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Michael A. Kelly

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Mike Kelly is one of the nation’s top personal injury attorneys. For four decades he has protected California consumers from corporate greed, medical mistakes, dangerous products, worksite injuries and motor vehicle accidents of every kind. He has tried, settled, and arbitrated more than 200 injury and wrongful death cases where the recovery by his client has exceeded $1 million. In 2020 he helped negotiate the $13.5 billion resolution of 2017 wine country fire lawsuits brought against PG&E and in 2021-22 settled wrongful death cases in Montecito and Santa Barbara caused by Southern California Edison’s negligence in starting the fire. In the product liability arena, his $8.341 million jury verdict in the first Johnson & Johnson metal-on-metal hip litigation helped produce a $2.5 billion national settlement for all victims.

He is a sought-after speaker and teacher, having presented more than 200 invited lectures, tutorials, seminars and advocacy demonstrations across the United States, Asia, South America, the United Kingdom and Eastern Europe.

In 2023 Mike was the number one vote-getter for the fourth year in a row on the 2023 list of Northern California “Super Lawyers.” In 2023 he was singled out by Best Lawyers as the Personal Injury “Lawyer of the Year.” A member of the prestigious Inner Circle of Advocates, he was inducted into the National Trial Lawyers Hall of Fame in 2022. Recognized for his leadership in some of the most significant consumer protection cases in our state, Kelly has been included in the Los Angeles Daily Journal’s annual Top Plaintiff Lawyers slate and has been appointed by the Chief Justice of the California Supreme Court to membership on the statewide jury instructions task force working group.

Client Testimonials

“Mike Kelly was very upfront and honest about what I could achieve during the litigation process and kept me informed throughout. My particular injury was one that the risk/reward factors for many lawyers was not worth taking. He was always accessible by phone and able to address my questions and concerns. Unlike may personal injury lawyers, Mike Kelly has a very strong moral compass. He was honest, forthcoming, and tenacious in achieving a favorable outcome with my case.”

Confidential client

“Mike Kelly was very upfront and honest about what I could achieve during the litigation process and kept me informed throughout. My particular injury was one that the risk/reward factors for many lawyers was not worth taking.

Another Confidential client

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Attorney Endorsement

“I had the honor of going to trial with Michael Kelly in Santa Fe, New Mexico. He is outstanding! He cares about his clients, about their past, what they have been through, what they go through, and what they will go through in the future. When he goes to trial, he is prepared and ready. He takes command of the courtroom.”

Esteban aguilar

“I had the honor of going to trial with Michael Kelly in Santa Fe, New Mexico. He is outstanding! He cares about his clients, about their past, what they have been through, what they go through, and what they will go through in the future.”

Also Esteban aguilar

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He is a sought-after speaker and teacher, having presented more than 200 invited lectures, tutorials, seminars and advocacy demonstrations across the United States, Asia, South America, the United Kingdom and Eastern Europe. He is a founding executive board member of Trial School, a not-for-profit skills training organization that teaches trial techniques to lawyers who represent injured victims. He annually chairs a seminar for lawyers who represent medical malpractice victims injured by Kaiser and the Permanente Medical Group. He is committed to protecting the right to a jury trial in all civil cases and to training consumer lawyers to be zealous advocates on behalf of injured clients.

Representative Cases

  • Urban Tenant v. Real Estate Manager – Property Defect / Quadriplegia, $42,000,000 Settlement
  • Rogers v. Associated Clinics – Obstetric Malpractice / Brain Injury, $23,200,000 Jury Verdict
  • Goodloe v. Bell Sports, Inc. – Defective Bicycle Helmet / Brain Injury, $17,000,000 Jury Verdict
  • Rachel K. v. Truck Line Operator – Bicycle v. Semi-Truck / Catastrophic Injuries, $15,000,000 Settlement
  • Tourist v. Sierra Resort – Fall on Hotel Premises / Paraplegia, $14,000,000 Settlement
  • Teen v. Auto Component Re-Seller – Vehicle Stability Failure / Paralysis, $12,500,000 Settlement
  • Survivors v. General Contractor – Construction Site Injury / Wrongful Death, $10,500,000 Settlement
  • Family of H. v. UpRight, Inc. – Defective Industrial Product / Wrongful Death, $10,000,000 Settlement
  • Infant v. Obstetrician – Negligent Delivery / Brain Damage – $9,950,000 Settlement
  • Neonate v. OBGYN Group – Delayed Cesarean Delivery / Cerebral Palsy, $9,500,000 Settlement
  • Twins v. Fertility Center – Fertility Clinic Negligence / Congenital Disease, $9,500,000 Settlement
  • Dahl v. Stone M.D. – Paraplegia / Medical Malpractice, $9,420,840 Jury Verdict
  • Perry v. Budget Rent-A-Car – Automobile Accident, $8,775,000 Jury Verdict
  • Kammerer v. Alimak Hek, Inc. – Construction Site Fall / Arm Amputation, $8,350,000 Jury Verdict
  • Kransky v. DePuy Inc. – Defective Metal on Metal Prosthetic Hip, $8,300,000 Jury Verdict
  • Widow v. National Package Delivery – Truck v. Auto Collision / Wrongful Death, $7,750,000 Settlement
  • Infant v. HMO – Gynecology Negligence / Birth Injury, $7,500,000 Settlement
  • Henry V. v. PG&E – Electrocution / Utility Negligence, $7,000,000 Settlement
  • Child v. Pediatric Neurosurgeon – Quadriplegia / Surgical Error, $6,350,000 Settlement
  • Family v. S.F. Hospital – Wrongful Death / Medical Malpractice, $5,850,000 Settlement
  • Johnston v. American Honda Motor Co. – Product Liability / Wrongful Death, $5,760,000 Jury Verdict
  • Software Engineer v. Hospital Corp. – Failure to Diagnose Aneurysm / Brain Damage, $5,475,000 Settlement
  • Diana C. v. Device Maker – Defective Medical Device / Paralysis, $5,250,000 Settlement
  • Kim v. Super Shuttle – Auto Accident / Wrongful Death, $5,176,000 Jury Verdict
  • Richard L. v. HMO – Failure to Diagnose Spinal Abscess, $5,250,000 Settlement
  • Serviceman v. Foreign Auto Maker – Defective Seat Belt/ Traumatic Brain Injury , $4,850,000 Settlement
  • Olivier v. Petroleum Supplier – Loss of Leg / Motorcycle Accident, $4,500,000 Settlement
  • Student v. Valley Unified School District – Negligent School Supervision Paraplegia, $4,500,000 Settlement
  • Richard T. v. HMO – Brain Damage – Failure to Diagnose Cardiomyopathy, $4,250,000 Settlement
  • Grotenhuis v. Golden Gate Bridge Transportation District – Bus Strikes Pedestrian / Wrongful Death, $4,000,000 Jury Verdict
  • Machinist v. Industrial Machine Design – Product Liability / Brain Damage, $4,000,000 Settlement
  • Jastrab v. Kelada – Failure to Diagnose Infection / Permanent Leg Injury, $3,170,000 Jury Verdict
  • Ethier v. Poindexter – Wrongful Death of Child, $3,030,000 Jury Verdict
  • Student v. Daimler-Chrysler – Defective Seatbelt / Spinal Cord Injury, $3,000,000 Settlement
  • Michael N. v. U.S. Automaker – Vehicle Stability Defect / Rollover Accident, $2,900,000 Settlement
  • Baby Y. v. Sutter Health – Failure to Diagnose Kernicterus, $2,900,000 Settlement

