Daniel DeSantis, Esq.

Senior Trial Attorney

 

BIOGRAPHY

Daniel DeSantis is a Senior Trial Attorney at Wilshire Law Firm where he represents injured victims in large and complex personal injury cases and is a recognized leader in the Los Angeles legal community. In 2018, 2020, and 2021, Mr. DeSantis had the distinct honor of being nominated as the annual Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles (CAALA) Rising Star Recipient where over 1,200 Plaintiff attorneys qualify.

In 2022, Mr. DeSantis was admitted into the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) as one of its youngest members ever. In order to qualify for ABOTA’s rigorous standards, all candidates must successfully try at least 10 jury trials as first chair while upholding all ethical and technical standards of practice in the field of advocacy.

Mr. DeSantis is named on the Super Lawyers Rising Star and “Up-and-Coming 100” list since 2018, along with The National Trial Lawyers: Top 40 under 40 list.

Through thousands of cases, Mr. DeSantis has obtained more than $65 million on behalf of his clients and against insurance companies and government entities.

Some of Mr. DeSantis’ most notable trial results include:

  • $3,000,000 – Mid-trial settlement after Plaintiff’s case-in-chief (2023) (Espinosa v. Perris Union High School District, Case No. CVRI2101014) (Top settlement offer before trial of $25,000)
  • $1,700,000 – Jury Verdict (2015) (Estate of Ling v. Georgiou, Case No. NCU14-0001) – $1,000,000 mid-trial settlement with another co-defendant.
  • $1,382,000 – Jury Verdict (2020) (Stewart v. Wake, Case No. BC707130) ($250,000 insurance policy, $250,000 top offer) – $1,629,772.37 paid post-verdict.
  • $1,094,426 – Jury Verdict (2022) (Espinosa v. Steed, Case No. 19STCV40692) ($100,000 insurance policy, top settlement offer before trial of $85,000 ) – $1,452,251.56 paid post-verdict.
  • $823,045 – Jury Verdict (2018) (Garcia v. Hernandez, Case No. BC594703) (top settlement offer before trial of $350,000) – $823,045 + interest and costs paid post-verdict.
  • $740,060 – Jury Verdict (2021) (Arellano v. Lam, Case No. 18STCV07212) (top settlement offer before trial of  $600,000) – $1,000,000 policy limits paid post-verdict.
  • $618,998 – Jury Verdict (2015) (Guseinov v. Jaramillo, Case No. GC049017).
  • $427,459 – Jury Verdict (2019) (Cardona v. Vongkavivathanakul, Case No. BC724343) – $427,459 + interest and costs paid post-verdict.
  • $406,025 – Jury Verdict (2022) (Awadalla v. Baros, Case No. 19STCV24636) ($100,000 insurance policy, top settlement offer before trial of $125,000) – $550,000 paid post-verdict.
  • $400,000 – Jury Verdict (2018) (Bagwell v. Miller, Case No. BC613634) ($100,000 insurance policy, top settlement offer before trial of $0 – $400,000 + interest and costs paid post-verdict.
  • $380,000 – Jury Verdict (2021) (King v. Gordon, Case No. RIC1901908) (top settlement offer before trial of $100,000) – $463,686.76 paid post-verdict.
  • $61,000 – Jury Verdict (2017) (King v. Tsung, Case No. BC586944) (top settlement offer before trial of $7,500) – $61,000 + interest and costs paid post-verdict.

Some of Mr. DeSantis’ notable settlements outside of a courtroom since 2020 include:

  • $3,719,337.90 (automobile collision)
  • $3,200,000 (premises liability, fall)
  • $2,000,000 (premises liability, burn injury)
  • $2,000,000 (automobile collision)
  • $1,500,000 (automobile collision)
  • $1,500,000 (automobile collision)
  • $1,425,000 (automobile collision)
  • $1,250,000 (automobile collision)
  • $1,200,000 (automobile collision)
  • $1,200,000 (automobile collision)
  • $1,100,000 (automobile collision)
  • $1,050,000 (automobile vs. pedestrian)
  • $1,000,000 (automobile collision)
  • $1,000,000 (automobile vs. pedestrian)
  • $1,000,000 (horse riding incident)

Currently, Mr. DeSantis is serving his second year as CAALA’s New Lawyers Committee Co-Chairperson where he organizes and speaks at educational functions and events.  

