John Kristensen

John Kristensen represents plaintiffs in catastrophic cases with an emphasis on aviation and automobile products liability lawsuits. Shortly after joining the firm in the spring of 2008, Mr. Kristensen became the first attorney in the country to defeat a Motion for Summary Judgment by Enterprise Rent-A-Car Company, where Enterprise claimed they were not liable in a products liability lawsuit.

Mr. Kristensen was born in Massachusetts and raised in North Andover. During his undergraduate days at the University of Oregon, he worked for numerous Democratic political campaigns, organizations, and the Oregon Legislature. Upon graduation, Mr. Kristensen moved to Los Angeles to work for the California Democratic Party in the 1998 election.

In 1999, Mr. Kristensen received a scholarship to attend Washington & Lee University School of Law in Lexington, Virginia, an unknown hot spot for Massachusetts-bred West Coast Democrats and incubator of future plaintiff product liability attorneys. After graduating from Washington & Lee in 2002, he returned to Los Angeles and passed the California Bar.

Mr. Kristensen began his law career as a defense attorney, representing landlords, security companies for concerts, and first- and third-party automobile litigation. He then switched to a law firm that represented both defendants and plaintiffs, including wrongful death, automobile products liability, business disputes, employment law, civil rights, and catastrophic injury cases from investigation through trial.

Mr. Kristensen spends his time outside of work following the Red Sox, the Oregon Ducks and exploring the Bay Area.

Some of Mr. Kristensen's published Orders and appellate cases include the following:

• Estate of Bui v. City of Westminster Police Department Compelling internal affairs statements by police officers in a civil rights lawsuit.
• Cummings v. Granite Construction Co. Summary Judgment upheld by Court of Appeals in design defect case.
• Lopez v. De Preist -- Trial Court's denial of request for relief from default judgment overruled
• Fredericks v. Maya Steel Fabrications, Inc. -- Summary Judgment in a wrongful termination lawsuit upheld.