Introduction
A $40 million verdict for a defective surgical stapler stands as the largest defective product verdict in California history, and Alexander Law Group, LLP secured it. That result is one in a portfolio that exceeds $1 billion in total recoveries for injured clients across 24 states, with verdicts and settlements surpassing $100 million. The firm maintains offices at 99 Almaden Boulevard, Suite 700, in San Jose, California 95113 and at 1 Sansome Street, Suite 1400, in San Francisco, California 94104, reachable at 408-289-1776 or toll-free at 888-777-1776. Founder Richard Alexander carries more than 25 years of California Bar Certified Civil Trial expertise and has earned recognition in the New York Times. The firm’s guiding principle, “We Don’t Handle Cases… We Represent People,” is a distinction that reflects how it approaches the individuals behind each matter, not just the legal mechanics.
Alexander Law Group holds membership in the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum and carries the highest ratings from both Martindale-Hubbell and Avvo. The firm has gone to trial and won against opponents including IBM, Ford, General Motors, BMW, Johnson & Johnson, Pacific Gas & Electric, and Shell Oil, a roster that demonstrates the firm’s capacity to take on well-funded institutional defendants and prevail.
Practice Areas
Car Accidents
Vehicle collisions produce a wide range of injuries, from soft tissue damage to catastrophic harm, and the liability analysis requires examining driver conduct, vehicle condition, road design, and traffic control. The firm handles car accident cases through the full negotiation and litigation process, including cases where corporate defendants or municipalities contributed to the conditions that caused the crash.
Tractor-Trailer and Truck Accidents
Commercial truck accidents introduce regulatory complexity beyond standard vehicle cases. Federal motor carrier regulations govern driver hours of service, weight limits, maintenance requirements, and cargo securing procedures. When those rules are violated, they become evidence of negligence. The firm has recovered $11 million for a family rear-ended by a tractor-trailer and $8.1 million for a teenager who sustained severe brain damage in a semi-truck collision. Truck accident cases frequently involve driver fatigue, mechanical failures, jackknife incidents, rollover crashes, and blind spot errors that larger vehicle operators are specifically trained to avoid.
Defective Products
The firm’s record in product liability is anchored by the $40 million California verdict for a defective surgical stapler, the largest of its kind in the state. Product liability extends across surgical and medical devices, consumer products, pharmaceuticals, and vehicles. Manufacturers are responsible for defects in design, manufacturing, and warnings, and the firm has litigated against major corporations in all of these categories. An additional notable result includes a $4.25 million recovery for a child who suffered brain injury from methanol exposure in a defective product.
Brain Injuries
Brain injuries range from concussions, which can produce lasting effects even when imaging appears normal, to diffuse axonal injuries that cause severe and permanent cognitive impairment. The firm handled the case resulting in a $10.1 million recovery for a boy who sustained severe brain injuries after being struck near his school. Brain injury litigation requires neurological expert testimony, neuropsychological evaluation, and life care planning to establish the full scope of a client’s present and future needs.
Pedestrian Accidents
San Jose recorded 32 pedestrian fatalities in a recent year, a toll that reflects the serious danger pedestrians face from vehicle traffic. Pedestrian accident cases typically involve high severity injuries because of the complete absence of protection, and the damages calculations often include long-term medical costs, lost earnings, and significant pain and suffering components.
Bicycle Accidents
Bicycle accident cases involving motor vehicles raise liability questions around driver attentiveness, lane sharing rules, and the duty drivers owe to cyclists sharing roadways. The physical vulnerability of cyclists means injuries in these cases are frequently severe.
Burn Injuries
Burn injury cases arise from chemical exposure, electrical accidents, fires, and defective products that ignite unexpectedly. These cases involve complex medical treatment trajectories, including reconstructive surgery and long-term rehabilitation, which require thorough life care planning to capture future costs.
Construction Accidents
The firm has recovered $7.5 million for a construction worker injured in a wall collapse. Construction sites involve multiple overlapping contractors, property owners, and subcontractors, each potentially liable when safety protocols are not followed. Scaffolding failures, electrocution, and structural collapse cases all fall within the firm’s construction accident practice.
