Founding, Senior and Managing Principal Steven Kazan has played a significant role in asbestos litigation for over four decades. Mr. Kazan filed his first case on behalf of an asbestos victim in 1974 and since then has represented thousands of injured workers and their family members in court cases. He has dedicated the majority of his practice to representing workers suffering from mesothelioma in third party asbestos lawsuits (against manufacturers, contractors, distributors, and premises owners). In addition, he has also represented victims of asbestos lung cancer as well as seriously disabling asbestosis.

Mr. Kazan has also been nominated by the U.S. Trustee and appointed by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court to serve as a member or as counsel to victim members on almost all asbestos bankruptcy reorganizations, including Amatex, Carey Canada, Celotex, H.K. Porter, Babcock & Wilcox, Armstrong World Industries (AWI), W.R. Grace, North American Refractories Company (NARCO), Federal-Mogul, Kaiser Aluminum, Global Technologies (GIT), ACandS, ARTRA, Owens Corning/Fibreboard, Plibrico, T&N, U.S. Gypsum, Combustion Engineering, the Muralo Company, Congoleum, Flintkote Company, Special Electric, ABB Lummus Global, T H Agriculture & Nutrition (THAN), Leslie Controls, Garlock, General Motors, the Budd Company, D-II, Energy Future Holdings (EECI/Ebasco), Pittsburgh Corning Trust (PCC), Bestwall (formerly Georgia Pacific), and Thomas Dee Engineering. For Bestwall and Thomas Dee Engineering, Mr. Kazan serves as the Asbestos Creditors’ Committee (ACC) Chair. For Garlock, he is co-chair of the ACC.

In almost all cases where the bankruptcy reorganization is approved, Mr. Kazan has been approved by the Federal Court to serve as a member of The Trustees’ Advisory Committee (TAC) to work with The Trust on behalf of asbestos victims. For Leslie Controls, Mr. Kazan serves as TAC Chair. For the Kaiser Aluminum and NARCO Trust Advisory Committees, he is co-chair.

For over forty-five years Mr. Kazan has been a lecturer, speaker, moderator, program chairman and participant at various legal, medical, and insurance seminars and conferences throughout the world focusing on asbestos, toxic torts, and mass torts. He has lobbied and testified in Congress on behalf of asbestos victims and before the Senate and House Judiciary Committees on asbestos litigation and legislation.

Prior to starting the firm in Oakland in 1974, Mr. Kazan was an Assistant to the General Counsel of the Interstate Commerce Commission in Washington, D.C. (1967-1969); an Assistant United States Attorney for the Northern District of California (1969-1971); and an associate at Werchick & Werchick, a plaintiffs’ medical malpractice specialty law office in San Francisco (1971-1974.)

Education

• Harvard University (LL.B., 1966)
• Brandeis University (A.B., 1963)

Bar and Court Admissions

• New York (1967)
• California (1970)
• U.S. Courts of Appeals, Third, Fifth and Ninth Circuits
• California and U.S. District Courts, Northern and Eastern Districts of California
• U.S. Supreme Court

Organizations

• California Consumers Attorneys of California (Board of Governors 1980-1995, Vice-President 1990, Parliamentarian 1989)
• Alameda-Contra Costa Trial Lawyers Association (President 1980)
• Alameda County Bar Association
• Federal Bar Association
• New York State Bar Association
• California State Bar Association
• Trial Lawyers for Public Justice
• AFL-CIO Lawyers’ Coordinating Committee
• New York State Trial Lawyers Association
• American Association of Justice
• Great Britain’s Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL)
• Allen E. Broussard Law School Scholarship Foundation (Chairman of the Board of Directors)

Medical Articles:

Kazan, Steven. “Work-Related Inhalation Injuries.” Chest 122.5 (2002): 1865-1866

Kazan, Steven. “Mesothelioma at the Intersection of Law and Medicine.” 10^th International Conference of the International Mesothelioma Interest Group (iMig), Kyoto, Japan. September 2010.

Kazan, Steven, Bosl, Justin A. “A Review of the (Scarce) Literature on Localized Malignant Mesothelioma.” 11^th International Conference of the International Mesothelioma Interest Group (iMig), Boston, MA, USA. September 2012.

