Trial Attorney of the Year for 2007

On December 6, 2007, the Santa Clara County Trial Lawyers Association named Robert Allard of Corsiglia, McMahon & Allard, L.L.P. in San Jose, California as Trial Attorney of the Year for 2007. The award was given in large part because Mr. Allard was the lead trial attorney in a personal injury matter that resulted in a $3.15 million jury verdict in favor of plaintiffs Dan, Rebecca and Cody Codner. Bob was assisted in the trial by the Kirby, Kirby and Kirby Law Firm of Redondo Beach, specifically Aimee and Steven Kirby. The case involved a 2005 motorcycle/ automobile accident which occurred in Ventura, California. Dan Codner was operating a motorcycle, on which Cody Codner was a passenger, when a car made a left turn right in front of them, causing a violent collision.

Prior to the one-month trial held before the Honorable Vincent O’Neill of Ventura County Superior Court, the Codners were offered only $328,000 by the insurance carrier for the automobile driver. This “tough stance” was taken primarily because the police report attributed fault entirely to Dan Codner based on the belief that he was speeding excessively at the time of the accident. Therefore, the jury award was well over ten times what could have been obtained in settlement. Said current SCCTLA President John Shepardson of Los Gatos, California, “Bob Allard is the winner of the 2007 SCCTLA Trial Lawyer of the Year. He achieved an outstanding trial verdict on behalf of his client. He used cutting-edge techniques for educating jurors on the merits of his case, and why a just award in seven-figures was warranted.”

Mr. Allard was also recognized for the overall body of legal work that he provided to the local community. “I admire Mr. Allard for his commitment to the legal profession by serving as President for the Santa Clara County Trial Lawyers Association as well as on the Santa Clara County Trial Lawyers Association’s Board of Governors and offering lectures in the area of civil litigation,” stated Santa Clara County Board of Supervisor Pete McHugh. “I thank Mr. Allard for also continuing to give back to the community by providing pro bono services for organizations, such as the ‘Pro Bono Project’ in San Jose, and extend my best wishes for continued success in all of his endeavors.” Santa Clara County Supervisor Liz Kniss added in this regard, ‘[Mr. Allard’s] contribution provides a great benefit to our community- Congratulations.”

Said Mr. Allard, “I am humbled and honored to have been even considered for this award. I will accept it on behalf of my clients, who have given me the privilege to represent them. This is not about the attorneys, but those who have been injured through no fault of their own, and the fact that we have a great system in place to make it a little easier to deal with their devastating losses.” The event, which was held at the Vault Lounge in San Jose, was well attended by Mr. Allard’s peers, as well as judges, mediators and arbitrators. Mr. Allard’s practice is devoted to the representation of people who have been seriously injured through the fault of others. Together with his partners Brad Corsiglia and Tim McMahon, as well as associate Mark Sigala and of counsel attorney Norman Saucedo, Bob has established an exemplary track record of helping those whose injuries have resulted in a significant impairment of their lives.