SAN FRANCISCO — Wesley Hurst, the former chairman of litigation at Rutter Hobbs & Davidoff, has joined the Los Angeles office of Polsinelli Shughart.

His move comes at a time of upheaval for his old firm, which has been straining under a $10 million malpractice verdict that came down last year. Rutter Hobbs has announced plans to disband, with a group of lawyers moving to Greenberg Glusker and others still looking for new homes.