Continental Who's Who

A dedicated attorney known for his outstanding work in the legal profession.

Mr. Thomas V. Girardi has been recognized by Continental Who’s Who as a Leading Attorney for his knowledge, acumen and experience in 50 years of service to the legal profession. Mr. Girardi is the Co-Founder and Senior Managing Partner in the firm of Girardi and Keese.

In 1965, when the firm of Girardi and Keese was founded, the goal was to assist those individuals who were wronged, maliciously or not, by another party. As time went by, it became apparent that some people were not always wronged by an individual, but rather, by a larger entity such as a business or corporation. In these cases damages were inflicted with no regard to the safety and health of others, because these entities’ profits far outweighed their risk. Through their pursuit of justice and attention to detail, the firm of Girardi and Keese continue to provide that “ripple of hope” to their clients today.

With nearly fifty years of experience representing victims in these unlawful circumstances, Mr. Girardi is widely recognized by his peers as one of this nation’s best trial lawyers. He has obtained numerous multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements and has also handled claims involving wrongful death, commercial litigation, products liability, entertainment law litigation, bad faith insurance, and toxic torts. Mr. Girardi is dedicated to ensuring that each client gets the resources it needs and that he will work for what is legally and morally right, which is fair compensation for every client.

Whether it is a pharmaceutical company that knowingly sells a product that causes more harm than good, or an automobile manufacturer that produces defective products, an insurance company that denies legitimate claims, a company that allows discrimination or employee harassment, or an inventor whose ideas have been misappropriated for profit, the firm of Girardi and Keese have the resources and dedicated staff to insure that justice is served. The most powerful tool an attorney can use is the class action suit. This allows individuals to take on large institutions that they normally could not afford to fight on their own. In addition, the class action suit also has the ability to repair harm, or to get a company to change the way they do business, in addition to compensation. Perhaps the most famous of these cases is the case against Pacific Gas and Electric brought by the residents of Hinkley, California. It was found that the utility had leaked the toxic chemical, hexavalentchromium, into the aquifer supplying the town with water. Mr. Girardi was successful in getting the utility to agree to pay $333 million in compensation. At the time, this was the largest settlement recorded and became the inspiration for the hit feature film, Erin Brockovich, starring Julia Roberts and Albert Finney (2000).

Mr. Girardi was proclaimed “The Billion Dollar Gentleman” by the Los Angeles Daily Journal for achieving one billion dollars in settlements and verdicts over a two year period. One of these cases was against the pharmaceutical giant Merck, for the negligent marketing of the drug Vioxx. The drug was initially presented as a pain medication for arthritis, but was later found to cause cardiovascular problems, and in some instances, strokes. It was found that the company was negligent in warning the consumers of these dangers and was ordered to pay $4.85 billion in damages to plaintiffs nationwide. The firm is currently working on the case against Glaxo Smith Klein, and the drug Avandia, which is a diabetes medication that may be responsible for causing heart attacks. Sometimes, these cases can involve some of this country’s most beloved pastimes. On May 12th, 2012 retired star linebacker Junior Seau committed suicide.

As a result of this tragedy, several past NFL players called Mr. Girardi’s office seeking advice regarding traumatic brain injury. It was apparent that these players had various symptoms, including depression and ringing in the ears to substance abuse. Due to multiple traumatic injuries suffered by these players during their playing careers, Mr. Girardi filed a suit against the NFL and helmet manufacturer Riddell on behalf of 75 former players, including Art Monk who was a star wide receiver with the Washington Redskins.

