Trial Lawyers award top honor to San Jose attorney Timothy McMahon

Praise from peers for 20-year personal injury veteran

The Santa Clara County Trial Lawyers Association has named Timothy McMahon the 2018 Lawyer of the Year, citing a nearly $7 million jury verdict as evidence of McMahon’s outstanding service to his clients.

McMahon is a founding partner of San Jose-based personal injury law firm of Corsiglia, McMahon and Allard, LLC.

This is the second time in five years Mr. McMahon has received the Trial Lawyer of the Year designation.

“I love my work because I make a difference in injured people’s lives,” Mr. McMahon said. “We’re here to help people who have been injured in accidents or through negligence, to get them a financial settlement that will ensure they can get back on their feet.”

The Trial Lawyers Association said Mr. McMahon’s pursuit of justice for motorcycle accident victim Malte Selck is an excellent example of his tenacity.

“Tim works diligently to make sure his clients receive the best outcome possible,” said Trial Lawyers President Lauren Cerri. “The multi-million-dollar jury award in the Selck case is a great example of that.”

In 2012, Selck was driving his motorcycle on Highway 101 when he was involved in an accident with Van Thuy Tran. Although evidence showed the rear wheel of Selck’s motorcycle was damaged in the collision, Tran’s attorneys accused Selck of rear-ending her.

Later, they changed their story and accused Mr. Selck of lane-splitting.

An off-duty San Jose police officer’s eyewitness testimony confirmed Mr. Selck’s account that Tran’s vehicle struck him from behind.

Mr. Selck was seriously injured in the accident.

“Despite a video animation we produced that proved Mr. Selck was not at fault, Ms. Tran’s insurer refused our $100,000 settlement offer,” Mr. McMahon said. “So, when we finally went to trial, we proved our case to a jury and they ended up awarding Mr. Selck nearly $7 million.”

Interest on the verdict is accruing at a rate of approximately $700,000 per year, which means the amount owed now exceeds more than $9 million, Mr. McMahon said.

An appeal of the verdict was recently dismissed.

“This case demonstrates why our firm has an award-winning record,” said Corsiglia, McMahon & Allard partner Robert Allard. “Our attorneys have won the Trial Lawyer of the Year award an unprecedented eight out of the last 11 years which, I believe, forces insurance companies to treat our client’s differently. As a result, we often see higher monetary settlements in our cases.”