After leaving the Army, Mr. Saeltzer returned to San Francisco and brought his extensive trial experience to Walkup, Melodia, Kelly & Schoenberger, where he has been representing seriously injured clients since 1998.

Mr. Saeltzer has seven and eight-figure verdicts and settlements spanning more than two decades. His first seven-figure verdict was in 2001. In 2011 he was honored as the “Trial Lawyer of the Year” by the San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association for an eight-figure jury verdict obtained on behalf of a teenage girl left in a coma following a tragic accident. In that case, the seven-figure pretrial settlement offer was less than one-tenth of the eventual jury award. Mr. Saeltzer has also successfully created a law that protects injured people through the carelessness of others. Following a successful jury trial, Mr. Saeltzer fought to protect his client’s recovery at the California Court of Appeal. He changed the law so that all injured workers are now assured full recovery for their lost wages.

Since 2010, Mr. Saeltzer has been consistently recognized as a Northern California Super Lawyer. Additionally, he holds an “AV” peer review rating by Martindale-Hubbell®, the highest ranking available for an individual attorney in terms of legal ability and ethics. Moreover, his peers have voted him as one of The Best Lawyers in America since 2011. Additionally, he was selected by his peers to be a member of the esteemed International Society of Barristers. Additionally, in 2010, Mr. Saeltzer was elected to the invitation-only American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA). The group comprises more than 7,300 lawyers and judges, evenly divided between plaintiff and defense, spread across 96 chapters in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

Mr. Saeltzer’s experience and legal abilities are also sought as an instructor outside the courtroom. He is currently an assistant professor on the University of California Law San Francisco faculty, where he has taught civil litigation since 2003. He also serves on the National Institute of Trial Advocacy faculty, training new lawyers in courtroom skills and advocacy. Mr. Saeltzer has been an invited lecturer for the Continuing Education of the State Bar of California, San Francisco Bar Association, San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association, and the USLAW Network’s annual client conference. He has also served as an expert witness on case valuation and served as a court-appointed mediator.

Mr. Saeltzer currently serves as the President Elect of Consumer Attorneys of California (CAOC) and will assume the role of President in 2026. He also sits on the CAOC PAC Board as a Vice President.

Outside the courtroom, Mr. Saeltzer enjoys spending time with his wife and three children.

Verdicts & Settlements

• Adult v. Trucking Company – Truck Driver Negligence, $47,500,000 Settlement
• Renters v. Propane Company and Homeowners – Premises Liability, $37,500,000 Settlement
• Widow and Children v. Landowner – Negligence, Wrongful Death, $20,000,000 Settlement
• Lindquist v. Toohey et al. – Vehicular Negligence, Dangerous Condition of Property, $16,347,362 Jury Verdict
• Liou v. State of California – Dangerous Condition of Public Property, $12,200,000 Jury Verdict
• Van Fleet v. City of Oakland – Vehicular Negligence, $12,000,000 Settlement
• City v. Pedestrian – Dangerous Condition of Public Property, $11,000,000 Settlement
• Husband and Child v. Construction Companies and Utility Company – Worksite Negligence, $9,300,000 Settlement
• Anderson v. County of Stanislaus – Government Liability – Motor Vehicle, $8,250,000 Settlement
• Confidential v. Confidential – Negligence, $6,500,000 Settlement
• Worker v. Property Management Company – Construction Site Negligence, $6,000,000 Settlement
• Child v HMO – Birth Injury/Medical Negligence, $4,750,000 Settlement
• Bicyclist v. Product Manufacturer and Negligent Driver – Product Liability and Vehicular Negligence, $4,331,250 Settlement
• Renteria v. Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority – Bus Negligence, $4,000,000 Jury Verdict
• Patient v. HMO – Medical Negligence, $4,000,000 Settlement
• LaRocca v. Diablo Contractors, Inc., et. al. – Construction Negligence/Vehicular Negligence, $3,050,000 Settlement
• Boilermaker v Refinery Owner – Industrial Negligence, $2,800,000 Settlement
• Brock v. Bonifacio, et. al. – Vehicular Negligence/Products Liability, $2,800,000 Jury Verdict
• Motorcyclist v. Automobile – Motor Vehicle Accident, $2,100,000 Settlement
• Confidential v. Confidential – Products Liability, $2,000,000 Settlement
• Minor Child v Hair Salon – Negligence, $2,000,000 Settlement
• Decedent’s Family v. Delivery Company, Roadway, and Estate of Negligent Driver – Wrongful death, Trucking negligence, $1,900,000 Settlement
• Pedestrian v. Driver and Owner of Vehicle – Vehicular Negligence/Negligent Entrustment, $1,500,000 Settlement
• Marquez v. Transportes Azteca De Oro – Bus Accident/Wrongful Death, $1,100,000 Settlement
• Patient v. HMO – Medical Negligence, $1,100,000 Settlement
• Driver v. Truck Company and Vehicle Manufacturer – Vehicular Negligence/Products Liability, $1,030,000 Settlement
• Patient v. Doctor and Hospital – Medical Negligence, $1,000,000 Settlement
• Student v. School District – Government Liability, $1,000,000 Settlement