James L. Schmerbauch is an attorney in JMLS’s Workers’ Compensation Department.

James was first admitted to practice in California in 1988 and in his more than 26 year legal career has tried many types of legal claims and has secured millions of dollars in verdicts and settlements on behalf of his clients. James is a seasoned attorney who has represented both insurance companies as defense counsel and individuals as applicant and plaintiff counsel both in State and Federal Courts.

James is a California native, born in Sacramento, and spent most of his life in Southern California. He is a formally trained and self taught musician and artist. He supported himself as a professional musician while in undergraduate and graduate studies at California State University, Long Beach which also included industrial arts and engineering. James first became interested in the law when a music recording contract in which he was involved was breached. After obtaining a Masters Degree from CSULB, he worked as a project engineer in the electronic assembly industry while attending law school at Western State University, College of Law. After admission to the California Bar his first employment was in house counsel for a large Orange County Medical Group where he first became involved in Workers’ Compensation.

James has devoted his legal practice to Workers’ Compensation for the last 13 years.

In his spare time James enjoys spending time with his wife, playing music, drawing and painting.