Callaway, Justin Paul

Mr. Callahan has repeatedly been recognized by his peers for his incredible accomplishments. Daniel Callahan has distinguished himself as one of the top trial attorneys in California. He was the winner of the prestigious Orange County Trial Lawyer's TOP GUN Award three times in 2000, 2004 and 2012. He has been named one of the Top 10 Attorneys in the United States by the National Law Journal. He was voted California Business Trial Lawyer of the Year by California Lawyer Magazine and listed by Super Lawyers as One of The Top 10 Lawyers in Southern California and One of the Top 50 in Orange County from the inception of the publication to the present. In addition, he was also named one of the Top 500 Lawyers in America by LAWDRAGON, named one of the Top 100 Trial Lawyers by the American Trial Association, a Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America, featured in the Best Lawyers in America from 2005 to the present. Most recently, Mr. Callahan has received the 2012 Distinguished Achievement Award from the Orange County Trial Lawyer’s Association.

The reason for the accolades is simple: results. Since founding Callahan & Blaine, Mr. Callahan has won numerous jury trials and obtained scores of seven and eight figure settlements on behalf of his clients.

Notable verdicts include a $934 Million jury verdict obtained in 2003, after a three month jury trial in a complex business dispute entitled Beckman Coulter vs. Flextronics. This unanimous verdict was the largest in California in 2003 and remains the largest in Orange County history. Mr. Callahan went on to obtain a $50 Million settlement in a road design case against the City of Dana Point on behalf of two women who were rendered quadriplegic when they were struck by a motorist while jogging in a bike lane. Exclusive of large class actions, this is the largest personal injury settlement in United States history. Most recently, Mr. Callahan obtained a $38 Million settlement on behalf of a class of delivery drivers against The Orange County Register. This is the highest employment settlement in Orange County's history.

Mr. Callahan grew up in Chicago, Illinois where he went on to receive his BA, magna cum laude, from Western Illinois University in 1976, and graduated with honors from the University of California School of Law at Davis in 1979, while serving as Editor of the Law Review. He began his career in Hawaii before relocating to Southern California and starting his own firm by opening the doors on St. Patrick's Day, 1984.  Mr. Callahan has given nationwide seminars on litigation and published multiple articles on litigation strategy and practice. He has been a speaker at multiple continuing education seminars and regularly speaks on topics ranging from advanced trial skills to the use of technology in the courtroom. For the past several years, he also has given seminars on effective jury selection, opening statements and closing arguments at local, state and national conferences.

• Won the Largest Jury Verdict in Orange County History ‐ $934 Million
• Obtained the Highest Personal Injury Settlement in United States History ‐ $50 Million
• Obtained Record Breaking Employment Settlement in Orange County History ‐ $38 Million
• Named One of the Top 10 Attorneys in the United States by National Law Journal
• Named One of the Top 10 Attorneys in Southern California by Super Lawyers
• Voted California Business Trial Lawyer of the Year by California Lawyer Magazine
• Named One of Top 500 Lawyers in America by LAWDRAGON
• Featured in Best Lawyers in America from 2005 to the present 

Areas of Practice

     Complex Civil and Business Litigation

     Traumatic Brain and Spine Injury

     Personal Injury Litigation

     Insurance Coverage and Insurance Bad Faith

Litigation Percentage

     100% of Practice Devoted to Litigation

Education

     University of California at Davis School of Law, Davis, California

          J.D. - 1979

          Honors: With Honors

          Law Review: University of California Law Review, Editor

     Western Illinois University, Macomb, Illinois

          B.A. (Magna Cum Laude) - 1976

Representative Cases

     Beckman Coulter vs. Flextronics ($934 Million); Neria v. City of Dana Point ($50 Million);
     Surgin Surgical v. Farmers ($57 Million); Gonzalez v. Freedom Communications ($38 Million)

Classes/Seminars

     Frequent Speaker, Trial Skills

Honors and Awards

     Presented Angelo Palmeri Award by the Robert A. Banyard Inns of Court, 2010

     2010 Visionary Award presented by Orange Coast College

     Winner of the Prestigious OCTLA Trial Lawyer of the Year Award - Twice

     Voted California Business Trial Lawyer of the Year by California Lawyer Magazine

     One of the Top 10 Attorneys in the United States by the National Law Journal

     California Business Trial Lawyer of the Year, California Lawyer Magazine

     Named One the Top 500 Lawyers in America by LAWDRAGON

     Best Lawyers in America, 2005 - 2012

     Super Lawyers, Named One of The Top 50 Lawyers in Orange County - Since inception

     Super Lawyers, Named One of The Top 100 Lawyers in Southern California – 2011 and 2012

     Outstanding Lawyers of America

     Million Dollar Club

Professional Associations and Memberships

     Orange County Bar Association

     Orange County Bar Association, Business Litigation Section, Chair, 1996

     Orange County Bar Association, Law Practice Management Section, Chair, 1993 - 1995

     Consumer Attorneys of California

     Orange County Trial Lawyers

     Association of Business Trial Lawyers, Founding Member

     Celtic Bar Association

     Robert A. Banyard Inns of Court

     Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America, a Trial Lawyer Honorary Society

Fraternities/Sororities

     Phi Kappa Phi

     Pi Sigma Alpha