Introduction
A $230 million settlement for groundwater contamination affecting an entire region of California’s Central Valley is the kind of result that defines a legal career. Alder Law PC, led by attorney Michael Alder and operating from Sherman Oaks at 12800 Riverside Drive, 2nd Floor, has accumulated more than $3.1 billion in total client recoveries across personal injury, employment law, and toxic tort litigation. The firm’s track record includes a $66 million commercial arbitration award, a $26 million preliminary settlement in a Ponzi scheme class action, a $15 million wrongful death settlement, a $10.75 million wrongful death settlement, and a $7.8 million premises liability verdict. These results span case types and scales, reflecting a practice that is as comfortable in high-stakes class litigation as it is in individual catastrophic injury representation.
The firm is also notable for what it is not: it operates as a paperless office, it avoids the bureaucratic structures that result in cases being passed from the attorney clients met to junior staff, and it has earned consistent recognition from referring attorneys, clients, and mediators for being fair, hardworking, well-prepared, professional, and innovative. Reach the firm at 310-275-9131.
Practice Areas
Personal Injury
Alder Law handles personal injury cases across the full spectrum of incident types that generate serious harm in Southern California.
Auto, Motorcycle, Bicycle, and Truck Accidents
Vehicle accidents of every type are a core part of the practice. Auto accident claims involve fault analysis, insurance coverage disputes, and documentation of both economic and non-economic damages. Motorcycle accident cases require advocacy against the bias that sometimes affects how these clients are perceived by adjusters and juries. Bicycle accident claims often involve the intersection of vehicle and municipal liability when road design or maintenance contributes to the incident. Truck accident cases add layers of federal regulatory compliance: Hours of Service rules, maintenance logs, Electronic Logging Device records, and carrier qualification requirements are all subject to investigation.
Slip and Fall and Premises Liability
Premises liability claims at Alder Law include both standard slip and fall cases and the full range of conditions that can make a property dangerous: inadequate lighting, defective flooring, lack of warning signage, and structural hazards. The firm has obtained a $7.8 million verdict in a premises liability case, demonstrating its willingness to take these matters through trial when settlement offers do not reflect the true value of the harm.
Construction Accidents
Construction sites are among the most dangerous workplaces in California, with OSHA regulations governing fall protection, scaffolding, electrical safety, and machinery operation. When those standards are not met and a worker or visitor is injured, the firm pursues claims against general contractors, subcontractors, property owners, and equipment manufacturers, depending on the specific facts.
Dog Bites
California’s strict liability standard for dog bites means that proof of prior dangerous behavior is not required. The firm documents the physical and psychological impact of dog bite injuries, which can be severe and require extensive medical treatment.
Wrongful Death
Two wrongful death settlements of $15 million and $10.75 million reflect Alder Law’s depth in this practice area. Wrongful death cases require careful calculation of the economic support the deceased would have provided, combined with the non-economic loss suffered by surviving family members. The firm handles these cases with the seriousness and sensitivity the circumstances demand.
Government Liability
Claims against government entities in California follow a different procedural framework than standard personal injury cases. Government claims must typically be filed within six months of the incident, using a specific claims presentation process, before a lawsuit can be initiated. The firm is experienced with this framework and meets the deadlines that determine whether a government liability claim can proceed.
Civil Rights
Civil rights violations involving law enforcement misconduct, excessive force, or other constitutional deprivations are part of the firm’s litigation portfolio. These cases often involve both individual and municipal defendants and require a thorough understanding of federal civil rights law under 42 U.S.C. Section 1983.
Employment Law
Harassment, Discrimination, and Wrongful Termination
California’s employment protections are among the strongest in the country. The California Fair Employment and Housing Act prohibits discrimination and harassment based on race, sex, age, disability, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, and other protected characteristics. Wrongful termination claims arise when an employer fires an employee for reasons that violate these protections or that breach public policy. The firm represents employees who have been subjected to hostile work environments, demoted or terminated for discriminatory reasons, or retaliated against for engaging in protected activity.
Wage and Hour
California wage and hour law is detailed and strictly enforced. Meal period requirements, rest break requirements, overtime calculation, minimum wage compliance, and proper classification of workers as employees versus independent contractors are all areas where employers regularly violate the law. The firm handles both individual wage and hour claims and class actions.
