Robert Ryan, Esq.
Title: Supervisor of Litigation
Practice Areas: Personal Injury Litigation, Insurance Coverage, Real Property, Appellate

About Robert Ryan
Robert is the head of our firm’s collaborative litigation team, focusing on Personal Injury Litigation and Insurance Coverage disputes. His work centers on complex injury cases, including traumatic brain injury, and coverage disputes between policy holders and insurers. He is known for strategic case development, client advocacy, and negotiation results.

Representative Work

• Successfully handled dozens of multimillion dollar settlements and verdicts involving serious personal injuries and insurance bad faith claims.
• Upheld $15 million verdict in the California Court of Appeal and California Supreme Court.
• Led legal research and briefing on reimbursement claims against clients’ personal injury settlements, helping maximize client recoveries.

Education & Experience

• Juris Doctor, Washington College of Law, American University, Washington, D.C.
• Bachelor of Arts, Hampshire College, Amherst, M.A.
• Bar Admissions: State Bar of California, U.S. District Court (Central, Northern, Southern, and Eastern Districts of California), and United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit

Professional Involvement

• Speaker / panelist at seminars, conferences, and attorney forums regarding insurance coverage issues, litigation strategy, and trial tactics
• Appearances / interviews on numerous media outlets regarding legal issues in the news
• Member: California Lawyers Association; Consumer Attorneys of Los Angeles; L.A. County Bar Association; Tort and Insurance Practice Section, American Bar Association; Former Co-Chair Title Insurance Sub-Committee

Client Philosophy
Clients deserve to have their interests be the priority, not those of the insurance companies.

The One Thing People Get Wrong About Settling Their Personal Injury Case

By Robert Ryan, Litigation Supervisor

What is encompassed by the settlement figure is often misunderstood. A personal injury settlement is a gross amount, out of which everything must be paid. This includes outstanding medical bills, reimbursements owed to health insurers, including Med-Cal and Medicare, attorney’s fees and the costs of handling the claim.

What People Think
Some clients think the amount of the settlement is what they will personally put in their pocket. Also, that the cost of any future medical treatment can remain “open,” and made the subject of a later claim.

What’s Actually True
A settlement involves the payment of a lump sum in exchange for a complete release of all claims arising from an accident, including both past and future damages.

Why It Matters for Your Case
It matters because clients are most interested in their own net share, after the doctors and lawyers are paid. It is also important that all needed medical treatment for the accident be received before the case is settled.

Final Thought
Our staff strives to evaluate and facilitate any needed medical treatment as early as possible. We are also trained on strategies to ensure the client is treated fairly, maximizing their net recovery.

Attorney Spotlight – Mini-Q&A

Q: What area of law do you focus on?
A: I have successfully litigated personal injury and insurance coverage cases in State and Federal courts for decades.

Q: What’s one thing clients are often surprised to learn?
A: That the insurance company would rather keep the money than give it an injured claimant.

Q: What do you enjoy about this work?
A: Helping real people overcome the hardship resulting from being injured in an accident.

Q: How would you describe your approach to cases?
A: Strategic, results oriented, and focused on details that others often overlook which maximize recovery.