Kevin Sweeney

Kevin Sweeney is a true “local”, having lived in Chico, California since 1952, with his father and grandfather being born in this city. He attended local schools and graduated from Pleasant Valley High School in 1970.

Kevin attended Chico State University from 1970 through 1972, where he participated in Football, Boxing and was the No. 1 man on the Ski Team. He transferred to the University of California Berkeley in 1972, graduating from that institution in 1974, and was awarded a Bachelor of Arts Degree, with Honors. Kevin then attended the University of California, Hastings College of the Law in San Francisco, California. During that time he worked for several insurance companies, insurance adjustment agencies and insurance defense firms, dealing with personal injury matters. Kevin also played for the Hastings Rugby Football Club.

Upon his graduation from Hastings, Kevin relocated back to Chico where he worked as an associate with Leverenz and Ward, a real estate and civil litigation firm. Kevin was quickly promoted to a partner in that firm and was deeply involved in the representation of real estate brokers, agents and Boards of Realtors, serving as the Associate Counsel for the Chico Board of Realtors and Lead Board Counsel for the Paradise Board of Relators.

After establishing his own firm, Kevin continued his representation of Boards of Realtors, including Chico and Paradise, as well as Siskiyou County and Glenn- Colusa. He continued his Membership in the California Association of Realtors, Board Legal Affairs Committee, and served as a member of the California Continuing Education of the Bar, California Young Lawyers Association, Real Estate Section. He also served as President of the Butte County Barristers and Vice-President of the Butte County Bar Association.

During his more than 40 years of practice, Kevin has handled numerous court and jury trials, Department of Real Estate and other administrative hearings, Federal Court appearances, including bankruptcy matters, and has successfully defended two separate matters before the California Third District Court of Appeal as well as two Writs of Mandate before said court.

In addition to his legal interests, Kevin has an extensive background as a civic leader by his service on numerous non‑profit boards, including, but not limited to the Chico Chamber of Commerce, Chico State Century Club, Crimestoppers, Community Living Centers, and, most notably, the Butte Humane Society for over 10 years. Kevin was also the Chair or served as Vice‑President on each of those boards, which reflects his involvement in crime prevention for the community, assistance to the disabled community, support for local athletics and animal welfare. He was also a long time member of both the Elks Club and Exchange Club service organizations.

Kevin lives on a small ranch in the Butte Valley area with his wife and numerous rescue animals, including horses and miniature donkeys, and was adversely affected by the Camp Fire, while his family members, including his wife’s parents, lost their home and narrowly escaped their exodus from the Town with their lives. Kevin is passionate about the financial losses, pain, suffering and emotional trauma that the victims of this fire, caused by PG&E, have endured. He will work with vigilance to assure those victims are properly compensated within the structure of the PG&E settlement fund.