State Bar Greats: W. Robert Morgan

Robert Morgan with statute of Morgan quarter horse.

Lawyer, rancher, horseman, art patron and country gentleman W. Robert Morgan bred Morgan quarter houses at his Red Fox Stables in Gilroy, California. In 1965, he and his wife June founded the Triton Museum, which was then the first non-university art museum in Santa Clara County.

For years,  Bob practiced law with his two children, in the classic old office building he owned in downtown San Jose. In 1988, his daughter Marilyn left the firm to become a judge for the United States Bankruptcy Court. Robert Morgan, Jr. still

State Bar Greats: Sal Liccardo – Super Lawyer With Class

Sal Liccardo, Esq.

Few lawyers in America have distinguished themselves as experts and trail blazers in as many diverse fields as Savadore “Sal” Liccardo.  Like Jim Boccardo and Bob Morgan, Sal practiced in Santa Clara Valley when the area was famous for its prune orchards rather than being the home of America’s high tech industry.

The Liccardo family ran Notre Dame Market in San Jose. After graduating from Santa Clara University School of Law, Sal went on to form Liccardo, Rossi, Sturges and McNeil.

In addition

State Bar Greats: David Baum and Bruce Walkup

A former President of California Trial Lawyers Association, lecturer and author of Matthew Bender’s The Art of Advocacy, David Baum has tried more than 200 cases to verdict.  He has settled many cases in the million dollar range.

In 1959, San Francisco trial lawyer Bruce Walkup started the premier litigation firm presently known as Walkup, Melodia, Kelly and Schoenberger. In addition to embracing

State Bar Greats: Lewis, Belli and Boccardo Would Be Morally Outraged

Marvin E. Lewis, Sr.

Much of California’s tort law, indeed a good part of the law of torts across America can be attributed to the careers of three Bay Area lawyers.

Marvin E. Lewis, Sr., [1908 -1992] a pioneer in the field of insurance bad faith law, founded the California Trial Lawyers Association.  In addition to providing camaraderie and a forum for developing trial skills and  techniques, CTLA advocated for legislation that protected the rights of injured Californians through the legislative process in Sacramento. During the time Jerry Brown served as Governor, CTLA led the fight against no-fault and legislation which would have limited statute of limitation periods and jury award amounts. Lewis was also active in San Francisco politics and instrumental in the creation of BART.

King Of Torts

Melvin Belli [1907-1996] was a lone wolf who liked to make his own headlines.  Whether you liked his flamboyant style or not, and many lawyers and judges didn’t, you can’t deny his contributions to personal injury law and advocacy. Among his many famous clients were Zsa Zsa Gabor, Mae West, Errol Flynn, Lana Turner, Muhammad Ali, the Rolling Stones and Jack Ruby. Belli’s death in 1996 brought an end to the era of the  San Francisco celebrity trial lawyer.

James Boccardo [1911-2003] was more reserve and methodical than Lewis or Belli.  His trial techniques and jury awards  earned him a reputation as one of America’s premier trial lawyers.  Boccardo was also a keen banker, real estate investor and philanthropist in his beloved Santa Clara Valley.