Since 2018, he has been an active board member of the Los Angeles Trial Lawyers’ Charities (LATLC). LATLC makes a positive difference in the quality of life for people within the greater Los Angeles Area, focusing on issues related to education, children, survivors of abuse, persons with disabilities, and homelessness, by providing financial assistance and volunteer service to groups in need.

Mr. DeSantis is admitted to practice law in California and the United States Federal District Courts in California.

Attorney FAQ

What types of cases do you typically handle?

Mr. DeSantis handles motor vehicle collisions, pedestrian incidents, premises liability, wrongful death, sexual abuse, and more. 

What industry memberships do you belong to?

Mr. DeSantis is a board member and/or member of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA), American Association of Justice (AAJ), Consumer Attorneys of California (CAOC), Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles (CAALA), and Los Angeles Trial Lawyers’ Charities (LATLC).

What law school did you attend?

Daniel received his J.D. from University of San Diego School of Law.

 

Practice Areas

 

EDUCATION

 

Admissions

 

  • State Bar of California
  • US District Court for the Southern District of California
  • US District Court for the Central District of California
  • US District Court for the Northern District of California

 

Education

  • J.D., University of San Diego School of Law
  • B.A., University of Indiana, Bloomington

ACCOLADES

  • 2021 TopVerdict.com, Top 10 Wrongful Death Settlements in California (Lopez v. Docking Co.)
  • 2021 TopVerdict.com, Top 20 Wrongful Death Settlements in California (Diaz, et al. v. Tanimura & Antle, et al.)
  • 2021 TopVerdict.com, Top 100 Jury Verdicts in California (Arellano v. Avatek, Inc.)
  • 2021 TopVerdict.com, Top 50 Personal Injury Settlements in California (Driver v. Trucking Co., et al.)
  • 2021 TopVerdict.com, Top 50 Personal Injury Settlements in California (ML v. Bus Co.)
  • 2021 TopVerdict.com, Top 50 Motor Vehicle Accident Settlements in California (Aragon v. Hedvat)
  • 2021 Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles (CAALA), Rising Star Nominee
  • 2021 Super Lawyers, Up-And-Coming Top 100
  • 2020 Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles (CAALA), Rising Star Nominee
  • 2018 Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles (CAALA), Rising Star Nominee
  • 2020 TopVerdict.com, Top 100 Personal Injury Settlements in the United States (Munoz v. Hindelang)
  • 2020 TopVerdict.com, Top 20 Personal Injury Jury Verdicts in California (Stewart v. Wake)
  • 2020 TopVerdict.com, Top 20 Premises Liability Settlements in the United States (Minor v. Landlord)
  • 2020 TopVerdict.com, Top 50 Personal Injury Settlements in California (Minor v. Landlord)
  • 2019 TopVerdict.com, Top 100 Motor Vehicle Accident Jury Verdict in California (Cardona v. Vongkavivathanakul)
  • 2019 TopVerdict.com, Top 50 Personal Injury Settlements in California (Pro Ami v. Mast)
  • 2021 Super Lawyers, Southern California Rising Star
  • 2020 Super Lawyers, Southern California Rising Star
  • 2019 Super Lawyers, Southern California Rising Star
  • 2018 Super Lawyers, Southern California Rising Star
  • The National Trial Lawyers: Top 40 Under 40 Recipient
  • American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA), Member

 

 

 

MEDIA

 

 

 

Publications & Speaking Engagements

 

