Michael A. Kelly

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

• PG&E NorCal Wildfire Litigation – Electrically triggered wildfires,  $13.5 Billion Dollar Settlement
• Thomas Fire litigation vs. So. Cal Edison – Multiple 7 and 8 Figure Confidential Settlements
• Family v. Company – Settlement – Negligence / Wrongful death – $50,000,000
• Suburban Mom vs. BigRig Trucker –Brain Injury,  $43,500,000 Settlement
• Urban Tenant v. Real Estate Manager – Property Defect / Quadriplegia, $42,000,000 Settlement
• Summer Camper v. Camp – failure to supervise /death of child,  $25,000,000 Settlement
• Rogers v. Associated Clinics – Obstetric Malpractice / Brain Injury, $23,200,000 Jury Verdict
• Children v. Electrical Utility  – Death of Mother, $22,000,000 Settlement
• Child v. Any Truck – Truck v. Auto Collision, Pediatric Brain Injury, 18,000,000 Settlement
• Goodloe v. Bell Sports, Inc. – Defective Bicycle Helmet / Brain Injury, $17,000,000 Jury Verdict
• Recreational Cyclist v. Package Delivery Service – Bicyclist Struck by Delivery Van / Wrongful Death, $16,000,000 Settlement
• Rachel K. v. Truck Line Operator – Bicycle v. Semi-Truck / Catastrophic Injuries, $15,000,000 Settlement
• Parents v. Preschool Operator – Playground injury / Wrongful Death of Child , 15,000,000 Settlement
• Tourist v. Tahoe Resort – Fall on Hotel Premises / Paraplegia, $14,000,000 Settlement
• Tourist v. Sierra Resort – Fall on Hotel Premises / Paraplegia, $14,000,000 Settlement
• Teen v. Sierra Ski Center  – Fall from unmapped hazard / Brain injury, $13,200,000 Settlement
• Teen v. Auto Component Re-Seller – Vehicle Stability Failure / Paralysis, $12,500,000 Settlement
• Driver v. Commercial Truck – Freeway Roll Over / Brain Injury to 37 year old, 11,900,000 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
• Daughter v. Public Utility – Death of Father in Utility Caused Fire, $9,000,000 Settlement
• 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
• Senior Citizen v National Restaurant Chain- Fall in Restaurant / Brain Injury , $8,000,000 Settlement
• Estimator v. Tech Center – Fall From Dangerous Roof Structure / Wrongful Death , $8,000,000 Settlement
• 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