I grew up in upstate New York after immigrating from Montreal at the age of five. My father was a cancer research chemist, leading teams at Bristol-Myers Squibb that developed some of the world’s most effective cancer drug therapies. My mother grew up in Galway, Ireland-and I spent most summers as a child either visiting relatives in Ireland or Canada.
I was born missing my right femur but was also blessed with athletic talent and very supportive parents. I started alpine ski racing on one leg at a young age-and that has continued to be one of my passions to this day.
I attended college and law school in Florida-and practiced at one of Florida’s oldest and largest civil defense firms for six years before moving to California in 2003 and starting my own plaintiff’s firm shortly thereafter. I have always thought it important to be a well rounded, versatile lawyer and have thus handled a wide breadth of matters in various jurisdictions across the country.
I’ve tried cases to jury verdict in both state and federal courts in California and Florida and have also argued appeals in the United States Supreme Court and Ninth Circuit Courts of Appeal. My practice today focuses on serious injury and insurance bad faith cases-with an emphasis on the amputee and spinal cord community.
After twenty-five years of practice, my philosophy remains the same: serve the best interests of my clients-even at the expense of my own.
Breakfast
7:30am - 9:00am
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Sach Oliver · Joe Fried Winning the Most Common Tractor Trailer Case in AmericaCoffee & Snacks
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Sach Oliver · Joe Fried Winning the Most Common Tractor Trailer Case in AmericaCoffee & Snacks
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Sach Oliver · Joe Fried Winning the Most Common Tractor Trailer Case in AmericaLunch
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Michael CowenGetting Big Justice in Big Rig CasesCoffee & Snacks
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Joseph CamerlengoHow to Use the Truck Driver and Trucking Company to Maximize Your Client's RecoveryCoffee & Snacks
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Aaron BroussardWhat Does It Take to Be a Great Plaintiff Lawyer? It’s Not What You ThinkBreakfast
7:30am - 9:00am
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Melissa ScartelliCharting the Path to Verdict: Strategic Decisions in Medical Negligence TrialsCoffee & Snacks
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Taylor ErnstLectureCoffee & Snacks
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Brian PanishLectureLunch
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Ben B. RubinowitzJury SelectionCoffee & Snacks
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Kimball Jones9-Figure Framing: Winning Punitive Damages in TrialCoffee & Snacks
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Al FoecklerBlack Hat Justice Opening StatementBreakfast
7:30am - 9:00am
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Kurt ZanerCreating Drama at Trial – How to Tell a Story in Trial Through Dramatic Theatrical TechniquesCoffee & Snacks
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Sagi ShakedLectureCoffee & Snacks
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Kurt ZanerWriting a Story – Win Your Case in a Page and a HalfLunch
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John RomanoStorytelling in Cross-Examination of Defense Damages & Causation WitnessesCoffee & Snacks
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Edward Ciarimboli · Corey Suda · Jay VaughnTaking FedEx from the Boardroom to the CourtroomCoffee & Snacks
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Tim MckeyEnsuring Your Legacy: How the Best Firms Create Lasting Systems and Succession SuccessBreakfast
7:30am - 9:00am
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Andrew PickettFrom Herniated Disc to $6.7 Million Verdict: Preparation, Strategy, and Trial ExecutionCoffee & Snacks
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Andrew Robb · Brittany Sanders Robb Maximizing Recoverable Damages Before Trial: Framing Your Case for Actual RecoverabilityCoffee & Snacks
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Tom BosworthLectureLunch
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Patrick KangHow We Built An Eight-Figure Practice On Just Toxic Mold Litigation.Coffee & Snacks
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Dan AmbroseCross ExaminationCoffee & Snacks
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Eric CastelblancoSue Your Slumlord: The Ins and Outs of Habitability Law in CABreakfast
7:30am - 9:00am
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Orlando De CastroverdeHow To Get A 1.7m Verdict On A Neck Injection CaseCoffee & Snacks
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George MoschopoulosStrip the Noise: How to Frame Employment Cases for Verdict Coffee & Snacks
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J. Russell PateIsland Justice: Restaurant Fall; $7M Verdict on $235,000 OfferLunch
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Michael Stephenson · Lucy Allen $12.1 Million mTBI Verdict: Trial Strategy Breakdown – Hickey v. HarringtonCoffee & Snacks
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Alex IvanovSpinal Medicine for Dummies (*Lawyers*)Coffee & Snacks
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Sarah HavensDon’t Let the Defense Frame Your Case: From “Impossible” Case to 10M Trial Result