Garry Lee Montanari

A member of the California State Bar since 1979, Garry is rated "AV Preeminent 5.0" by Martindale-Hubbell.

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Garry graduated Magna Cum Laude from the College of Engineering at the University of Cincinnati in 1975 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering. Garry earned a Juris Doctor degree from Loyola University School of Law in Los Angeles in 1979.

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From 1972 to 1974, while attending college, Garry was employed by NASA as an engineering trainee in the Simulator Software Section at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. He continued his work in engineering at Northrop Corporation in the Propulsion Analysis Section, Aircraft Division, from 1975-1979. While there, he worked on the F-5 and the Tigershark tactical fighter programs.

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Joining Hart & Michaelis in 1980, he quickly demonstrated his legal skills and became a named partner of Michaelis, Montanari & Johnson in 1984. Garry has represented well-known companies such as Pratt & Whitney Canada, Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation, Allied Signal, and Piper Aircraft. He has been involved in all types of aviation and products liability cases from helicopters to helmets, polymers to fuel totalizers.

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Responsible for cases that must go before the various courts of appeal, Garry has briefed and argued numerous cases in state and federal appellate courts- including appearances before the California Supreme Court.

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Garry defended cases involving the tragic deaths of John Denver, and the president and vice-president of In-n-Out Burger. Since 2002, he has served as a temporary judge for the Los Angeles County Superior Court. He is a member of the United States District Court for all Districts of California. The United States Court of Appeal, Sixth and Ninth Circuits, the American Bar Association, and is a Patent Agent registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

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He has been a judge of the Loyola School of Law National Civil Trial Competition. In 1973, he obtained a single engine land private pilot certificate from the FAA.

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Garry has been named a Southern California Super Lawyer from 2007-2010.