I traveled to Las Vegas last week for a work conference. On the way out of town, I was amazed by the number of billboards advertising personal injury lawyers. It was literally billboard after billboard after billboard. Here in San Diego, we don’t have quite as many billboards. I do, however, see lots of television ads with catchy phone...
Both scripture and the law hold a special place for the most vulnerable among us. Matthew 25:40, reads, “And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.” The law which we...
This coming Friday, I will be receiving an “Outstanding Trial Lawyer” award from the Consumer Attorneys of San Diego. “CASD” is honoring me, along with Jessica Sizemore from our firm, for our work obtaining a $16.2 million “slip and fall” verdict for Bill and Elaine Kidd against El Pollo Loco. In that case, Bill slipped and fell in greasy...
Mentor: an experienced and trusted adviser
I have now been practicing law for almost 25 years. During that time, I have worked in a big corporate defense firm, as a federal prosecutor, and now, as a plaintiffs trial attorney. During that time, a number of mentors have been there to help and encourage my growth, and so, I thought I...
I write this from the veranda of my room in Costa Rica. It is Monday morning, my first full day here. I obtained a favorable jury verdict for a great family last Thursday. The trial outcome was not only very personally fulfilling, but it also confirmed my faith in God. And so, I thought, I would write about it...
Trial work can be very tough on the trial lawyer. As I mentioned in a recent blog about trying my 50th case to jury, trials can punish you both physically emotionally. Both before and after the 8 hours spent in court comes preparation for the next day. It is not uncommon for me to log 16 hour work days...
I am in the middle of trial. We represent a great young guy, Jesus. When Jesus was 7, his mom bought a Ralph Lauren shirt for him from Macy's. The tag of the shirt said, “100% Cotton.” A while later, unfortunately, Jesus was playing with a lighter. He burned a piece of plant which fell on his shirt. He...
While Gomez Trial Attorneys handles cases nationally, I without question still consider San Diego home and myself a true “San Diegan.” My dad was in the Navy and so my early years were spent moving between different oceans and bases, including San Diego. We ended up here for good when I was around 10. We lived in Bonita where...
In 2011, I spent 27 days attending Gerry Spence’s acclaimed “Trial Lawyers College” on a ranch in Dubois, Wyoming. The experience affected me profoundly as a human being and trial lawyer. We apply what I learned there to each of our cases every day. We are especially blessed to have the former President of Trial Lawyers College, Jude Basile,...
Lots of times when we meet new clients they want to know who decides when to settle and when to go to trial. I tell them, “You do.” They sometimes seem surprised by that response but it’s true. Our job is to maximize the value of their case – either for settlement or trial, and to provide our advice...