Kazan, Steven, Ruiz, William F. “A Geological Review of Calidria Asbestos and its Amphibole Assemblage.” 11^th International Conference of the International Mesothelioma Interest Group (iMig), Boston, MA, USA. September 2012.

Kazan, Steven. “Demonstrating the Inaccuracy of Death Certificates.” 11^th International Conference of the International Mesothelioma Interest Group (iMig), Boston, MA, USA. September 2012.

Kazan, Steven. “Patient’s Rights to Compensation from United States Bankruptcy Trust Funds.” 11^th International Conference of the International Mesothelioma Interest Group (iMig), Boston, MA, USA.. September 2012.

Kazan, Steven. “Patient’s Rights to Compensation from United States Bankruptcy Trust Funds – An Update.” 12^th International Conference of the International Mesothelioma Interest Group (iMig), Capetown, South Africa. October 2014.

Kazan, Steven, Meltzer, Faith. “A Review of the (Scarce) Literature on Pericardial Malignant Mesothelioma.” 12^th International Conference of the International Mesothelioma Interest Group (iMig), Capetown, South Africa. October 2014.

Kazan, Steven. “Pericardial Mesothelioma – Accidental Treatment and Long-Term Survival.” 12^th International Conference of the International Mesothelioma Interest Group (iMig), Capetown, South Africa. October 2014.

Kazan, Steven, Kin, I. “Hippocrates and BAP1 Genetic Testing in Mesothelioma Litigation.” 13^th International Conference of the International Mesothelioma Interest Group (iMig), Birmingham, UK. May 2016.

Kazan, Steven. “Update: Recent Studies Examining Impact of BAP1 Mutation on Mesothelioma Risk and Implications for Mesothelioma Litigation.” 13^th International Conference of the International Mesothelioma Interest Group (iMig), Birmingham, UK. May 2016.

Kazan, Steven, Ruiz, William. “A Mesothelioma Cluster Amongst Experimental Physicists.” 13^th International Conference of the International Mesothelioma Interest Group (iMig), Birmingham, UK. May 2016.

Kazan, Steven. “Further Update: Impact of BAP1 Mutation on Mesothelioma Risk and Implications for Mesothelioma Litigation.” 14^th International Conference of the International Mesothelioma Interest Group (iMig), Ottawa, Canada. May 2018.

Kazan, Steven, Steinberg, Henry. “Comparative Electron Microscope Asbestos Fiber Burden Analysis of Baby Powder in the Bottle and Body” 15^th International Conference of the International Mesothelioma Interest Group (iMig), Brisbane, Australia. March 2020.

Kazan, Steven. “A Brisbane Mesothelioma Case with Worldwide Significance.” 15^th International Conference of the International Mesothelioma Interest Group (iMig), Brisbane, Australia. March 2020.

Kazan, Steven. “How to Not Find Asbestos Present in Cosmetic Talc in Order to Report ‘No Asbestos Found.’” 15^th International Conference of the International Mesothelioma Interest Group (iMig), Brisbane, Australia. March 2020.

Kazan, Steven, Meltzer, Faith. “Shipbreaking: Creating Accountability.” 15^th International Conference of the International Mesothelioma Interest Group (iMig), Brisbane, Australia. March 2020.

Kazan, Steven, Meltzer, Faith. “The Role of Company Doctors in Decisions About Public Health and Product Safety: A Cautionary Tale.” 15^th International Conference of the International Mesothelioma Interest Group (iMig), Brisbane, Australia. March 2020.
 

Steven Kazan Reported Cases:

