Dan Stormer

Dan Stormer is a 1974 graduate of New York University School of Law, and a 1968 graduate of Wagner College. He has been a Civil Rights, International Human Rights, and Constitutional lawyer for forty-seven years.

Mr. Stormer has been recognized internationally, nationally, and locally as one of the top attorneys in the United States.

Mr. Stormer has repeatedly been listed among Lawdragon Magazine’s 500 Leading Lawyers, 500 Leading Litigators, 500 Leading National Plaintiff Employment Lawyers, 500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers in America, Top 100 Most Influential Lawyers in California, Top Labor and Employment Lawyers, Best Lawyers in America, as well as in the Top 10 Lawyers in Southern California. The California Lawyer has selected Mr. Stormer for the California Attorney of the Year (CLAY) award twice for his work in Civil Rights.

Mr. Stormer has been profiled repeatedly by various legal periodicals, including The Daily Journal, Super Lawyers™, Lawdragon, The National Law Journal, Los Angeles Lawyer, California Law - Business, California Lawyer, and The Legal Exchange. He was named as one of the 10 top plaintiff-side employment lawyers in California by The Daily Journal. He was also named one of the top 5 plaintiff-side employment lawyers in California by Chambers U.S.A. His firm is listed among the top 4 firms in the same poll. He has been repeatedly named one of Southern California’s Super Lawyers™ by Los Angeles Magazine and Law & Politics Magazine. He is "AV Preeminent" rated by Martindale-Hubbell and has been listed in the Top 100 Lawyers and as a Super Lawyer in every year since the survey has been taken.

Mr. Stormer is recognized both nationally and internationally as one of the nation’s leading civil rights, employment, and constitutional law attorneys. He was described by The National Law Journal as "one of the country's top civil, constitutional, and international human rights lawyers." He has been repeatedly recognized in The Best Lawyers in America and the Guide to the World’s Leading Labour and Employment Lawyers. He has presented at the "Arguments of the Masters" and the "Legends of Litigation."

Mr. Stormer has lectured and published extensively, including legal treatises and law reviews. He has taught at over 300 seminars and trial programs, including the national conventions for the American Bar Association, the American Association for Justice, the National Employment Lawyers Association, Consumer Attorneys of California, the National Institute of Trial Advocacy and other advocacy programs. He has also taught law school at Hastings College of Law, Loyola Law School, University of San Fernando Law School, Southwestern Law School and People's College of Law.

Mr. Stormer has been involved in over 70 published appellate decisions and has argued cases at all levels, including repeatedly in the U.S. Supreme Court.

Mr. Stormer has obtained a number of large verdicts. Among them are the following:

• In Martin v. Texaco, a verdict of $20.4 million was obtained for gender discrimination in employment.

• In Steffens v. Regus, a verdict of $4,646,252 on behalf of a person who complained about unlawful activity and then was terminated.

• In Stewart v. Jet Set, a judgment of over $3,000,000 on behalf of a person wrongfully terminated as a result of sexual orientation discrimination.

• In Zinzun v. City of Los Angeles, a verdict of $3.84 million was obtained for civil rights violations.

• In Schell v. City of Los Angeles, Chief of Police Bernard Parks, et al., a verdict of $4.361 million was obtained. Included in that verdict was a punitive damage award of $500,000 against Chief of Police Bernard Parks and $250,000 against his assistant, Commander Watson.

• In Ruiz v. Jackson, a jury awarded $1.6 million against a Sony Executive for coercing a Filipino woman into service as a domestic slave.

• In Heaton v. Groberman, $2 million for wrongful death of a tenant who came into contact with bacteria from a failed septic system.

• In Wysinger v. The Automobile Club of Southern California, the jury awarded $1.3 million in damages ($1 million in punitive damages) for a senior employee who was retaliated against for complaining of discrimination. In addition, the Court awarded $1.1 million in attorneys’ fees and costs. Thus, the total award was $2.4 million.

• InPajas v. County of Monterey, a jury award of $1.7 million for the failure to provide adequate medical attention to a prisoner going through withdrawal.

• In Keunang v. City of Los Angeles, a jury verdict of liability and immediate settlement of police shooting- $2 million.

• In Bonsangue v. ADP, a verdict of over $1 million was obtained for a claim of age discrimination.

• In Troffer v. United States, a judgment of over $1 million was obtained on behalf of firefighters wrongfully excluded from a United States Air Force base without due process.

