Practice Concentration:
Representation of injured parties in all types of Personal Injury cases
Representation of consumers and policy holders in suits against insurance companies
Consumer Class Actions against insurance companies
Practicing Personal Injury and Insurance Law on the Central Coast of California since 1976, including Personal Injury, Insurance Bad Faith, Civil Trial Litigation, and Public Entity Liability
Background:
· Born in Oklahoma City 1951
· Admitted to bar, 1976
· Partner, Ernst and Mattison, San Luis Obispo, CA 1980 to present
· Extensive trial experience: in excess of 80 civil trials
· Holds highest rating for ethics and skill from independent rating service Martindale-Hubbell
· Won largest personal injury verdict in San Luis Obispo County
· Recovered over $200,000,000.00 in personal injury compensation for clients
· Successfully litigated claims for policyholders against Blue Cross of California, HealthNet, State Farm, Allied, Progressive, GEICO, American Investors Life, Paul Revere, UNUM-Provident, Conseco, Metropolitan Life, United Benefit Life, Old Republic, Banker's Life, Prudential, AIG, Tenet Corporation and many others
· Awarded "Trial Lawyer of the Year" (Central Coast Trial Lawyers Association) in 1998 for winning multi-million award for brain damage victim
· Awarded "Trial Lawyer of the Year" (Central Coast Trial Lawyers Association) again in 2006 for winning class action judgment of thousands of dollars each for 51 disabled public employees
· Appointed class counsel in consumer class actions against State Farm, Tenet Corporation, Blue Cross of California, American Investor's Life, Allianz, Conseco, Blue Shield of California, Union Security Life, United Benefit Life and others
· Currently (2008) representing senior citizens and consumers in class actions at various stages of development against Allianz, National Western Life, Blue Shield of California, North American, Midland, American Equity Investment and Union Security Life Insurance Company
· Member: American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA), Central Coast Trial Lawyer's Association (President 1992-1993), Consumer Attorneys of California (CAOC), American Association for Justice (AAJ formerly ATLA), Trial Lawyer's for Public Justice (TLPJ), State Bar of California, San Luis Obispo County Bar Association (Board of Directors 1990-1992)
· Chairman, Judicial Liaison Committee of San Luis Obispo Bar Association (1989-1992)
· Currently Chairman of Health Care Court Committee
· Developed San Luis Obispo County Delay Reduction Rules effective July 1, 1992
· Sponsored 50 Continuing Education Programs in the area of personal injury and insurance litigation, also 10 year continuing faculty member of annual "What's New in Tort and Trial" program
· Authored one text and ten practice articles in tort and insurance law
· Drafted San Luis Obispo County Delay Reduction Rules