1. Georgine v. Amchem Products, Inc., 83 F.3d 610, 64 USLW 2711, 34 Fed.R.Serv.3d 407, 26 Envtl. L. Rep. 21,138 (3rd Cir.(Pa.), May 10, 1996) (NO. 94-1925, 94-1929, 94-1932, 94-1927, 94-1930, 94-1960, 94-1928, 94-1931, 94-1968)
2. Jackson v. Ingersoll-Rand Co., 42 Cal.App.4th 1163, 50 Cal.Rptr.2d 66, 96 Cal. Daily Op. Serv. 1221, 96 Daily Journal D.A.R. 2059 (Cal.App. 1 Dist., Feb 23, 1996) (NO. A070086)
3. Kellogg v. Asbestos Corp. Ltd., 41 Cal.App.4th 1397, 49 Cal.Rptr.2d 256, 61 Cal. Comp. Cases 49, Prod.Liab.Rep. (CCH) P 14,474, 96 Cal. Daily Op. Serv. 496, 96 Daily Journal D.A.R. 773 (Cal.App. 1 Dist., Jan 23, 1996) (NO. A050344)
4. Ahearn v. Fibreboard Corp., 162 F.R.D. 505 (E.D.Tex., Jul 27, 1995) (NO. CIV. A. 6:93CV526)
5. Georgine v. Amchem Products, Inc., 1995 WL 251402 (E.D.Pa., Apr 26, 1995) (NO. CIV. A. 93-0215); 160 F.R.D. 478 (E.D.Pa., Feb 28, 1995) (NO. CIV. A. 93-0215); 878 F.Supp. 716 (E.D.Pa., Sep 21, 1994) (NO. CIV. A. 93-0215); 1994 WL 124866 (E.D.Pa., Apr 05, 1994) (NO. CIV. A. 93-0215)
6. Carlough v. Amchem Products, Inc., 158 F.R.D. 314 (E.D.Pa., Oct 27, 1993) (NO. CIV. A. 93-0215); 834 F.Supp. 1437(E.D.Pa., Oct 06, 1993) (NO. CIV. A. 93-0215)
7. Finlayson v. Sanbrook, 10 Cal.App.4th 1436, 13 Cal.Rptr.2d 406 (Cal.App. 6 Dist., Nov 12, 1992) (NO. H009221)
8. Jackson v. Deft, Inc., 223 Cal.App.3d 1305, 273 Cal.Rptr. 214, 59 USLW 2260, Prod. Liab.Rep. (CCH) P 12,728 (Cal.App. 1 Dist., Sep 18, 1990) (NO. A046190)
9. Vermeulen v. Superior Court, 204 Cal.App.3d 1192, 251 Cal.Rptr. 805, 57 USLW 2264 (Cal.App. 1 Dist., Sep 29, 1988) (NO. A037335, A037462)
10. Evangelatos v. Superior Court, 44 Cal.3d 1188, 753 P.2d 585, 246 Cal.Rptr. 629, 56 USLW 2627, Prod.Liab.Rep. (CCH) P 11,762 (Cal., Apr 21, 1988) (NO. S000194)
11. Evans v. Celotex Corp., 194 Cal.App.3d 741, 238 Cal.Rptr. 259 (Cal.App. 1 Dist., Jul 02, 1987) (NO. A033273)
12. North American Asbestos Corp. v. Superior Court, 180 Cal.App.3d 902, 225 Cal.Rptr. 877 (Cal.App. 1 Dist., May 09, 1986) (NO. A030737)
13. Courtney v. Abex Corp., 176 Cal.App.3d 343, 221 Cal.Rptr. 770 (Cal.App. 1 Dist., Jan 03, 1986) (NO. AO25875)
14. Kaminski v. Western MacArthur Co., 175 Cal.App.3d 445, 220 Cal.Rptr. 895, Prod.Liab.Rep. (CCH) P 10,882 (Cal.App. 1 Dist., Dec 10, 1985) (NO. A028702, A029762, A030047, A030125, A031922)
15. General Foundry Service v. W.C.A.B., 213 Cal.Rptr. 420, Review Granted, Previously published at: 167 Cal.App.3d 470, (Cal.Const. art. 6, s 12; Cal. Rules of Court, Rules 28, 976, 977, 979) (Cal.App. 1 Dist., Apr 29, 1985) (NO. AO22529)
16. Barbary Coast Furniture Co. v. Sjolie, 167 Cal.App.3d 319, 213 Cal.Rptr. 168 (Cal.App. 1 Dist., Apr 25, 1985) (NO. A015083)
17. Maddon v. W.C.A.B., 154 Cal.App.3d 314, 201 Cal.Rptr. 146, Ordered Not Published, (Cal. Rules of Court, Rule 976), (Cal.App. 1 Dist., Apr 10, 1984) (NO. A020993)
18. Blakey v. Superior Court, 153 Cal.App.3d 101, 200 Cal.Rptr. 52 (Cal.App. 1 Dist., Feb 16, 1984) (NO. AO21900, AO21902)
19. Berkebile v. W.C.A.B., 144 Cal.App.3d 940, 193 Cal.Rptr. 12 (Cal.App. 2 Dist., Jun 20, 1983) (NO. CIV. 67003)
20. Baptist v. W.C.A.B., 137 Cal.App.3d 903, 187 Cal.Rptr. 270 (Cal.App. 1 Dist., Nov 02, 1982) (NO. CIV. 54087)
21. North American Asbestos Corp. v. Superior Court, 128 Cal.App.3d 138, 179 Cal. Rptr. 889 (Cal.App. 1 Dist., Jan 22, 1982) (NO. CIV. 51482, CIV. 52559, CIV. 53506, CIV. 53830)
