Carl Arias (Senior Attorney) born Inglewood, California, April 7, 1971; admitted to bar, 1999, California and U.S. District Court, Central District of California. Education: California State University (B.A., 1995); University of California, Davis School of Law (J.D., 1999). Carl Arias received his J.D. from the University of California at Davis in 1999. During the summer of 1997, he served as an intern with the U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of New York. In 1998, he served as an intern with the U.S. Department of Labor in New York City. Prior to joining Arias & Lockwood, Mr. Arias was a Deputy District Attorney for the County of Los Angeles for four years in downtown Los Angeles. While a prosecutor, he tried 34 jury trials to verdict. Since becoming a civil litigator, Mr. Arias has successfully defended corporations and public entities in jury trials. He currently defends government entities, railway companies and businesses. Mr. Arias has extensive experience in wrongful death, products liability, premises liability, and employment law cases. Practice Areas: Casualty Defense; Civil Litigation in State and Federal Courts; General Torts Litigation; Personal Injury.
Christopher D. Lockwood (Senior Attorney) admitted to bar, 1983, California. Education: Marquette University (B.A., cum laude, 1980); Loyola University Law School (J.D., 1983). Partner: Lewis, Brisbois, Bisgaard & Smith, LLP, 1996-2003; McLachlan, Burford & Arias, 1984-1996. Practice Areas: Appellate Practice; Writs; Land Use; Employment Law; Government Tort Liability.
Joseph Arias (Senior Attorney and Managing Attorney) admitted to bar, 1971, California and U.S. District Court, Southern, Central and Northern Districts of California; 1975, U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit. Education: California State University at San Bernardino (B.A., Political Science, 1967); University of California at Davis School of Law (J.D., 1970). Professional Experience: · Mr. Arias has tried more than 200 jury trials to verdict.
· Trial Attorney, Office of the District Attorney, San Bernardino County, 1971-1973.
· Trial Attorney (Shareholder and Director), MacLachlan, Burford & Arias, A Professional Law Corporation (Formerly King & Mussell), 1973 to 1996.
· Trial Attorney (Partner), Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith LLP, 1996 to 2003.
· Trial Attorney, Arias, Lockwood & Gray (Managing Attorney), 2003 to 2006.
· Trial and Managing Attorney, Arias & Lockwood, Attorneys at Law, 2006- present.
Mr. Arias concentrates on general civil litigation and trials. He has tried in excess of 200 jury trials to verdict in the following areas: all phases of employment law including employment discrimination, sexual harassment, whistleblower, disability discrimination, Title VII, 42 U.S.C. § 1981 (race discrimination in right to contract), claims based upon the California Fair Employment and Housing Act; Federal Employers Liability Act (railroad cases); products liability, land subsidence, negligence, professional negligence, eminent domain, government tort liability, breach of public works contracts, insurance bad faith, constitutional law including 42 U.S.C. § 1983- based claims against government employees and municipalities, Federal Civil Rights and police officer liability.
Guest Speakerships and Awards:
· Guest speaker, National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel: The Trial of a Plaintiff-trespasser Case (2002).
· Federal Bar Association, Inland Empire Chapter: Current Issues in Police Officer Liability (1998).
· Masters in Trial, American Board of Trial Advocates: Trial techniques: cross examination of the plaintiff in a personal injury case (2002).
· 2006 Recipient of the President's Award, American Board of Trial Advocates, in recognition of a lifetime of trial advocacy and commitment to the highest standards of integrity, honor and courtesy in the legal profession
· Guest speaker, Federal Bar Association, Inland Empire Chapter: Federal Civil Rights Litigation in 2007 (2007).
· Masters in Trial, American Board of Trial Advocates: Trial techniques: Cross Examination of Plaintiff's Expert (2007).
· Voted in "Best Lawyers" in Inland Empire by Inland Empire Magazine, November 2008.