Mr. Girardi asserts that the league and the company conspired to cover up the fact that repetitive concussions can cause severe long term damage. To date, the case has grown to include over two thousand players. Perhaps the most disturbing case to date is that of San Francisco Giant fan, Bryan Stow. On opening day in 2011, Mr. Stow, an ardent Giant fan, travelled to Dodger Stadium to see the World Series champions take on the Los Angeles Dodgers. Without provocation, Mr. Stow was attacked and severely beaten by two Dodger fans and suffered a traumatic brain injury.  After spending months in the hospital, Bryan was transferred to a residential rehabilitation center where he received treatment for his injuries. He is now under the care of his parents because his insurance company decided not to pay for his full time care. Mr. Girardi has taken on this case and maintains that the Dodgers were negligent in providing adequate security at the stadium. In light of the fact that the team was in bankruptcy due to owner, Frank McCourt’s financial malfeasance, Mr. Girardi contends that the team owner decreased security and increased alcohol sales to fund his lavish lifestyle and messy divorce. Mr. Girardi hopes to achieve a settlement of 50 million dollars to help Bryan’s family with his medical care and for the care of his children.

As important as these settlements are for the firm and the clients, the firm’s dedication and service to the community at large are equally important. All of the firms’ attorneys, including Mr. Girardi, align themselves with various charitable organizations. On the national level, they support Habitat for Humanity, the March of Dimes, the Susan B. Komen Foundation, the American Red Cross, Girl Scouts of America, and Operation Help a Hero which provides assistance to U.S. Marines returning from service in Iraq and Afghanistan. On the local level they strive to provide assistance through organizations such as the East Los Angeles Women’s Center and the Good Shepherd Shelter, which helps provide assistance and services to abused women and children, the Pasadena Firefighters Association, The Los Angeles Police Foundation, The Los Angeles Food Bank, the Los Angeles Mission, the Long Beach Rescue Mission, and the Seven Tepees Youth Foundation, which provides programs for at risk youth. In addition, Mr. Girardi hosts “Champions of Justice” which is a radio program broadcast on 870AM KRLA, where he discusses relevant legal issues facing Americans today. These are just a few of the many charitable organizations that are supported by Mr. Girardi and his team.

Honors and Achievements

As a further testament to his vast knowledge and professionalism, Mr. Girardi has been awarded numerous honors throughout his career. He is a member of the Inner Circle of Advocates, an organization limited to 100 attorneys, nationwide, who have obtained the largest verdicts nationally. In 2010, he was one of three lawyers in the United States honored as the “Compassionate Gladiator.” Perhaps his most prestigious honor was his induction into the Trial Lawyer Hall of Fame by the California State Bar Association (2003). In addition, Mr. Girardi has an “AV” peer review rating by Martindale-Hubbell, and has been named one of the “Best Lawyers in America”, 1987-present by Best Lawyers publication; “Top 100 Lawyers in California”, 2008-present by the Los Angeles Daily Journal; “Southern California Super Lawyer”, Highest Vote Getter in California, 2004-2008 by Los Angeles Magazine; “Top 100: California’s Leading Lawyers”, 2007 by theLos Angeles Journal; “The Los Angeles Area’s Best Lawyers”, 2006 by Best Lawyers; “Top 100: California’s Leading Lawyers”, 2006 by the Los Angeles Daily Journal, Loyola Law School; “Champion of Justice”, 2005, Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles; Ted Horn Memorial Award, 2004, Lawyers for Public Justice; “Trial Lawyer of the Year”, 1996, American Board of Trial Advocates; “Cal-ABOTA Trial Lawyer of the Year”, 1996, as well as, the Los Angeles Trial Lawyers, “Trial Lawyer of the Year”, 1995-1996. In 2008, Mr. Girardi served as the keynote speaker at La Verne College Law’s commencement ceremony.

Additionally, he is a Member of the Board of Directors and former President of the prestigious International Academy of Trial Lawyers, an invitation-only worldwide organization limited to 500 trial lawyers. Mr. Girardi is also a member of the California Judicial Council, the American Board of Trial Advocates, the Inner Circle of Advocates, the American Board of Professional Liability Lawyers, the International Society of Barristers, the Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles, as well as, the Consumer Attorneys of California. He has also served as an Associate Professor for Loyola Law School since 1976. Mr. Girardi earned his L.L.M from New York University School of Law, and his J.D. from Loyola Law School where he also received the “Distinguished Alumnus Award”. Mr. Girardi also holds a B.A. from Loyola Marymount University where he was honored with the Outstanding Professional Achievement Award. ■