Brian J. Panish
Top rated Products Liability attorney in Los Angeles, California
Practice Areas:
Personal injury,
Business litigation,
Brain injury,
Construction accident,
Medical devices,
Motor vehicle defects,
Premises liability - plaintiff,
Sexual abuse - plaintiff,
Trucking accidents,
Wrongful death
Education Qualification:
Southwestern Law School
Practice Areas:
Personal injury,
Business litigation,
Brain injury,
Construction accident,
Medical devices,
Motor vehicle defects,
Premises liability - plaintiff,
Sexual abuse - plaintiff,
Trucking accidents,
Wrongful death
11111 Santa Monica Boulevard Suite 700Los Angeles, California, 90025
First Admitted: 1984, California
Professional Webpage: https://www.panish.law/panish.html
Bar/Professional Activity:
- Inner Circle of Advocates
- American Board of Trial Advocates
- International Society of Barristers
- Consumer Attorneys of California
- American Bar Association
- American College of Trial Lawyers
- Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles
- Trial Lawyers for Public Justice; Association of Business Trial Lawyers; Attorney Information Exchange Group; Eighth Street Lawyers; Santa Monica Leaders Club
- Western Trial Lawyers Association
Verdicts/Settlements (Case Results):
- $3.3 Billion – LA County v. Tobacco Industry
- $135 Million – Blair v. Moreno Valley Unified School District, 2023
- J.G. v. Tulare County -- $32 million settlement obtained for a child who suffered permanent brain damage as a result of Tulare County Child Welfare Services' failure to respond to reports of child abuse, 2023
- Southern California Gas Leak Cases -- Lead a team of lawyers in obtaining a $1.8 billion settlement from Southern California Gas Company and Sempra Energy as a result of the Southern California Gas Leak Cases, 2021
- Freeman v. Board of the Trustees of the California State University: $39,500,000 settlement for college student Marissa Freeman who was catastrophically injured after suffering heat stroke during an outdoor class at California State University San Bernardino. This is believed to be the largest settlement ever for an injury case involving the California State University system, 2021
- Rojas v. Hajoca Corporation: $23,720,996 trial verdict obtained for a Southern California man and his wife after the man suffered a lower leg amputation as a result of being struck by a 28-foot utility truck while riding his motorcycle, 2021
- Rada v. Hardin Irvine Automotive: $21,503,420.48 jury verdict for a Southern California man who suffered catastrophic injuries after a vehicle illegally exiting the 405 Freeway HOV lane struck his motorcycle and sent him careening across three lanes of traffic and into a passing flatbed trailer, 2019
- Lo v. Southern California Gas Company et al: $41,864,102 jury verdict and subsequent $46,000,000 settlement in a case involving a United States Air Force Captain who suffered catastrophic injuries after being struck from behind while on his motorcycle and then dragged the length of a football field and a half by a Southern California Gas Company truck. The parties agreed to a settlement of the case following the punitive damages phase of the trial, but prior to the jury’s verdict on those damages being announced, 2018
- Lennig v. CRST: Obtained a landmark $52,708,374 verdict in a Los Angeles County court for two Southern California brothers who were severely injured following a near head-on collision with CRST big rig, 2018
- $160.5 Million – John Doe v. Nevada Property 1, 2017
- Lee v. Pupil Transportation Cooperative: $23,500,000 settlement on behalf of the family of a 19-year-old non-verbal autistic student who tragically died aboard a Whittier school bus after the driver left him behind to engage in a sexual tryst with a coworker, 2017
- Johnsollen/Cascio v. City of Beverly Hills: $32,500,000 settlement on behalf of two clients who were catastrophically injured and two clients whose father was killed in two collisions on Loma Vista Drive in Beverly Hills, California, 2017
- Sheaffer v. NuCO2: $17,393,479.87 jury verdict in a Vista, California court for a young man who suffered severe facial injuries and a mild brain injury after being involved in a six-vehicle collision caused by a negligently driven NuCO2 truck, 2015
- Villamariona v. CBS: $10,450,000 verdict for the family of a man killed on set by a CBS truck in 2011. Julio Villamariona, age 52, was a security guard killed on the set when a CBS van transporting actors went out of control and ran over him. He was survived by his loving wife and three adult children, 2014
- Casillas v. Landstar Ranger, Inc: $34,555,220 jury verdict for a man who was hit and severely injured when he was run over by a tractor-trailer while he was stopped on the sidewalk of a Los Angeles, California street, 2015
- Rennie v. FedEx: $7,500,000 jury verdict for the mother of a young woman who was tragically killed when she was hit by a FedEx truck while riding her bicycle, 2014
- Francisco v. AC Transit: $15,313,703 verdict for a woman and her young daughter after the woman suffered a burst fracture of her vertebra after the bus she was riding on went over a speed bump at twice the speed limit, 2014