Member: Presidents' Circle, San Bernardino County Children's Fund; Southern California and U.S. Handball Associations; San Bernardino and Redlands YMCAs; Los Angeles Athletic Club; Board of Directors, San Bernardino Community Concert Association. Past Director, California State University Foundation Board. Past Member, San Bernardino YMCA Board of Managers. Former Little League Coach. Member: San Bernardino (Member, Judicial Evaluation Committee) and Los Angeles County and Federal Bar Associations; State Bar of California (Member, Labor and Employment and Litigation Sections; Past Referee); National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel; Association of Southern California Defense Council (Past Director Inland Empire); American Board of Trial Advocates; Legal Aid Societies of San Bernardino and Redlands (Pro bono work); Riverside County Arbitration Panel; San Bernardino County Municipal Court (Judge Pro-Tem). Transactions: General Motors Corporation; Ford Motor Company; Mack Trucks, Inc.; Volvo Trucks of North America; Volvo Aero Services Corp.; Mercedes Benz of North America; Amtrak; Burlington Northern & Santa Fe Railway; Union Pacific Railroad Company; So. Pacific Transportation Co. (now merged with Union Pac. R.R. Co.); California-Arizona Railroad Co.; Bristol-Meyers; Caterpillar Inc.; Zimmer Inc.; Merit Oil Co., Inc.; Universal Self Storage Corporation; Southern California Regional Rail Authority (Metrolink); State of California, Omnitrans, City and County of San Bernardino, San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department, San Bernardino City Police Department, Rialto Police Department, Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, Housing Authority of San Bernardino County, Cities of Adelanto, Banning, Colton, Hemet, Palm Springs, Rancho Cucamonga, Redlands, Rialto, Moreno Valley; Mojave Desert Air Quality Management District; Apple Valley USD; Barstow USD; Desert Sands USD; Needles USD; Palm Springs USD; San Bernardino USD; Victor Valley SD; Moreno Valley USD; Chaffey Joint Union High School District; San Juan Capistrano USD; Ontario Christian High School; Chaffey Community College and College of the Desert; Public Officials including Police Officers of all ranks, Chiefs of Police, Deputy Sheriffs, Sheriffs of San Bernardino and Los Angeles Counties, District Attorneys, Judges of the Superior Court, City Attorneys, County Counsel, Members of the Board of Supervisors of San Bernardino County, Corporate General Counsel, City Councilmen and the Mayor of San Bernardino. He was appointed Special Counsel to San Bernardino County District Attorney and provides advice to the San Bernardino City Council; Southern Pacific Transportation Company; Union Pacific Railroad Company (now merged); Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad Co.; Arizona-California Railroad Company; Southern California Regional Rail Authority (Metrolink) and Amtrak; I have defended railroad companies against claims based upon grade crossing accidents, Federal Employees Liability Act and other third party claims. Practice Areas: Casualty Defense; Professional Liability; Employment Law; Government Tort Liability; Police Officer Liability; Premises Liability; Civil Rights; Products Liability.
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Martin Li (Associate) admitted to bar, 2002, California and U.S. District Court, Central District of California. Education: California State University, Fullerton (B.A., with honors, 1999); Southwestern University School of Law (J.D., cum laude, 2002). Martin Li earned his J.D. from Southwestern University School of Law in 2002, where he graduated Cum Laude. While at Southwestern he served on the Executive Board of the Law Review as a Notes and Comments Editor, as well as academic chair for APALSA. In 2001, he clerked for the Honorable William M. Byrne, Jr., former Chief Justice of the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. Mr. Li was formerly associated with Breidenbach, Huchting & Hamblet where he defended corporations against employment, products liability, and premises liability matters.
He was also associated with Danz & Gerber, where he focused on employment litigation, including state and federal discrimination claims, wrongful terminations in violation of public policy, and wage and hour disputes. Mr. Li's current practice includes defending governmental entities, corporation, railway companies, and small businesses, wrongful death, products liability, employment litigation, and premises liability claims. Mr. Li's advocacy skills and sincere dedication have resulted in highly successful results for his clients. Member: State Bar of California; American Bar Association. Languages: English, Cantonese. Practice Areas: Casualty Defense; Civil Litigation in State and Federal Courts; General Torts Litigation; Personal Injury.
James I. H. Brooks (Associate) admitted to bar, 2007, California and U.S. District Court, Central District of California. Education: University of California, Irvine (B.A., 2003); Loyola University Law School (J.D., 2007). Dean's Scholarship recipient; focused courses on Trial Advocacy, Mediation, Civil Procedure and Negotiations. Law Clerk, District Attorney's Office of Los Angeles in the TARGET crimes division, 2007. Obtained CDRSA mediation certificate working at the Loyola Center for Conflict Resolution. Practice Areas: Casualty Defense; Civil Litigation in State and Federal Courts; General Torts Litigation; Personal Injury.
OF COUNSEL
Lee Amidon (Of Counsel) admitted to bar, 1980, California and U.S. District Court, Central District of California. Education: Western State University College of Law (B.S.L., 1978; J.D., 1979). Mr. Amidon has practiced law for 28 years. He has extensive experience in business and real estate litigation, real estate financing transactions, business planning, contracts, redevelopment law and professional liability. He frequently serves as a mediator and arbitrator under the auspices of AAA. He provides DRE regulatory compliance advice to real estate lenders. He provides advice to developers in financing transactions for commercial property acquisitions and meets with clients before they embark on projects to provide advice on ways to avoid litigation and to mitigate costs. Mr. Amidon was admitted to the California and federal (Central District) bars in 1980. He has a real estate broker license issued by the California Department of Real Estate. He received his undergraduate and law degrees from Western State University College of Law (B.S.L 1978, J.D. 1979). Member: State Bar of California. Practice Areas: Business Litigation; Real Estate Litigation; Real Estate Financing Transactions; Business Planning; Contracts; Redevelopment Law; Professional Liability.