Mr. Stormer has been lead or co-counsel in dozens of other multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements.

Education

• J.D., New York University School of Law
• B.A., Wagner College

Admissions

• California
• Colorado
• Washington
• U.S. District Court Southern District of California
• U.S. District Court Northern District of California
• U.S. District Court Eastern District of California
• U.S. District Court Central District of California
• U.S. District Court District of Colorado
• U.S. District Court of the District of Columbia
• U.S. Court of Appeals 9th Circuit
• U.S. Court of Appeals 10th Circuit
• U.S. Court of Federal Claims
• U.S. Court of Appeals Federal Circuit
• U.S. Court of Appeals District of Columbia Circuit
• U.S. Supreme Court

Professional Associations & Community Organizations

• Tahoe Adaptive Competition Center, Founding Member
• Rim of the World Special Athletes, Board of Directors
• Adaptive Recreation Center’s Foundation, Board of Directors
• Professional Ski Instructors of America/American Association of Snowboard Instructors
  • Adaptive Committee – Western Region, Chair
  • Adaptive Committee – National
  • Tech Team - Western Division
• Big Bear Therapeutic Riding Center, Board of Directors
• Adaptive Adventures Unlimited, Board of Directors
• Silverlake Parks and Recreation, Sports Board
• John Marshall High School - Boys & Girls Varsity Tennis, Assistant Coach
• Various Youth Sports Leagues - Baseball (ages 6-adult), Soccer (ages 6-15), and Basketball (ages 6-15)
• Professional Ski Instructors of America (Focusing on teaching persons with disabilities, as well as Alpine and Children's instruction)
• “The Edge” – Professional Ski Instructors of America Magazine
• Echo Park / Silverlake People’s Child Care Center

Notable Work

• The Impact of Kolender v. Lawson on Law Enforcement and Minority Groups, Stormer and Bernstein, 12 Hastings Constitutional Law Quarterly, 105, 1984
• Legal Responses to Unconstitutional Termination of Disability Benefits, 22 Idaho Law Review, 201, 1986
• The Graying of America: Age Discrimination in the Nineties, 26 West Los Angeles Law Review, 189, 1995
• Sexual Harassment (one chapter), James Publications
• Letter to a Young Public Interest Attorney, Los Angeles Public Interest Law Journal - Inaugural Issue - Immigrants' Rights, Volume 1, 2009
• Tales From Counsel Table, California Labor, and Employment Bulletin, monthly column, 2006

Representative Cases

• County of Riverside v. McLaughlin,111 S.Ct. 1661 (1991)
• Obaydullah v. Obama,609 F.3d 444 (2010)
• American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee v. Reno,70 F.3d 1045 (9th Cir. 1995)
• Leeds v. Watson,630 F.2d 674 (9th Cir. 1980)
• Del Monte v. Deukmejian,(1991) 1 Cal.App.4th 1213
• Cundiff v. Verizon, California, Inc.,167 Cal. App. 4th 718 (2008)
• Wysinger v. Automobile Club of Southern California,157 Cal. App. 4th 413 (2007)
• Cundiff v. Bell Atlantic Corp.,101 Cal.App.4th 1395 (2002)
• Stack v. Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad Company,94 Wash.2d 155 (1980)
• Brooks v. Rhay,92 Wash.2d 876 (1979)

Classes & Seminars

• "Trial Advocacy", National Lawyers Guild,2012 to 2012
• "Voir Dire", Los Angeles County Bar Association,2011 to 2011
• "Nelson Background Check Case to Discuss on Radio Show Privacy Piracy",88.9 FM in Irvine,11/02/2010 to 11/02/2010
• "Litigating International Law in U.S. Courts", International Law Society at Loyola Law School,10/20/2010 to 10/20/2010
• "Attorney-Conducted Voir Dire and Closing Arguments",43rd Annual Pacific Coast LELC, Washington State Convention & Trade Center,05/13/2010 to 05/13/2010
• "Wage Theft & Wage Underpayment: Indentured Servitude in America", NELA 2009 20th Annual Convention,06/25/2009 to 06/25/2009
• "Civil Rights and International Human Rights", ACLU of Southern California,06/05/2009 to 06/05/2009
• "Screening of The Garden and talk by Dan Stormer", Wagner College,05/09/2009 to 05/09/2009
• "Voir Dire", Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles 2009 Litigators Forum,01/22/2009 to 01/22/2009
• "Ethics, Enterprise & Leadership", University of California, Santa Barbara,05/06/2008 to 05/06/2008
• "Multinational Corporations and Human Rights Violations: The Example of Nigeria, Larry Bowoto et al., v. Chevron Corporation", California State University, Long Beach,04/29/2008 to 04/29/2008
• "Something Wicked This Way Comes: Investigating Your Case",2008 National CLE Conference - Labor & Employment Law
• Mr. Stormer has spoken at over 300 seminars, graduations, and other events.

