as a member of the Trial Law Institute, and she coaches high school mock trial.
A proven leader, Ms. Miserlis spearheads Tyson & Mendes’ trial strategy development, ensuring each case is meticulously analyzed and prepared to secure the best outcomes for clients. Her extensive trial experience and strategic insight make her a cornerstone of the firm’s commitment to defending clients against Nuclear Verdicts® and achieving justice in the courtroom. In addition to trial strategy development, Ms. Miserlis oversees verdict evaluations and successful resolutions prior to trial. She understands the importance of pretrial work and how it can build toward a solution outside of the courtroom.
She also provides invaluable consulting services both pretrial and post-trial to carriers and counsel alike in complex matters across the country, offering unparalleled insight into the most effective means of presenting a case, as well as post-verdict analysis.
Ms. Miserlis earned her B.A. from the University of California, Berkeley, graduating summa cum laude and as a member of Phi Beta Kappa in 1994. She obtained her J.D. from Loyola Law School in 1997. Licensed to practice law in California, she is an active member of the San Diego Defense Lawyers.
In addition to her professional accomplishments, Ms. Miserlis is passionate about mentoring young attorneys, promoting diversity within the legal profession, and ensuring the firm’s attorneys are equipped for victory. Outside of the courtroom, she enjoys running, yoga, and reading.
