Law Offices of Michael D. Thamer

Attorney at Law

Michael D. Thamer enjoys peer recognition, statewide and nationally.

National Trial Lawyer of the Year—2011

- Public Justice Foundation

Consumer Attorney of the Year—2011

- Consumer Attorneys of California

California Lawyer of the Year—2010 Elder Law

- California Lawyer Magazine

Super Lawyer of Northern California

- Super Lawyer Magazine

AV-Preeminent

- Marindale Hubbell’s Independent Attorney Rating

Michael D. Thamer is a nationally-recognized trial attorney who has tried over 40 jury trials in state and federal courts, two of which were the largest verdicts in the nation at the time:

$677 Million Jury Verdict: Lavender v. Skilled Healthcare Group, Inc.

In 2010, Thamer, as lead trial lawyer in the historic Lavender v. Skilled Healthcare class action lawsuit, obtained for 32 thousand plaintiff class members a jury verdict in excess of $670 million dollars after a seven month trial, as well as injunctions against Skilled Healthcare and its 23 subsidiary corporations requiring compliance with California’s minimum staffing laws at 22 skilled nursing facilities. Lavender is the largest verdict in the nation against a provider of skilled nursing services to the elderly. For more information on this case, see the related article: Article.

$95 Million Jury Verdict: In re Conservatorship of Gregory

As sole trial counsel, Thamer obtained a jury verdict, including $94 million dollar punitive damage award, in an elder abuse action involving a single plaintiff against Beverly Enterprises, Inc. [(2000) 80 Cal.App.4th 514.]

Scope of Practice

Mr. Thamer has prosecuted significant civil cases, including consumer class actions, elder abuse, insurance bad faith, bad faith lending, product liability, legal negligence, medical negligence, and serious injury matters, and has defended individuals against significant criminal matters, including first degree murder charges.

Media Coverage

Mr. Thamer’s civil and criminal trial work has been featured on CBS ’60 Minutes’, CBS Evening News, and in numerous print media, including Time Magazine, Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, San Francisco Chronicle, Sacramento Bee, San Jose Mercury News, California Lawyer, California Law Business Journal, and Outside Magazine.

Invited Lecturer

Mr. Thamer has been an invited lecturer for University of Southern California, American Trial Lawyers Association, National Association of Medicaid Fraud Control Units, Consumer Attorneys of California, California Healthcare Association, California Association of Healthcare Facilities, and California Advocates For Nursing Home Reform.

Education

J.D., Santa Clara University School of Law, 1981
B.S., Social Ecology, University of California, Irvine, 1978