Dasilva, Chastity A.

Cal was born in Phoenix, Arizona on January 31, 1953. After high school in Phoenix, he attended the University of Arizona, where he received his Bachelors Degree with honors in 1975. While an undergrad at U of A, he was a Rhodes Scholar Candidate and studied abroad at both the University of Paris, Sorbonne, and Oxford University, Trinity College, in Oxford, England. Cal graduated from the University of Arizona, College of Law with his Juris Doctor, in 1978, and has been admitted to practice law in the State of Nevada, United States District Court, District of Nevada, United States District Court, Northern District of California, Federal Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit, and United States Supreme Court.

Upon beginning practice in Las Vegas in 1978, Cal has been an advocate for the injured and accused. He was Local Counsel to F. Lee Bailey and Aaron J. Broder in the MGM Grand Fire Litigation, and Local Counsel to famed attorney Melvin M. Belli, Sr. in numerous Personal Injury, Medical Malpractice and Civil Rights Litigation. In addition, his firm has represented parties in numerous high profile and catastrophic cases, including cases involving wrongful death, medical malpractice, civil rights, and other injuries. His work in fighting for the rights of the injured led to his election as president of the Nevada Trial Lawyers Association (NTLA) in 1999.

Cal is also an experienced criminal defense attorney, having represented clients on charges ranging from capital murder to DUI. He was the Founding President of the Nevada Attorney's for Criminal Justice (NACJ), and Founding President of the Nevada Appellate and Postconviction Project, in addition to being a Sustaining Member of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. He has also received his Death Penalty Defense Certification from the National College for Criminal Defense, and argued Godinez v. Moran before the United States Supreme Court.

Throughout his career, Cal has presented numerous seminars, to his peers and others, involving both civil and criminal litigation. In addition, his published articles include Focus: Constitutional Protection, Police Misconduct: Members of the Bar Should Respond , Nevada Lawyer (State Bar of Nevada), January 2000; Life Expectancy of the Catastrophically Injured Child , Advocate (Nevada Trial Lawyers Association), September 1997; and Bad Checks and Gaming Debts , Reasonable Doubt (Nevada Attorneys for Criminal Justice), March 1997.

Outside of his legal practice, Cal has maintained a high level of civic participation, having served his community in such roles as Boy Scouts of America Committee Chairman; Church Elder; B.P.O.E. Elks Lodge, Las Vegas Past Exalted Ruler, Past Chairman Board of Trustees; Chairman State Association Board of Directors; American Cancer Society Past Board of Directors; Preservation Association of Clark County Past Board of Directors; and Chairman of the Helldorado Rodeo.