22. Johns-Manville Products Corp. v. Superior Court, 27 Cal.3d 465, 612 P.2d 948, 165 Cal.Rptr. 858, 9 A.L.R.4th 758 (Cal., Jul 03, 1980) (NO. S.F. 24086)
23. Denton v. Secretary of Air Force, 483 F.2d 21(9th Cir.(Cal.), Jun 08, 1973) (NO. 26565)
24. Harmon v. Finch, 460 F.2d 1229 (9th Cir.(Cal.), May 09, 1972) (NO. 71-1608)
25. Parisi v. Davidson, 456 F.2d 686 (9th Cir., Apr 06, 1972) (NO. 25773)
26. Cobb v. Laird, 329 F.Supp. 780 (N.D.Cal., Jun 02, 1971) (NO. C-70-1032)
27. Cowles Communications, Inc. v. Department of Justice, 325 F.Supp. 726 (N.D. Cal., Apr 26, 1971) (NO. C-70-1599)
28. Glazier v. Hackel, 440 F.2d 592 (9th Cir.(Cal.), Mar 31, 1971) (NO. 26106); IML Seatransit, Limited v. U. S., 323 F.Supp. 562 (N.D.Cal., Jan 18, 1971) (NO. CIV. C-702667)
29. Parisi v. Davidson, 435 F.2d 299 (9th Cir.(Cal.), Dec 03, 1970) (NO. 25773)
30. Zemke v. Larsen, 434 F.2d 1281 (9th Cir.(Cal.), Dec 01, 1970) (NO. 25417)
31. Hall v. U. S., 314 F.Supp. 1135 (N.D.Cal., Jul 24, 1970) (NO. C-48017)
32. Denton v. Seamans, 315 F.Supp. 279 (N.D.Cal., Jul 01, 1970) (NO. C-50957)
33. Harvey v. Finch, 313 F.Supp. 323 (N.D.Cal., May 21, 1970) (NO. CIV. 52159)
34. Maxwell v. U. S., 313 F.Supp. 245 (N.D.Cal., May 21, 1970) (NO. CIV. 50378)
35. Prieto v. Stans, 321 F.Supp. 420 (N.D.Cal., Apr 10, 1970) (NO. CIV. C70-430)
36. Mindel v. U. S. Civil Service Commission, 312 F.Supp. 485 (N.D.Cal., Mar 30, 1970) (NO. CIV. 49300)
37. McFarlane v. DeYoung, 311 F.Supp. 321 (N.D.Cal., Feb 20, 1970) (NO. C-70-116)
38. Quon v. Stans, 309 F.Supp. 604 (N.D. Cal., Feb 06, 1970) (NO. CIV. C-70-27)
39. Jarrett v. Resor, 426 F.2d 213, 13 A.L.R. Fed. 137 (9th Cir.(Cal.), Jan 23, 1970) (NO. 24668)
40. Beaty v. Kenan, 420 F.2d 55 (9th Cir.(Cal.), Dec 23, 1969) (NO. 24745)
41. Taylor v. Southern Pac. Co., 308 F.Supp. 606 (N.D.Cal., Dec 19, 1969) (NO. CIV. 47289)
42. Berman v. Resor, 302 F.Supp. 1200 (N.D.Cal., Aug 11, 1969) (NO. CIV. 51475)
43. Superior Trucking Co. v. U. S., 302 F.Supp. 257 (N.D.Ga., Jun 03, 1969) (NO. 12407)
44. Chemical Leaman Tank Lines, Inc. v. U. S., 298 F.Supp. 1269 (D.Del., Apr 22, 1969) (NO. CIV. 3560)
45. Iowa Beef Packers, Inc. v. U. S., 297 F.Supp. 1156 (N.D.Iowa, Apr 16, 1969) (NO. CIV. 67-C-3016-W, CIV. 67-C-3017-W)
46. Drum Transport, Inc. v. U. S., 298 F.Supp. 667 (S.D.Ill., Apr 07, 1969) (NO. P-3001)
47. Transit Homes, Inc. v. U. S., 299 F.Supp. 950 (D.C.S.C., Apr 04, 1969) (NO. CIV. 68-415)
48. I. McCormack Trucking Co. v. U. S., 298 F.Supp. 39 (D.N.J., Mar 26, 1969) (NO. CIV. 314-67)
49. Connecticut Limousine Service, Inc. v. U. S., 295 F.Supp. 1335 (D.Conn., Feb 12, 1969) (NO. CIV. 12466)
50. Southern Pac. Co. v. U. S., 298 F.Supp. 971 (N.D.Cal., Feb 11, 1969) (NO. CIV. 49677)
51. Southern Trucking Corp. v. U. S., 293 F.Supp. 297 (W.D.Tenn., Nov 25, 1968) (NO. CIV. C-68-87)
52. Houff Transfer, Inc. v. U. S., 291 F.Supp. 831 (W.D.Va., Nov 01, 1968) (NO. CIV. 67-C-27-H)
53. Short Line, Inc. v. U. S., 290 F.Supp. 939 (D.R.I., Oct 15, 1968) (NO. CIV 3884)
54. Younger Bros., Inc. v. U. S., 289 F.Supp. 545 (S.D.Tex., Sep 17, 1968) (NO. CIV. 68-H-282)
55. Caravelle Exp., Inc. v. U. S., 287 F.Supp. 585 (D.Neb., Jul 22, 1968) (NO. CIV. 1258-L)
56. Atchison, T. & S. F. Ry. Co. v. U. S., 287 F.Supp. 354 (N.D.Tex., May 17, 1968) (NO. CIV. 3-2250)
57. Connecticut Limousine Service, Inc. v. U. S., 281 F.Supp. 681(D.Conn., Feb 16, 1968) (NO. CIV. 12085)
58. National Bus Traffic Ass’n v. U. S., 284 F.Supp. 270 (N.D.Ill., Dec 11, 1967)
59. Goggin Truck Line, Inc. v. U. S., 276 F.Supp. 884

