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Jonathon Kaplan
About Jonathon
Biography
One of California’s top trial lawyers, Jonathon Kaplan is always willing to go the distance for his clients. Well experienced in the courtroom, he has tried dozens of cases, achieving maximum recoveries for his clients. Jon’s expertise is employment law and civil rights cases. Some of the types of matters he handles in these areas are unpaid wage and overtime claims, discrimination and harassment cases, equal pay issues and wrongful termination. He draws on close to 30 years of legal experience, having worked throughout his career on other cases involving personal injury, product liability, highway accidents, consumer warranty, franchising, fraud claims, and business disputes.
Jon wins an overwhelming number of trial verdicts for his clients. He also handles appeals, some resulting in published opinions that create law in his areas of practice. Based on his winning track record, opposing lawyers know Jon and his firm will take a case to trial to get the absolute best results for their clients.
After graduating from a top-ten law school at Duke University, Jon started his legal career with the prominent Los Angeles law firm of Lewis, D’Amato, Brisbois & Bisgaard in 1990. There, he quickly distinguished himself, rising to the level of equity partner. In 2002, he founded Kaplan Lee LLP. In 2014, the firm changed to its current name, Kaplan Weiss LLP, where Jon works alongside his partner, Yitz Weiss.
Jon was awarded an AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell, the preeminent peer review rating for attorneys’ legal skills and ethics. In recognition of his professional accomplishments, Jon was named one of the State’s top 20 lawyers under the age of 40 by California’s leading legal newspaper, The Daily Journal. He has also been consistently named one of Southern California’s "Super Lawyers" an honor bestowed upon a select group of elite lawyers who have achieved the highest degree of peer recognition and achievement.
Jon frequently speaks publicly on a wide variety of legal subjects. He has spoken on employment law matters at various professional conferences and lectured in forensic psychiatry at a leading Los Angeles medical school. He also has served as a court-appointed arbitrator and mediator for the Los Angeles Superior Court.
Jon is committed to his community and has devoted countless hours to civic and charitable causes. He has sat on the boards of many prominent civic, charitable and educational organizations, as well as steering committees for national political candidates.
Practice Areas
2
Practice Areas
Employment and Labor
75%
35 years | 500 cases
Civil Rights
25%
35 years | 200 cases
Fees and Rates
Cost
Hourly Rates
$ 300-500 per hour
Contingency
25%-40%
Pro bono
10 %
Retainer
Sometimes
Payment Methods
- Cash
- Check
- Credit Card
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Chat withLicenses
Licensed in District of Columbia for 34 years
State: District of Columbia
Acquired: 1992
No misconduct found
Licensed in California for 35 years
State: California
Acquired: 1990
No misconduct found
Location
Kaplan Weiss LLP
DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES OFFICE, 355 South Grand Avenue, Suite 2450, Los Angeles, CA, 90071
Kaplan Weiss LLP
SOUTHBAY OFFICE, 400 Continental Blvd 6th Floor, El Segundo, CA, 90245
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Jonathon Kaplan's Reviews
Avvo Review Score
7 Client Reviews
Filter Avvo Reviews (7)
Refine reviews to match your needs. Use the filters to quickly surface reviews that align with your case or priorities.
Practice Areas
What Clients Mention
Showing 1 - 5 of 7 reviews | 5 stars
Posted by anonymous | January 13, 2017 | Hired Attorney | Lawsuits & Disputes
Complex case
Jon and Yitz make a good team. They handled my case efficiently and with their experience and patience we obtained a positive outcome. I highly recommend them.
Posted by Jonathan L. | February 17, 2014 | Animal & Dog Bites
Dog Bite
I highly recommend Mr. Kaplan for your legal issues. Recently I was the victim of a dog bite that was highly painful and has left a permanent scar. The dog kennel who was at fault for letting out the wrong dog (who bit me), was adamant about not helping me with my medical bills until Jon stepped in. ...
Posted by Jeanie | July 01, 2012 | Securities & Investment Fraud
Literally SINGING praises!
Jonathon went after a very bad person who had literally stolen money that was invested in me and my talents. To make matters worse, the perpetrator succeeded in convincing me that my talents didn't warrant the investment (money that I had raised and placed in his hands), and had so psychologically a...
Posted by anonymous | July 01, 2012 | Lawsuits & Disputes
Jon stopped my cases before they got to court.
I've retained Jon on two occasions--both in response to a harassing neighbor. Although the cases were very likely headed to court he managed to stop them before they got there. He handled it brilliantly, and managed to work out a plan with the plaintiff's attorney which remedied the situation as qu...
Posted by Sabrina | July 01, 2012 | Business
Trusted Legal Advisor
I regularly consult Jon for legal advice on business and other matters. His advice is always well thought out, insightful and of great assistance. I highly recommend him.
Jonathon Kaplan's Lawyer Endorsements
"I endorse this lawyer - I admire his standing in our community, being as my firm leans towards real estate law, I have found Mr. Kaplan to be reliable and Knowledgeable source in his area of practice"
"I truly admire Jonathan's expertise in employment law. As an immigration lawyer, I face employment law matters with my clients, and Jonathan has been very helpful. I highly recommend Jonathan to those in need of employment law assistance."
"I endorse this lawyer."
"I highly endorse this lawyer. I worked with Mr. Kaplan on a legal matter and found him to be thorough, creative and aggressive. He also has a good sense of humor and is fun to work with! Mr. Kaplan truly cares for his clients."
"Jon Kaplan is a well educated and exceedingly competent, experienced and principled litigation/trial attorney who represents both corporations and individuals. [see, http://www.kaplanlee.com/practice-areas/]"
"I endorse this lawyer."
