Attorney Profiles

Mr. Manoukian is an experienced trial attorney specializing in serious personal injury litigation and criminal defense.  A former government prosecutor, Mr. Manoukian joined long time colleges and friends Greg Rueb and Joe Motta to form the firm of Rueb, Motta & Manoukian.  Mr. Manoukian represents clients in both California and Nevada in both State and Federal courts.  

Dirk Manoukian was a High School All-American wrestler from Reno, Nevada, who went on to San Jose State University to wrestle and play football. Mr. Manoukian later finished his education at the University of Nevada Reno.  In 1991, Mr. Manoukian graduated in the top of his class from McGeorge School of Law, in Sacramento, and went on to accept a position as a Deputy District Attorney for the Contra Costa District Attorney's Office.

From 1991 to 2004, Mr. Manoukian prosecuted and supervised the prosecution of thousands of criminal cases. He has personally tried well over a hundred jury trials ranging from misdemeanor crimes, to lengthy death penalty homicide trials.  As a partner in Rueb, Motta & Manoukian, Mr. Manoukian has litigated serious injury/wrongful death actions and misdemeanor and felony matters in both California and Nevada.  Mr. Manoukian's trial experience serves him as an invaluable asset in the investigation, litigation, and even negotiations, of what can often be tremendously complicated and difficult matters for his clients.
   
As a supervising government prosecutor and sought after private sector trial attorney, Mr. Manoukian has handled thousands of negotiations with other lawyers, judges, and special interest groups. Mr. Manoukian has extensive experience negotiating misdemeanor and felony cases. He also has substantial knowledge and skill in the procedural and substantive operations of local law enforcement agencies. As a long time member of the law enforcement community, Mr. Manoukian is extremely adept at assisting clients in dealing with state and federal law enforcement agencies such as the Department of Justice, the Drug Enforcement Agency, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Bureau of Narcotics Enforcement, and the Department of Homeland Defense.

Mr. Manoukian has been an instructor for private and government attorneys and government agencies. He has also instructed at local police academies, as well as state agencies such as the California Highway Patrol. Mr. Manoukian has also instructed local private attorneys on jury selection and jury trial tactics through the Contra Costa Bar Association. He has also authored a variety of works regarding procedural and substantive areas of criminal law.

Mr. Manoukian has handled a number of high profile cases, and has experience in dealing with the related aspects of litigation, such as special interest group attention, media exposure and public relations.  Mr. Manoukian's representation varies from discrete representation and insulation of individuals involved in high risk criminal liability situations, to high publicity trials on serious felony cases.  Mr. Manoukian recently obtained six not guilty jury verdicts in a double attempted murder trial that received extensive media attention.    

Mr. Manoukian represents clients on all misdemeanor and felony cases, specializing in the defense of homicide and related issues.  Mr. Manoukian has considerable expertise in the presentation of complicated cases involving mental or psychological issues, and is well versed in crime scene investigations and accident reconstruction.  Additionally, Mr. Manoukian's experience with cases involving substance abuse, and other evidence related to pathology and toxicology, greatly assist him in handling a variety of related charges to include driving under the influence cases.
   
Mr. Manoukian is licensed to practice law in both California and Nevada. While raised in Nevada, Mr. Manoukian's ties to the Bay Area go back to the early 1960's when his father Don was a member of the original 1960 Oakland Raiders. Don went on to wrestle professionally and ultimately settled in Northern Nevada. Dirk Manoukian has practiced law in the Bay Area his entire career. While in private practice, Mr. Manoukian maintains strong contacts with law enforcement, local government and judicial officials.