David McClain has been a partner at Kazan, McClain, Satterley & Greenwood, A Professional Law Corporation since 1983. Mr. McClain graduated from the University of California Los Angeles and University of California Hastings School of Law. Mr. McClain was admitted to practice in California in 1972.

Mr. McClain has specialized in complex litigation involving catastrophic personal injury for 33 years. Mr. McClain has personally negotiated complex litigation settlements (including present and future victims) totaling over 5 billion dollars. In over four decades of litigation experience, Mr. McClain has never lost a trial—criminal or civil. Mr. McClain has personally obtained numerous 7 figure verdicts with his two most recent verdicts for individual cases were each 8 figure verdicts. A special assignment settlement master for Alameda County Judicial Settlement Program for over 10 years, Mr. McClain had the most successful settlement rate on cases being assigned to trial.

Mr. McClain has presented to the Consumers Attorneys of California state convention, the National Judicial College, National Lawyers Guild, and many other organizations and law schools. Mr. McClain was finalist for Consumer Attorneys of California’s Trial Lawyer of the Year and has held leadership positions which have included President and Board Director for the Alameda Contra Costa Trial Lawyers Association.

Mr. McClain is Founder and President of the Kazan McClain Partners’ Foundation, Inc., which has given over $22 million in grants since its formation in 1994. Mr. McClain has earned recognition as a Super Lawyer, and received the Best Lawyers award for mass tort litigation/class action – plaintiffs for 10 consecutive years.