"I first met Jonathon Kaplan several years ago while in law school. I was immediately impressed with his command of the law, and his ability to discuss legal matters he'd studied several years ago. I am proud to work alongside him at Kaplan Lee. He is hands down of the best employment litigators in California, and I enthusiastically endorse him."
"Excellent attorney. Mr. Kaplan continues to provide valuable advice on Avvo each time that he responds to a question. Although I have been licensed and practicing for 24 years, including time spent as a judge and magistrate, I continually learn from his answers about different aspects of the law. I would recommend him to everyone."
"I endorse this lawyer. We went to Duke University Law School together and both then practiced in Los Angeles, CA, for five years. Mr. Kaplan has a sharp eye for detail, is very personable and aggressive when it comes to advocating for his client! If I needed an attorney to fight for me, I would hire Jonathon Kaplan!"
"Jon Kaplan is the person I go to when I want to discuss legal issues with an attorney I can trust. He is extremely knowledgeable on many areas of the law and he always has his client's best interest in mind."
"Jon Kaplan is a super smart and extremely capable trial lawyer. He has a very natural and effective way of communicating his client's position to a jury. His clients obtain great results because of his this rare skill even among trial lawyers. I endorse this lawyer."
"I came to work for Mr. Kaplan because I knew him to be one of the finest lawyers in the State. He's knowledgeable, creative and results oriented and adheres to the highest standards of practice."
"An outstanding response here on Avvo caused me to take a look at the collection of Mr. Kaplan's Q and A responses here on Avvo. And I am so glad that I did. Mr. Kaplan is gifted with the rare ability to provide concise, straight-forward and comprehensive explanations and guidance in complicated and abstract legal matters. He clearly has an extraordinary command of the legal subjects he posts in. He is one of the very best of Avvo's Q and A participants."
"Jon is an amazing litigator and trial attorney. He has tried numerous cases to virdict in favor of his clients, including many very difficult cases. He has excellent oral and written skills, and possesses an incredible knack for knowing when to aggressively litigate a matter and when to try to resolve it. I endorse him without qualification."
Susan Murphy
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Tigran Pogosyan
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Marc Gedeon
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Julie Schejbal
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James Farrin
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Sheldon Sloan
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Kenneth Remson
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James Imbriale
Wrongful death lawyer
Clifford Weiss
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Renee Becnel
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Cheryl Johnson
Antitrust and trade law lawyer
Alana Segal
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Michael Rubinstein
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Christine McCall
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Bailey Farrin
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Yitz Weiss
Lemon law lawyer
Paul Lee
Litigation lawyer
Experience
Honors
2008
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2001
Top 20 Under 40, California Law Business
N/A
AV Rating, Martindale-Hubbell
Work Experience
2000 - Present
Founding Partner, Kaplan Lee LLP
1990 - 2000
Associate, Non-equity Partner, Equity Partner, Lewis D'Amato Brisbois & Bisgaard
Associations
UCLA School of Medicine, Psychiatry Department
Guest Lecturer, Forensic Psychiatry
2003 - 2005
Greater Griffith Park Neigborhood Council, City of Los AngelesReligious Communities Representative, Vice President
1999 - 2006
Aids Healthcare FoundationMember, Board of Directors
1993 - 1997
Duke University School of LawMember, Future Forum, Board of Visitors
1991 - 2007
Emory UniversityMember, Board of Governors
Sample of Legal Cases
Brown-Williams, et al. v. Bentley Motors, Inc., et al.
Defense verdict upon retrial.
Doppes v. Newport Auto Center, et al.
Defeated fraud, civil penalty, punitives claims
Curtis v. LaJolla Motors
Defense Victory
Corey v. American Honda Motor Co.
Complete Defense Judgment
Gale v. BMW of North America
Jury Defense Verdict
Tri-West Leasing v. BMW of North America
Defense Judgment
Escarcega v. BMW of North America
Complete Defense Verdict
Abrams v. Five Star Roofing
Jury Defense Verdict
Psenner v. Andrews
Victory for Plaintiff
Golden Eagle Refinery v. Associated International
Summary Judgment for Client
Golden Eagle Refinery v. Associated International
Summary Judgment for Client
Msrian v. Kia Motors
Defendant Prevailed
Education
1990
Duke University School of Law
JD - Juris Doctor
1990
Duke University School of Law
LL.M - Master of Laws
1987
Emory University
BA - Bachelor of Arts
1987
Emory University
BA - Bachelor of Arts
Speaking Engagements
N/A
UCLA / USC Forensice Psychiatry Fellowship Program
Admissibility of Expert Witness Testimony: The Daubert Standard and Kelly/Frye Test
N/A
UCLA / USC Forensic Psychiatry Program
The Twinkie Defense
N/A
UCLA / USC Forensic Psychiatry Fellowship Program
The Insanity Defense
N/A
UCLA / USC Forensic Psychiatry Fellowship Program
Malingering
N/A
ATLLP Monthly Meeting
The Lemon Law
Publications
N/A
Los Angeles Daily Journal
Doing Business in the Soviet Union
Activity
Legal Answers
Legal Guides
Legal Answers
Q&A
How do you file for a judicial review, MO Dfs told me to go to courts, courts told me to go to Dfs..
05 Oct 2013
Q&A
Is it the landlord or tenants responsibility to provide a gas meter if there is not already one at a residence.
25 Jun 2012
Q&A
If I cash a refund check for balance of security deposit, do I lose my right to sue for bad faith deductions by landlord?
26 Jun 2012