Biography
Christina Retts focuses her practice on representing government entities, law enforcement, and corrections professionals against civil rights claims brought under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, Bivens, and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, as well as state tort claims and class action litigation. She litigates complex cases in both federal and state courts across the country.
Tina has extensive experience defending law enforcement personnel against a broad range of civil claims, including cases involving First Amendment retaliation/protest response, excessive use of force, officer-involved shootings, TASER, less-lethal weapons, K-9 use, suicidal and barricaded subjects, positional and restraint asphyxia, excited delirium, warrantless search and seizure, failure to arrest, and wrongful arrest. She has also defended cases involving crime lab testing of evidence, including DNA; arson investigations and arson dog handling; and gangs. Her practice also encompasses the defense of inmate/detainee litigation, including prison classification/segregation claims, inmate assault claims, and religious rights allegations. Tina is also experienced with defending fire and corrections medical personnel against complex medical negligence claims.
Tina has also defended governmental entities in traffic and roadway design cases.
Employment
Wieneke Law Group
Partner, September 2017 to Present
Struck Wieneke & Love
Partner, June 2011 to August 2017 (Partner 2013)
Jones, Skelton & Hochuli
Associate, March 2005 to June 2011
Bar Admissions
Arizona
New Mexico
U.S. District Court, District of Arizona
U.S. District Court, District of Colorado
U.S. District Court, District of New Mexico
Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals
Representative Experience
Fernandez v. Virgilio, No. 2:12-CV-02475 JWS (D. Ariz. June 30, 2014)
Marquez v. City of Phoenix, 693 F.3d 1167 (9th 2013) (summary judgment, Taser)
Hogue v. City of Phoenix, No. CV2010-092705 (Maricopa Cnty. Sup. Ct. 2014) (summary judgment, no duty, law enforcement investigation and DNA analysis).
Fernandez v. City of Phoenix, No. 2:11cv-02001- FJM (D. Ariz. June 20, 2012)
Jensen v. Burnsides, No. CV-06-2356 -PHX-GMS (D. Ariz. Oct. 23, 2008) (summary judgment, shooting)
Pataky v. City of Phoenix, No. CV-09-0148 3-PHX -JAT (D. Ariz. Dec. 8, 2009) & Barnes v. City of Phoenix, No. CV09-1767-PHX-JAT (D. Ariz. Oct. 22, 2009)
Stadler v. State of Arizona, No. 2:10-cv-01072-SRB (D. Ariz.) (summary judgment, suicidal subject and police pursuit)
Stair v. City of Phoenix, No. CV2014 -004744 (Maricopa Cnty. Sup. Ct.) (summary judgment, no duty, law enforcement investigation relating to gang members)
Corrales v. City of Phoenix, No. 2a;11-cv-00287 -ROS (D. Ariz.) (summary judgment, shooting)
Sloan v. City of Phoenix, 2:16-cv-02176-ROS (D. Ariz.) (summary judgment, arson investigation)
Erickson v. City of Phoenix, 2:14-cv-01942- JAT (D. Ariz).
Rascon v. City of Phoenix, No. CV-14-00749-PHX-JJT (2019, defense verdict excessive force, positional asphyxia)
Milke v. City of Phoenix, 497 F.Supp.3d 442 (D.Ariz., Oct. 29, 2020), aff’d 2022 U.S. App. LEXIS 2530 (9th Cir. 2022) (wrongful conviction; dismissal as a result of Plaintiff’s discovery misconduct)
Harris v. Bertz, 2022 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 153272 (D.Ariz. August 25, 2022), aff’d 2023 U.S.App. LEXIS 27086 (9th Cir. 2023) (summary judgment, shooting)
Andrich v. Kostas, 470 F.Supp. 3d 1048 (D.Ariz. Jun. 30, 2020), aff’d 2023 U.S.App. LEXIS 25002 (9th Cir. 2023) (summary judgment, shooting)
Professional Associations & Memberships
Member, State Bar of Arizona
Member, State Bar of New Mexico
Member, Federal Bar Association
Member, Arizona Public Risk Management Association
Member, Arizona Association of Defense Counsel
Member, Defense Research Institute
Presentations
Presenter, “A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words, But What’s Inside Will Shock You,” Arizona Public Risk Managers’ Association (PRIMA) Summer Education Series, August 1, 2019.
Presenter, “The Public Safety Response to the Mental Health Crisis,” Arizona Public Risk Managers’ Association (PRIMA) Summer Education Series, July 26, 2018.
Presenter, “Tactical Training on the Mentally Ill,” Crisis Intervention Training for the Scottsdale Police Department on October 2, 2017 and October 6, 2017.
Presenter, “Defending Police Use of Force Cases – When Is Enough, Enough?” to the Chandler Police Department on November 2, 2016.
Presenter, SWL Presents, “Discovery: The Hunt for Hidden Treasures,” September 1, 2016
Presenter, Arizona Homicide Association, Advanced Homicide Training, “Liability for Investigators and What the ME May be Missing,” 2015
Presenter, Arizona Gang Investigator’s Association, “Liability for Investigators,” 2014
Presenter, Arizona Counties Insurance Pool’s Fifteenth Annual Public Legal Seminar, “Law Enforcement and the Americans with Disabilities Act,” 2012
Co- Presenter, “Trial Masters,” 2020 DRI Civil Rights and Governmental Tort Liability Seminar
Presenter, “Handling Police Claims: Depositions,” 2024 DRI Civil Rights and Governmental Tort Liability Seminar
Publications
Mary Massaron & Josephine Antonia Delorenzo, eds., Sword and Shield: A Practical Approach to Section 1983 Litigation, Chapter 7: The Fourth Amendment, April 2021 (5th Ed.)
