Thomas Girardi

Tom Girardi, born 1939, is a founding partner of Girardi & Keese [ [http://www.girardikeese.com/membersTomG.htm Girardi Keese.com] ] , a downtown Los Angeles law firm that has earned a reputation as L.A. County's king of the class action lawsuit.

In 1970, Girardi became the first attorney in the state of California to win a $1 million-plus award for a medical malpractice case. [http://www.girardikeese.com/membersTomG.htm] Girardi has handled major cases against the former Lockheed Corp (now the Lockheed Martin Corp.), Pacific Gas & Electric Co, Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, and Hollywood's seven major movie studios. [ [http://www.girardikeese.net/ http://www.girardikeese.net/] ]

In one of his more well known cases against Pacific Gas & Electric, the utility company agreed to pay $333 million to 650 residents of the desert community of Hinkley, California. [ [http://www.lawbuzz.com/famous_trials/erin_brockovich/erin_brockovich_ch1.htm lawbuzz.com] ] The residents blamed incidents of cancer and other diseases on contaminated water leaked from a gas pumping station. [http://www.girardikeese.com/membersTomG.htm] ] This case was the inspiration for the film Erin Brockovich (film) starring Julia Roberts.

Tom Girardi graduated from Loyola High School (Los Angeles) in 1957. [ [http://www.the-tidings.com/2004/1008/olaalum.htm Alum gives Loyola HS $1 million | The-Tidings.com ] ] He received his undergraduate degree from Loyola Marymount University in 1961, his LL.B. from Loyola Law School in 1964, and an LLM/SJD from New York University in 1965.

References

* [http://www.forbes.com/finance/mktguideapps/personinfo/FromPersonIdPersonTearsheet.jhtml?passedPersonId=891430 Forbes.com profile]