Memberships

• California Employment Lawyers Association (CELA)
• National Employment Lawyers Association (NELA)
• Consumer Attorneys of California (CAOC)
• Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles (CAALA)
• American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)
• The National Trial Lawyers
• American Bar Association (ABA)
• The College of Labor & Employment Lawyers
• Western Trial Lawyers Association, Boards of Directors
• Mental Health Advocacy Services, Board of Directors
• Peoples College of Law, Board of Trustees
• National Lawyers Guild, Los Angeles and Spokane Chapters, Past President
• Western Law Center for Disability Rights
• Los Angeles Public Interest Law Journal, Advisory Board Member
• Western Trial Lawyers Association, Board of Directors & Past President
• People's College of Law, Board of Trustees
• Adaptive Adventures Unlimited, Board of Directors
• Tahoe Adaptive Competition Center, Founding Member
• ASLA - 2019 Top 100 Lawyer, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018
• ASLA - Seven-Time Member
• Elite Lawyer 2021- Employment & Civil Rights
• National Association of Distinguished Counsel - Nation's Top One Percent

Awards & Accolades

• Lawdragon Leading Plaintiff Lawyer, Lawdragon Leading Plaintiff Lawyer Magazine, 2021
• The Nation's Top One Percent, National Association of Distinguished Counsel, 2021
• Elite Lawyer Award – Top Attorneys, Elite Lawyer 2020, 2021
• 500 Leading National Plaintiff Employment Lawyers, Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiff Employment & Civil Rights Lawyers Guide 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021
• Best Law Firms – Tier 1 Ranking, U.S. News & World Report – Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms”, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021
• Employment Law – Individuals, Best Lawyers in America, 28th Edition of The Best Lawyers in America, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021
• Litigation – Labor and Employment, Best Lawyers in America, 28th Edition of The Best Lawyers in America, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021
• Best Attorneys of America, Rue Ratings’ Best Attorneys of America, Lifetime Charter Member
• Fellow, The Fellows of the American Bar Foundation, Life Fellow
• Fellow, American Society of Legal Advocates, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021
• Top 100 Trial Lawyers, The National Trial Lawyers, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021
• Top Attorney, Pasadena Magazine, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020
• Top 100 Trial Lawyers, American Trial Lawyers Association, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021
• PSIA/AASI Adaptive Education Staff, Professional Ski Instructors of America, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021
• Adaptive Committee, Professional Ski Instructors of America, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021
• Certified Ski Instructor - Alpine, Adaptive, Seniors, and Children's Skiers, Professional Ski Instructors of America 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021
• Selected to the Southern California Super Lawyers list, Southern California Super Lawyers Magazine, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021
• Guide to the World's Leading Labour and Employment Lawyers, Euromoney Publications
  1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020
• Best Lawyers in America, Naifeh & Smith - National Yearly Survey of America's Leading Lawyers, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 (Listed in Best Lawyers for 10 Years or Longer), 2020, 2021
• Who's Who, Various Who's Who Publications, 1991-present
• 500 Leading National Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers, Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers, 2020
• Top Attorneys in Southern California, Los Angeles Magazine, 2020
• Best Lawyers in Southern California (Selected by Peer Recognition & Professional Achievement), The Wall Street Journal, 2020
• Top 100 Litigation Lawyers in America, American Society of Legal Advocates, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020
• Employment Law – Individuals “Lawyer of the Year” for Pasadena, Best Lawyers in America
  2016, 2019
• Decades of Service Award, National Lawyers Guild Los Angeles, 2019
• Lawyer of the Year, 2019 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America, 2019
• Civil Rights Law - Attorney of the Year in California, 2019 Corporate Intl Magazine Global Award, 2019
• Lawyer Of The Year: Southern California, The Wall Street Journal, 2019
• America's Most Honored Professionals, The American Registry, 2019
