GARO MARDIROSSIAN

Defender of Civil and Consumer Rights

Dole v. Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department is just one of the numerous cases Garo has fought for and won on behalf of those unjustly treated by those sworn to protect us.

Due to the high profile nature of these kinds of cases, Garo has been called on numerous times by both local and national media. Whether it’s in-studio interviews or holding press conferences at the Mardirossian building, Garo is a seasoned expert at ensuring that public opinion remains firmly in his client’s camp.

Here are just some of the other types of cases Garo has handled over the years:

General Negligence • Truck Accidents • Motorcycle Crashes • Sexual harassement • Tire Failures • Runaway Vehicles • Alcohol Related Accidents • Dangerous Roadways • Boating Crashes

Humble Beginnings

While in high school and college, Garo worked as a mechanic in his father’s service station on Fairfax Boulevard, where he became a skilled automobile mechanic and a certified State of California smog inspector. He rode his motorcycle to school and work daily and remains an avid automobile and motorcycle enthusiast to this day.

After earning his Bachelor of Arts in Economics from UCLA, Garo obtained his Juris Doctorate from Whittier College School of Law. After graduating law school, in 1981 he founded his own firm: the Law Offices of Garo Mardirossian. Early on, Garo began his practice handling a wide variety of injury cases, gradually accepting and successfully representing individuals in more complex and challenging cases.

Now, Mardirossian Akaragian LLP handles a vast array of personal injury matters—both relatively straightforward and highly complicated.

Top California Lawyer

In his work as a Los Angeles personal injury attorney, Garo has earned many awards and recognitions. Amongst many others, he was awarded the prestigious Trial Lawyer of the Year award by Consumer Attorneys of California in 2000 and was recognized by the Daily Journal as one of the top 100 California Lawyers.

He obtained the first Ford Explorer jury verdict, the first jury verdict finding defective seat belt design against Nissan, and the first jury verdict finding 23 deputies conspired to deprive citizens of constitutional rights, amongst numerous other accomplishments.

Additional Notable Verdicts and Settlements

In a wide variety of personal injury cases, Garo has gone up against some of the most skilled defense attorneys and has won outstanding jury verdicts and settlements for his injured clients

• In Mendoza v. County of Los Angeles, a wrongful death by police case, Garo obtained for the family of Frank Mendoza Sr. a settlement in the amount of $14,350,000.00

• In McCardle v. Greyhound Motor Lines, Inc., a bus accident case, Garo obtained for his injured client a jury verdict in the amount of $15,967,000.00.

• In Saakyan v. Modern Auto, a faulty rim case, Garo obtained a jury verdict and judgment in the sum of $26,900,000.00.

• In Gozukara v. Ford Motor Company, et al., a product liability case, Garo obtained a jury verdict in the amount of $14,900,000.00.

• In Castro v. Green Farms, Inc., a truck accident case, Garo obtained a settlement for his clients in the amount of $10,635.655.00.

• In Uno v. Toyota, a runaway vehicle product liability case, Garo obtained a jury verdict after a three month trial in the amount of $10,000,000.00.

Other examples include:

• Burn injuries caused by defective stove ($6,650,000.00 jury verdict),

• Faulty seat belt ($3,150,00.000 jury verdict),

• Leg amputation ($4,600,000.00 settlement),

• Exploding water heater case ($2,200,000.00 jury verdict),

• Burn injury case ($5,800,000.00 jury verdict including punitive damages).

• Falling Elevator ($7,400,000.00 settlement following jury verdict)

• Shooting of Innocent Man ($6,510,000.00 federal jury verdict)

• Defective Seat ($12,700,000.00 verdict)

• Dangerous Roadway ($3,850,000.00 settlement)

• Intoxicated Driver leaves Company Party ($12,000,000.00 verdict)

Education Awards Professional Associations

• Whittier College School of Law, Los Angeles, California:

  • Juris Doctor

• University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA):

  • Bachelor of Arts

  • Major: Economics

In January, 2010, Garo was installed as President of the Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles (CAALA), which has nearly 3,000 members and is the largest local bar association in the United States. Garo has served on CAALA’s Board of Directors for more than 20 years. In 2000, Garo received the honor of being named CAALA’s Trial Lawyer of the Year.

Additional Accolades:

• 2012 Recognized by the Daily Journal as one of the top 100 California Lawyers

• 2010 President of Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles

• 2000 Trial Lawyer of the Year, CAALA

• Finalist, Consumer Attorneys of California, Trial Lawyer of the Year (2009)

• Runner up Trial Lawyer of the Year, Trial Lawyers for Public Justice

• Alumnus of the Year, Whittier College School of Law

• Executive Committee, Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles

• Member, American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA)

• Mayor’s Certificate of Commendation

• Honors from the United States House of Representatives

• Sustaining Member of the Consumer Attorneys of California

• Unsealed critical General Motors crash test records now used nationally

• Numerous Published California Cases, including:

  • Lewis v. Ukran, 36.Cal.App.5th 886 (2019)

  • Purton v. Marriott International, Inc., 218 Cal.App.4th 499 (2013)

  • Pannu v. Land Rover, 191 Cal.App.4th 1298 (2011)

  • Saakyan v. Modern Auto, Inc. 103 Cal.App.4th 383 (2002)

  • Srithong v. Total Investment, Inc. 24 Cal.App.4th 721 (1994)

Bar Admissions

• California, 1981

Additional Memberships

• Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles, President (2010)

• Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles, Executive Committee

• American Board of Trial Advocates, Member

• Consumer Attorneys of California, Member

Directories

• Avvo

• Super Lawyers

• FindLaw

• Justia

• Wikipedia

• HG