- Kransky v. DePuy Orthopaedics: $8.3 million verdict case against DePuy Orthopaedics arising from its recalled ASR hip implant systems. DePuy is owned by Johnson & Johnson. The jury found that the design of the hip implant was defective and that the defect injured Mr. Kransky. The award included $8 million in non-economic damages for the pain and suffering Mr. Kransky has experienced as a result of the defective implant and the revision surgery he was forced to undergo as a result, 2013
- Sheth v. Schneider National: $36,482,302.56 jury verdict in a big-rig truck crash that left Jaishree Sheth catastrophically injured, 2012
- Yoon v. United States: $17,845,000 verdict for the heirs of four people killed when a U.S. Marine F-18 fighter jet crashed into their family home on December 8, 2008, 2011
- Cuthbertson v. LACMTA: $17 million verdict for the mother of 48 year old Cameron Cuthbertson who was visually impaired, mistook the gap between Blue Line rail cars for a door, fell between the cars and was crushed when the train began to move, 2011
- Nelsen v. Hillyard, Inc., et al.: $21 million jury verdict for a 29-year-old Iraq War veteran, Michael Nelsen, after a he was involved in an auto collision with a speeding Hillyard, Inc. van, 2009
- Tilton vs. Southern California Gas & Electric: $15 million verdict for Kyle Tilton, after jury determined that a Southern California Gas Co. employee caused a 2005 crash after he recklessly ran a red light, 2008
- Dominguez v. San Francisco: In the largest personal injury verdict ever delivered against the city of San Francisco, a jury awarded two families a total of $27.4 million for the February 2003 two-car accident that took the life of a 4-year-old girl, 2005
- Sherman v. Courrege: $25.5 million verdict obtained for three adult siblings for the St. Patrick’s Day deaths of their parents and teenage brother who were hit by a drunken driver, 2005
- Griggs v. Catepillar, et al: $58 million jury verdict obtained for a man who sustained severe personal injury in the form of third-degree burns sustained after the construction vehicle he was operating suddenly burst into flames, 2004
- Wu v. Singapore Airlines: $15 million for a brother and sister who lost their parents on a flight bound for Los Angeles from Taiwan, 2004
- Witham v. Avjet: $11.7-million settlement with the families of three people killed in a plane crash in Aspen, Colo, 2003
- Lampe v. Continental Tire: $55.4 million jury verdict awarded to a tire-tread separation accident victim. Her mother was awarded more than $5.5 million, and her father $1 million after finding that tire manufacturer Continental General Tire’s product caused the 1996 rollover accident that led to Cynthia Lampe’s catastrophic injury, 2001
- Anderson v. General Motors: A jury ordered General Motors to pay $4.9 billion to the Anderson family for a defectively designed fuel system that caused their Chevy Malibu to burst into flames after it was rear ended on December 24, 1993, 1999
- Pogosyan vs. SCRTD: $22 million verdict for a man who had to undergo an above-knee amputation and sustained massive internal injuries after he was struck by a pursued vehicle during a 1991 police chase, 1995
- Johnson v. Pratt & Whitney (1995) 28 Cal.App.4th 613; Pashaie v. Hollywood Memorial Park (1992) 3 Ca.lApp.4th 184; Hecht v. Superior Court
Honors/Awards:
- Consumer Attorney of the Year Finalist, Consumer Attorneys of California, 2024
- Best Lawyers® Lawyer of the Year – Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs – Los Angeles, 2024
- Hall of Fame Inductee — Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles, 2023
- Listed in Southern California Super Lawyers® since 2004
- Listed in Best Lawyers® since 2001
- Top 10 Southern California Super Lawyers® (various years, including from 2009-2017)
- Top 500 Attorneys and Litigators in the United States by Lawdragon
- Best Lawyers® Lawyer of the Year – Personal Injury Litigation – Los Angeles, 2009
- Best Lawyers® Lawyer of the Year – Product Liability Litigation – Los Angeles, 2010
- Champions of Justice award from Loyola Law School, 2010
- Trial Lawyer of the Year by the California Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA), 2010
- 2012, Top 20 Lawyers in California by The Recorder
- Best Lawyers® Lawyer of the Year – Aviation Law, 2024
- The annual publication features 100 attorneys throughout the state who are doing cutting-edge legal work on behalf of their clients, Top 100 Lawyers in California, Daily Journal, 2023
- Lawdragon 500 Leading Lawyers in America, 2024
- Leading Commercial Litigators – Daily Journal, 2024
- 500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers, Lawdragon, 2023
- Leading Commercial Litigators, Daily Journal, 2023
- 500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers, Lawdragon, 2023
- LA 500, Los Angeles Business Journal, 2022
- West Trailblazer, The American Lawyer, 2022
- The annual publication recognizes attorneys throughout the state who are doing cutting edge legal work for their clients, Top 100 Lawyers in California, Daily Journal, 2021
