Carney Shegerian: The People’s Attorney
Susan Cushing
It’s all about numbers for many. It’s easy to get great press with big wins and awards. Carney Shegerian is the founder/owner of Shegerian and Associates. It’s all about the people. Shegerian remains in touch with those whose lives were adversely affected by abusive treatment or wrongful termination even after the trial. He is a top-rated employment lawyer in the country because of his compassion and record of success.
Shegerian was nominated ten times for the Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles trial lawyer of the year award. He won the honor in 2013 He is also listed in the Daily Journal’s Top Labor and Employment Lawyers List of the Top 75 Attorneys.
He has received many honors and awards, but perhaps the most notable accolade was from a Los Angeles Superior court Judge, who stated that “Mr. Shegerian is a well-known plaintiffs’ side trial attorney. This is high praise for someone who gets to witness thousands of trials each year.
Shegerian may be proud and humbled by all the praise, but the words that most mean the most are the ones he hears from his supporters in gratitude.
He says, “It’s always all about winning and getting resolutions for my clients.” It never gets boring. It’s a great way to get to know these people and their lives. It is so difficult to see their suffering, but it only motivates me to fight even harder.”
Although he has been in practice for over 20 years, and has managed his own firm for more that a decade, there are still a few cases that are particularly memorable.
It’s all about winning and finding resolution for my clients. It never gets boring. These people and their families are fascinating to get to know. It is so difficult to see their suffering, but it only motivates me to fight even harder.
Shegerian talked about some of these cases, including one that resulted in the largest verdict of its kind. This case involved Andrew Rudnicki, a long-serving employee, and Farmers Insurance. Rudnicki, a company executive for almost 40 years was fired because he refused slanted testimony in a case involving gender discrimination.
Shegerian says that the case was tried by five of our top attorneys, along with me, for approximately five to six weeks. The client was awarded $155 Million. His entire career was spent at this company for more than 37 1/2years. We were able show that the allegations weren’t as they claimed. This was confirmed by their own witnesses.”
Some people can get very emotional, such as the case of Albert Garcias and Stephanie Garcias who had been faithful employees for seven years at a property management firm before he was diagnosed with Stage Four cancer. He continued to work hard despite the disabling diagnosis, with occasional down days. He would sometimes need to call in help from outside, such as plumbers and handymen, when he was undergoing treatment. The company eventually decided to end the relationship, angered by the additional costs.
Shegerian notes that the termination also meant eviction because the couple lived on the property. They couchsurfed for months, while he battled cancer. They eventually moved in with their elderly father. Unfortunately, they moved in with the husband’s elderly father just as COVID struck. Stephanie and their son, along with their father, all succumbed to the deadly epidemic.
Albert was unable to bring his family back, but a $7 million win enabled him to pay for the enormous medical bills.
Shegerian has a track record of success that is almost unmatched for his clients. He also makes it his life’s work to help people who are wronged at work. He has won more than 100 jury trials including 50 in the seven figure range.
It All Started in the Beginning
Shegerian says that he had the idea to become a lawyer when he was young. He admits that he wasn’t sure what lawyers did. “I didn’t know any lawyers, but the idea appealed somehow to me.”
He was able to graduate from both high school and college, and the idea became more solid. However, his enthusiasm never waned. With the goal of helping others, he eagerly entered law school.
Shegerian says that he enjoyed law school, and was especially happy with the people with whom he shared the experience.
He says that he enjoyed the camaraderie and friendship of law school. “I attended Loyola Los Angeles. It was an exceptional school in that all of the students seemed to share similar interests and were very generous. It was very inspiring for me.”
It is always a challenge to choose an area of law in which to specialize. Shegerian’s experience in law school was a key factor in his decision.
He says that he did business litigation and defense work for the first five years of law school. “Towards the end of my time at other firms, I was given a few traditional labor cases. The law seemed fascinating and didn’t feel like work to me. Before I joined the plaintiff side, I had been involved in a lot of business litigation as well as defense cases for corporations and insurance companies. This was the place I felt most at home and my best.
Shegerian said that he enjoys all aspects of the preparation for trial. He says that while you need to know a lot about the company, the majority of your time will be spent looking for patterns and ways companies work. That’s where you look for evidence. This means looking at both the positive and the negative. Everything seems to revolve around the dollar.
Albert’s case was an example of this. The owners of the company were upset that they had to occasionally hire a handyman or plumber. Albert worked 12-13 hours per day, and he was very happy doing so. It was almost as if he had a way to escape from the pain of his cancer. The owners would get these bills every week from the electrician or plumber, and it would be a relief to them since they wouldn’t have to deal with this for so many years.
“The majority of discrimination involves a type or actuality in which the employer believes they are spending more money. It could be an older employee, who may not be as fast as they once were but still has the knowledge and experience. Sometimes, the employee may have a disability that requires them to take time off for treatment or simply because they aren’t feeling well. This results in the employer spending more money. However, the state has disability laws that date back to 40 years and federal laws that go back 30 years. These laws were created to protect people like this. They would rather have their employer work them, even though it might mean spending more money than having them become a burden to our disability system. It was a smart government decision.
This allowed me to take in what I was doing, breathe and absorb it case by case. Then I could push them as far and positively as possible within the legal framework. This allowed me to concentrate on each case and do the best possible job.
The Trial
Shegerian is quick to acknowledge the role of his client in the trial process. He is sympathetic to their suffering and understands the impact trial can have on someone who has been under severe pressure. He recalls a particular client when he spoke of the wear and tear on human spirit.
