Joseph R. Coriaty
Associate
Joseph R. Coriaty focuses his practice on counseling and defending businesses and their insurers in a wide variety of claims from pre-lawsuit negotiation and evaluation through trial or alternative dispute resolution. He focuses on defending transportation companies who are alleged to have caused or contributed to catastrophic personal injury and/or property damage, and has experience defending clients that provide a range of services, including commercial cargo carriers and transportation providers. He has successfully defended matters involving claims for wrongful death and allegations of traumatic brain injury (TBI), soft tissue injuries, and orthopedic injuries.
Joe also focuses on defending companies in complex product liability matters. He has acted as national counsel for numerous multinational manufacturing companies by directing and supervising local counsel nationwide with resolution and litigation strategies. He has successfully represented manufacturers, distributors, and retailers in state and federal court.
In addition, Joe has experience defending premises liability, general liability, insurance, and construction defect matters. His familiarity with the needs of his clients’ businesses enables him to work with his clients and the appropriate experts to consistently deliver efficient results, from receipt of a demand letter or complaint to closing of the file.
Industries
Experience Highlights
- Settled matter for a small percentage of anticipated defense costs following a policy-limit demand in a case involving catastrophic personal injury and TBI after demonstrating that the incident occurred due to the plaintiff violating the client’s written policies and proving that the plaintiff’s claimed damages were attributable to a pre-existing injury.
- Settled matter at mediation at a fraction of the settlement demand against a prominent plaintiff’s firm in a matter with TBI and loss of consortium claims after proving the plaintiffs’ claimed damages were attributable to pre-existing injuries and despite admitting liability.
- Settled a matter in federal court for four figures before the plaintiff’s motion for summary judgment response was due in a slip-and-fall case where the plaintiff’s husband was the dean of a large state university law school.
- Procured dismissal with prejudice before the plaintiff’s and cross-complainant property owner’s motion for summary judgment responses were due following a complaint and cross-complaint demanding seven figures in damages for personal injuries and property damage.
- Following a policy-limit demand from a prominent plaintiff’s firm, convinced the plaintiff’s attorney to not even name the client in the lawsuit after using an expert declaration that would potentially be used in a motion for summary judgment to prove to the plaintiff’s attorney that the client had no liability.
Admissions
- California
- U.S. District Court for the Central District of California
Education
- Southwestern Law School, J.D., 2013
- CALI Award for Academic Excellence
- Witkin Award for Academic Excellence
- University of California, Santa Barbara, B.A., 2008
Recent Insights
December 20, 2021