Dog Bites
California applies strict liability for dog bites, meaning the owner is liable for injuries caused by the dog regardless of whether the dog had bitten anyone before or whether the owner had reason to expect aggressive behavior. The firm handles dog bite claims including those involving severe injuries requiring reconstructive surgery.
Spinal Cord Injuries
Spinal cord injuries, whether complete or incomplete, frequently result in permanent disability that transforms every aspect of a client’s life. The firm offers home and hospital visits to clients whose injuries prevent them from traveling to the office, recognizing that accessibility is not optional in cases of this severity.
Slip and Fall
Premises liability cases for slip and fall injuries require establishing the property owner’s duty of care, a breach of that duty, notice of the dangerous condition, and causation between the condition and the harm. These elements each require specific evidence, and the standard applied to the owner’s conduct must account for the reasonableness of their response to known or knowable hazards.
Wrongful Death
Wrongful death claims allow surviving spouses, children, and parents to pursue compensation for the losses a negligent death causes. Recoverable damages include funeral and burial costs, the financial support the deceased would have provided, and non-economic losses including loss of love, companionship, and guidance. California courts can also award punitive damages in wrongful death cases where the defendant’s conduct was malicious, oppressive, or fraudulent.
Attorney Profile
Richard Alexander founded Alexander Law Group and leads its practice with more than 25 years of California Bar Certified Civil Trial expertise. He has earned recognition from the New York Times and is a member of the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum. His litigation record includes victories against major corporate defendants across 24 states and total recoveries exceeding $1 billion for injured clients and their families.
Location and Service Area
The firm operates from two Bay Area offices. The San Jose office is at 99 Almaden Boulevard, Suite 700, San Jose, CA 95113. The San Francisco office is at 1 Sansome Street, Suite 1400, San Francisco, CA 94104. The firm has litigated cases across 24 states, and the toll-free number, 888-777-1776, facilitates contact from anywhere in the country. Home and hospital visits are available for clients whose injuries prevent them from traveling to either office.
Client Focus
All cases are handled on a contingency fee basis, with no attorney fees collected unless the firm recovers compensation. Free consultations are offered, and the firm is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The firm’s motto frames the relationship correctly: Alexander Law Group represents people who have been seriously hurt, not abstractions called cases. That perspective informs how client communication, medical coordination, and trial preparation are approached across every matter the firm accepts.
FAQ
What makes the $40 million surgical stapler verdict significant?
It stands as the largest defective product verdict in California history. The case involved a defective surgical stapler that caused serious harm to the client. This result against a major medical device manufacturer demonstrates the firm’s capacity to litigate complex product liability claims through trial against well-funded corporate defendants.
Can the firm handle cases outside California?
Yes. Alexander Law Group has a winning record across 24 states, and the attorneys have litigated against major corporations including IBM, Ford, General Motors, BMW, Johnson & Johnson, Pacific Gas & Electric, and Shell Oil in multiple jurisdictions.
What is the contingency fee arrangement?
The firm collects attorney fees only if it recovers compensation through settlement or verdict. If no recovery is made, no attorney fees are owed. This arrangement aligns the firm’s financial interest directly with the client’s outcome.
Does the firm handle cases where the defendant is a large corporation?
Yes. The firm’s litigation history includes successful cases against some of the largest corporations in the world. Having recovered more than $1 billion for clients against institutional defendants is a direct record of that capacity.
Can I meet with an attorney if I cannot travel due to my injuries?
Yes. The firm offers home and hospital visits for clients whose injuries make travel to the San Jose or San Francisco offices impractical. Availability around the clock means initial consultations can also happen at times that work for the client’s medical schedule.
Closing
Alexander Law Group’s track record is specific: over $1 billion recovered, the largest defective product verdict in California, successful litigation against IBM, Ford, General Motors, Johnson & Johnson, and other major corporations, and results across 24 states. Richard Alexander and his team represent clients who have suffered serious injuries caused by others’ negligence, with the same commitment to trial preparation and results that produced those numbers. Contact the firm at 408-289-1776 or 888-777-1776 for a free consultation, available any hour.
Website: https://alexanderlaw.com