Honors, Professional Affiliations and Associations:

  • Martindale-Hubbell, “AV” Rating (highest rating; received annually each year since first rated in 1982)
  • Member, Inner Circle of Advocates
  • Member, The Summit Council
  • Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers
  • International Academy of Trial Lawyers, Member
  • International Society of Barristers, Fellow; President (2012 – 2013); Member, Board of Governors (2002 – 2012)
  • Member Irish 100
  • California ABOTA, Trial Lawyer of the Year, 2014
  • San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association, Trial Lawyer of the Year, 2010 (also nominated 1999, 2001, 2008)
  • Law Dragon 500 (2014-2022; Inducted in LawDragon Hall of Fame 2021)
  • Listed, “The Best Lawyers In America” (1995 – 2024; “Lawyer of the Year”, 2017, 2023)
  • Top Ten Northern California “Super Lawyers” (2007- 2012; 2017- 2024)
  • American Board of Trial Advocates San Francisco Chapter, President (2010); National Board Member (2002 – 2014)
  • Foundation of the American Board of Trial Advocates, Member Board of Trustees (2010 -2013)
  • Recipient, CAOC Robert Cartwright Award for Teaching Trial Advocacy (2012)
  • Recipient, Robert Oliphant Award for Teaching Excellence, N.I.T.A. (2011)
  • Award of Merit, Consumer Attorneys of California, 2014, 2017
  • National Institute of Trial Advocacy, Member; Board of Trustees (2002 – 2021)
  • U.C. Hastings Foundation, Member Board of Trustees (2010 – 2022)
  • San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association, President (1996); Executive Board Member (1990-1995)
  • National Institute of Trial Advocacy, Program Director: West Coast Teacher Training (2001 – 2010); Harvard Teacher Training (2005 – 2008); Colorado Teacher Training (2006 – 2007); New York Teacher Training (2009 – 2012)
  • Judicial Council of California, Member, Commission on the Future of California Courts (2015 – 2017)
  • Judicial Council of California, Member, Jury Instruction Task Force (2000 – 2003)
  • Judicial Council of California Advisory, Member, Committee on Civil Jury Instructions (C.A.C.I.) (2004 – 2022)
  • Consumer Attorneys of California, Finalist, Consumer Attorney of the Year (2008, 2010, 2014)
  • San Francisco Superior Court Judge Pro Team
  • Bar Association of San Francisco, Member: Judiciary Committee; Litigation Section Executive Committee (2001 – 2006)
  • San Francisco Superior Court Judicial Arbitration Arbitrator Selection Committee, Member (1998 – 2008)
  • American Association for Justice, Member
  • Trial Lawyers for Public Justice, Member

Community Involvement

From the founding of our firm in the 1960s up through the present, Walkup team members have consistently contributed to the welfare and improvement of the people and communities of the Bay Area and Northern California.

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Areas of Practice

    • Automobile Bicycle and Motorcycle Injuries
    • Wrongful Death
    • Trial, Arbitration and Mediation of Catastrophic Injury Claims
    • Consumer Product Liability
    • Kaiser Hospital Injury and Death
    • Falls and Structure Collapse
    • Medical Malpractice
    • Obstetrical Injury and Traumatic Brain Injury Claims

Bar Admissions

    • California, 1976

Education

    • University of California, Hastings College of the Law, San Francisco, California
      • J.D. – 1976
    • St. Mary’s College of California, California
      • B.A. summa cum laude – 1973
      • Honors: De La Salle Medal (Academic Excellence)
      • Honors: Milliken Award (Student Affairs)

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