David McClain Settlements

Education

• Hastings College of the Law, University of California (J.D., 1972), member of the Thurston Society (top 5%)
• University of California at Los Angeles (B.A., 1969)

Bar and Court Admissions

• California (1972)

Organizations

• Alameda-Contra Costa Trial Lawyers Association (President 1996 and member of the Board of Governors since 1987)
• American Association for Justice
• Asbestos Litigation Group
• National Lawyers Guild
• Consumer Attorneys of California
• Alameda County Bar Association
• California State Bar Association

Joseph D. Satterley has always been attracted to the practice of law. He firmly believes that everyone deserves to have quality legal representation and fights to the bitter end when his clients are facing tough opposition. He has provided compassionate yet aggressive assistance to clients for 18 years.

Mr. Satterley is one of the most highly accomplished asbestos attorneys in the United States. His drive to succeed in this area of law is based on a personal experience: Mr. Satterley’s own grandfather suffered from asbestosis, a potentially deadly disease caused by asbestos exposure. Mr. Satterley is a keynote speaker for asbestos cases across the country and has produced many successful results for his clients.

Education

• Temple University James E. Beasley School of Law (J.D., 1997)
• Eastern Kentucky University, Political Science and Military Science (B.A., 1989)

Bar and Court Admissions

• Kentucky Bar
• Pennsylvania Bar
• California Bar
• U.S. Supreme Court
• U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Kentucky
• U.S. District Court, Western District of Kentucky
• U.S. Court of Appeals, 6th Circuit

Professional Memberships

• Kentucky Bar Association
• Louisville Bar Association
• Former president, Kentucky Justice Association
• American Association of Justice Leaders Forum
• Member, Board of Governors, American Association for Justice

Gordon Greenwood has made a career of representing real people. He began working as an Associate at Kazan Law in 1998. For more than 18 years, he has represented hundreds of persons who either worked with or around asbestos containing products, or whose families worked with these toxins. Mr. Greenwood has also prosecuted claims on behalf of victims of construction accidents and victims of medical malpractice. He has represented clients located throughout the United States, and who worked in various industries, including commercial construction, residential construction, auto maintenance and repair, military service, oil refineries and power plants.

Prior to joining Kazan Law, Mr. Greenwood spent eight (8) years as a Trial Attorney in the San Francisco Public Defenders Office, defending the rights of those accused of criminal offenses. During his tenure, he conducted more than fifty (50) jury trials, in addition to countless hearings and other administrative proceedings, representing criminal defendants. Mr. Greenwood counts his experience as a Public Defender as career-defining and life-changing—the experience that developed his compassion for representing the under-served and the under-represented.

In addition to maintaining an active practice representing victims of asbestos disease, Mr. Greenwood lectures throughout the United States on subjects related to his practice and also maintains a caseload of pro bono cases. These cases are primarily focused on defending and prosecuting claims related to elder financial abuse. He is also active in fundraising for numerous Democratic political candidates and participates extensively in the community. Mr. Greenwood currently serves on the Board of Directors of the following organizations:

• West Bay Local Development Corporation (Chair)
• Oakland Babe Ruth Baseball Association
• Northcoast Express AAU Basketball Association
• Destined 2 Dance Performing Arts Company
• Mentor, Chabot Community College Daraja Project
• Lecturer, Fremont High School Street Law Program
• Lecturer, Willie Brown Academy Career Symposium

Education

• George Washington University School of Law (J.D., 1988)
• Morehouse College (B.A., 1985)

Bar and Court Admissions

• California (1988)

Organizations

• Charles Houston Bar Association (Life Member)
• National Bar Association (Life Member)
• American Bar Association
• Alameda County Bar Association
• Association of Trial Lawyers of America
• Alameda/Contra Costa County Trial Lawyers Association
• Consumer Attorneys of California
• National Lawyers Guild
• National Association For The Advancement of Colored People (Life Member)

Denise Abrams spent 18 years as a principal at Kazan Law until deciding to devote a majority of her time to pro bono practice from 2009-2012. Ms. Abrams remained involved in asbestos litigation on the firm’s behalf, and in January 2013, fully resumed her asbestos practice. She has been a mentor to Kazan Law attorneys throughout the years.

