Attorney Joseph Martin Barrett's Legal Cases

Car accident

Melinda Williams v. WIlliam McLaughlin

Jun 22, 2006

OUTCOME: $562,000

This car crash case was given to me to take to trial by my good friend and ace trial lawyer, C. Michael Alder, a week before trial. I achieved a verdict more than 100 times what the experienced defense ... lawyer told the jury to pay. He bragged on his website that he had not lost a trial in 13 years. the streak ended in Los Angeles in June, 2006. Melinda Williams had a mild traumatic brain injury. They claimed she just had whiplash from being hit on the side, and her claims were invented by prior lawyers, a typical and cynical defense ploy. The jury believed us. Now, Melinda lives in Georgia and I was able to change her life. I'm very grateful that the first trial I did in my new practice in 2006 before joining the Cochran Firm as a partner was a verdict more than 100 times what Mercury Insurance's lawyers told the jury to pay. I proved her injury with the help of family, co-workers, her pastor, a neurologist, and a neuropsychologist. I have studied traumatic brain injury for two decades and I believe this silent epidemic is under-represented and needs special legal attention. I bring that to my cases.

Defective and dangerous products

Gozukara v. Ford Motor Company, et al.

Feb 09, 2002

OUTCOME: $14,900,000.00

This historic case was the first verdict in American history where a jury in Barstow, after a four-month trial, found the Ford Explorer to be defective in rollover propensity. We were the first to take ... on Ford Motor Company over the most profitable and prolific vehicle in U.S. history. The Ford Explorer was extremely dangerous. It was known to flip with a quick turn of the wheel. Ford made a conscious choice to market and sell this vehicle to families, at 40% profit margin. We worked for years to uncover the truth. I took historic depositions and fought with two of the greatest lawyers I know, Garo and Charlie, to prove this vehicle was defective by design. We were featured in The Los Angeles Daily Jounral for our efforts, and made international headlines for this achievement. I am proud to be a pioneer and leader in product liability law. I am one of a select group of lawyers in California nominated and awarded the honor of being a Super Lawyer (Los Angeles Magazine) in the field of Products Liability, 2006, 2007, 2008. I am very well-known to the major automobile lawyers and companies (Ford, GM, Daimler-Chrysler, Nissan, Toyota, etc.) and the tire companies (Bridgestone/Firestone). I was also a major part, again with Garo and Charlie, in achieving the largest settlement arising from the scandal that arose between the SUV's and tire companies in the early 21st century. I continue to fight for auto safety and for the safety of children and the elderly in vehicles. There is simpy no excuse for putting profits ahead of safety in roofs, occupant restraint, and stability decisions. Until vehciles are made safe, I will fight. I must.

Car accident

Hovik Saakyan v. Modern Auto

Jun 08, 2000

OUTCOME: $13,000,000.00

Hovik was 17 when his vehicle swerved off the 605 freeway with three friends aboard, a small Honda, after he'd puchased fancy (but mismatched) wheels and tires. The case was fought hard from 1992 throu ... gh 2000, especially by Garo Mardirossian who was a hero in this case, I met Hovik days after he was paralyzed, with Garo, in the hospital and we worked in tandem for justice and finally achieved it, after two trials, an appeal, and exhuastive negotiations. I settled the case with Garo and Charlie, when I went to Boston, Mass., my hometown, and went to Liberty Mutual directly to make them pay. I cannot take credit for the major fight, as this was Garo's battle, and Charlie fought with him to win the trial. but I was a significant part of this achievement.

Insurance

Mindy Staples v. GE Insurance

Mar 10, 1999

OUTCOME: confidential

Mindy was a widow. Her husband drank himself to death. She had two children, a mortgage, and needed the life insurance policy. They pushed her around and denied coverage. I fought across America, Virgi ... nia, Oklahoma, and back to gather the proof they were wrong. In the end, they had to pay.

Car accident

Robert James v. Monroe Auto Wrecking

Jan 01, 1991

OUTCOME: $418,000.00

This was my first trial, in 1991. I'd never even seen a trial before, but I got thrown into this one. Robert still lives in Pasadena and swears by me. The defense offered $25,000. State Farm (don't lik ... e Ã©m). We got w-a-y more. Robert was picking a part off a vehicle in a wrecking yard when it slipped and pinned him to a wall. They said he was lying and not that hurt. We proved them different.

Car accident

Jeff McCardle v. Greyhound

N/A

OUTCOME: $14,600,000

Jeff McCardle was on a bus which stopped quickly in the rain at 2 m.p.h. He suffered whiplash. Jeff had bad medical care and suffered quadriplegia when the surgeon did a poor neck surgery. Greyho ... und argued they were not responsible for anything more than a few thousand dollars of care. With Garo, I fought vigorously for Jeff and achived a verdict so stunning, it literally blew the minds of fellow lawyers throughout the region. We did this through effective jury selection, meticulous trial presentation, and the love we had for Jeff and his family, which the jury rewarded through a truly just verdict. We did this trial right after Gozukara. I will try case after case if need be. This case and this client had a special place in my heart.

Intellectual property

Sugar Ray Leonard v. Billy Blanks et al.

N/A

OUTCOME: confidential

Ray, one of the most famous Americans, an Olympic Gold Medalist, a Five-Time Boxing World Champion in every division you could imagine, had his name and likeness stolen without proper compensation. I f ... ought for Ray, and we knocked out the opponent.

Insurance

Garo Mardirosian v. Farmer's Insurance

N/A

OUTCOME: $1,650,000

This was an insurance bad faith case which settled on the eve of trial in Federal Court. I was able to bring Farmers Insurance to their knees by proving they took advantage of a good man after the Janu ... ary 17, 1994 Northridge earthquake. His house was damaged but they would not pay to fix it properly. they acted in bad faith. I took depositions, conducted discovery, and handled the negotiations until they finally realized they needed to get this resolved. The case is now an important part of insurance bad faith law in this field.

Brain injury

Joel Mark v. Traveling Carnivals

N/A

OUTCOME: $1,000,000.00

Joel was injured while riding a ferris wheel when a piece of metal smacked him in the head and caused terrible trauma to his brain. Others would look at the same case and think he quickly fully recover ... ed. We proved otherwise. I was the lead lawyer.

Wrongful death

Jorge Lara v. Care Center

N/A

OUTCOME: $1,950,000.00

Jorge was a developmentally disable person who went on a trip with a group home to a lake in the Los Angeles area. They took their eyes off him and he drowned. Because of my bulldog approach to the lit ... igation and good relationship with defense counsel built over years of trust and experience in litigation and trial, we achieved a wonderful settlement for his mother.

Joseph Martin Barrett's Legal Cases (30)

Melinda Williams v. WIlliam McLaughlin

Gozukara v. Ford Motor Company, et al.

Hovik Saakyan v. Modern Auto

Mindy Staples v. GE Insurance

Robert James v. Monroe Auto Wrecking

Jeff McCardle v. Greyhound

Sugar Ray Leonard v. Billy Blanks et al.

Garo Mardirosian v. Farmer's Insurance

Joel Mark v. Traveling Carnivals

Jorge Lara v. Care Center