David R. Lira

David R. Lira specializes in the areas of products liability, insurance bad faith, general negligence, wrongful death, and commercial litigation on behalf of Plaintiffs. An advocate of trial by jury, Mr. Lira has obtained multi-million dollar outcomes against large corporations, including a $45.5 million verdict against Ford Motor Company for a defective seatbelt; a $30 million settlement against an insurance company for wrongful denial of a claim; and a $35.6 million dollar settlement against a bus manufacturer for failure to provide seatbelts, to name a few. Mr. Lira is a Member of the prestigious International Academy of Trial Lawyers, an invitation-only worldwide organization, limited to 500 trial lawyers and the American Board of Trial Advocates.

Mr. Lira was named by LAWDRAGON Magazine to its list of “The 500 Leading Litigators in America” (2006, 2008 & 2010) and its list of “The 500 Leading Plaintiff’s Lawyers in America” (2007). He has also been recognized as one of “The Top 100 lawyers in Southern California” in Los Angeles Magazine in its 2008-2012 editions. Mr. Lira has been selected as a finalist for “Trial Lawyer of the Year” by the Consumer Attorneys of California organization in 2004 and 2010 and by the Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles in 2006. Recently, Mr. Lira was one of the attorneys in a unanimous U.S. Supreme Court decision holding that a seat-belt defect claim under state common law was not preempted by Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. Williamson v. Mazda Motor of America, Inc. (2011) 131 S.Ct. 1131. The Williamson case was one of the few victories on behalf of consumers before the U.S Supreme Court in recent years.

VERDICTS AND SETTLEMENTS:

Verdict, $45.5 Million - against Ford Motor Company for defective seatbelt that paralyzed a 6-year-old child.

Karlsson v. Ford Motor Company, LASC Case PC 0019980

Settlement, $35.6 Million - against tour company/manufacturer for bus rollover.

Confidential

Settlement, $30 Million - against international insurance company for wrongful denial of property damage claim.

Confidential

Settlement, $14 Million - against amusement park ride causing traumatic brain injury to client.

Confidential

Settlement, $13 Million - against oil companies for contamination of water wells.

State of New Mexico v. Chevron USA, Inc., USDC Case No. CV 99-1254

Verdict, $9.3 Million - against homeowners association for breach of contract and fraud.

ECC Construction, Inc. v. Oak Park Calabasas HOA, LASC Case No. LC 032986

Settlement, $8 Million - against contractor for breach of contract and construction defects.

Cabrini Villas HOA v. RESG, Inc., LASC Case No. BC 287117

Settlement, $7.9 Million - against automobile manufacturer for defective airbag that caused brain injury to 6 year old child.

Confidential

Settlement, $7.5 Million - against automobile manufacturer for defective seat that caused brain injuries.

Confidential

Verdict, $7.4 Million - for client paralyzed in multi-vehicle collision.

Brewer v. Hussmann Corp., Fresno Superior Court, Case No. 09CEG08456

Verdict, $7.1 Million - jury verdict against Los Angeles Metropolitan Transit Authority on behalf of brain-injured client.

Lin v. First Transit, Inc., LASC Case No. SC 309663

Verdict, $7 Million - against train operator for client sustaining internal injuries.

Kloster v. SCRRA, LASC Case No. PC 0430903

Settlement, $6.7 Million - against trucking company for wrongful death in truck v. auto accident.

Sprague v. Calinex Transport, Inc., LASC Case No. BC258661

Settlement, $5.8 Million - against national distributor of defective toy chest causing death of a two-year-old child

Confidential

Settlement, $5.3 Million - against building contractor for spinal injury to worker in construction site injury case.

Webb v. ARB, Inc., LASC Case No. PC 039145

Settlement, $4.7 Million - against manufacturer of defective piping causing severe injuries.

Vigil v. IPS Corp., LASC Case No. TC 018338

Settlement, $4.6 Million - after jury selection in an aviation incident resulting in fatalities.

Olauson v. Baldwin, OCSC No. 07CC05913

Settlement, $4.3 Million - against State of California for vehicle vs. bicycle incident.

Roberts v. State of California

Verdict, $4.2 Million - against train operator for fatal incident.

Grace v. SCRRA, LASC Case No. PC043703

Verdict, $3.2 Million - against transport company for closed head injury to 63 year old male.

Beroukhim v. Delta Towing & Transport, Inc., LASC Case No. BC313942

Settlement, $2.9 Million - against component part manufacturer for defective motorcycle side stand.

Cook v. Shell Oil Co., Sacramento Superior Court, Case No. 02A506836.

Settlement, $2.9 Million - after opening statements for MTBE contamination to private property.

Confidential

Settlement, $2.8 Million - against automobile manufacturer for seat belt defect (spool-out).

Confidential

Settlement, $2.5 Million - against automobile manufacturer for defective seat belt (lap-only).

Navarette v. General Motors Corp., LASC Case No. BC313221

Settlement, $2.2 Million - against Fortune 500 company for breach of contract and wrongful termination.

Confidential

Settlement, $2.1 Million - against automobile manufacturer for lack of crashworthiness in rollover incident.

Confidential