  • Advocate Magazine: “Two Important and Medically Related Depositions” (2022)
  • CAALA Trial Skills Seminar, moderator (2022)
  • CAALA Litigation Lab, Cross Examination of Defense Experts, moderator (2022)
  • TBI Med-Legal Webinar, Plan of Attack On A Clear Liability Case, speaker (2022)
  • Ontario Trial Lawyers Association: Premises Liability Case Strategy Discussion, speaker (2022)
  • Great Trials Podcast: “Episode 075: Daniel DeSantis and Jon Teller │Stewart v. Wake│$1.382 Million Verdict” (2021)
  • CAALA Webinar: Locking in Liability For Your Slip, Trip, and Fall Cases, speaker (2021)
  • CAALA Trial Skills Seminar: Back to Basics – Jury Selection, speaker (2021)
  • CAALA Las Vegas Convention: Medicine for Lawyers – The Surgical Spine, speaker (2021)
  • Advocate Magazine: “Plan Of Attack When The Defense Denies Liability On A Clear-Liability Case” (2019)

 

 

 

RESULTS

 

  • $3,000,000 – Mid-trial settlement after Plaintiff’s case-in-chief (2023) (Espinosa v. Perris Union High School District, Case No. CVRI2101014) (Top settlement offer before trial of $25,000)
  • $1,700,000 – Jury Verdict (2015) (Estate of Ling v. Georgiou, Case No. NCU14-0001) – $1,000,000 mid-trial settlement with another co-defendant.
  • $1,382,000 – Jury Verdict (2020) (Stewart v. Wake, Case No. BC707130) ($250,000 insurance policy, $250,000 top offer) – $1,629,772.37 paid post-verdict.
  • $1,094,426 – Jury Verdict (2022) (Espinosa v. Steed, Case No. 19STCV40692) ($100,000 insurance policy, top settlement offer before trial of $85,000 ) – $1,452,251.56 paid post-verdict.
  • $823,045 – Jury Verdict (2018) (Garcia v. Hernandez, Case No. BC594703) (top settlement offer before trial of $350,000) – $823,045 + interest and costs paid post-verdict.
  • $740,060 – Jury Verdict (2021) (Arellano v. Lam, Case No. 18STCV07212) (top settlement offer before trial of  $600,000) – $1,000,000 policy limits paid post-verdict.
  • $618,998 – Jury Verdict (2015) (Guseinov v. Jaramillo, Case No. GC049017).
  • $427,459 – Jury Verdict (2019) (Cardona v. Vongkavivathanakul, Case No. BC724343) – $427,459 + interest and costs paid post-verdict.
  • $406,025 – Jury Verdict (2022) (Awadalla v. Baros, Case No. 19STCV24636) ($100,000 insurance policy, top settlement offer before trial of $125,000) – $550,000 paid post-verdict.
  • $400,000 – Jury Verdict (2018) (Bagwell v. Miller, Case No. BC613634) ($100,000 insurance policy, top settlement offer before trial of $0 – $400,000 + interest and costs paid post-verdict.
  • $380,000 – Jury Verdict (2021) (King v. Gordon, Case No. RIC1901908) (top settlement offer before trial of $100,000) – $463,686.76 paid post-verdict.
  • $61,000 – Jury Verdict (2017) (King v. Tsung, Case No. BC586944) (top settlement offer before trial of $7,500) – $61,000 + interest and costs paid post-verdict.

Some of Mr. DeSantis’ notable settlements outside of a courtroom since 2020 include:

  • $3,719,337.90 (automobile collision)
  • $3,200,000 (premises liability, fall)
  • $2,000,000 (premises liability, burn injury)
  • $2,000,000 (automobile collision)
  • $1,500,000 (automobile collision)
  • $1,500,000 (automobile collision)
  • $1,425,000 (automobile collision)
  • $1,250,000 (automobile collision)
  • $1,200,000 (automobile collision)
  • $1,200,000 (automobile collision)
  • $1,100,000 (automobile collision)
  • $1,050,000 (automobile vs. pedestrian)
  • $1,000,000 (automobile collision)
  • $1,000,000 (automobile vs. pedestrian)
  • $1,000,000 (horse riding incident)