- LA 500, Los Angeles Business Journal, 2021
- Leaders of Influence: Litigators, Los Angeles Business Journal, 2021
- Best Lawyers® Lawyer of the Year – Mass Tort Litigation / Class Action – Plaintiffs – Los Angeles, Best Lawyers® Lawyer of the Year – Mass Tort Litigation / Class Action – Plaintiffs – Los Angeles, Best Lawyers, 2021
- Recognizes the best of the U.S. plaintiff bar who specialize in representing individuals who have suffered injuries from accidents, pharmaceuticals, civil rights abuse and other torts, Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyer, Lawdragon, 2020
- The list recognizes plaintiff lawyers from across the country who are agents of change and have shown a deep passion and perseverance in pursuit of their mission, Top 100 Lawyers in California, Daily Journal, 2020
- The list recognizes plaintiff lawyers from across the country who are agents of change and have shown a deep passion and perseverance in pursuit of their mission, Plaintiffs Lawyer Trailblazer, National Law Journal, 2020
- The legal publication recognized 31 lawyers across the state who brought single cases or multi-party actions in antitrust, labor & employment, environment, personal injury, privacy and data security, product defect and securities and financial fraud, using their legal skills to forge real and lasting change, Top Plaintiff Lawyers in California, Daily Journal, 2020
- CLAY awards recognizes attorneys in 20 areas of legal practice whose work made a significant impact during the previous year; Mr. Panish, Ms. Chang and veteran appellate specialist Alan Charles Dell’Ario were selected in the area of Personal Injury for a case resolving the standard of care a school owes its students. , California Lawyer of the Year, Daily Journal, 2019
- Recognizes 10 influential attorneys from across the country who had significant wins in 2018 and who are not only champions in the courtroom and go up against big companies, but also take on leadership roles at their offices and elsewhere., Titan of the Plaintiffs Bar, Law360, 2019
- The list recognizes plaintiff lawyers from across the country who are agents of change and have shown a deep passion and perseverance in pursuit of their mission, Plaintiffs Lawyer Trailblazer, National Law Journal, 2019
- Recognition of the significant contributions that the honoree has made in their respective legal careers., Civil Advocate Award, Association of Southern California Defense Counsel, 2017
- The award is presented to an alumus who has demonstrated skill, accomplishment, or a significant impact in his area of practice and the legal community and embodies the law school’s highest ethical standards and traditions., Outstanding Litigator, Southwestern Law School, 2016
- The award is given by the CAOC in recognition of excellence in trial advocacy and dedication to teaching trial advocacy to fellow lawyers and to the public., Robert E. Cartwright Sr. Award, Consumer Attorneys of California, 2015
- Award Winner, Consumer Attorney of the Year, Consumer Attorneys of California, 2014
- CLAY awards publication attorneys in 20 areas of legal practice whose work made a significant impact during the previous year, California Lawyer of the Year, Daily Journal, 2013
- Honors an individual whose distinguished legal careers are marked by professional excellence, technical proficiency and uncompromising integrity, Champions of Justice Award, Loyola Law School, 2010
- Award Recipient, Trial Lawyer of the Year, California Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA), 2010
- Trial Lawyer of the Year – by Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles (CAALA), 1999
Educational Background:
- California State University, Fresno (B.S., Cum Laude, 1980), Fresno State Scholar Athlete Award and Athletic Directors Award
- Southwestern University Law School (J.D., Cum Laude, 1984), American Jurisprudence Award in Wills and trusts, Legal Professions Secured Transactions, Entertainment Law and Product Liability
White Papers:
- When it applies, how to file your claim, and litigation strategies, Litigating a Federal Tort Claims Act Case, Legal, Plaintiffs Personal Injury, Trial Lawyers, 2020
- Brian Panish gives his review of Marshall S. Shapo’s book, “Experimenting with the Consumer”, Experimenting with the Consumer, Legal, Plaintiffs Personal Injury, Trial Lawyers, 2009
- Separate choice of law analysis is required for each legal issue arising in a case, Multiple Choice, Legal, Plaintiffs Personal Injury, Trial Lawyers, 2004
Scholarly Lectures/Writings:
- WINNING – Successful Strategies from 10 of the Nation’s Leading Litigators – The National Law Journal, 2001
- Co-Chairperson of the Consumer Attorneys of California Annual Lake Tahoe Seminar in 1999 and 2000
- Your Closing Argument Argue Don’t Summarize, Author
- Litigating a Federal Tort Claims Act case, Author
- Arguing Non-economic Damages in a Wrongful Death Case, Advocate Magazine, Author
Contact Brian
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