July 2008

David Prescott remembered as chiropractic legal advocate

David Prescott, who earned his JD degree with honors in 1969 from California College of Law as well as his DC degree from Cleveland Chiropractic College, Los Angeles, died last month at the age of 70. He was recognized as one of the most dedicated and highly respected chiropractic legal advocates and known for his numerous articles in The Chiropractic Journal and other publications.

"He fought so diligently that the State Board of Chiropractic Examiners of California held a special recognition ceremony for him and the work he did to shed light on the conspiracy that has taken place in California to lessen chiropractors' rights," his daughter Lori Prescott, DC, told The Chiropractic Journal. "The people and chiropractors of California will enjoy more freedom to choose and to have alternative health care under the chiropractic license, directly because of his efforts, and for this the Board is recognizing his work."

Prescott was born in the United Kingdom and became a naturalized citizen of the United States. His early education was completed in England at Rossall School and International Study Centre. In the US, he received his BA degree in 1965 from California State University, Long Beach; his JD degree (with honors) in 1969 from California College of Law, and an MA (Summa Cum Laude) in Law and Theology in 1984 from Trinity International University School of Law in association with the University of Strasburg, France.

He also held a postgraduate diploma from the University of San Diego School of Law in the Philosophy of Law. He earned his Doctor of Chiropractic degree (Cum Laude) from Cleveland Chiropractic College, Los Angeles in 1989 and was a Fellow of the International Academy of Medical Acupuncture.

Prescott first was licensed to practice law in California in 1970 and served as both a Deputy District Attorney and Deputy Public Defender. He had had extensive litigation and trial experience as a private practitioner and litigated cases and conducted trials involving charges from minor misdemeanors to murder in the first degree.

In addition, he litigated cases and conducted trials of complex personal injury cases and business disputes, and a significant number of cases at the appellate level, spending two years practicing appellate law under special appointment to the Fourth District Court of Appeal in San Diego, California.

In addition to his experience as a trial attorney, Prescott served as Associate Academic Dean of the University of West Los Angeles School of Law and what is now Trinity International University College of Law and taught constitutional law, torts, and legal analysis and writing. While there, he founded the first Paralegal school.

He made several presentations and published more than 50 articles relating to the subject of law, medicine and chiropractic, including a presentation at the 20th Annual Healthcare Law Symposium at Whittier Law School in April, 2001.

"Most of the profession knew about Dr. Prescott's legal expertise through his many articles in The Chiropractic Journal, as well as other publications," stated Terry A. Rondberg, DC, president of the World Chiropractic Alliance and Journal publisher. "What they might not have known was that he was truly dedicated to chiropractic and motivated by his love of the profession. It was his generous heart, even more than his towering intellect, that we will miss about him."