Prior to going to law school Ms. Abrams taught sociology and women’s studies at the University of Maryland and Antioch College in Ohio. She was led to practice law following a desire for her work to benefit people more directly than she felt was possible as an academic. Ms. Abrams joined Kazan Law as a law clerk in 1984 and subsequently became an associate and then principal.

Education

• Boalt Hall School of Law, University of California (J.D., 1986)
• University of Rhode Island (B.A., 1972)
• University of Maryland (M.A., 1975, Ph.D., 1983.)

Bar Admissions

• California (1986)

Organizations

• Worksafe Officer and Board Member
• East Bay Community Law Center Board Vice-Chair
• Gender and Refugee Studies Board Member
• Trial Lawyers for Public Justice
• National Lawyers Guild
• American Association for Justice
• Consumers Attorneys of California
• California State Bar Association
• American Bar Association

Justin Bosl joined Kazan Law as a law clerk in June 2004 and accepted an associate position in February 2006. In January 2013 he became a partner. Mr. Bosl has been responsible for numerous cases, every phase of litigation, from initial client interview through trial. In addition to his practice in the Bay Area, he has also practiced in Los Angeles County. He looks forward to his continued advocacy for his clients, whose lives have been ravaged by others’ greed and malfeasance.

Mr. Bosl was nominated by his peers as a Northern California Rising Star in San Francisco Magazine in 2011, 2012 and 2013. He was named to the Top 40 Under 40 list by The National Trial Lawyers in 2012 and 2013. He was invited to speak at a national conference about his work in 2010, 2012 and 2013. In November 2012, he presented on asbestos litigation at the Annual Convention of the Consumer Attorneys of California.

Outside of the legal world, Mr. Bosl considers his beautiful wife, his children, and his church the focus of his life.

Education

• University of San Francisco School of Law, University of San Francisco (J.D., 2005)
• Franciscan University of Steubenville (B.A., cum laude, Philosophy, 2002)

Bar and Court Admissions

• California (2005)
• All Federal District Courts in California
• Supreme Court of the United States (2013)

Organizations

• Alameda-Contra Costa Trial Lawyers Association
• Alameda County Bar Association
• Consumer Attorneys of Los Angeles
• Earl Warren American Inn of Court

Denyse F. Clancy is a nationally recognized appellate and trial lawyer with prominent experience in asbestos litigation and other toxic torts. Prior to joining Kazan Law as a partner in 2016, Ms. Clancy was a shareholder and lead appellate and trial counsel at Baron & Budd, a highly respected trial firm headquartered in Dallas, Texas.

Ms. Clancy has tried and won a wide array of asbestos-related cases, and has succeeded in defending a number of verdicts. Included among her victories as lead appellate counsel were Izell v. Union Carbide, which upheld a large punitive damages verdict. In Mahoney v. Georgia-Pacific, the California Court of Appeal upheld a significant compensatory damages verdict on behalf of a California asbestos sufferer and her family. A verdict for a Louisiana plaintiff with lung cancer was successfully upheld in Watts v. Hebert Brothers. Ms. Clancy’s work in Moore v. Ericsson upheld a judgment on behalf of a Pennsylvania electrician against an asbestos wire manufacturer.

Ms. Clancy is one of only a handful of lawyers in the entire nation who has both: (i) been lead trial lawyer in cases resulting in National Law Journal Top 100 verdicts in the nation, and (ii) protected the law as an appellate attorney in numerous state Supreme and Appellate Courts.

Publications

• “Fraud Claims Under Sections 11 and 12(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933: Should Pleading with Particularity be Required?,” 27 SEC. REG. L.J. 411 (2000).
• “The Deductibility of the Costs of Aircraft Maintenance,” 64 J. AIR. L. & Com. 539 (1999).

