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.

Selected Verdicts

$45.5 million, Verdict – against Ford Motor Company for defective seatbelt that paralyzed a 6-year-old child$9.3 million, Verdict – against homeowners association for breach of contract and fraud$7.4 million, Verdict – for client paralyzed in multi-vehicle collision$7.1 million, Verdict – jury verdict against Los Angeles Metropolitan Transit Authority on behalf of brain-injured client$7 million, Verdict – against train operator for client sustaining internal injuries$4.2 million, Verdict – against train operator for fatal incident$3.2 million, Verdict – against transport company for closed head injury to 63 year old male

Selected Settlements

$35.6 million, Settlement – against tour company/manufacturer for bus rollover$30 million, Settlement – against international insurance company for wrongful denial of property damage claim$14 million, Settlement – against amusement park ride causing traumatic brain injury to client$13 million, Settlement – against oil companies for contamination of water wells$8 million, Settlement – against contractor for breach of contract and construction defects$7.9 million, Settlement – against automobile manufacturer for defective airbag that caused brain injury to 6 year old child$7.5 million, Settlement – against automobile manufacturer for defective seat that caused brain injuries$6.7 million, Settlement – against trucking company for wrongful death in truck v. auto accident$5.8 million, Settlement – against national distributor of defective toy chest causing death of a two-year-old child$5.3 million, Settlement – against building contractor for spinal injury to worker in construction site injury case$4.7 million, Settlement – against manufacturer of defective piping causing severe injuries$4.6 million, Settlement – after jury selection in an aviation incident resulting in fatalities$4.3 million, Settlement – against State of California for vehicle vs. bicycle incident$2.9 million. Settlement – against component part manufacturer for defective motorcycle side stand$2.9 million, Settlement – after opening statements for MTBE contamination to private property$2.8 million, Settlement – against automobile manufacturer for seat belt defect (spool-out)$2.5 million, Settlement – against automobile manufacturer for defective seat belt (lap-only)$2.2 million, Settlement – against Fortune 500 company for breach of contract and wrongful termination$2.1 million, Settlement – against automobile manufacturer for lack of crashworthiness in rollover incidentKarlsson v. Ford Motor Company, LASC Case PC 0019980State of New Mexico v. Chevron USA, Inc., USDC Case No. CV 99-1254ECC Construction, Inc. v. Oak Park Calabasas HOA, LASC Case No. LC 032986Cabrini Villas HOA v. RESG, Inc., LASC Case No. BC 287117Brewer v. Hussmann Corp., Fresno Superior Court, Case No. 09CEG08456Lin v. First Transit, Inc., LASC Case No. SC 309663Kloster v. SCRRA, LASC Case No. PC 0430903Sprague v. Calinex Transport, Inc., LASC Case No. BC258661Webb v. ARB, Inc., LASC Case No. PC 039145Vigil v. IPS Corp., LASC Case No. TC 018338Olauson v. Baldwin, OCSC No. 07CC05913Roberts v. State of CaliforniaGrace v. SCRRA, LASC Case No. PC043703Beroukhim v. Delta Towing & Transport, Inc., LASC Case No. BC313942Cook v. Shell Oil Co., Sacramento Superior Court, Case No. 02A506836Navarette v. General Motors Corp., LASC Case No. BC313221