He says, “Twelve year ago, we had Maria as a client who had been working for Rite Aid for around 22 years.” “About twenty years later, she was being bullied and treated badly by her supervisor. Maria suffered a panic attack on the job, and was eventually taken to hospital by an ambulance. After a short disability leave, she returned to work but was constantly taunted by coworkers and called psycho and crazy over the three-and-a half years that followed.
He said, “We went to trial for the first time.” Maria was a true champion. She was awarded a $9 million verdict. Rite Aid appealed the verdict. Maria said she was open to the fight three years later. She didn’t complain. We had another result that was not quite as satisfactory, a juror who hadn’t disclosed any important information.”
Maria won $6 million plus interest and costs in the third trial. The company paid. Shegerian was most impressed by the client’s ability to persevere through the lengthy process.
He says, “She’s definitely my favorite client.” She was a trooper and never faltered. She was very impressive.”
Learn from the experience
A law student does not leave school as a fully-formed attorney. To really find your stride, it takes years of experience and a lot of practice. If you are lucky, you will have moments along the way that help you become a future attorney. Some of these lessons, as Shegerian learned, can be very humbling.
Suzanne Bruguera was a young judge who had me as a lawyer. Although she is now a close friend, at the time I was defending a case when she believed that I had misrepresented an important fact on paperwork. It was not my intention and it is clear that I did not. Maybe I hadn’t adequately explained the situation. But, I do remember with humility learning the value of understanding another person’s point of view. This is especially important in this profession.
“She was harsh with me, but it wasn’t a hard lesson that she taught me. She was very strict and terse. I didn’t understand her perspective at first, but then I realized I hadn’t really thought of it. This is a valuable lesson for both the judge and the attorneys on either side.
Shegerian also had the privilege of being mentored by John Marder, a lawyer at one of the original defense firms where he worked. Shegerian has retained one piece of advice throughout his career, which he also shares with his junior associates.
Shegerian says, “The positives he showed me, which he shared nothing but positivities, I try and emulate with our associates.” He told me not to worry about making mistakes and that you can always make it right. He wasn’t content with his words. He supported me and allowed me to do what I wanted. This allowed me to take in each case individually and push the limits of the law. This allowed me to concentrate on the case and do my best work. That balance is what I love and it’s something that I believe our attorneys need.
Shegerian learned over the years to seek a healthy balance. This is a difficult lesson to learn and even more difficult to apply when you are so focused on your clients’ welfare. But, many attorneys have learned that pushing yourself to exhaustion is not good for anyone.
He said, “It can be very draining,” and if it isn’t monitored, it can become very taxing. It’s not something I have had for a while. It’s important to take care of yourself and be patient. It’s not difficult to see that it is a time-consuming job. There are ways you can make sure that you don’t endanger your mental or physical health.
Shegerian, for his part, enjoys regular exercise and brisk swimming in the ocean. He claims he keeps him mentally and physically balanced and healthy.
I WOULD BE PROUD TO SAY THAT ALL MY WINS MAKE ME EVOTISTICAL AT THE RISK. But even more important, I’M PROUD OF HOW EMPLOYEES ARE TREATED. EMPLOYERS HEARS THESE VERDICTS.
The Future
Shegerian has set the goal to handle at least eight to ten of the most important cases in the next year. His firm handled more than 150 cases last year with many verdicts that amounted to over $250 million.
Justin Shegerian, Shegerian’s son, is also following his father’s footsteps and ready to lead the next generation Shegerian lawyers. Justin is currently in his second year at Pepperdine’s law school.
He says, “I used to go and watch my father in action when he was younger.” “I watched his hard work and sacrifices when he wasn’t in court.”
Justin works with his father, who continues to grow the company when he is not at class.
Shegerian, who has a long and impressive history, admits that one thing that makes him most proud is the impact of certain verdicts he won.
He says, “At the chance of sounding egotistical I’d have it to say that I’m proud all my wins.” “But, even more important, I’m proud that we have the power to influence the treatment of employees in general.” Employers hear these verdicts. It is not uncommon for us to be asked to consult with HR representatives in LA County. One woman told me she used to work for a company we had fought a few years back and that they settled. She claimed that the judge had informed her that they had made a smart decision because he was familiar with our ability to handle cases. This makes me realize that employers and companies will be more respectful to the law and more respectful towards their employees than they might otherwise be.
A Glance
Shegerian & Associates
11520 San Vicente Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90049
310-860-0770
ShegerianLaw.com
Practice Areas
- Plaintiff Employment Law
Education
- Juris Doctor Loyola Law School
- Bachelor of Business Administration
- Hofstra University
Honors
- Trial Attorney, 2013
- Nominee for Trial Attorney of Year – 10 Times
- Superb Rating, AVVO
- Top 100 Attorneys, Super Lawyers
- Best Law Companies, U.S. News
- Top 100 Lawyers Daily Journal
- Top Labor & Employment Lawyers, Daily Journal
- Top 100 Southern California Attorneys, Los Angeles Magazine
Professional Memberships
- Consumer Attorney Associations of Los Angeles
- Consumer Attorneys of California
- California Employment Lawyers Association
- Million Dollar Advocates Forum
- California State Bar
- Santa Monica Bar Association
- Los Angeles Bar Association
- National Employment Lawyers Association
- Armenian Bar Association
hobbies
- Ocean Swimming
- Tennis
- Spending time with family
Favorite Quote
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“Before acting, listen.
Think before you read.
Earn before you spend.
Wait before you criticize.
Forgiveness is the first step in prayer.
Before you quit, try.”
– Ernest Hemingway
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The post Carney Shegerian – The People’s Attorney was first published on Attorney at Law Magazine.