 
Education

• Southern Methodist University School of Law, Dallas, Texas (J.D., Valedictorian, 1999)
• Columbia University (M.A. 1992)
• Yale University (B.A., magna cum laude, 1989)

 
Bar and Court Admissions 

• State Bar of Texas (1999)
• State Bar of California (2008)
• State Bar of Louisiana (2010)
• State Bar Pennsylvania (2010)
• S. District Court Eastern District of Texas
• S. District Court Southern District of Texas
• S. District Court Middle District of Louisiana
• S. District Court Eastern District of Pennsylvania
• S. District Court Central District of California
• S. Court of Appeals 3rd Circuit
• S. Court of Appeals 9th Circuit

John L. Langdoc joined Kazan Law as partner in January 2016. Prior to this, Mr. Langdoc was a shareholder and lead trial lawyer for the well-respected Baron & Budd law firm, headquartered in Dallas, Texas.

John Langdoc was a scientist before he was a lawyer. At Baylor College of Medicine, Langdoc researched the brain. Earlier, in graduate school, he researched how prescription drugs like Prozac can cause brain defects in babies born to mothers taking the medications.

Today, as a lawyer, much of Langdoc’s practice remains focused on scientific issues, particularly dissecting industry-funded “studies” that invariably show that known industrial toxins are “safe.”

In 2015 Mr. Langdoc’s $48 million dollar verdict – on behalf of a California mesothelioma patient and his wife­– was affirmed after numerous unsuccessful appeals by the asbestos company; this landmark case was recognized by Legal 500 as one of the most significant toxic exposure verdicts in the nation, and selected by the National Law Journal as one of the Top 100 Verdicts of the year.

Mr. Langdoc was inducted into the inaugural Texas Lawyer’s Verdicts Hall of Fame. He was recognized for the top California toxic exposure verdict of 2012, and for both the first place and second place largest product liability verdicts in Texas in 2011.

Langdoc’s recent trial successes include:

• $48 million verdict against Union Carbide Corporation for causing a construction worker’s cancer
• $9 million verdict against Dow Chemical Company for exposing a worker to carcinogens at a Texas chemical refinery
• $12 million verdict for a man who was exposed to carcinogens at a Pennsylvania paper mill
• $20 million verdict against Georgia-Pacific for a woman who developed cancer from being exposed to asbestos in the Koch Industries subsidiary’s home remodeling products
• $8 million verdict for the wife of a man who was exposed to carcinogens from Ashland Inc.’s Haveg pipe
• $6 million verdict for a man who was exposed to carcinogens at a Dow Chemical Company plant in Louisiana
• $5.5 million verdict for the families of men exposed to asbestos, which included Ericsson’s asbestos containing wire and cable
• $11 million verdict for a man who was exposed to carcinogens as a painter

Education 

• University of Houston Law Center, Houston, Texas
• Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
• Baylor University, Houston, Texas

Bar and Court Admissions

• State Bar of Texas
• State Bar of California

Our beloved friend and partner, Philip A. “Phil” Harley, passed away peacefully on Thursday July 2, 2009. Phil spent his last moments at home, in the company of his loved ones, his husband Mark Kalend, their daughters, Sara and True, and Phil’s mother and brothers.

Philip A. Harley was a nationally recognized and certified civil trial specialist focusing in the areas of asbestos, toxic-related cancers and catastrophic injury. In 1990, Mr. Harley’s trial practice began to focus on toxic diseases and other catastrophic injuries. He believed his knowledge and skills were best used to assist those who have been the most severely impacted by corporate misconduct. Mr. Harley was widely recognized by both the Bar and the Bench for his outstanding trial advocacy. Since 1990, his clients have over 100 jury verdicts with many in excess of $10,000,000.

Mr. Harley also supported consumer advocacy programs, including 1) financial support for the Mesothelioma Research Foundation of America; 2) an endowment for Washburn University Law School to support trial-related education programs; and 3) political donations for legislators who work to protect consumers, the environment and victims of corporate abuses.

Born in 1947, Phil Harley was raised in Germany and the U.S. due to his father’s military career. Phil completed his undergraduate training and obtained his law degree at the Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas, where he was a national finalist in both the National and International Moot Court Competitions. During his tenure at law school, Phil was selected Student of the Year in his senior year and was a member of the Order of Barristers. Mr. Harley was first admitted to practice in Kansas in 1974.

Education

• • Washburn University School of Law (J.D., 1974)
  • Washburn University (B.A., 1969)

Bar and Court Admissions

• • Kansas, 1974
  • California, 1990