Retaliation
Employees who report illegal activity (whistleblowers), who file workers’ compensation claims, who take legally protected leave, or who assert other statutory rights are protected from retaliation under California law. The firm represents employees who have suffered adverse employment consequences for exercising these rights.
Toxic Tort Litigation
The $230 million settlement for groundwater contamination in California’s Central Valley stands as one of the firm’s signature achievements. Toxic tort cases require the combination of environmental science, epidemiology, regulatory expertise, and litigation skill. Alder Law advocates for municipalities and communities affected by contamination of ground and water supplies, pursuing the industrial, agricultural, and governmental actors responsible for the harm. These cases are complex, long-running, and consequential for the health of entire communities.
Attorney Profile
Michael Alder leads Alder Law PC. The firm’s recognition by referring attorneys, clients, and mediators as fair, hardworking, well-prepared, professional, and innovative reflects the reputation Michael Alder has built over his legal career. Attorneys who refer cases to a colleague are making a judgment about the quality of that colleague’s representation, and consistent referrals from other legal professionals are among the most credible endorsements in the profession.
Location and Service Area
Alder Law PC is located at 12800 Riverside Drive, 2nd Floor, Sherman Oaks, CA 91607. Phone: 310-275-9131. The firm serves clients throughout Southern California and has handled litigation with statewide and multi-county dimensions, including the Central Valley toxic tort matter. Complimentary case evaluations are available.
Client Focus
Alder Law’s clients include individuals who have been seriously injured in accidents, employees who have been subjected to workplace misconduct, and communities whose environmental health has been compromised by contamination. The $3.1 billion-plus in total recoveries reflects a practice that has consistently achieved significant results across all three areas. The firm’s commitment to operating as a paperless office and its reputation for being well-prepared signal a practice that takes efficiency and thoroughness seriously.
FAQ
What is the significance of a toxic tort case resulting in a $230 million settlement?
That settlement, for groundwater contamination in California’s Central Valley, represents one of the largest environmental contamination recoveries in California. It required the firm to assemble scientific evidence, navigate regulatory proceedings, and litigate against well-funded defendants over an extended period. Municipalities and communities affected by industrial contamination of their water supply can face decades of remediation costs and public health consequences. The recovery provides resources to address those consequences.
How does Alder Law approach government liability claims?
Government entities in California are subject to specific procedural requirements. A government tort claim must typically be presented to the responsible agency within six months of the incident, and the agency has 45 days to act on it. If the claim is rejected or ignored, the claimant can then file suit. Missing the six-month window generally bars the claim entirely. The firm manages these deadlines and the claim presentation process as part of its standard representation.
What distinguishes an employment discrimination claim from a wrongful termination claim?
Employment discrimination focuses on adverse employment actions (termination, demotion, failure to hire) taken because of a protected characteristic. Wrongful termination is broader and includes terminations that violate public policy, breach an employment contract, or occur in retaliation for protected activity, even where a specific protected characteristic is not the basis. Both types of claims are handled by the firm.
Does the firm take cases to trial?
Yes. The $7.8 million premises liability verdict reflects the firm’s willingness and capability to take cases through trial when settlement offers are inadequate. Insurers and defendants negotiate differently with attorneys who have demonstrated trial competence than with those who settle every case.
How does a complimentary case evaluation work?
The firm offers an initial evaluation of your case at no charge. This involves reviewing the basic facts of the incident or employment matter, assessing the legal claims available, and discussing the likely path forward. There is no obligation resulting from the evaluation.
Closing
$3.1 billion in total recoveries across three decades of litigation in Southern California and beyond positions Alder Law PC as a firm with genuine depth and reach. From the individual injured in a motorcycle accident to the municipality whose water supply has been contaminated by industrial negligence, Michael Alder’s practice has demonstrated it can handle the full range of what clients face. The paperless office, the reputation among peers for preparation and professionalism, and the specific results across wrongful death, commercial arbitration, class actions, and toxic tort litigation tell a coherent story about what this firm does and how it does it. Contact the firm at 310-275-9131 or visit the office at 12800 Riverside Drive, 2nd Floor, Sherman Oaks, CA 91607 to begin with a complimentary case evaluation.
Website: https://alderlaw.com