• Top 100 Trial Lawyers, American Association for Justice, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018
• America’s Top 100 Civil Defense Litigators, America’s Top 100 Civil Defense Litigators, 2018
• America's Top 100 Criminal Defense Attorneys, America's Top 100 Criminal Defense Attorneys, 2017, 2018
• Top 100 Attorneys in Southern California, Southern California Super Lawyers Magazine; Law and Politics Magazine, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017
• Top 75 Labor & Employment Lawyers, The Daily Journal, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017
• Attorney of the Year - CLAY Award – Civil Rights, California Lawyer Magazine, 2006, 2017
• LA CAN Freedom Now Award, The Los Angeles Community Action Network, 2016
• Top 10 Attorneys in Southern California, Southern California Super Lawyers Magazine; Law and Politics Magazine, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2014, 2015
• Best Lawyers in America Employment Law - Individuals, Best Lawyers in America – 20th Edition 2021 (over 20 years consecutively on the list)
• Hadsell Stormer Richardson & Renick, LLP – Tier 1 Ranking, U.S. News - Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms”, 2014
• Southern California’s Top Rated Lawyers, American Lawyer Media, 2013
• Best Attorneys in Los Angeles, Best Lawyers – Individuals Award, 2013
• Congressional Award for Outstanding Public Service to the Community, Congressman Howard L. Berman, 2012
• Religious Liberty Award, ACLU of Southern California, 2012
• Lawyer of the Year – Individuals - Employment Law, Naifeh & Smith – Best Lawyers in America, 2012
• The Top 3000 Lawyers in America, Lawdragon Magazine, 2006, 2010, 2011
• Pro Bono Honor, Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia and The Standing Committee on Pro Bono Legal Services of the Judicial Conference for the District of Columbia Circuit, 2011
• Recognized for Distinction in Labor and Employment Law, The American Lawyer, 2011
• Appellate Lawyer Award, The National Law Journal, 2010
• Southern California 50 Leadership Council, RAND Institute for Civil Justice, 2010
• Top Lawyers, Labor + Employment, 2010
• The 500 Leading Lawyers in America, Lawdragon Magazine, 2006, 2007, 2010
• The Top 100 – California’s Leading Lawyers - 100 Most Influential Lawyers in California, The Daily Journal, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2010
• Honored Member, America's Registry of Outstanding Professionals, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008
• Honored Member. Strathmore's Who's Who,1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008
• The Wagner Alumni Fellows Award – Law, Wagner College, 2008
• Certificate of Recognition, Los Angeles City Council, Eric Garcetti – President, 2007
• LGBT Award, ACLU Foundation of Southern California, 2007
• Fellow of the Dean’s Roundtable, Chapman University School of Law, 2007
• The Los Angeles Area’s Best Lawyers, Los Angeles Times - West Magazine, 2006
• Certificate of Recognition For Outstanding Dedication to the Community, California State Senate, 2006
• Certificate of Appreciation In Honor of Dedication to Social Justice in the City of Los Angeles, Los Angeles City Council, 2006
• Social Justice Award, Occidental College - Urban & Environmental Policy Institute, 2006
• The 500 Leading Litigators in America, Lawdragon Magazine, 2006
• Certificate of Recognition for Human Rights Legal Representation, California State Assembly, 2006
• Joseph Posner Award, California Employment Lawyer’s Association, 2005
• Certificate of Recognition for Fighting Discrimination, California State Assembly Resolution, 2005
• Robert Kenny Award, National Lawyers Guild, 2005
• Fellow of the College, Governors of The College of Labor and Employment Lawyers, 2004
• Top 5 Employment Lawyers in California, Chambers Publishing - America's Leading Business Lawyers, 2003
• Los Angeles Office of the City Attorney's Commendation, For outstanding contribution to the Citizens of Los Angeles, 1995
• California Lt. Governor's Commendation, For longstanding commitment to ensure equal justice and for service to the community, 1995
• California Assembly Resolution, Commitment to Civil Rights, Constitutional Law and Public Interest Law, 1995
• Pursuit of Justice Award, California Women's Law Center, 1995
• Top 10 Labor & Employment Lawyers in California, The Daily Journal, 1991
• Clarence Darrow Award, People's College of Law, 1991
• Hollywood Fair Housing Council Award, Hollywood Fair Housing Council, 1989
• Pro Bono Firm of the Year, Public Counsel Law Center, 1987, Pro Bono Service Award
• Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles, 1986