Attorney Robert Allard Honored State Wide and Locally for Helping Children Who Suffer From Brain Damage and Sexual Molestation Related Injuries

Consumer Attorneys of California and Santa Clara County Trial Lawyers Association recognize the legal work provided by attorney Robert Allard to young children and their families.

SAN JOSE, CA – November 27, 2012 – Personal injury and childhood molestation attorney Robert Allard of the law firm of Corsiglia, McMahon & Allard, L.L.P. has received prominent awards from both the Consumer Attorneys of California and the Santa Clara County Trial Lawyers Association for legal assistance rendered for physically and mentally afflicted children.

Allard, along with his national team of attorneys which included Laura Liccardo and Jeff Lochner, was named as a finalist for the “Trial Attorney of the Year” award by the Consumer Attorneys of California at its recently held statewide convention in San Francisco for his groundbreaking work on behalf of victims of USA Swimming coaching sexual abuse. Consumer Attorneys of California is a professional organization made up of nearly 3,000 attorneys who represent plaintiffs seeking accountability from those who do wrong. Also receiving nominations were celebrated lawyers Mark Geragos and Brian Panish, both of the Los Angeles area.

In the case of Jane Doe v. United States Swimming, the legal team uncovered the largest sexual abuse scandal in U.S. sports history (featured on 20/20, ESPN and USA Today). Jane Doe revealed that corruption penetrated the uppermost control group at USA Swimming by establishing that the organization covered up for decades what it knew about reported sexual misconduct against its member coaches and did nothing to prevent the further abuse against minor swimmers.

The litigation forced USA Swimming to enact sweeping and comprehensive policies to address the epidemic of coaches sexually abusing athletes. Further, as a result of the publicity created by Robert Allard’s work, the United States Olympic Committee took steps to ensure the safety of nearly one million athletes by centralizing and standardizing background checks across all Olympic sports.

The legal team is now working in the legislative arena to enact tougher laws to hold organizations that enable predators accountable. “We as lawyers as uniquely positioned to help those in need, especially children” stated Allard. “We have to understand that is not just about the money, but about making things better for the community at large. If we all do our own little part with every case we handle, we can accomplish a lot of common good.”

Announced as 2012 Trial Lawyer of the Year by the Santa Clara County Trial Lawyers Association, Allard secured $6.6 million from residential construction contractors on behalf of a young child hit by a car. Due to a confidentiality agreement with the driver, the entire amount of the settlement cannot be revealed but it is believed to be one of the highest resolutions for a single claimant in Santa Clara County history. This is the third time in five years that Allard has been so honored.

More importantly, Allard is working with San Jose City Councilman Sam Liccardo to enact tougher laws against construction contractors who maintain dangerous work sites which jeopardize public safety.

According to the lawsuit (Santa Clara County Superior Court, Case #111CV209712), a 12-year-old child was riding his bicycle on the sidewalk to the Willow Glen library when he came upon a residential construction site on Hicks Avenue. The sidewalk was blocked by a swing gate attached to a construction fence surrounding the perimeter of the house. The child was forced off the sidewalk and into the street where he was struck head on by a car traveling in the opposite direction.

Hospitalized since the July 2011 accident, the boy continues to require around the clock medical care and assistance. Due to the settlement, however, he is assured of the very best medical care for the rest of his life. “We are extremely gratified that my client’s parents no longer have to worry about mounting medical expenses and can now focus exclusively on getting him back on his feet again,” commented Allard. “Further, the parents are pleased that, out of this horrible tragedy, future accidents can be prevented through the legislation authored by Mr. Liccardo.”